MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
HIBERNIAN 2
DUNDEE UNITED 2
cinch RESERVE LEAGUE
14:00 TUESDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER
HIBERNIAN TRAINING CENTRE
A blustery Hibernian Training Centre in Tranent was the venue for the long-awaited return of the cinch Reserve League as Brian Grant and Andy Payne took charge of Dundee United B.
Line-Up
First-team regular Kieran Freeman was awarded the captain's armband as he was utilised in his favoured right-back role, joined in defence by Layton Bisland, Jacob Comerford and Flynn Duffy.
Finn Robson played at the base of a midfield three, with Logan Chalmers and Kai Fotheringham taking up more attacking positions in the half-spaces, whilst Ugandan striker Sadat Anaku lead the line with piercing runs between centre-back and full-back.
Mathew Anim Cudjoe and Darren Watson played off the wings, tucking inside to open up space in the channels for runs from deep.
Hibernian mirrored United’s 4-3-3 setup, 2016 Scottish Cup winners Darren McGregor and Lewis Stevenson included in the hosts’ XI, and Jair Tavares, signed from Portuguese giants Benfica in the summer, operated from the right.
The first chance of the 90 fell the way of Hibs, as Stevenson found space to deliver to the back post for unmarked colleague Josh O’Connor who miscued his volley from 16 yards.
Stonewaller
There were vociferous claims for a United penalty on 11 minutes when tenacious midfield pressing from Fotheringham saw him dispossess Lewis Miller just inside the attacking half. The Terrors midfielder raced towards goal and was eventually hauled down by Miller on the recovery, but the referee dubiously waived away shouts for a spot kick.
More counter-pressing from United led to another opportunity, this time Anaku pickpocketing youngster Murray Aiken inside the penalty area with the loose ball falling to Watson whose snapshot was easily held by Hibernian stopper Ryan Schofield
The coaching duo of Payne and Grant were forced into a relatively early change at the midway point of the first half as Watson picked up a knock off the ball and he was replaced by Miller Thomson.
Foothold
United began to find a rhythm in the game soon after, with the attacking wingbacks allowed the freedom to run forward due to Robson dropping in to make a back three which offered protection. Freeman in particular combined well with Cudjoe and Fotheringham down the right as they often left green shirts chasing tangerine shadows.
However, a sloppy pass from Bisland on the halfway line allowed Hibs a clear-cut chance on the counter, Allan Delfererrie intercepting the ball and feeding teammate Momodou Bojang who found his low drive towards the corner blocked by Ruaridh Adams’ outstretched leg.
The last action of note in the first period came four minutes before the interval, an audacious Fotheringham effort from distance sliding past the post after he played a sharp one-two with fellow midfielder Chalmers.
Flurry Of Goals
In the second half, the run of play continued to flow towards the home side’s goal, and it wouldn’t take long for United to get their just rewards, Fotheringham the architect. The 19-year-old pounced on a half clearance to collect the ball 25 yards out and spread it wide to Cudjoe on the left who darted into the area before spotting Fotheringham who’d continued his run into the area, and he steered his Ghanaian colleague’s low cross into the net.
It didn’t take long for Hibs to respond, though, and Tavares found the far corner with a whipped effort from 20 yards on 55 minutes after Bisland had been dispossessed close to the box by Bojang.
The flurry of goals continued, this time United pouncing on a calamitous mix-up between McGregor and Schofield on the edge of the area, with Anaku on hand to turn and fire home into the unguarded net.
The introduction of Emmanuel Johnson from the Hibs bench gave Duffy a significant physical presence to deal with on the left as an end-to-end began to unfold in the driving Edinburgh rain.
Just after the hour mark, the ball was in the net once more - the unfortunate Fotheringham heading a Tavares corner into his own net at the near post with Adams left helpless between the United sticks.
Chances To Pinch It
In the closing stages, the Terrors had half-chances to take three points on the opening day of the cinch Reserve League campaign, as makeshift striker Chalmers adapted well to his new role up top, occupying centre-halfs McGregor and Kyle McClelland.
The 22-year-old was on the end of a harsh challenge from Miller after a run into the channel, with the loose ball running through to Cudjoe who found his goal-bound strike blocked by Aiken on the slide.
Then Cudjoe and Chalmers linked up down the left as the former found the latter with a floated delivery, but the resultant left-footed volley was too tame to trouble Schofield.
Finally, Chalmers’s snapshot from the D was once again easily held by the keeper, the last sighting of goal for either side.
The return of the cinch Reserve League a welcome sight as the opportunity for those on the brink of breaking through to the first team to get regular competitive action opens up once more.
Teamlines
Hibernian: Schofield, Miller, McGregor, McClelland, Stevenson, Aiken, Delfererrie, Hamilton, Tavares, Bojang, O’Connor (M.Johnson, Balde, Blaney, E.Johnson, MacIntyre, McCulloch, Megwa, Smith, Zaid)
United: Adams, Freeman, Duffy, Robson, Bisland, Comerford, Cudjoe, Fotheringham, Anaku, Watson, Chalmers (McCabe, Thomson, Moore, Donald, Mwangi, Bertie, Carnwath)
