First Team
TEAM NEWS | PARTICK THISTLE (H)
3rd May 2024
DUNDEE 2
DUNDEE UNITED 0
CINCH RESERVE LEAGUE
14:00 TUESDAY 21ST FEBRUARY
WHITTON PARK
A blustery Whitton Park on the east side of the city proved the setting for the second consecutive derby for Dundee United B.
The Terrors’ last outing culminated in a thumping 5-0 victory over their city rivals, with Archie Meekison, Miller Thomson, Mathew Cudjoe and Sadat Anaku all on target at Gussie.
Click here to read the match report from that clash!
Line-Up
None of the goalscorers from that encounter were named amongst the starting XI this time around however, as a side heavily populated with U18s regulars took to the field.
16-year-old Greg Petrie was given the nod to start alongside fellow Young Terrors defender Arron Donald - the two flanking more experienced Adam Hutchinson who claimed the armband.
Keir Bertie and Layton Bisland filled the wingback slots, whilst Flynn Duffy was deployed in a new role in the centre of the park with Finn Robson.
Cove Rangers loanee Declan Glass and in-form creative midfielder Bryan Mwangi supported Stuart Heenan’s efforts to cause damage up top.
Dundee first-team regulars Jordan Marshall and Luke McCowan were both included in the line-up for the hosts, with Colchester loanee Ryan Clampin utilised off the bench in the second half.
It took ten minutes for the first flashpoint of the 90, when a speculative ball downfield from Bisland was miscontrolled by Jack Wilkie. This allowed Heenan to nip in and dispossess his opponent before racing through on goal, but Wilkie recovered sharply to execute a well-timed sliding challenge just in time.
Dark blue claims for spot-kick were waived away on 17 minutes after McCowan’s free-kick follow-up appeared to strike the arm of Robson on its route to goal.
Suffocated
Dundee’s aggressive counter-press caused United serious problems when looking to be calm and controlled in possession, as they weren’t afforded the luxury of time to pick progressive passes through the lines. This, therefore, left Heenan cutting an isolated figure up against a physically superior backline who mopped up aerial attempts to get the ball forward directly.
McCowan and Jamie Richardson combined for the hosts’ first clear-cut sighting of goal, a theme which would persist throughout, as the latter’s backpedalling header from his colleague’s cross looped narrowly over the bar.
The Dens Park outfit’s dominance continued, with Hutchinson forced to intervene on the half-hour mark to thwart Laurent Tolaj’s close-range effort after the Swiss bought space inside the area with neat footwork.
However, it was United who came closest to opening the scoring in the first 45, when Glass intelligently shut off the back pass to the goalkeeper, reaping the rewards when Marshall failed to analyse his surroundings before playing the ball back to his number one. The Terrors midfielder intercepted, but rather than go for goal first-time, he sent two defenders sprawling to the floor and flashed a powerful strike inches wide of the upright from an acute angle.
Ruiaridh Adams’ first action of note came on the stroke of half-time, pulling off a fine save in his top left-hand corner to deny Lewis Lorimer’s rising shot from range.
Dee Dominance
The run of play began to flow towards United’s goal more heavily, with the majority of the match played in the visitors’ defensive half. Finlay Allan thundered a vicious strike wide of the target after picking up a pocket of space between the midfield and defence, then just two minutes later, Richardson broke the deadlock.
Dundee’s pressing trap forced Hutchinson into a misplaced pass which Max Anderson latched onto, nipping in front of Duffy who gambled on the 50/50. This left United man for man at the back, and sharp interplay left the tangerine shirts chasing shadows, with Allan finding the advancing Richardson who coolly prodded past the despairing dive of Adams.
Things could’ve gone from bad to worse for United soon after, with Adams’ flapping at a corner leaving Wilkie with an open goal to aim at with his head. Luckily, the pressure from Hutchinson ensured the Dundee defender failed to hit the target.
At the other end, Bisland met a fabulous, in-swinging Mwangi delivery at the back stick with a free header but somehow could only steer wide from point-blank range.
The unlucky Petrie saw his clearance cannon back off Richardson and he raced down the line to collect the loose ball before squaring for Tolaj in the middle who spooned a wasteful effort a considerable distance over the bar.
Doubling Up
With 77 minutes on the clock, Bertie got himself in a tangle with livewire Richardson who hit the deck – the referee immediately pointing the spot without hesitation.
Dee number nine Richardson took the responsibility upon himself to convert the kick, sending Adams the wrong way and doubling his tally for the afternoon.
Former Ayr United winger McCowan then went agonisingly close to adding third for his side as he raced through on goal unchallenged, seeing his deft finish under Adams rebound back off the post. The ball landed perfectly at the feet of Richardson, on a hat-trick, and saw his follow-up brilliantly cleared off the line by Petrie.
United continued to struggle with chance creation, and a speculative Glass effort in stoppage time was the closest they came to halving the deficit.
2-0 the final score at Whitton Park on a day where a youthful Dundee United B were largely second best.
Teamlines
Dundee: Sharp, Lorimer, Marshall, Wilkie, Crowther, Robertson, Allan, Anderson, Richardson, Tolaj, McCowan (Lynch, Clampin, Murray, Kelly, Martin, Clark, Buchan)
United: Adams, Petire, Duffy, Hutchinson, Donald, Robson, Bisland, Mwangi, Heenan, Glass, Watson (Comerford, Bertie, Domeracki, Borland)
