Penalty Perfection Secures Bonus Point

Cammy Bell earned United another bonus point with some crucial saves in the penalty shoot out that followed a 1-1 draw at the Caledonian Stadium. It was the home side that opened the scoring in regulation time when Scott Boden headed in from close range midway through the first half. However, United levelled immediately after the interval with Stewart Murdoch curling home from outside the box. With the game all square at full time, penalties decided who would collect the bonus point and a combination of flawless finishing from United and some great goalkeeping from Bell ensured United left with the two points.  By Graeme Webster For this League Cup trip to the Inverness, United made three changes from the side that won so convincingly against Cowdenbeath in midweek. Coll Donaldson, Blair Spittal and Nick van der Velden came into the side with the latter making his first start for the club. Scott Fraser, Sean Dillon and Tope Obadeyi dropped out. Caley’s latest recruits, Kevin McNaughton and Billy King both made the starting eleven for the home side. United set up in the now familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, with Simon Murray leading the attack and Cammy Smith, Blair Spittal and Nick van der Velden in support. Paul Dixon captained the side in the absence of Sean Dillon. Ray McKinnon elected pair up central defenders Durnan and Donaldson at back, the third different central defensive combination in three games. Nick van der Velden looked lively in the opening minutes and was involved in a number of neat passing exchanges in the centre of the park. With opportunities at a premium early on, McKinnon rotated his forward four in an attempt to engineer some space in the attacking third. The first clear chance of the game fell to Caley. Billy King used his skill and pace to make progress down the left and his cross found Polworth with space at the edge of the box. Luckily for United, the Inverness midfielder fired his shot high over the bar. Caley continued to press and, from a corner, Cammy Bell had to be strong to clutch the ball under pressure from two home attackers. The first good opening for United didn’t arrive until twenty minutes in. A low cross from Smith was just too deep for Murray, who was racing in to finish. Minutes later United came even closer. This time the impressive Murdoch nodded a bouncing ball off the bar before it was cleared from danger. United were coming more into the game and on the half hour mark van der Velden found himself in space after a neat ball from Smith. The big forward looked to maneuver the ball from one foot to the other but in doing so lost the chance and was closed down. As the game edged towards half time, Caley took a surprise lead. Carl Tremarco found Warren at the near post and the defender nodded on to Boden who had the simple task of heading home from close in. Just before half time, Dixon limped off injured and the left back was not to return.  HT: Inverness 1 – 0 United Dillon replaced Dixon at half time and United came out with all guns blazing. When a harmless ball looked to be running over the touchline, van der Velden showed some great skill to not only keep it play but also release Murray on the right. The striker lost his marker with a lightening quick turn and then proceeded to the edge of the box. His cut back picked out Spittal, who in turn laid the ball off to Murdoch and the midfielder curled home a long-range effort to level the game. The away side played with more urgency and pace in the second half and a number of crunching tackles raised the temperature on the field. The referee was intent on letting the game flow and that made for some robust battles in the midfield including a great tussle between Draper and Murdoch. With the increase in tempo came a rash of booking with van der Velden, Durnan and Obadeyi all going into the book. It looked like United had turned the game on its head with twenty minutes remaining when van der Velden, who had been so creative in the match, played in Murray but the striker’s effort flew just past the post. United brought on Anier and Obadeyi to try and clinch the three points but it was Smith who came closest to doing so. However, he rushed his effort when he found space in the penalty area and the ball squirmed by the post.  FT: Inverness CT 1 – 1 United  After the game ended 1-1, a penalty shoot out was required to settle the winners of the bonus point. Like in Arbroath, United put in a perfect penalty performance. Obadeyi, Donaldson, Murdoch and Murray scored their penalties to win the extra point. Only four penalties were required as Cammy Bell saved from both Tansey and Draper, with only Tremarco successful from the spot for Caley.  Man of the Match: Stewart Murdoch slugged it out with Draper for the entire 90 minutes and came out on top. He showed great spirit and determination in the middle of the park and capped a strong performance with a wonderful long range goal.  United: Bell, Toshney, Donaldson, Durnan, Dixon (Dillon 45’), Spittal (Obadeyi 67’), Flood, Murdoch, van der Velden (Anier 79’), Smith, Murray. Unused Subs: Zwick, Souttar, Telfer, Fraser.  Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Mackay, Raven, Warren, McNaughton, Tremarco, Polworth, Draper, Tansey, King, Vigurs (Mulraney 59’), Boden (Fisher 85’). Unused Subs: Fon Williams, Brown, Horner, Sutherland. Referee: Euan Anderson   Attendance: 1,839