UNDER 18s FALL TO DISAPPOINTING DEFEAT AT TANNADICE

It was a disappointing first home defeat of the season for the Young Terrors as they fell to a 2-0 loss against St Mirren at Tannadice.

Two goals either side of half-time saw the Buddies head back down the road with all three points.

It could have been a very different story after just 15 minutes when Finn Malcolm forced the St Mirren centre-half into a mistake and burst through one-on-one with the keeper, but he knocked his shot to the wrong side of the post.

It would prove doubly frustrating six minutes later when St Mirren did take the lead. A deep free-kick was played high in United's box which was well-read by the striker. He brought the ball down under control with an excellent touch before firing into the bottom corner. 

Things could've been worse less than five minutes later when a shot from the left, which looked to be flying wide, cannoned off the crossbar. The final St Mirren attacker did knock the ball home but was correctly flagged for offside. 

Ruaridh Adams would then produce an excellent save to deny the Buddies shortly after the half-hour mark. After cutting inside to get past Layton Bisland the striker fired his shot on target, but the young United keeper tipped the ball on to the bar with a quick-reaction save.

The Young Terrors made a positive start to the second half as they found themselves more possession in St Mirren's final third. A corner from Lennon Walker shortly after the restart found Malcolm, but he was unable to direct his header on target.

St Mirren would double their advantage just before the hour mark when a short corner was swung into the back post. The ball was then headed back across goal and knocked over the line. 

United came close to clawing one back as the game wore on. Shaun Brown picked out Darren Watson with an excellent cross from the left flank, but the striker doesn't get the connection on the ball that he would've like and the keeper comfortably swept it up.

Then, with 14 minutes remaining, the ball broke to Bisland on the right-hand side of the box. The young full-back went to nestle the ball into the far corner, but ended up striking straight into the keeper's arms.

On a difficult day for the Young Terrors, Lewis O'Donnell again impressed in the midfield with positive play going forward and showed maturity in defence at the tender age of just 15. 

Next up for the 18s is a trip to Rangers on Tuesday 20th April.

Team: Ruaridh Adams; Layton Bisland, Adam Hutchinson (C), Sam Lovie; Shaun Brown, Rhys Caves, Lennon Walker (sub Trialist), Lewis O'Donnell, Darren Watson; Rory MacLeod (sub Stuart Heenan), Finn Malcolm (sub Miller Thomson)

Unused subs: Jamie McCabe, Dominik Naglik, Trialist