Dundee Utd 3
Hamilton 0
Challenge Cup (2nd Round)

Match Report

United's much changed side which saw teenage winger Paul Walker start a first team match for the first time booked a comfortable passage to the quarter finals of the League Challenge Cup.

There was never any doubt about United's from the moment Paddy Connolly shot us ahead after 20 minutes play which had been completely confined to Accies half. There was an element of good fortune about the goal, Billy McKinlay hit his shot from 20 yards well enough, but it took a deflection. Ferguson in goal did manage to block it, but only to Paddy Connolly who netted the rebound with comfort.

The re-instated striker hit one just over as the visitors continued to be pegged back and it was half an hour before Kelham O'Hanlon saw any action, diving to hold a McCamson header. Just five minutes into the second period, United got a deserved second. Paul Walker took a Billy McKinlay pass and began a run across the edge of the box before prodding the ball into the path of Paddy Connolly who hit a vicious first time shot from 12 yards which gave Ferguson no chance.

For some reason United took their foot of the pedal to allow Hamilton to come back into a game which looked well beyond them. They missed two or three chances before the outcome was wrapped up with a third United goal five minutes from the end. Ferguson failed to hold a Billy McKinlay strike from the edge of the box and Grant Johnson was on hand to net the rebound for his first goal of the season. The match had its element of tragedy Scott Crabbe being stretchered off with another serious looking injury.