Dundee Utd 3
Dunfermline 0
League (SPL)

Match Report

Boss Ian McCall fielded a side with only two personnel changes from the team which went down to Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the SPL game two weeks ago. Mark Wilson was out through injury and Billy Dodds on the bench. Jamie McCunnie and Russell Latapy, the latter making his Dundee United debut, take their places. Gary Bollan was wearing the captain’s armband.

In the first few minutes of the game, with Latapy controlling the midfield, Derek Lilley and Jim McIntyre both had attempts on goal for the Terrors but it was proving difficult to break down the Dunfermline defence. The Pars themselves were rarely in the game and could count only two shots at goal, both of which Paul Gallacher dealt with well. Derek Lilley had the ball in the net in 23 minutes but was flagged offside. The deadlock was broken on 38 minutes when Jim Paterson sent in a right foot cross from the left into the box and found Craig Easton, whose well-timed headed effort went across the goalkeeper and into the net.

The second half was only two minutes old when Derek Lilley burst down the left and his low driven cross was just missed by Jim McIntyre but not by new recruit Andy Tod, who squeezed the ball in at the far post for his second strike since joining United last month. On 51 minutes, Russell Latapy was withdrawn and replaced by Billy Dodds and for the next twenty minutes or so United seemed to lose some momentum and Dunfermline had the upper hand. However, with quarter of an hour remaining, the Tangerines came back into the game with the introduction of Danny Ogunmade on 76 minutes. With only four minutes left to play Alan Smart was also brought on. It was these two who combined to give a final score line of 3-0 to United. Smart bravely challenged for and won a loose ball and turned to cross for young Ogunmade who had found some space in the box. Danny brought the ball down with his right foot and flicked it into the net with his left for his first goal for United.