Dundee Utd 2
St Bernard's 2
League (Division Two)

Match Report

United kicked off their new season in front of a 14,000 crowd at Tannadice, as they welcomed the all out attacking combination of St Bernard's.

From the outset, there were doubts cast over United's defensive capabilities as the youngster Dave Colington from Coupar Angus, taking up the right back position, appeared slightly overawed at the spectacle and the large crowd, and was prone to several early errors. It was therefore no surprise when Donald Murray ran through the defence to open the scoring for the Edinburgh side. The game took an unfortunate turn six minutes later when the homesters' Dave Corbett was forced to withdraw following an injury to his face sustained during a corner scrimmage. The right half lost consciousness as he walked away and was then carried from the field, before collapsing once again in the pavilion. United were then forced to play the remainder of the first half a man short. The Saints were unlucky not to increase their lead as they continued to heap pressure on United but the sound work of the Tannadice club's new young goalkeeper Bob Morrison and "do or die" left back Willie MacRitchie kept them in the race. Good fortune handed United an equaliser seven minutes before the break thanks to Jacky Brown, who added the finishing touch to a thirsty square ball from the returning Duncan Hutchison, capping off a general-like display from former Hull City man.

Still a man down upon the resumption, United conceded a second as St Bernard retook the advantage after 51 minutes, this time through John Russell. United reintroduced the stalwart Corbett, who although weary and not altogether "with it", did his best to level the playing field. United's perseverance eventually paid off just before the hour mark when referee Welsh awarded the home men a penalty kick. With authority, Dave "Skelly" Skelligan made no mistake with a low fast shot, stuck well away from Archie Cunningham into the corner - the first for the former Brechin man. The end of the match arrived ninety seconds earlier than Jimmy Brownlie's stopwatch in the pavilion indicated it should have done - just as Arthur Milne was about to pull the trigger on a shot towards goal too.