Dundee Utd 4
Queen's Park 1
League Cup (2nd Round)

Match Report

In view of the team's recent form, Alex Smith rang the changes for the visit of amateur Third Division side Queen's Park in the second round of the CIS Insurance Cup. Missing from the starting line-up were midfielder Charlie Miller through suspension, while Kevin McGowne, Danny Griffin and Craig Easton were named on the bench. They were replaced by David McCracken, Stephen O’Donnell, Jim Paterson and Jim McIntyre in an attempt to freshen up the side.

Stephen O'Donnell scored the first of the afternoon in just 7 minutes. For Queen's, Steven Canning’s shot from eighteen yards in 34 minutes was blocked by Mark Wilson and cleared as the visitors tried to put United under some pressure. It was short lived, however, and United went further ahead in 36 minutes with another goal from O'Donnell. Arnar Gunnlaugsson sent the youngster through on the right and he finished with a quite superb first time chip over Colin Stewart, into the corner of the net from 20 yards. Stuart Duff strode forward from right back in 40 minutes, playing a one-two with Derek Lilley but shot wide of the left hand post. Queen's shocked United when they pulled a goal back against the run of play after 42 minutes. Steven Canning accepted a lay off from Craig Taggart on the edge of the box before firing a fine shot past Paul Gallacher into the right hand corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Both teams started the second half unchanged. In 48 minutes, Gunnlaugsson made a great run forward before releasing Steven Thompson on the left. The big striker tried to beat his marker and shot, but former United youth Steven Fallon blocked it for a corner. In 49 minutes, Jim Paterson headed a superb O’Donnell right wing cross straight at Stewart when he ought to have scored from ten yards out. The visitors started showing more belief and were taking the game to United in search of an equaliser. In 69 minutes, United extended their lead and it was sensational for teenager Stephen O'Donnell as he completed a remarkable hat-trick. Latching onto a chip from Gunnlaugsson before stepping inside the full back, O'Donnell fired a powerful left foot shot past Stewart to complete a memorable night. In 72 minutes, United went 4-1 up when Paterson skipped past Fallon on the left and crossed for Steven Thompson, who stabbed the ball home from close range. Slack defending in injury time from United gave Canning a chance at the back post, but Gallacher saved with his feet, ensuring a comfortable win in the end for United.