First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
For the second year running Cowdenbeath were our visitors in the Betfred Cup with the Tangerines looking to repeat their 6-1 win 12 months ago and maintain their 100% start to the season.
By Peter Rundo
Injuries dictated four changes from the side that had won at Buckie in midweek. Tam Scobbie started in place of Mark Durnan; Scott Fraser replaced James Keatings and Matty Smith, back from suspension, came in for Patrick N’Koyi. There was a new face on the bench with 17-year-old Logan Chalmers being handed a first ever call up.
First Half
From the start, United dominated possession and an early chance went a begging when a Jordie Briels hard-driven cross found no takers. Cowden’s Robert Buchanan was booked after 9 minutes and with the Fifers defending resolutely, there wasn’t a sniff of a clear-cut chance for the home side. Well, not until the half hour mark, when Billy King threaded a ball through to Sam Stanton who took the ball in his stride before slotting the ball home from ten yards for his first goal for the Club.
At the other end, the League Two side briefly threatened with a Mathew McKinlay cross from the right brushing the top of the bar. And despite continuing to completely dominate, the first half ended with no further goals.
Second Half
Within a minute of the second half starting, the United lead was doubled. Matty Smith was the creator heading on a long ball out of defence and then chasing it and holding off the challenge of Shaun Rutherford from which King picked up the running and ran through to dink the ball over former United keeper Joe McGovern whose first touch having replaced McGurn after the interval was to pick the ball out of the back of the net.
Nine minutes later, McGovern was right behind a curling shot from Paul McGovern. But with Ray McKinnon’s men continuing to threaten, a goal was only delayed until the mid-point of the half. Matty Smith’s run into the box was curtailed when he was chopped down for a penalty which was expertly converted by Scott Fraser, sending McGovern the wrong way.
The only disappointment of the afternoon came with the concession of the first goal of the season 14 minutes from time. The defence failed to clear their lines and a Rutherford cross found its way to Cameron Muirhead whose angled drive beat Harry Lewis at his near post.
That only spurred United on to greater endeavour and the three goal lead was restored ten minutes from time. King’s low drive from the edge of the box was parried by McGovern, but Matty Smith reacted fastest to net the rebound from close in for his first goal for the Club.
Thereafter, the winning margin could have been increased on a couple of occasions and particularly when Jamie Robson got on the end of a cross, only to head wide.
Summing Up – Another encouraging performance maintained the winning start to the season. United showed commendable patience in the first half before making the breakthrough and the three goals winning margin was the least they deserved against the plucky Fifers.
Man of the match – Sam Stanton and Matty Smith both opened their scoring account and the latter was also involved in two of the other goals, but Billy King edges them out. His fleet of foot and pace was a constant threat and in addition to his goal he was the architect of the first and last goals.
Teams:
United: Lewis, Toshney (Ballantyne 82), Scobbie (captain), Edjenguélé, Robson, Briels (Allardice 67), Stanton, McMullan, Fraser (Chalmers75), King, M Smith.
Unused Subs: Deniz, Donaldson, B Smith, Thomas.
Cowdenbeath: McGurn (McGovern 46), Pyper, Rutherford, Mullen, Rumsby (Captain), Syme, McKinlay (Morris 65), Buchanan (Connelly 83), Muirhead, Miller, Swann.
Unused Subs: Thomson, Ovenstone, Turnbull, Leslie.
Referee: Alan Newlands
Crowd: 3253 (Visitors 84)
At the other end, the League Two side briefly threatened with a Mathew McKinlay cross from the right brushing the top of the bar. And despite continuing to completely dominate, the first half ended with no further goals.
Second Half
Within a minute of the second half starting, the United lead was doubled. Matty Smith was the creator heading on a long ball out of defence and then chasing it and holding off the challenge of Shaun Rutherford from which King picked up the running and ran through to dink the ball over former United keeper Joe McGovern whose first touch having replaced McGurn after the interval was to pick the ball out of the back of the net.
Nine minutes later, McGovern was right behind a curling shot from Paul McGovern. But with Ray McKinnon’s men continuing to threaten, a goal was only delayed until the mid-point of the half. Matty Smith’s run into the box was curtailed when he was chopped down for a penalty which was expertly converted by Scott Fraser, sending McGovern the wrong way.
The only disappointment of the afternoon came with the concession of the first goal of the season 14 minutes from time. The defence failed to clear their lines and a Rutherford cross found its way to Cameron Muirhead whose angled drive beat Harry Lewis at his near post.
That only spurred United on to greater endeavour and the three goal lead was restored ten minutes from time. King’s low drive from the edge of the box was parried by McGovern, but Matty Smith reacted fastest to net the rebound from close in for his first goal for the Club.
Thereafter, the winning margin could have been increased on a couple of occasions and particularly when Jamie Robson got on the end of a cross, only to head wide.
Summing Up – Another encouraging performance maintained the winning start to the season. United showed commendable patience in the first half before making the breakthrough and the three goals winning margin was the least they deserved against the plucky Fifers.
Man of the match – Sam Stanton and Matty Smith both opened their scoring account and the latter was also involved in two of the other goals, but Billy King edges them out. His fleet of foot and pace was a constant threat and in addition to his goal he was the architect of the first and last goals.
Teams:
United: Lewis, Toshney (Ballantyne 82), Scobbie (captain), Edjenguélé, Robson, Briels (Allardice 67), Stanton, McMullan, Fraser (Chalmers75), King, M Smith.
Unused Subs: Deniz, Donaldson, B Smith, Thomas.
Cowdenbeath: McGurn (McGovern 46), Pyper, Rutherford, Mullen, Rumsby (Captain), Syme, McKinlay (Morris 65), Buchanan (Connelly 83), Muirhead, Miller, Swann.
Unused Subs: Thomson, Ovenstone, Turnbull, Leslie.
Referee: Alan Newlands
Crowd: 3253 (Visitors 84)
