The Young Terrors travelled to Spain last Friday for a warm-weather training camp and this afternoon played their first of two friendlies as they ran out a 1-1 draw with Elche CF Under-23s.
An excellent team move resulted in Flynn Duffy firing home a stunning goal shortly before half-time, but the Spanish Segunda Division side made a full squad rotation during the break which flipped the game on its head.
It was a strong opening 45 minutes for United who never looked like conceding with the back four looking composed and resilient against an experienced opposition.
Rhys Caves was enjoying the game as he pulled the strings in midfield, regularly pinging balls to the wide areas for the Young Terrors to get forward and it was from the right-wing where the opening goal would come from.
After his initial cross found its way back to him, Nathan Cooney supplied the ball to Shaun Brown who flicked Archie Meekison in behind Elche's defence on the 36th minute.
The 17-year-old followed it up with a superb ball across the face of goal, taking both centre backs out the game and Duffy was lurking at the back post to strike a stunning volley into the back of the net.
Elche made wholesale changes at the interval and midway through the second half they equalised as a cross-turned-shot had Fraser Currid beaten.
There was to be another highlight for United as Kai Fotheringham made his return from injury when he came on after 70 minutes. The 16-year-old had been out of action for five months after having an operation on his ankle and the smile could not be wiped from his face as he took to the pitch.
Next up for the Young Terrors is their second friendly of the training camp against Dutch side Be Fair on Monday before returning to competitive action in Scotland against Fife Elite on Friday 17 January. That match is a 7.30pm kick-off at Whitton Park.
#ArabZONE subscribers can now hear from Adam Asghar and Fraser Currid as they update us on the training camp and reflect on this afternoon's match. Watch their interviews here.