Dundee Reserves 2 – 2 Dundee United Reserves
Dundee Reserves win 5-3 on penalties
17/10/23
Cinch Reserve Cup
North End Park
Dundee Reserves played their first match in this year’s cinch Reserve cup and they were up against city rivals Dundee United at North End Park this afternoon.
Dundee had a mix of young players along with a few experienced players in the starting lineup. It was a good opportunity for first-team players such as Lee Ashcroft, Mo Sylla, Marcel Lewis, Ryan Howley and Diego Pineda to all get important game time.
Sweenie-Rowe created the first chance of the game in the fourth minute driving forward before playing in Mutale who managed to get a shot away but it was saved comfortably by the keeper.
However, it was the visitors who got the first goal of the game in the seventh minute. Lee Ashcroft fouled on the edge of the box and Rory Macleod stepped up and his shot went past the wall and into the bottom corner of the net. After the opening goal, there were very few chances for either side with the ball being played in the middle of the park and both sides cancelling one another out.
United had another opportunity from a free-kick just before the half-hour mark, the free-kick found Cleall-Harding who connected with the ball but it went over the bar. MacLeod nearly scored again when he ran through on goal, with the flag staying down, but Welsh stood tall and saved the shot.
Dundee looked for a way back into the match through Howley who had two shots blocked before Pineda’s header was saved by Adams in the United goal. Pineda then hit a shot on the volley but Adams punched clear.
United nearly extended their lead just before half-time when Duffy headed just over the bar from a free-kick.
At half-time the Dundee Reserves replaced Pineda with Richardson and the Dee started the second half the brighter seeing much more of the ball and created half chances through Allan and Lewis, but the United defence were well organised. Murray replaced Sweenie-Rowe on the hour mark and Murray was involved quickly after coming on, a Lewis free-kick was headed out to Murray who struck the ball just wide of the post. Sylla came closest when he turned his man and hit a powerful shot on goal, but Adams was able to beat the ball away.
The Dee began putting pressure on the United goal and came agonisingly close when Howley saw his free-kick hit the bar. A minute later Dundee had another free-kick just a bit further out, again it was struck by Howley and again it was very close to going in, this time Adams turned it over the bar. From the resulting corner, Dundee finally got their equaliser, the ball was delivered into the box by Lewis and found Sylla at the back post who brought the ball down and shot past the keeper.
The Dee were spurred on by the leveler and four minutes later were in front for the first time in the match. Allan was fouled out on the right side of the park, Lewis then delivered and cross from the free-kick which was met by Richardson who side-footed it and the ball squeezed through the keeper’s hands and into the net.
It looked like Dundee had secured the win, however, the visitors levelled the score in the 92nd minute. Richardson went down with a head knock in the United half but the referee allowed play to continue whilst Richardson was still down and United broke up the park and won a corner. Richardson needed treatment on the park meaning he had to leave the field of play while United took their corner. United took the resulting corner which was initially cleared but the ball fell to Miller Thomson who hit the ball sweetly and smashed it past Welsh into the goal.
Eight minutes were added onto the match as Dundee looked to re-take the lead, they won a late corner but United managed to clear and the match ended in a draw. The format of this cup competition is a league format to start with, meaning the match went to penalties with a bonus point on offer.
Mutale, Howley, Ashcroft, Graham and Murray all stepped up for The Dee and scored. United missed their first spot kick which was saved by Welsh and Dundee Reserves won the shoot out 5-3 and earned the bonus point with Ewan Murray scoring the winner.
Dundee Reserves
Welsh
Donald
Sweenie-Rowe – (Replaced by Murray 60 mins)
Howley
Ashcroft
Graham
Allan
Sylla
Mutale
Lewis
Pineda – (Replaced by Richardson 45 mins)
Unused Substitutes:
Lynch
Crowther
Murray
Craik
Barnett
Lorimer
Baird
Goal scorers
Sylla – 78 minutes
Richardson – 82 minutes
Dundee United Reserves
Adams
Thomson
Duffy
Cleall-Harding
Petrie
Denham
Mwangi
Dewar
MacLeod
O’Donnell
Carnwath
Substitutes
Haldane
Trotter
Domeracki
Borland
Forbes
Goal scorers
Macleod – 7 minutes
Thomson – 92 minutes
