United put Jake's boys to the test

For their penultimate pre-season friendly, Carnoustie Panmure played host to a Dundee United XI at Laing Park on Tuesday evening.

Included in the United starting line-up was Gary Kenneth, who had been a member of the Scotland team which finished runners-up to Spain in the European Under-19 Championship in Poland at the weekend.

The Gowfers, meanwhile, were without the services of Aaron Conway, who was nursing an ankle injury, and the holidaying Daryn Smith. Their places were taken by Ralph Brand and young trialist Martin Webster.

Carnoustie kicked-off, but it was United who had the first scoring opportunity after Graham fouled Abbott on the visitors' left. Feeney got up well to Easton's free kick, but his header lacked direction and went past the post.

In the first home attack, Collier and Russell linked well on the left, but Russell's cross-cum-shot was clutched safely by McLean under his crossbar.

A foul by Andreoni on Collier gifted Carnoustie a free kick 30 yards out. Russell flighted the ball over the defensive wall, but his effort was just too high and dropped the wrong side of the crossbar.

Shortly afterwards, Russell had another chance to put the Gowfers ahead when he ran on to a great cross-field pass from Webster, but his shot was too direct and went straight to McLean.

At the other end, a weak passback by Ogilvie conceded a corner on the right. Callaghan's cross was headed away by Cumming and fell to Abbott, who fired high over the bar from the edge of the box.

Carnoustie pushed forward once more and a Collier drive from the edge of the box went straight to McLean, who saved easily.

As the first half drew to a close, Callaghan and McCord both had chances to put United ahead, but their shots were well-saved by Butter.

Half-time: Carnoustie Panmure 0, Dundee United XI 0

Carnoustie were first to show after the break and almost took the lead when Wilkie got on the end of an Ogilvie free kick, but his header lacked power and was gathered easily by McLean.

In 48 minutes, however, it was United who opened the scoring. A deep cross from the right by Callaghan was headed back across goal by Kenneth and RITCHIE, on his own six yards out, fired home, giving Butter no chance.

United now had their tails up and doubled their lead just four minutes later. EASTON evaded a Wilkie tackle 40 yards out and ran forward to the left-hand corner of the box before firing high past Butter, who again had no chance.

As the Gowfers endeavoured to get themselves back in the game, Russell unleashed a fierce angular drive from the left of the box in 55 minutes. Unfortunately, the ball struck the crossbar and, as fate would have it, United went straight up the park from the rebound and scored a third through ABBOTT, whose high dipping shot from the right of the box beat Butter and went in off the inside of the far post.

Shortly afterwards, it was almost four. An Easton corner from the right was headed down by Kenneth to Ritchie, but this time Butter made a great block on the line.

Callaghan was next to come close for United with a fierce drive from the left corner of the box, which Butter did well to touch over the bar for a corner, which was cleared by Ogilvie.

Carnoustie squandered a chance to pull a goal back when a Russell cross from the right was met at the far post by substitute Warren, whose first-time effort flew high over the top.

United then forced a corner on the left, but Easton's cross was well held by Butter, under pressure from Kenneth.

Late in the game, Russell, Brand and Collier all passed-up good scoring opportunities, but Carnoustie eventually got on the scoresheet in 87 minutes when WILKIE headed powerfully home at the back post from a Russell right-wing corner.

Right on the final whistle, the Gowfers almost grabbed a second consolation counter when Warren took a pass from Russell and laid the ball back to the edge of the box from where McBride shot narrowly past McLean's left-hand post.

Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Butter, Miller (Narey 70), Graham, Ogilvie, Wilkie, Brand, Russell, Buick (McBride 70), Collier, Cumming, Webster (Warren 65). Substitutes not used - Johnston, Band (gk).

Dundee United XI : McLean, Abbott, Gardner, Burnett, Kenneth, Ritchie, Callaghan, Andreoni, Feeney, McCord (Gray 79), Easton. Substitutes not used - Gibson, O'Byrne, Pope, McMeechan.

Referee, H. Dalgetty, Brechin.