The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
United ease past Buckie after early goal blitz
BETFRED CUP: Comfortable victory overshadowed by injury to Keatings
BUCKIE THISTLE 0 DUNDEE UNITED 3
Dundee United proved too strong for Highland League champions Buckie Thistle last night with three first-half goals settling this Betfred Cup tie.
Paul McMullan made it two goals in two competitive games for his new club, while Billy King grabbed his first for the Tangerines before Mark Durnan claimed the final goal before the break.
United manager Ray McKinnon was satisfied by the performance as his team made it two wins from two in the group.
But injury to striker James Keatings was a black spot on a good night for his team.
McKinnon said: “It was a good result. Some of the stuff we played was pleasing.
“In the first half we were excellent and I’m happy with that.
“Second half, we mentally tuned out a little bit so I was disappointed with that.
“But it was a tough game and the boys did well tonight.
“The only downer was the injury to Keatings.
“He’s got a bad one on his ankle which is why he was stretchered off so we’ll find out in the next couple of days how bad it is.
“Buckie are a good side with a lot of pace up front. We knew they were a good side which is why we played at that high level in the first half.
“All in all, to come to a tricky place like this and come away with the three points we’ve got to be happy with that.
Buckie, in their first ever home tie in the competition, were under the cosh early on with keeper Daniel Bell making a good near post save from King’s drilled effort on the left.
Ten minutes later the home defence failed to deal with Jamie Robson’s left wing cross and McMullan’s fierce drive forced a fine parried save from Bell.
James Keatings then curled a 25 -yard free-kick just past but United’s opening goal was on the cards and it finally arrived on 18 minutes.
King broke down the left and although Buckie’s Lewis MacKinnon got a head to the ball, it fell kindly for McMullan to crash a fine volley low into the corner.
Three minutes later King made it 2-0 with a powerful low effort from the edge of the box after Keatings picked him out.
Buckie’s first sniff of goal saw Drew Copeland and Kevin Fraser combine to release Chris Angus into the box but a poor touch led to keeper Harry Lewis saving at his feet.
On 34 minutes United extended their lead from a Keatings corner on the right which was side footed home by centre back Mark Durnan from six yards.
Three minutes later Tangerines defender William Edjenguele almost got on the scoresheet with another header from a Keatings corner which Buckie defender Andy Skinner nodded off the line.
King duffed a great chance at the post from a Keatings cross while McMullan put Patrick N’Koyi clean through with a superb pass but the debut striker was closed down quickly by keeper Bell, who made a save.
Right on hal-time Jags’ Copeland sent John McLeod on a run into the United box but the striker’s hurried shot skewed left of the target.
With the tie in the bag, United took their foot off the gas and manager Ray McKinnon took the opportunity to bring on fresh legs.
To their credit Buckie looked far more positive and forced a series of corner kicks to reverse the flow of attacks which the first half brought.
Twenty minutes from time Keatings found space on the edge of the Buckie box to rifle in a fierce drive which Bell did well to parry and sub Scott Fraser’s follow up flew over.
The Tannadice side were hit by a setback when Keatings went down after a fairly innocuous Buckie challenge and had to be stretchered off, leaving United with 10 men for the final seven minutes as all subs had been used.
A late effort by Jags sub Sam Urquhart was deflected just past but United comfortably made it two wins out of two in their section. Attendance: 1,200 Buckie: Bell; Skinner, Anderson, MacKinnon, Maitland; McLean, Fraser; Taylor, Angus, Copeland; McLeod: Subs: Elder, Dorrat, Milne, Sim
Dundee Utd: Lewis; Toshney, Durnan (Scobbie 46), Edjenguele, Robson; King (Fraser 69), Stanton, Briels, McMullan; N’Koyi (Allardice 74), Keatings. Subs: Ballantyne, Smith, Thomas, Mehmet.
Referee: Graham Beaton