The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
United fire six-goal blast at Glebe Park
Dundee United got their Betfred Cup campaign off to a flying start in a goal-laden clash at Glebe Park last night.
A Nicky Clark double had them 2-0 up after just 16 minutes before Calum Butcher added a third five minutes before the break.
Just a couple of minutes into the second half, Ian Harkes made it 4-0 when he swept the ball home.
T he home team had chances, though, and they got a deserved goal back on 50 minutes when Kieran Inglis converted from the penalty spot.
City scored again just three minutes later via Rory Currie and it looked to be game on. However, United sub Cammy Smith made it 5 -2 on the hour then finished things off with a second in injury-time.
United were without international duo Lawrence Shankland and Logan Chalmers, aw a y with S c o t l a n d ’s senior and under-21 sides respectively.
City were delighted to be back playing, with their last competitive fixture against Cove Rangers way back on March 7.
It was the hosts who created the first serious chance of the game when Currie raced towards goal after stealing the ball from day-dreaming Un i t e d skipper Mark Reymolds but Deniz stood up well and saved. The Turkish keeper palmed away a strike from Jimmy Scott a minute later.
The Tangerines were warming up, though, and Ry a n Edwards sent a header wide on 11 minutes.
The Premiership team then took the lead on 14 minutes when Harkes’ shot was parried by home keeper Lewis McMinn into the path of Clark, who scored from close range.
It was 2- 0 a couple of minutes later and Clark was on target again, this time firing a cross into the top right-hand corner.
United came close to a third on 21 minutes when
Louis Appere shot wide and Brechin’s bright start seemed a distant memory.
All of a sudden, however, Scott Cusick cut in well but fired before Matty Todd hit the post for the hosts only for a relieved Deniz to gather the rebound.
Up at the other end, Clark pulled his shot wide before Ha r k e s burst forward on the half-hour and let fly with a fine strike but McMinn saved.
Just minutes later, there was a huge let-off for Micky Me l lon ’s men when Edwards had to clear Todd’s shot off the line after some harum-scarum stuff at the back from United.
Cusick should have got one back for Brechin on 38 minutes when the ball reached him at the back post but he blasted his volley over from just a couple of yards.
United were still able to pick Brechin off and they went straight up the park and bagged goal number three on 40 minutes. It was Butcher’s turn to get on the scoresheet, shooting past McMinn from 25 yards.
Clark was denied a firsthalf hat-trick when his shot was blocked by the goalie’s legs at close range.
Just two minutes after the restart, it was 4- 0. Harkes swept the ball home from 10 yards after being found by a Luke Bolton cutback from the right.
On 50 minutes Brechin got the goal they deserved when they scored a penalty. Leeroy Ma k o v o r a wa s tripped inside the box and up stepped Inglis to pick his spot.
Amazingly, having looked out of the running, City’s Currie converted a low cross to make it 4-2 just three minutes later.
However, the Tangerines still wanted more goals and substitute Smith, who had replaced Clark, nipped in at close range on the hour mark to score their fifth via keeper McMinn.
Sub Dillon Powers had a 25-yard strike saved on 74 minutes as the Tangerines kept attacking but Brechin came close when sub Benjamin Luissint blasted right at Deniz.
To round off the night, Smith grabbed his second of the game and the Tangerines’ sixth when he drilled home a low strike from the edge of the box.
● Hibs survived a scare against Highland League Brora Rangers before emerging 3-1 winners in Group B.
A Stevie Mallan brace saw the hosts race into a two-goal lead but Brora, who had not kicked a ball since March, pulled one back through Da le Gillespie. Paul Hanlon spared Hibs any more nerves with a late header.
St Mirren eased past League One Partick Thistle 4-1 in Group G after Blair Spittall had equalised for the Jags, while Alloa won 2- 0 at Airdrieonians in Group H.