Cowdenbeath 1 Dundee United 5

DUNDEE UNITED left their so-so SPL form in their slipstream at Central Park as they drove Cowdenbeath out of the Co-operative Insurance Cup, writes Ian Roache.

The Tangerines have yet to find top gear in the league, but they motored away from the Fifers in this second round tie, held inside the famous car track.

A Jon Daly hat-trick and a David Goodwillie double did the trick for the Tannadice team, with John Dempster grabbing Cowden’s consolation.

“I was pleased with that,” said United boss Craig Levein.

“It was potentially a very difficult match, but the attitude of the players was spot-on.

“I was pleased for Jon, who has had to wait to get his chance, and I thought David was excellent.

“I think this was a good chance for a lot of guys to let me know they are still around.”

Levein decided to make five changes from the side that started at Motherwell on Saturday.

In came Sean Dillon, Darren Dods, Craig Conway, Daly and Goodwillie, and out went Mihael Kovacevic, Lee Wilkie, Prince Buaben, Roy O’Donovan and Warren Feeney.

Cowden included pre-match doubt Joe Mbu.

Scott Robertson almost opened the scoring for the visitors inside a minute after Conway played a low ball into the box, but his shot was blocked.

Paul McQuade had Cowden’s first attempt on goal on 10 minutes, but his snap-shot did not trouble new Polish call-up keeper Lukasz Zaluska.

A cross from the left fired in by Danny Grainger just missed the inrushing Daly as United pushed forward on 20 minutes but John Gemmell had an even better opportunity nine minutes later when he found space inside the box only for Dods to put in a crucial challenge.

Just 60 seconds later it was 1-0 to the Tangerines, with Conway swinging over a corner from the left-hand side that was nodded home by Daly from close range.

Daly almost made it two in quick succession, but his strike was straight at goalie David Hay.

United didn’t have long to wait for a second as a Grainger long throw-in was helped on by Daly and strike partner Goodwillie drilled a low shot into the net.

It should have been three just before the break, but Conway somehow found fresh air instead of the ball when picked out by Goodwillie right in front of goal.

United wasted little time in adding to their tally in the second half—two minutes to be exact as Scott Robertson battled his way into the box before squaring to Daly, who coolly stroked a low shot home from eight yards.

Two minutes later, it should have been more, but Goodwillie missed a sitter, heading wide with the goal gaping.

Goodwillie had scored two in a pre-season game here and he matched that achievement on the hour, curling home the best strike of the night after Cowden sub Mark Baxter—just on the park—had lost possession.

Cowden are not division three leaders for nothing, though, and they grabbed a consolation counter on 74 minutes when Dempster collected a cut-back and picked his spot.

However, United grabbed their fifth and Daly’s third with 10 minutes left when the Irishman sidefooted a Morgaro Gomis delivery past Hay.

Cowdenbeath boss Danny Lennon said, “We gave our all but were outclassed in the end.”

Attendance—1423.

Cowdenbeath—Hay, Mackay, Fleming, McGregor, Mbu, Hodge, Fairbairn (Tomana 67), Shields (Baxter 59), Gemmell (Dempster 67), Ramsay, McQuade. Subs not used—Morris, Linton.

Dundee United—Zaluska, Dillon, Grainger, Kenneth, Dods, Flood, Conway (Swanson 76), S Robertson, Daly (Shala 84), Gomis, Goodwillie. Subs not used—McGovern, O’Donovan, Kovacevic.

Referee—Euan Norris.