Dundee United afforded several senior stars the chance to shine as their SPFL Reserve Cup campaign kicked off in St Andrews.
Comparatively experienced stagers Scott McMann, Kieran Freeman and Craig Sibbald all started against Queen’s Park, while Archie Meekison and Mathew Cudjoe also boast first-team experience.
And it was Meekison and McMann who rippled the net to cancel out a Jason Naismith opener as the Tangerines ran out 2-1 winners.
United passed up a host of opportunities to hit the back of the net in the first period, with Mathew Cudjoe and Scott McMann seeing efforts cleared off the line.
Wee wander down to watch Dundee United in Reserve Cup action vs Queen's Park. 1-0 to the Spiders at HT.
Sibbald, Miller Thomson and Scott McMann all forced fine saves.
Only goal of the game so far, though, from Jason Naismith 👇 pic.twitter.com/Xl1La0fSDA
— Alan Temple (@alanftemple) September 20, 2022
Spiders stopper Jacques Heraghty was in fine form between the sticks denying Craig Sibbald, Miller Thomson and McMann.
Not to be undone, United keeper Jack Newman made a super low stop to thwart a driven Adam Brown free-kick.
However, the excellent Brown did craft the opener on the cusp of the interval, with his inswinging delivery headed home by Queen’s Park skipper Naismith.
United levelled after the break, with Meekison tapping into an empty net following a precise cross by the marauding Freeman.
Dundee United beat Queen's Park 2-1 in their Reserve Cup opener thanks to a 94th-minute Scott McMann free-kick
— Alan Temple (@alanftemple) September 20, 2022
Meekison saw two further opportunities come and go as the Terrors pushed for a winner.
But their persistence finally paid off with 94 minutes on the clock as McMann slammed a low free-kick beyond the desperate dive of Heraghty.
The win sees United begin their Reserve Cup Group 1 campaign with three points.
Dundee United team: (3-5-2) Newman; Comerford (Bisland 44), Hutchinson, Duffy (Fotheringham 64); Freeman, Robson, Meekison, Sibbald, McMann; Cudjoe (MacLeod 68), Thomson (Mwangi 77 – additional sub permitted due to suspected concussion).
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