Pre Season - Dundee United vs. Hibernian

Starting XI (Hibernian): Oxley (Trialist), Gray, Forster, Hanlon, Stevenson, Robertson, Craig, Stanton, Handling, Harris and El Alagui

Subs: Perntreou, Nelson, Jones, Booth, S.Allan, L.Allan, Gardiner, Duthie and Richardson (Trialist)

Booked: None

Subs Used:  Nelson, S.Allan, L.Allan, Booth, Jones and Richardson,

Starting XI (Dundee United): Cierzniak, Dillon, Fojut, Paton, Rankin, Morris, Armstrong, Dow, Ciftci, Spittal and Bilate

Subs: McCallum, Graham, Mackay-Steven, Telfer, Connolly, Fraser, Smith, Petrie and Erskine

Booked: None

Subs Used: Graham, Mackay-Steven, Telfer, Connolly, Fraser, Smith, Petrie and Erskine

My Man of the Match: Aidan Connolly

The first 20 minutes, Hibernian was the team who was doing most of the pressing. This was worrying for the United side but Cierzniak managed to hold his nerves and keep the ball out of the back of the net during this period of time.

At the 25 minute mark, it looked as if United were going to break the dead lock. A fantastic ball between Dow and Armstrong. However nothing came of this 60 yard field pass.

For the next 10 minutes play is all over the park, neither team was having a break through. 5 minutes before the break and Hibernian force a succession of corners from the United defence.

With a few minutes to go Ciftci was pressuring Oxley in the Hibernian goal. A fantastic 25 yard strike from Ciftci going over the bar. This ended the continued great pressure from the United side.

A poor first half, meant that it was goalless at the break.

Half Time Hibernian 0 - 0 Dundee United

Half Time Round Up:
The first half was a poor first half for the United side. They were letting Hibernian have the most possession of the ball and attack the defence. However, Cierzniak in goals managed to keep the ball out of the back of the net very well during the first half. This allows the teams to go into the break with a goalless draw.



A poor first 5 minutes into the second half. Handling tries to break the dead lock for Hibernian. However the ball was from long range and it was wide of the post. This gave the Hibernian players a boost. A unsteady defence was saved by Cierzniak.

The substitutions started to come on for Dundee United which saw the whole United way of playing change. Telfer has a shot from 30 yards but it is saved by Oxley in the Hibernian goal.

77 minutes into the game, Chris Erskine finally breaks the dead lock. Great build up play from Telfer and Connolly. The ball cut inside to the right hand post, 19 yards out the ball is fired passed Oxley, giving Dundee United the lead with less than 15 minutes to go..

The final 15 minutes showed that the substitutions that Dundee United made was a key to changing the game. Great pressure on the Hibernian goal, made the 692 travelling Arabs very excited between the Hibernian goal.

Full Time Hibernian 0 - 1 Dundee United

Full Time Round Up:

A much better second half from Dundee United, showed that they were the better team. A fabulous ball from Connolly allowed Erskine to give United the lead. It was late on in the game but the team managed to hold on to the lead that they gained.



I chose Aidan Connolly as my man of the match for this game, due to the fact that during the first half United were allowing Hibernian to break through them. It was a pretty slow half, however when Aidan came on he changed the game. He was able to set up so many opportunities for the team during the first half. I am looking forward to seeing him in the upcoming season.

Attendance: 6,264 with 692 Arabs travelling to Easter Road

Pre Season - Dundee United vs. Forfar - Hilson proves powerful over Terrors

Starting XI (Forfar): Douglas, Baxter, Trialist, Dunlop, Dods, Malin, Kader, Hilson, Templeman, Swankie, Denholm
Subs: Malcolm, Trialist, Young, Smith, McLellan and Salmon
Booked: None
Subs Used: Trialist, Young, Smith and McLellan

Starting XI (Dundee United): Cierzniak, Spark, Robertson, Souttar, Petrie, Spittal, Telfer, Oyenuga, Connolly, Fraser and Smith.
Subs: Moore, Gardyne, Montgomery, Coote and McCallum
Booked: None
Subs Used: Moore, Gardyne, Montgomery and Coote

My Man of the Match: Jordan Moore



With this being the first game in Scotland that Dundee United have had in pre season, a massive turn out was expected from the Arabs. Also with it being local for most Arabs the turn out was bigger than was expected, with over 1700 people at the game.

The game was very much full on from the Loons while the very young United side were just getting to grips with the game. With the Loons having most possession of the ball for a long period of time in the first half. It proved difficult for the young Terrors to get past Douglas in the Forfar goal. The ex Dundee man, showed just how good of a keeper he is with him stopping countless of crosses from the Terrors.

Hilson, an ex Dundee United player who was released by the club in the summer after spending three seasons on loan to the Loons, was proving a tough challenge for the Terrors. None of the young defence thought that he was going to be this tough to defend against. His skill and passion to get up the park and get the ball in the back of the net was shown right through the first 25 minutes of play.

United finally managed to break through the strong Loons defence. This was done through Andrew Robertson, in the 29th minute. Robertson ran into the Loons half, with Connolly awaiting in the box to switch the ball to Robertson. Robertson beat Douglas in the Loons goal and the Terrors gained the goal.

Templeman and Hilson were trying to do everything they could to get the ball into the back of the Terrors net. Luckily enough the Terrors defence wasn't allowing anything to go into the back of the net. This proved that it was going to be a hard last 15 minutes of the first half for the Terrors.

The Terrors held on to their one goal advantage for the rest of the half and went into the break with a lucky advantage.

Half Time Forfar 0 - 1 Dundee United

Half Time Round Up

Ex-Terror Dale Hilson was the proving difficult for the very young United side throughout the whole of the first half. The young Terrors did everything they could to break down the strong Loons defence. The Loons defence stood strong until the 30 minute mark, where Robertson put the ball into the back of the net to get the Terrors to lead going into the break.



Early into the second half, a mistake by Fraser so the Loons gain an early penalty.

Hilson stepped up to the stop. Cierzniak went the wrong way and Hilson managed to slot it down the middle to get his first goal of the game, in the 45th minute.

A break from the Terrors was quickly block by Dods. It continued to be played end to end for until the 55th minute mark.

Forfar was looking to get the lead against this very young United side. They managed to do so. Souttar misjudged a his header which allowed Hilson once again to step up and place the ball in the back of the net. 55 minutes gone and Forfar are leading 2-1, with Hilson scoring both goals.

After two bitter sweet goals for Hilson. Changes were made for both sides. A very special change was made for the United side. With Jordan Moore returning after his successful battle with cancer. A massive cheer went through the stadium as he walked onto the park.

Back to the action and it was time for Forfar to defend their lead. However, the changed up United side done everything they could to get the draw from the game.

Spittal, Fraser and Gardyne all just missing the target within the last third of the game.

A Robertson cross which hit the crossbar in the 85th minute. Allowed Jordan Moore to be in a great possession to lash the ball passed Douglas in the Loons goal. An amazing moment for the young player. It wasn't just a goal to get the draw but it was the first goal that Moore had gotten since he has been back from playing.

Celebrations from the whole United side and supporters paused the game for a few minutes.

Play restarted and it was pretty relaxed.

Final whistle went and both teams settled with a draw.

Full Time Forfar 2 - 2 Dundee United



I chose Jordan Moore as my man of the match as he came back into the game after 6 months out due to him battling cancer. He only got on in the second half but he made such a massive impact on the game. His late goal to give United the draw was very well celebrated around the ground. Both sets of supporters clapping the efforts of the boy. That is why he deserves my man of the match. Hopefully this is the beginning of something amazing.

Attendance: 1745