A measure of the team’s efforts can be seen from the shuffling of the starting eleven that our injury list caused. There were three changes from the weekend; in came Craigan, Forbes and Saunders, out went Hammell, Gunning and Jones. Ross showed his versatility by switching wings and playing at left back.
Nothing to worry about here - it flies wide
Although we reached the break in command it was a poor spectacle. The highlights came in the 26th and 41st minutes with the goals that settled the match. Murphy somehow managed to squeeze the ball along the dead ball line at the South Stand end and somehow prodded the ball through Pernis for an unlikely opener.
In fairness we had more of the attacking possession but the game was littered with high balls and little football. Forbes looked lost at times and his play was littered with careless touches.
Humphrey had been giving Dixon another roasting and he scored his third in consecutive games when his lovely first touch allowed him to escape the clutches of the left back and charge into the box from over thirty yards out. Severin tried to block but the shot looped high and over Pernis and the game was ours to lose.
United stepped up their efforts in the second half and Randolph made the first of several good saves in 53 minutes. We made the occasional charge up the park and our best chances came from free kicks. Hateley embarrassed the nervous United ‘Keeper with his efforts but Forbes’ chance for glory flew high into the Cooper Stand.
Hateley tests Pernis with this one
Russell got his head to a Dixon corner with ten minutes remaining and signalled the start of some last gasp defending as we tried to keep them at bay. Randolph was the hero as he made save after save. The best was in the 92nd minute when it seemed that Goodwillie had produced an equaliser.
Our guys were out on their feet by the end and deserve some tender loving care as they summon up some energy for the visit to Tynecastle at the weekend.