Dundee United 2 Dundee 2

In a pulsating 2^nd half United looked to have done enough to secure the win after a quick fire double from man of the match Blair Spittal put the Tangerines firmly in control. By Ally Stewart Greg Stewart reduced the deficit with a long range curling shot with just 9 minutes left before James McPake scrambled in the equaliser for the visitors with just 30 seconds remaining. This came moments after Simon Murray had smashed a shot off the underside of the bar which would have wrapped it all up for United. After United had made a bright start with Aidan Connolly in particular looking lively, Dundee went on to make the first real chance when Nick Ross drilled at goal only to be denied by Luis Zwick after the United keeper had originally parried a Paul McGinn shot away. The visitors then held the advantage for the remainder of the half with the Tangerines best chance coming from a Scott Fraser free kick in the 27^th minute which was deflected for a corner. The Dark Blues again came close to a goal right on half time when a Greg Stewart half volley was saved well by Zwick before Rory Loy drilled the rebound wide. Shooting down the hill towards their own fans the hosts were a far greater threat after the break and they went on to open the scoring in the 64^thminute. Rankin fed the ball into the feet of Spittal who brilliantly shuffled clear of James McPake before planting a top class finish beyond Bain. The celebrations had barely calmed down when the youngster then doubled his and United’s advantage. This time a delightful ball from sub Chris Erskine took out the whole Dundee defence allowing Spittal to slot into the corner leaving Bain with no chance. Spittal then almost grabbed a hat trick as he forced a good save from Bain following a free kick but the lead was reduced in the 81^st minute when Stewart curled in superbly from outside the box to leave the result in doubt again. Spittal again came close with 6 minutes left, this time drilling low past the far post. Deep into injury time Murray broke into the box with a great chance to seal it but agonisingly smashed a shot off the underside of the bar before the ball was cleared. With literally 30 seconds left on the clock Harkins broke forward and struck a long range shot which Zwick spilled at the feet of McPake who scrambled home the most unlikely of equaliser’s right at the death. United – Zwick, Dixon, Souttar, Fraser (Erskine 60), Connolly (Murray 60), McGowan, Rankin, Durnan, Bodul (Telfer 71), Spittal, Donaldson. Subs not used – McCallum, Dillon, Lochhead, Muirhead. Dundee – Bain, Holt, McPake, Stewart, Loy, Thomson (McGowan 50), Hemmings (Low 70), Etxabeguren (Konrad 9), Ross, McGinn, Harkins. Subs not used – Mitchell, Irvine, Meggatt, Ferry. Click here for the full report. Click here for match pictures on our Flickr Gallery.