First Team
EVERY WORD | JACK WALTON LOOKS AHEAD TO IBROX TEST
21st November 2024
Despite their second half pressure, Dundee United were made to settle for a point against Hamilton Academical on Sunday at a wet and windy New Douglas Park.
Danni McGinley’s double either side of a Lauren Evans strike had United ahead but Eilidh Martin struck with fifteen minutes to go to share the points.
Graeme Hart made two changes from the win over Glasgow as Rachel Todd and Claire Delworth replaced Leah Sidey and the injured Robyn Smith.
The opening stages of the game were a midfield battle as both sides looked to ease their way in but a nasty clash of heads between Neve Guthrie and Megan Quinn saw a five minute stoppage in the eighth minute. Quinn was able to play on with a bandage but Guthrie was forced to hospital for stitches.
United took the lead almost as soon as the game restarted; they won a corner that was whipped in by Georgie Robb and Danni McGinley rose highest to power a header past Nicolson.
In the 18th minute the hosts found themselves level when Lauren Evans capitalised on the wind disrupting play to fire in from a tight angle.
The lead was restored just eight minutes later and McGinley was at the heart of it yet again as she raced clear only to be taken out inside the box by the Accies keeper, who received a booking for her foul.
United’s top scorer stepped up and stroked the spot kick past Nicolson despite the keeper guessing correctly.
Fiona McNicoll made a fantastic save from Giard just after the half hour mark before McGinley came agonisingly close to connecting with a Rachel Todd cross at the other end,
Johan Fraser received the ball on the stroke of half time and played it to McGinley, she danced round a defender but a second raced to block her shot and take the sting out of it.
The second half started with Graeme Hart’s side eager to extend their advantage; McGinley and Robb denied by Nicolson while the former fired inches past the post after beating three defenders inside the box.
Despite United’s pressure they were unable to carve out more chances as the game edged closer to the final fifteen minutes and they were to rue this as Eilidh Martin’s cross evaded everyone in the box and found the back of the net to pull Hamilton level.
Sub Tammy Harkin came close to restoring the lead late on but couldn’t find the target as United had to settle for a point against a side just below them in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.
McNicoll, Donald, McLaren, McGinley, Guthrie (Sidey 11), Robb (Harkin 61), Todd, Foote, Fraser (Murphy 81), Cowper, Delworth
Subs not used: Malcolm, Young, Arthur, McQueen
Goals: McGinley 13’ 26’ pen
Booked: Harkin
Highlights from the game can be watched on DUTV - https://tv.dundeeunitedfc.co. uk/video/3307
