First Team
EVERY WORD | JACK WALTON LOOKS AHEAD TO IBROX TEST
21st November 2024
DUFCW earned their first point of the season in the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League on Wednesday with a goalless draw with Hibernian.
It was an excellent performance from Graeme Hart’s side as they snuffed out any Hibernian attack while also coming close to scoring themselves.
No changes were made from the defeat to Hearts on Sunday with new signing Abbie Cusack featuring on the bench.
Robyn Smith had the first opportunity of the game when she connected with a Cassie Cowper free kick; Hibernian keeper Katie Fraine gathered the effort.
In the seventh minute, Leah Sidey tried her luck with a 25-yard strike that stung the palms of Fraine.
Hibernian forced a save from Megan Sidey shortly after with a cross that found its way to the back post where Rosie Livingstone could only head into Sidey’s arms.
Brooke Nunn had the best chance of the first half when she hit the post, the ball bouncing back into play but United were quick to clear their lines.
The momentum was taken out of the half just before the half-hour mark; Niamh Noble had to receive lengthy treatment for a cut that eventually forced her to be replaced.
Georgie Robb was her replacement as Hart shuffled his side slightly and United found themselves through to the break goalless.
HALF-TIME DUNDEE UNITED WOMEN 0 HIBERNIAN WOMEN 0
Another change was made at half-time and it was a senior debut for Abbie Cusack as she came on for Summer Christie.
The visitors threatened early in the second half; Sidey saving a free kick on the edge of the box shortly before Mya Christie curled an effort just past the post.
In the 54th minute, Smith looked to get a shot away only for a defender to get a touch on it and allow Fraine to gather easily.
Just after the hour mark Hart made two more changes; Emily Arthur and Jo Fraser taking to the field in place of Smith and Katie Frew.
For the final half-hour, the game turned into an end-to-end battle.
Abbie Ferguson thought she had broken the deadlock when she slipped the ball past the oncoming Megan Sidey only for a great clearance to ensure the ball didn’t cross the line.
Cassie Cowper and substitute Abbie Cusack had efforts in quick succession as the former saw hers blocked, Hibs couldn’t clear their lines as the ball fell to the latter who fired agonisingly over the bar.
Hibs forced two fantastic saves out of Sidey late on; Ferguson was denied from close range before Leah Eddie’s long-range strike was tipped over the bar by the outstretched arm of the keeper.
The final chance of the game fell to Georgie Robb but she couldn’t get her strike on target deep into added time.
Full time came and it was a well-earned point for a United side who more than matched their opponents.
FULL-TIME DUNDEE UNITED WOMEN 0 HIBERNIAN WOMEN 0
Graeme Hart’s side now find themselves in ninth place ahead of Sunday’s trip to New Broomfield where they face tough opposition in Celtic.
Starting XI: M. Sidey, Delworth, Frew (Fraser 61), Wilson, Jameison, Smith (Arthur 61 (Knight 88)), Todd, L. Sidey, Christie (Cusack 46), Cowper, Noble (Robb 30)
Subs not used: Bruce, Murphy, Hurrell, Sangster
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
???? Megan Sidey on tonight’s performance and her first clean sheet for the club.
— Dundee United Football Club Women (@DundeeUnitedFCW) August 23, 2023
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