Killie's Youth Cup Hopes Doomed!

        
        The good                                     The bad & the ugly?

Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Dundee Utd (aet)
(BP Youth Cup - Tuesday 10th November 2002, 7.00pm Kick Off)

A bitterly cold Tuesday evening saw Killie play the Arabs for a place in the quarter finals of the BP Youth Cup. Our very own "doomed" lined up at left back and Killie went for the jugular from kick off. A cross into the box fell to McGlinchey but his shot was easily saved by Bruce.

United were looking dangerous when breaking forward but some neat build up play was often let down by the final ball. There was little between the teams but Killie took the lead in 19 minutes. Logan burst through a square looking Arab defence and drilled the ball low into the net from the tightest of angles.

United then had a good spell forcing a few corners but the nearest they came to equalising was after 30 minutes. A swift passing move down the right ended with a low McGowan shot being superbly saved by the towering Samson. United continued to push in the late stages of the half without seriously threatening Samson again.

Play swung from end to end in the opening minutes of then second period before United grabbed the equaliser. Conway's powerful header produced an excellent save from Samson but the ball broke to McGowan who rolled into the empty net.

The goal stung Killie into action but for all their possession they lacked the penetration to pierce the United defence again. Killie came close in 78 minutes when Bruce flapped at a cross but Logan's hooked shot struck a defender and was cleared. With five minutes left Gilroy nearly proved to be the hero but his 8 yard shot was clawed round the post by Bruce.

It was extra time, just like the previous round, and Gilroy warmed the keeper's mitts from 25 yards. The keeper was again in action with a fine save from McGlinchey then snatching then rebound before Naismith pounced. United got the winner with 8 minutes left when the dangerous Conway got on the end of a right wing cross and fired home from 10 yards. A nasty clash of heads saw Gilroy leave the field on a stretcher and a probable x-ray at Crosshouse Hospital.

In the final minute Killie keeper Samson headed into the Arabs box for a corner kick. When the cross came in it landed at the big man's feet but his shot blazed halfway up the Moffat Stand and the ref blew for full time. United had Anderson booked whilst Killie had Gilroy and Woodison carded. The doomed rattled the Arab and upset the United player's gobby mother who was sitting behind us - I thought she was going to end up on the turf with her brat.

Killie were best served by Samson, McGlinchey and Gilroy whilst McGowan, Conway and Jarvis were always dangerous for the visitors. It was a game that could have gone either way but Killie's lack of firepower proved to be their downfall.

Kilmarnock: Samson, Masterton, =Woodison, Coyle, McGregor, Gold, McGlinchey, Logan, =Gilroy (Johnstone 117), Boyle (Naismith 107), McGuinness (Campbell 101)
Unused Subs: Bell, Sangster

Dundee Utd: Bruce, Allum, Molloy (Callaghan 76), Holmes, Hardie, =Anderson, Hunter, McMenemy, McGowan, Conway, Jarvis
Unused Subs: Black, Andrew, McMillan, Craig