Hamilton 1
Dundee Utd 3
Scottish Cup (5th Round)

Match Report

United enjoyed yet another fine away day in the Scottish Cup as a convincing victory at New Douglas Park clinched a place in the last eight. United went into the match looking to avenge their last Scottish Cup reversal on the same ground two years previously.

Their opponents looked up for the game from the start and created the first real opportunity, when former Dundee striker Mikael Antoine-Curier played in Dougie Imrie who only had Dusan Pernis to beat but his touch let him down and the United keeper collected easily. The early shock seemed to spark United into life, with Craig Conway coming into the game and cause problems for Hamilton's five-man rearguard. Indeed, Conway initiated the move that led to United's opener. The pacy winger caught Imrie sleeping with his quick free kick on the left to Paul Dixon, whose shot was saved by Cemy. However, the ball reared up and fell invitingly for Jon Daly to head home his second goal in consecutive games. Most of the danger United were creating came down that left flank. with Dixon and Conway in particular combining well. And it was a Dixon pass to Goodwillie that nearly led to a second as the United striker cleverly turned his marker before drilling in a low effort that Cerny held. Five minutes before half time. United did notch a crucial second. And again Paul Dixon was involved, bringing the ball down well before blasting an effort from the left edge of the box that deflected off Canning and looped past Cerny.

Having continued to press until the interval, United looked on easy street. But within a minute of the restart, Accies got themselves back into the game when a dangerous cross from defender Andy Graham was powered past Pernis by the head of Mickaël Antoine-Curier. Despite that setback. United didn't let it affect them and a penalty shout two minutes later was waved away when Goodwillie fell at the edge of the box. There was another fright for United's vocal following in the 50th minute but the shot went well over. Just before the hour mark, United restored the two goal advantage. Conway's cross from the right was headed across goal by Jon Daly and tucked away on the volley by Prince Buaben who wheeled away to celebrate with the boisterous 1,200-plus United support behind the goal. It was nearly number four in the 65th minute, as David Robertson played a great ball through to Goodwillie. With Buaben screaming for the ball on the left, Goodwillie went himself only to be muscled off the ball by the Hamilton defender. From then on. United always looked in control, and managed to create the better opportunities in the closing stages. With the midfield well on top, United's impressive away support could spend the remaining 20 minutes singing and dancing and dreaming of another trip to Hampden later this year.

Man of the Match: Craig Conway - was always a threat and looked creative whenever he got the ball.