Falkirk 0
Dundee Utd 4
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Our 4-0 win at Brockville was not only our biggest win of this season, but the first time we have won a Premier Division encounter by four goals since we defeated Hamilton Accies 5-0 at Douglas Park in January 1989. Obviously, it is also our best return from an away fixture since then and, indeed, is our first success on opponent's territory since a l-0 victory at Love Street last March. Falkirk had four ex-United men in their line-up and as early as the eighth minute one of them Alex Taylor, was yellow-carded for a deliberate body-check on Victor Ferreyra. The opening goal came after 14 minutes when Dave Bowman's persistancy carried him past two Falkirk defenders on the right before sending over an inch perfect cross for Duncan Ferguson to head home his fifth goal of the season at the near post. Former United players in the home ranks continued to figure prominently. First Alex Taylor was injured in a clash with Dave Bowman and had to hobble off with a hip injury shortly afterwards. Then Guido Van De Kamp slipped as he came out for a Neil Duffy cross and Eddie May was literally on hand to palm the ball over the line, though it appeared he could just have easily headed the ball home! The "goal" was instantly chalked off by the referee. Before half-time Victor Ferreyra curled a free-kick past the defensive wall which Westwater only just managed to keep out.

Paul Smith, the fourth ex-Tannadice man in the Bairns ranks became the second Falkirk player to be booked for a trip on John O'Neil in the 57th minute. The killer blow for the home side came in the 68th minute when John Clark's free was headed on by Duncan Ferguson and Victor Ferreyra smashed the ball past Westwater with an angled volley to open his scoring account for the club. With quarter of an hour left Victor Ferreyra won a race for the ball with Hughes and deftly chipped the ball into the far corner for his second. Victor retired from the play with the minutes left to rapturous applause from the sizable United support in the 5,000 plus crowd and Mixu Paatelainen, his replacement, was to grab our fourth and final goal. John O'Neil slung over a cross from the left and the Finn headed the ball through Westwater's arms to complete an emphatic and deserved victory.