Dundee Utd 6
Berwick 0
Scottish Cup (3rd Round)

Match Report

After last season's near upset against Second Division East Fife in the third round, we didn't take long to ensure there would be no repeat against financially beleagured Berwick Rangers. For the tie, manager Jim McLean brought in John O'Neil for his first outing since October 8th. Jim McInally stepped back to right back to fill in for the suspended Alex Cleland. Darren Jackson dropped back into midfield with Victor Ferreyra and Duncan Ferguson starting the match. Only two minutes elapsed before former United 'keeper Derek Neilson was at full stretch to keep out a Duncan Ferguson header. However, the former United custodian was helpless seven minutes later when Darren Jackson's cross was nodded on by Mixu Paatelainen and Maurice Malpas ran in to drill the ball high into the net from twelve yards. A minute later John O'Neil hit the bar and then the post before Neilson kept the ball out with his head before the ball was eventually scrambled clear for a corner. From that John O'Neil kick, John Clark first timed a shot which Neilson did well to keep out. However, a second goal was not long delayed. Again Darren Jackson was the instigator. His pass found Victor Ferreyra on the edge of the box and the Argentinian's delightful first time lay off fell into the path of Duncan Ferguson who rifled a shot low into the bottom right hand corner. A third goal followed in the 28th minute when Jimmy McInally's long ball found Darren Jackson and he homed in on goal, but his shot from the edge of the box took a deflection and fell kindly for Duncan Ferguson who had no difficulty in netting from close range for his second of the match. Victor Ferreyra made it 4-0 five minutes before half-time.

Ferreyra then went agonisingly close to scoring within a minute of the re-start and if he wasn't the scorer of our fifth, then he certainly gets the credit for the assist! He cut in from the left before squaring to John O'Neil who tapped at the far post. Goal number six came as a result of Duncan Ferguson pressurising the defender, Willie Garner into lobbing the ball over his own 'keeper. There was no further scoring.