Dundee Utd 5-2 Killie: Kids beaten in reserve opener

Kilmarnock Reserves slipped to defeat in their Reserve League opener against Dundee United in St Andrews.

Against a United team, which included several first-team players  such as former Hearts forward Osman Sow and the experienced Peter Pawlett, it was always going to be a tough game.

But with last week’s goalscoring hero Dom Thomas, along with the likes of Greg Kiltie and Iain Wilson in the side, the Killie side had a fighting chance.

It was a far from ideal start, and United’s American midfielder Ian Harkes drew first blood after seven minutes, capitalising on a mix-up in the Killie defence to squeeze the ball home.

United has their second after 22 minutes. Grappling in the box at a corner saw a penalty awarded, with the looming figure of Osman Sow deftly tucking the ball past Curtis Lyle.

Two hits and it looked as though Killie were on the canvas, but it took just minutes for Dom Thomas to help get the reserves back on their feet.

Lighting up the right with a mazy run: Dom capped it off with a delightful ball across the face of goal, with a lurking Andy Monk pouncing on it and turning the ball into the roof of the net.

Thomas was electric in the first-half, his desire to get a ball into the box matched only by his fine footwork to evade his markers. A rasping effort from 30-yards on the cusp of half-time forced Deniz Mehmet into a scrambling save.

Into the second-half, and Dundee United again made Killie pay – Osman Sow scoring two rapid fire goals in a matter of minutes to leave Andy Millen’s side reeling from that rapid sucker punch.

The big Swede had his hat-trick, and it wasn’t long before Harkes got his second; running across the defensive line to score from 20 yards.

The Killie kids didn’t back down, and a fine Craig Ross header from a corner kept things alive.

There wasn’t to be a fight-back though, and United held on to secure all three points.

The youngsters now look ahead to their first home reserve match against Ross County at Rugby Park on September 2.

Kilmarnock: Lyle, Millen (McCracken), McLevy, Barlow, Lynch, Wilson (Brindley), McDonald, Frizzell (Barr), Monk, Kiltie (Josh Walker), Thomas (Ross)  (Sub. – Jamie Walker – not used)