Source: Team_Talk
Daly strikes late to deny Buddies
Jon Daly salvaged a late point for Dundee United with an 89th-minute equaliser as their Scottish Premier League opener ended 1-1 at St Mirren.[LNB] The United striker was alert to net a loose ball from close range at the end of a match in which his side had enjoyed the majority of chances.[LNB]They had fallen behind on 73 minutes when new St Mirren signing Sean Lynch marked his debut by scoring the opener following a corner.[LNB]New St Mirren manager Danny Lennon handed debuts to six new players as his side kicked off their SPL campaign.[LNB]Returning defender David van Zanten, back for a second spell at the Paisley club, started alongside Lynch, Darren McGregor, Gareth Wardlaw, Paul McGowan and Jure Travner.[LNB]St Mirren dominated the early stages and had the first effort on goal on three minutes when Steven Robb's free-kick from the right touchline reached the far post and was headed goalwards by John Potter, but it was cleared for a corner.[LNB]Wardlaw then won a long ball forward despite the attentions of Kenneth and tried a turn and shot from a wide position, but his effort never troubled visiting goalkeeper Dusan Pernis.[LNB]Centre-half Darren Dods headed onto the roof of the net from a Craig Conway free-kick after the midfielder himself had been brought down just outside the left edge of the box.[LNB]Conway then sent in another searching free-kick on 20 minutes which was met at pace by Garry Kenneth at the right-hand post, but home goalkeeper Paul Gallacher kept out his header.[LNB]United consistently pressed around the St Mirren goal for the remainder of the half, coming ever closer to a goal.[LNB]Morgaro Gomis tried his luck with a speculative shot from distance, but it went over the bar, and Prince Buaben then tried a strike which went past the left-hand post.[LNB]In between, St Mirren had a penalty appeal turned down as they felt Paul Dixon had handled in the box.[LNB]Kenneth again found his way into the box to try his luck following a Conway corner as the visitors continued to unleash a series of set-pieces around Gallacher's goal as the interval approached, including a free-kick from the midfielder which went narrowly past the post.[LNB]David Goodwillie had the first half-chance after the restart, but Gallacher rushed out to smother at the striker's feet.[LNB]At the other end, Steven Robb fired in a cross from the left touchline which Pernis appeared to have under control, but it ended up hitting the corner of the woodwork before being claimed by the goalkeeper.[LNB]United had their nearest miss yet on 51 minutes when Conway escaped Van Zanten to cross for Goodwillie, but the striker's header sneaked just wide.[LNB]Gomis then had a half-volley following a corner booted away from the right-hand post by Robb as United continued to dominate.[LNB]Daly ended up on the deck in a busy box as he and Van Zanten jostled for position for Gomis' cross from the right; and the United striker had a glancing header touched narrowly out for a corner moments later.[LNB]Gallacher was again called into action on 69 minutes as Gomis threaded a pass to Daly who cut inside two defenders before curling a shot which the goalkeeper stretched to touch over.[LNB]Despite United's pressure, however, it was St Mirren who finally broke the deadlock four minutes later - a corner from the right arrived at the feet of Lynch and he unleashed a volley which soared past Pernis and into the top right corner of the goal.[LNB]United looked to respond and Conway sent in a promising cross but Daly was unable to connect with his diving header.[LNB]However, the striker netted a deserved equaliser by following up a shot which had been blocked by Potter to slam home from six yards.
