Bohemian Football Club Crest

@bfcdublin An inexperienced Bohemians team produced an impressive display to earn a 1-1 draw against Dundee United, a team who finished fourth in the Scottish Premier League last season, Shane Quinn reports.

The Tangerines have indeed enjoyed good times recently under their manager Peter Houston (left). Preceding that fine season last year, the club earned their first major silverware in 16 years when they won the Scottish Cup at the end of the 2009-2010 campaign.

This was Bohs’ first meeting with Dundee United since a 2-0 friendly victory for Roddy Collins' Gypsies in July 2000.

But fans are more likely to remember the sides' UEFA Cup clashes of  September and October 1985. After suffering a 5-2 defeat at Dalymount Park in the opening leg, Billy Young's Bohs subsequently earned a commendable 2-2 draw in Scotland.

The Gypsies responded from 2-0 behind in Tannadice with club symbol Jackie Jameson, in his prime at age 28, starting the comeback and recognised as the outstanding player on the pitch that night.

By coincidence, both sides will again be participating in the same competition this season, of course now with the re-branded title the Europa League. What are the odds of a European rematch?

Dundee United currently have three Irishmen on their books: ex-Longford Town and Shelbourne defender Seán Dillon, Willo Flood, and club captain Jon Daly.

After being released by Middlesbrough following a serious knee injury, Flood, who rejoined United last month after two previous loan spells with the club earlier in his career, will be eager to resurrect his career up north.

This match gave Bohs boss Pat Fenlon an opportunity to rotate his squad prior to Friday’s difficult meeting in Dundalk. Three A-Team players started with Kevin Feely at centre-half, Mark O’Reilly at right-back, and Aidan Downes in midfield. None of them did their first team chances any harm, showing plenty of appetite for the game.

In just the fourth minute, the Arabs passed up a golden opportunity when the Bohs offside trap was unlocked. With 'home' keeper Pierre Mbelleck - a trialist with Dundee United who also lined out for Drogheda in their 2-1 friendly defeat to the Arabs on Sunday - hesitant, David Goodwillie attempted to chip the last line of defence, but hit it badly wide.

Following that early warning, the Tangerines hit the front in the 10th minute. Flood delivered from the corner spot, and after Daly’s first attempt was cleared off the line, centre-half Garry Kenneth blasted home the rebound (below).

In the aftermath of that setback, a young Bohs side slowly came into proceedings. The hosts controlled large periods of the first half, but seldom troubled United netminder Steven Banks.

There was a trio of substitutions at the break with Roberto Lopes, Gary Burke and Keith Buckley introduced. Killian Brennan flashed a long-range drive wide before he was replaced by Christopher Forrester early in the second half.

Despite this outing being a friendly, there were still a couple of tasty challenges flying in. No doubt the home support were praying none of their first team players would suffer injury.

Then, in the 58th minute, Bohs grabbed the equaliser they fully merited, courtesy of Burke with a classy finish (below). The young winger capitalised on Scott Robertson’s dreadfully under-hit back pass to lob over replacement goalie Filip Mentel.

The glut of substitutions on either side inevitably hindered the flow of the game late on, with few chances being created.

Another introductee, Christy Fagan, went close to breaking the mould in the 80th minute when he rattled the crossbar with an expertly taken free-kick. Forrester’s immediate follow up effort whistled a foot wide of the left-hand post, as Bohs’ young guns showed plenty of promise.

BOHEMIANS: Mbelleck; O’Reilly, Burns (C) (Lopes, 45), Feely, Cahill; Dixon (Keely, 68), Bayly (Buckley, 45), Hurley (Fowler, 73), Brennan (Forrester, 53); Traynor (Burke, 45) Downes (Fagan, 59)

DUNDEE UTD: Banks (Mentel, 45); Dillon, Severin (Smith, 65), Kenneth (Douglas, 73), Dixon; Goodwillie (Allan, 77), Robertson, Flood (Mackay Stevens, 77), Rankin; Armstrong (Russell, 68), Daly

POSSESSION - Bohs: 48%; Dundee Utd: 52%.

ATTEMPTS ON TARGET - Bohs: 3; Dundee Utd: 3.

ATTEMPTS ON TARGET - Bohs: 4; Dundee Utd: 3.

CORNERS - Bohs: 6; Dundee Utd: 2.

REFEREE: David McKeon (Dublin)

 Written by Shane Quinn.