FRIENDLY: Rangers 2 - 3 United

Updates from the final pre-season game

United's final game of pre-season was a trip to Murray Park for a behind closed doors game against Glasgow giants Rangers.

"We were more than happy to add this game to our schedule because it meant that we could guarantee 90 minutes for every member of the squad ahead of next weekend," manager Greg Abbott said.

"Rangers are always fantastic with us and it's a game which will be a real test."

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United - Fleming, Thomson, Chisholm (Todd, 46), Thirlwell, Brough, Symington, Lynch, Dempsey, Salmon, Miller, Guy. Subs - Brass, Hammell, Kavanagh, Gillies, Wallace, Beck.

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3 mins - Good start from United. Symington raced down the right and crossed. The clearance led to a free kick from 25 yards.

4 mins - Symington fizzed his powerful free kick just over the bar.

6 mins - It's that man Symington again. 20 yarder, low, hard but easily saved.

8 mins - Symington spread it wide to Thomson. He beat his man and crossed. Salmon stretched but didn't get enough to the touch.

10 mins - Rangers look excellent in possession but we have had much the better of the opening 10 minutes.

13 mins - Completely against the run of play, the Gers grabbed the lead. It was a dangerous ball into the box which caused problems. It spooned up off two heads onto the top of the bar. The looped rebound sat nicely for their striker to nod home.

15 mins - Gers looked confident and a deep, incisive run was followed by a low reverse pass and a drilled shot from 19 yards. Fortunately for Carlisle it flew just wide.

17 mins - What a chance for United! Symington swung the free kick in from wide and Miller lost his man in the box. He got a good connection but he popped his header wide.

19 mins - Symington battled hard to get the ball but another long range effort was well handled.

22 mins - More Gers pressure brought a curled shot which bent wide.

25 mins - Good defending from Thirlwell and Chisholm as the Gers broke from deep. The resulting corner was cleared by Miller.

27 mins - A superb exchange of passes between Lynch and Miller gave the young midfielder some space. His clipped cross was taken off Guy's head as he set himself to score.

30 mins - Thomson had to cover at the other end as a winger came in to challenge. His touch was vital.

31 mins - A long ball over the top caught United light at the back. Thirlwell recovered and Fleming helped out as blue shirts converged.

35 mins - An impressive lightning quick break from the home side brought a good diving save from Fleming. 

43 mins - Guy and Miller linked well and Guy looked to be fouled as they worked a good move through the middle. The referee looked closely but eventually said no. 

45 mins - The half ended with United on the attack. a deep corner caused problems but Miller's header was blocked and cleared.

Half time: Rangers 1-0 United

47 mins - Rangers pressed in numbers but Fleming was happy to watch a cross go wide as he judged it well.

48 mins - The Gers keeper completed an unbelievable save when Miller made space for a rasping volley. The big striker did nothing wrong but somehow the stopper got there.

49 mins - Guy was next to go close. He made a difficult chance into a good one as he spun on the spot. The keeper was in the right place to make the block.

50 mins - A lobbed cross from Symington was beautifully dealt with by Miller. The nod down gave Kyle Dempsey time to pick his spot.

52 mins - Lewis Guy scored a second almost immediately to give United the lead. He did the hard work and he shrugged his man off before taking the shot. The keeper stopped it but United's new boy swept the rebound into the net. 

56 mins - A 26-yard free kick for for the Gers was tipped over the bar by Fleming. A big home defender won the header from 7 yards from the corner but Fleming saved again.

58 mins - A Symington direct run brought another good cross. Dempsey, with wonderful technique, took it on the chest but his volley went just wide.

58 mins - Symington placed the ball for a corner and Dempsey met it with a header from 16-yards which needed a save.

61 mins - Fantastic defending from Paul Thirlwell prevented a certain goal. His last ditch tackle caught a Rangers attacker in full flow. 

68 mins - A Gers striker wriggled through and forced a superb save from Fleming. A dive at the feet brought a block with the legs. 

72 mins - Fleming was in the right place again. Another thunderbolt had to be parried away to safety.

73 mins - A Gers flowing move from deep came to nothing with an overhit cross.

81 mins - The best corner of the day came from the Gers as the ball was swung dangerously to the near post. It was impossible to defend and the big centre half should have scored. He took his eye off the ball and glanced his header wide.

85 mins - United conceded what they considered to be a messy equaliser. A chance to clear it was spurned and three players came together to help to bundle it over the line.

86 mins - United regained the lead with a wonderful goal from 25 yards. Kyle Dempsey quite literally picked his spot as he sent the ball over the keeper from the outside of his right boot.

90 mins - Fleming showed good hands as he plucked the final corner of the game out of the air.

Full time: Rangers 2-3 United
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