Holders wear down Cowden challenge

HOLDERS United saw off Cowden's challenge in the Barrs Irn Bru Cup last night but the Blues could have given the hosts a shock after a bright first-half performance.
Without David Syme Cowdenbeath had to reshuffle the defensive line-up, but the system worked pretty well in the first 45 minutes at Tannadice, with Jamie Pyper alongside Scott Rumsby and Harvey Swann back in action.
Ryan Connelly was a constant threat to the hosts in the first 45 minutes with his skill and pace and Robbie Buchanan also posed the home side problems.
Joe McGovern pulled off some good saves against his old club and it took the holders an hour to beat him.
United made a bright start and early on James Keatings set up Graham Taylor but his low cross was cleared by Rumsby. 
The visitors then nearly had the lead when a shot from Ryan Connelly came back off the inside of the post and the ball was cleared for a corner. 
Scott Fraser then set up Keatings who was unlucky to see his shot deflected just wide of the target. 
With 20 minutes on the clock, Cowdenbeath had another good chance when  Buchanan latched on to a pass and forced Mehmet into an excellent save low to his left.  
United won a free-kick that was taken quickly by Fraser to Keatings whose shot was well saved and then the ball deflected back into the box and the visitor's keeper McGovern did very well to tip the ball over. 
The visitors then broke forward and a powerful shot from Connelly flew over the top. 
Then soon after Ali Smith picked up the ball on the edge of the United area but he pulled his shot wide of the target.
Goalless at the break the second period saw Dundee United desperate to get a goal and Graham Taylor was next to go close when he volleyed just wide of the target. 
With an hour on the clock, the deadlock was finally broken. Fraser made a great run into the box and squared the ball into the path of N'KOYI, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net from six yards out. 
Six minutes later the hosts doubled their lead and again it was N'KOYI who netted his second goal. Keatings sent in a beautiful left footed cross and he found the head of the Dutchman and the ball beat McGovern and nestled in the bottom corner. 
Cowden were finding it hard to find the momentum of the first-half but Buchanan came closest to grabbing a goal. 
Dundee United: Mehmet, Quinn, N'Koyi, Fraser, Flood, Allardice, Keatings, Briels (Thomas 80), Taylor (Appere 75), Dailly, Chalmers (Reekie 68)
Subs: Donaldson, Murdoch, Durnan and Robson.
Cowdenbeath: Joe McGovern (8); Matt McInally (7), Harvey Swann (7); Jamie Pyper (7), Scott Rumsby (7), Fraser Mullen (6); Ali Smith (6), Cammy Muirhead (6),  Ryan Connelly (7) (Kyle Miller 66 (3)), Robbie Buchanan (6), Bradley Smith (7) (Charlie Denton 79 (2)). Subs not used, Lewis Turnbull, Hamish Thomson, Lyle Kellichan, John Ovenstone and Dave McGurn.
Referee-Matt Northcroft (6).