The Under 20’s were beaten 1-0 by Celtic in the Development League. Seven changes were made to the team that lost at East End Park; Calum Ferrie, Matty Allan, Sam Dryden, Calvin Colquhoun, Kyle Clark, Calum Moore and 14-year-old George Johnston were all brought into the starting line-up. A header from Celtic’s Sam Wardrop secured all three points for the Hoops, who had Brandon Payne sent off late on.
The visitors created the first chance of the match after 10 minutes. Daniel Higgins got on the end of a long throw from Mark Hill, but the midfielders close range header came off the crossbar.
The Dee’s first chance came the way of Callum Moore. Kyle Clark’s cross was touched into Moore’s path by Iain Smith, and the midfielder’s effort deflected off a Celtic defender and looped out for a corner.
Celtic were seeing plenty of the ball but were failing to ask any serious questions of Dundee’s Calum Ferrie. With 35 minutes played, Dundee were temporarily reduced to 10 men. Iain Smith came off second best when challenging for a high ball, and had to leave the pitch to receive treatment.
Two minutes later Celtic were ahead. Aidan McIlduff’s cross from the left was headed past Ferrie by an unmarked Sam Waldrop. Iain Smith returned to the pitch moments later, but the Hoops were ahead at the break.
The second half got off to a lacklustre start. Five minutes after the restart, Jesse Curran saw his effort from the top of the box blocked by McIlduff. Both sides were committing niggling fouls in the middle of the park meaning that shots on goal were rare.
With 20 minutes remaining, Celtic substitute Jack Aitchison sent a volley from the top of the box over the bar. With time running down Dundee were struggling to create anything in an attacking sense while Celtic were content to hold on to possession.
With two minutes of normal time left, Celtic were reduced to 10 men. Brandon Payne lunged in on Calvin Colquhoun and was subsequently given his marching orders. The Dundee man fortunate to come out of the incident unscathed.
In the last minute of the game, Jesse Curran’s shot was deflected into the path of Greg Warwick. Unfortunately for the fullback, he couldn’t keep his volley on target and the ball sailed wide, meaning that Celtic would take all three points.
Dundee (4-1-4-1): Ferrie, Warwick, Allan, Waddell, Dryden, Colquhoun, Clark, Curran, Moore, Johnston (Henvey 45), I. Smith (Rice 71)
Subs Unused: Gourlay, Anderson
Celtic (4-3-3): Doohan, Wardrop, Kerr, McCart, McIlduff, Higgins (Watson 65), Payne, Hill, Hendry, Archibald (Ralston 88), Crossan (Aitchison 57)
Subs Unused: McAdams, Duffy
Goal: Wardrop 39’
Report: Andrew Creegan
