On a night to remember Dundee won the Championship and sealed promotion back to the Premiership with a glorious 5-3 victory over nearest rivals Queen’s Park in Stenhousemuir. Alex Jakubiak gave the Dee an early lead only for Charlie Fox and Connor Shields to put the Spiders 2-1 up after only 12 minutes. Lee Ashcroft quickly equalised and Zach Robinson restored the Dee’s lead. Fox’s second made it 3-3 at half time, but the Dark Blues kept their cool to tie up the title in the second half. Goals from Lyall Cameron and Luke McCowan gave the Dark Blues the win that sealed promotion on a night that nobody who was here will ever forget.
As usual there were no surprises in the Dee team lines. The same starting eleven and substitutes were named for the third game in a row.
The Dark Blues got off to a flying start and took the lead after four minutes. The Spiders had already failed to deal with a high ball resulting in Lyall Camerom shooting wide from 18 yards. Another high ball was bungled and Lyall Cameron set up Alex JAKUBIAK to score neatly from eight yards. Within a minute Cameron had another shot from 18 yards saved at full stretch by Calum Ferie.
The play was flying from end to end and Queen’s won a free kick wide on the right. Dom Thomas went for goal and Adam Legzdins touched the shot over the bar. The Spiders took the corner short and the cross was cleared only as far as Charlie FOX who hooked a spectacular shot into the top corner from 30 yards.
Only two minutes later Queen’s Park were in front, after 12 minutes of astonishing action. Another corner wasn’t cleared and Connor SHIELDS smashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
The Dark Blues kept their heads and were level after 16 minutes. A free kick was cleared only as far as Luke McCowan and he returned a cross to the far post. Ryan Sweeney headed back and Lee ASHCROFT volleyed home.
The action didn’t ease up for a second. A clever McCowan free kick sent Zach Robinson to the byline. Jakubiak took the cutback and turned but Feries saved. Dundee were within inches of regaining the lead when a Cameron shot was deflected to Barry Maguire who shot against the crossbar. Ferie punched the rebound away from Jakubiak.
The Dark Blues were back in the lead after 34 minutes. The Spiders’ defence didn’t cope with a long ball through the middle. Jakubiak pounced and set up ROBINSON to force his shot past Ferie with the ball bobbling over the line.
Dundee managed to establish a measure of composure in the later stages of the half, but frustratingly lost another set piece goal in injury time. A corner was whipped in low and deep with pace and Charlie FOX scored his second goal, a spectacular diving header.
The Dee made a change at half time, Ben Williamson came on to replace Luke Hannant.
Five minutes after the restart Adam Legzdins made the save on which the game turned. Connor Shields met a cross with a vicious 12 yard volley but the Dee keeper saved superbly.
Another four minutes and the Dark Blues were back in the lead. McCowan took a fine pass from Williamson and ran at the Spiders’ defence before slipping a pass inside for Jakubiak who set up Lyall CAMERON to fire into the corner of the net from 10 yards.
This time the Dark Blues were able to establish a measure of composure and control in defence amid the mayhem elsewhere on the pitch. The Spiders were never again the same threat and Dundee were always promising to grab a killer fifth.
Kwame Thomas replaced Zach Robinson and almost immediately provided goal number five. He broke through the middle only for Ferie to pull off a great save. Williamson followed up but Ferie recovered superbly to save again.
81 minutes and Cameron sent Luke McCOWAN away to wrap up the title with a glorious goal. He cut in from the right and curled a magnificent shot into the far corner from 18 yards – Dundee’s 100th goal of the season in all competitions!
Goal number 100 signalled party time for the Dees behind the goal as the Dark Blues cruised to the final whistle.
Both teams deserve enormous credit for giving us a memorable night of football. There was no messing around playing for a draw or parking the bus. Both teams went for it and gave their all But that’s it! It’s all over now for Dundee. The Dee are up! We did it! What a game! What a night!
Queen’s Park 4-2-3-1
Ferie
Oakley, Kilday, Fox, Robson (c)
Thomson (Davidson 76), Boateng
McPake (Jarrett 64), Savoury, Thomas (Healy 76)
Shields
Subs: Heraghty (gk), Longridge, Henderson, Moore, Bannon, Eze.
Goals: Fox (10, 45+1), Shields (12).
Booked: none .
Dundee FC 4-4-2
Legzdins
Mulligan, Ashcroft, Sweeney (c), Marshall (Kerr 81)
McCowan, Maguire, Cameron, Hannant (Williamson at half time)
Jakubiak (Byrne 89), Robinson (Thomas 74)
Subs: Lawlor (gk), McMullan, Fisher, Clampin, Reedy.
Goals: Jakubiak (4), Ashcroft (17), Robinson (34), Cameron (54), McCowan (81).
Booked: Ashcroft (foul on Thomson), Jakubiak (dissent).
Referee: David Munro. Assistants: Daniel McFarlane, Craig Ferguson. Fourth Official: Graham Grainger.
Attendance: to be announced.
Report: James Christie.
