The U20s were edged out by Hibernian in their top of the table clash at Oriam. Hibs led the Development League on goal difference and were two to the good early on thanks to goals from Ben Stirling and Gregor Woods. Matty Henvey’s second half goal wasn’t enough to stop the Dee falling three points behind the Edinburgh side.
The dark blues boasted a strong line up, with Scott Allan, James Vincent and Randy Wolters all included in an experienced starting 11. Despite this, it was Hibs that took the lead after only three minutes when Ben Stirling hit a thunderous side foot shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Dundee went close through an effort from Josh Mulligan, and then a free kick from Wolters that narrowly missed the top corner. Hibs nearly doubled their advantage after 27 minutes when Oli Shaw went one-on-one with Calum Ferrie, but he shot straight at the Dundee stopper.
Ferrie was beaten less than a minute later, by Gregor Woods, whose shot deflected past the keeper into the net.
Wolters was Dundee’s main attacking outlet in the first period, and he brought a good save out of Maciej Dabrowski as half time approached. The Dutchman set up Matty Henvey not long after, but he dragged his shot from inside the box wide.
Hib’s had the ball in the net seconds after the restart, but Adam Watson was offside when he turned in Shaw’s pass.
Henvey pulled a goal back for Dundee seven minutes after the restart when he latched onto a clever pass from Callum Moore. The Dundee hitman made no mistake with a cool finish past Dabrowski.
The game was becoming stretched, and Hibs nearly had a third when Woods turned in the Dundee box, but he lifted the ball onto the roof of the net.
Kosta Gadzhalov denied Woods a shot at goal, and the Bulgarian then released Henvey with a searching pass, but the striker shot straight at the Hibs goalkeeper. Josh Campbell was left unmarked at a Hibs corner, but headed over the bar as both sides passed up chances to get the game’s fourth goal.
In the dying minutes, a long ball from Ferrie was misjudged by the Hibs defence, allowing Henvey to race clear, but he skewed his shot wide, and the Dees fell to their third defeat of the season.
Dundee (4-2-3-1): Ferrie, Rice, I. Smith, Gadzhalov, Etxabeguren, Moore, Mulligan (Anderson 61), Vincent, Henvey, Allan, Wolters (Berry 86)
Subs Unused: Whyte, J. Smith
Goal: Henvey 52’
Hibs (4-2-3-1): Dabrowski, Donaldson, Crane, Campbell, Waugh, Stirling, Watson, Murray, Shaw, Woods (Shanley 72), Gullan
Subs Unused: O’Connor, Paton, Martin
Goals: Stirling 3’, Woods 28’
Report: Andrew Creegan
