Cedwyn Scott’s double helped the young Dees to the top of the Development League table, while keeping Dundee United stuck at the foot of the table. The striker netted twice in the closing stages of the first half, as the Dark Blues recorded a comfortable victory, and welcomed back striker Craig Wighton from injury.
Despite coming into the match as underdogs, it was United that had the first opportunity of the game. Dom McMeekin looked to have opened the scoring after five minutes, but Kyle Gourlay produced a fine one-handed save to deny him. Logan Martin fired the rebound goalward, but Jordan Piggott cleared the ball off the line.
Jack Lambert should have opened the scoring after 11 minutes when he dispossessed Cammy Ballantyne, but Deniz Mehmet smothered his shot. The United keeper kept out a curling effort from Max Anderson as Dundee looked for the opener.
Brandon Mason set up Idris Kadded just after the half hour mark, but his tame effort was straight at Gourlay. This was a chance United would rue missing, as moments later Jordan Piggott released Jesse Curran, and his low cross was swept home by Cedwyn Scott.
Dundee didn’t take long to double their lead as less than a minute later, Luc Bollan floored Scott inside the penalty area. Mehmet dived the right way and kept out Scott’s spot kick, but the striker smashed the loose ball into the net for his third goal in as many games.
The second half was largely controlled by Dundee, who were content to hold onto possession without ever troubling Mehmet. The United keeper kept out a low free kick from Randy Wolters five minutes after the restart.
Craig Wighton made his return from injury just before the hour mark, replacing Jack Lambert. The Dundee striker had his side’s final chance of the night when he knocked the ball through Scott Allardice’s legs in the middle of the park, but his speculative long-range effort was easily saved by Mehmet.
Dundee (4-1-4-1): Gourlay, Curran, Rice, Gadzhalov, Piggott, Jefferies, Anderson, Moore, Scott (Smith 86), Lambert (Wighton 58), Wolters (Mooney 81)
Unused Sub: Ferrie
Goals: Scott 39’, 41’
Dundee United (4-2-3-1): Deniz, Ballantyne, Mason, Allardice, Bollan, Davidson, Chalmers (Taylor 67), Thomas, Kadded, Martin, McMeekin (Appere 58)
Unused Subs: Reekie, Donaldson, Inglis, Ritchie, Jones
Report: Andrew Creegan
