Two goals from Lee Cameron gave Dundee Under 19s a memorable win over second-top Stirling Albion at Forthbank Astro on Sunday afternoon.
Albion had been flying high, suffering only two defeats all season, to Celtic and St Johnstone, and looked physically stronger than the Dark Blues, who were fielding a fair number of under 17s in their ranks.
The first half was nothing to write home about, a dour midfield battle with few, if any, chances at either end. The only real scare came when Dundee keeper John Bonnar had to come to his side’s rescue with a last gasp save five minutes before the interval.
Bonnar was injured making the save but of more concern to Dundee was what appeared to be a rib injury to Cammy Kerr. Cammy needed quite a bit of treatment before he could continue, but was wisely subbed at half time, Max Avolio coming on in his place.
The game came to life within four minutes of the restart when Cameron raced through on to a superb through ball from Josh Skelly and sent a right foot shot into the far corner of the net from the angle of the box, giving the keeper no chance.
Thomas Carberry, Skelly and Gary Duggan then combined in an excellent passing move to test the Albion keeper.
Impressive right back Ben Sivewright went into the ref’s notebook for a late challenge on the home side’s left winger.
Calvin Colquhoun was next to have a go for Dundee but his shot lacked power.
Bonnar wasn’t having much to do at this stage but had to look lively to tip over a shot from Albion’s left back.
Dundee took off Skelly on 67 minutes, replacing him with John Black and just like last week, Black seemed to re-energise the midfield, very nearly catching out the home keeper with an audacious 40-yard lob. Black then had another shot straight at the keeper.
Stirling were pressing hard for the equaliser and Matty Allan and his co-defenders, Sivewright, Jack Neave and Scott Mollison, were working hard to contain them and stop them from troubling Bonnar.
Eight minutes from time Cameron almost got his second with a shot that rebounded back off the bar but the striker was not to be denied and, with three minutes left, scored with a shot from the edge of the penalty box that went under the Albion keeper’s body.
FT: Stirling Albion 0 Dundee 2
Dundee: Bonnar, Sivewright, Mollison, Allan, Neave, Colquhoun, Kerr (Avolio 46), Carberry, Cameron, Skelly (J Black 67), Duggan. Sub not used: McHardy.
Report: Jim Davie
