Tannadice was the venue for an excellent Scottish Youth Cup tie between close rivals Dundee Utd and Dundee and it was the Tangerines who finally progressed into the next round after a pulsating encounter.
The Dark Blues started the stronger and United defender Adam Harwood cleared a dangerous free kick from Dundee’s Thomas Carberry. There was further danger for the home side when a clearance from Brad Smith cannoned off Craig Wighton and went behind.
United replied with a Rafa Malaga volley that went high over Kyle Gourlay’s crossbar.
Dundee were soon at the other end and United keeper Ryan Booth had to go down at the feet of Josh Skelly to deny the striker. Booth then brought off a brilliant save from a Skelly free kick to keep his side level and it was to prove important as the Tangerines raced downfield to open the scoring.
Ali Coote won possession 30 yards out and fed Reaghan Tumilty who lashed the ball in from the edge of the box.
Two minutes later, after Coote’s shot had been brilliantly saved by Gourlay, Jamie Montgomery drove home the rebound.
It was cruel on the Dens youngsters who had had the upper hand up to that point, but they weren’t for giving up and Calvin Colquhoun fired in a 25-yard shot that just missed the target.
Carberry then did well to get to the byline and cut the ball back for Wighton but the young striker’s effort was weak and easily cleared away by the United defence.
Eight minutes before the break Dundee pulled a goal back. In a move involving Skelly, Gemmell and Lee Cameron, Wighton turned the ball past Booth after Cameron’s shot had been blocked.
United regained their two-goal lead five minutes before the interval in controversial circumstances. Malaga met a corner at the back post and turned the ball into the net but the referee awarded a penalty instead for handball by John Black.
Neither side was happy with this decision though United were happier when Malaga converted the spot kick.
HT Dundee Utd 3 Dundee 1
Dundee restarted with Max Avolio on for Carberry and switched full backs Black and Ryan Lamond.
Cameron, Skelly and Wighton combined well to set up a chance for Wighton but his shot was easily held by Booth.
On the hour mark Gourlay fumbled a Montgomery shot but was relieved to see Cammy Kerr get back to clear the danger.
Wighton then put Cameron through but he was tackled on the point of shooting, prompting appeals for a penalty which never came.
With 20 minutes left United scored again. Coote played the ball to substitute Jamie Robson who laid it off to Malaga whose 22-yard effort went in off the hands of Gourlay.
Dundee again reduced the deficit when Colquhoun and Wighton combined to find Avolio on the right wing and the sub’s cross was met beautifully by the head of Cameron from six yards out.
United’s Montgomery picked up a booking for a foul on Wighton and it was to prove costly when he earned a second yellow card four minutes from time for a foul on Gemmell.
Dundee quickly took advantage of their hosts being down to 10 men, Wighton brilliantly glancing home a cross from Skelly as full time approached.
Despite intense pressure in the closing moments though, with Dundee winning corner kicks and Gourlay being given orders to come up for them, the Dens Parkers couldn’t find the leveller.
FT: Dundee Utd 4 Dundee 3
Dundee Utd: Booth, Ballantyne, McLaughlin (Robson 65), Souttar, Harwood, Lochhead, B Smith, Tumilty (McNaughton 88), Coote (M Smith 73), Malaga. Subs not used: Duke, Clarkson.
Dundee: Gourlay, Lamond, J Black, Allan, Kerr, Colquhoun, Carberry (Avolio 46), Gemmell, Skelly, Wighton, Cameron. Subs not used: Beattie, Cunningham, Gallacher, A Gibb.
Report: Jim Davie.
