The U20’s picked up their first win of 2017 against St Johnstone. Going into the game, the Dees propped up the league table along with Saints and Dundee United, all on 17 points, but with a strong line up featuring Craig Wighton, Danny Williams, Nick Ross and Faissal El Bakhtaoui, along with new boy Daniel Higgins, the Dark Blues managed a comfortable 3-1 victory, with a brace from Wighton and a late strike from Josh Skelly sealing the points, and sending Saints into bottom spot.
The hosts were first to threaten inside the opening minute. Goalkeeper Ben Mackenzie’s long ball caught out the Dundee defence and allowed Michael Coulson in on goal, but his effort was straight at Kyle Gourlay.
Wighton’s first of the game came after just eight minutes. Daniel Higgins clipped the ball into the box and Wighton fired past Mackenzie from close range.
Saints took just two minutes to equalise, as Craig Thomson’s low drive was saved by Gourlay, into the path of Johnson, who back heeled the ball in from close range.
Johnson managed to get in behind the Dundee defence after 19 minutes, but was denied by Gourlay. Wighton brought a save out of Mackenzie on the half hour mark, before Faissal El Bakhtaoui volleyed Sam Dryden’s cross over from close range.
With half time approaching, Dundee went back in front. Ian Smith’s free kick was headed down by Kerr Waddell, into Wighton who poked the ball home from close range, after some poor Saints defending.
Dundee started the second half on the front foot. Danny Williams low drive was kept out by Mackenzie following a superb solo run. The St Johnstone keeper was called into action 10 minutes later, this time denying Wighton.
Saints were next to threaten just after the hour mark, Craig Thomson turning substitute Robbie Polson’s cross onto the crossbar. Dundee sub Josh Skelly then lifted the ball over the Saints defence into Danny Williams, but his low effort came off the post.
With six minutes remaining Dundee wrapped up the points. The ball broke to Skelly 25 yards from goal and the striker curled the ball past McKenzie into the top corner of the net.
This was a good win for the U20’s against a stubborn St Johnstone side. In the end, it was the class of Craig Wighton that swung the game in the Dees favour. New signing Daniel Higgins looked showed glimpses of real quality alongside Nick Ross in the midfield.
St Johnstone (4-4-2): Mackenzie, Lumsden, Cameron Thomson, Jardine, Comrie, Page, Craig Thomson, Johnson (Polson 72), Coulson (Docherty 62), Simpson
Subs Unused: Sinclair, Wilson
Goal: Johnson 10’
Dundee (4-2-3-1): Gourlay, Dryden, Smyth, Waddell, Higgins, Quigley, Williams, Ross (Clark 67), Wighton (Coupe 70), El Bakhtaoui (Skelly 62), Smith
Subs Unused: Ferrie
Goals: Wighton 8’, 44’, Skelly 84’
