Dundee’s Under 20s were well beaten in this Development League fixture at a rain-soaked Rugby Park. The visitors included the experienced Gary Harkins, Nicky Low and Daryll Meggatt in their line-up, but they couldn’t cope with a hungry Kilmarnock side.
Sam Dryden had the ball in the net in the fifth minute, but Dylan Carreiro’s cross had already gone over the byline. At the other end Ben Priest was beaten by Dale Carrick but David Mitchell got a hand to the striker’s shot and turned it round the post for a corner.
Then it was Gary Harkins’ turn to be caught out, this time by David Syme and again Mitchell came up with the save.
However, the Dens goalie stood no chance with the opening goal. A cross from the right was hit on the volley by Scott McLean and the ball streaked past Mitchell for one of the goals of the season.
At the other end a clever Harkins cross just failed to reach the inrushing Ryan Gemmell.
Nicky Low then tried his luck from 25 yards but his shot was deflected for a corner.
On 17 minutes Killie made it 2-0. A simple ball over the top caught out the visiting defence and Carrick ran on to slot the ball past Mitchell.
Dundee tried to hit back and Harkins saw his 25-yard free kick fly over the bar. A Gemmell cross meant for Josh Skelly was taken off his toes by Calvin Colquhoun and the chance was lost.
The nearest the Dark Blues came to scoring was a Low free kick which brought out a great diving save from Mark Ridgers in the Killie goal.
The home side took the initiative at the start of the second half and only a good save from Mitchell prevented a third goal.
Skelly raced into the Killie box but delayed his shot too long and Ridgers blocked the young Dundee striker’s shot.
The home side made it three on 65 minutes with a close-in header from McLean, despite a good first stop from Mitchell and an attempted goalline clearance from sub Kerr Waddell.
Kilmarnock added a fourth 10 minutes later when Jack Whittaker wheeled inside the box and sent a low drive into the bottom right corner of the net.
Five minutes from time Dundee had a chance to reduce the deficit when Skelly was brought down in the box by Mark Dempster. The Killie sub was harshly red carded for the offence but Ridgers brought off a superb stop, diving to his left to save Skelly’s penalty.
The home side raced downfield and Lewis Morrison notched the fifth goal with the aid of a wicked deflection. They could have rubbed further salt into Dundee’s wounds with a sixth but Adam Frizzell shot wide.
FT: Kilmarnock 5 Dundee 0
Dundee: Mitchell, Gallacher, Dryden, Priest, Meggatt, Colquhoun, Gemmell (Waddell 61), Low (Berry 61), Skelly (C), Harkins, Carreiro (Clark 46). Subs not used: Gourlay, Warwick, Gibb, J Black.
Report: Jim Davie
