Dundee’s Under 19s came close to losing their unbeaten record against East Fife at Forfar West End’s Strathmore Park on Sunday and it took a goal five minutes from the end to square matters.
It was a very young Dens side with a smattering of Under 17 players and they struggled physically against a robust Methil team.
The Dark Blues started well and threatened the Fifers’ goal three times in the opening minutes. Lee Cameron broke down the left, cut inside, but fired his shot wide. A minute later, after a good move involving Cammy Kerr, Scott Mollison and Max Avolio, another chance came the striker’s way but he was unable to bring the ball under control.
Then Cameron turned provider for Thomas Carberry, but the ex-Hamilton man’s shot went wide.
But it was the Methil youngsters who came closest to scoring in the sixth minute when Duncan Menzies hit the face of the Dundee bar and John Bonnar brought off a good save from the rebound.
It was Dundee’s turn to hit the woodwork on 16 minutes when Carberry’s shot hit the bar and went over.
But, on 25 minutes the visitors opened the scoring. From a corner on the right Connor Young headed home.
Bonnar kept Dundee in it with a great diving save from a long range shot as the Fifers took control of the game. Dundee had a chance to equalise on the stroke of half time but Gary Duggan shot wide of the target.
HT: Dundee 0 East Fife 1
In the opening minutes of the second half Menzies should have put his side two up but Bonnar managed to block the shot with his legs. Dundee then brought on Dale Davidson for John Black.
Menzies was proving a real thorn in the flesh for Matty Allan and his fellow defenders and he crashed a fierce shot off the bar. The ball rebounded to an East Fife player who could only head it over the top. A huge let-off for the young Dees.
Dundee clawed their way back into the game and came close to levelling when Davidson threw himself full length at a cross and only just missed connecting.
Cameron then chased a ball up the right wing and centred for Duggan who just couldn’t get on the end of it.
Coach Gavin Burns then sent on the second of his two substitutes, Ben Sivewright replacing Avolio, with Kerr pushed up into midfield.
Just when it looked like time was running out for the Dark Blues, they equalised. Five minutes from the final whistle a terrific surging run down the left by Mollison saw the full back square the ball to Duggan who took a touch before netting from close range.
FT: Dundee 1 East Fife 1
Dundee: Bonnar, Kerr, Mollison, Allan, C Black, Colquhoun, Avolio (Sivewright 70), J Black (Davidson 52), Cameron, Carberry, Duggan.
Report: Jim Davie.
