Dundee and Hearts both ended their SPFL Development League seasons with an entertaining, high scoring game at Montrose’s Links Park.
Mark Smith had the ball in the net for the home side in the second minute but was adjudged offside and Hearts celebrated that let-off by opening the scoring on five minutes when Dario Zanatta headed home a corner kick.
Dundee were level three minutes later with a real howler from Jahmal Howley-Mundle. The central defender’s passback was too high for goalkeeper Russell McLean, forcing him to head the ball into the path of Andy BLACK, who headed home.
The visitors went ahead again on 20 minutes when Calumn Morrison tapped in from close range after a good run down the left and cross by Liam Henderson, but the Dark Blues were only behind for five minutes, Kerr WADDELL heading in Josh Skelly’s corner kick.
It was certainly not a case of ‘defences on top’ in this game as both sides threatened to add to the scoreline before half time.
At the start of the second half a free kick was awarded to Hearts for Waddell’s challenge on Harry Cochrane but Zanatta fired his effort wide.
Kyle Gourlay in the Dundee goal then had to react quickly to block Zanatta as the Gorgie man raced into the box and was in the right place again when he saved from Morrison.
Dundee quickly introduced two subs, Kyle Clark for Smith and Bailey Steele for Matty Allan, but were stung on 72 minutes when the Tynecastle outfit went ahead for the third time.
Howlet-Mundle made amends for his previous error when he slammed home Hearts’ third with a powerful shot from the edge of the area.
Once again, though, the Dark Blues responded quickly. Three minutes later Skelly was bundled over in the box and Calvin COLQUHOUN converted the penalty to earn the young Dees a draw.
After a poor start to the season Dundee lost only two of their final 12 games to finish in a respectable mid-table position.
FT: Dundee 3 Hearts 3
Dundee: Gourlay, Gibb, Waddell, Allan (Steele 63), Dryden, Curran, Colquhoun, Berry, A Black, Smith (Clark 66), Skelly. Sub not used: Gallacher.
Report: Jim Davie
