Coach Gavin Burns made wholesale changes for this match, their second in three days, as Dundee took on East Fife in the final game of their League Cup section and, indeed, the season.
Only Liam Gibb, Jack Neave, Sean Gallacher, Calum McHardy and Josh Skelly started both games and the Dens youngsters looked a good year or two younger than their Fife counterparts.
Neither side could qualify for the semi-finals, but this game, played at Riverside on Tuesday night, was still very competitive.
The Fifers were first to threaten, but Ritchie Hutton’s shot was weak and Dee keeper Robbie Paterson saved easily.
On the quarter hour mark the home side took the lead. A terrific move involving Jack Neave and trialist left back Dylan Cook was superbly finished off by skipper for the night, Calum McHardy.
McHardy then saw a 25-yard free kick effort sail just over the visitors’ bar as Dundee pressed for a second.
Neave was causing havoc with his runs from deep inside his own area but the centre half caused some havoc at the wrong end when he attempted to head the ball back to his keeper. The ball sailed over Paterson’s head but the big defender was able to get back and clear the danger.
At the other end Skelly beat Fife keeper Shaw to the ball and squared for McHardy but the Bayview defenders got back in numbers to block the skipper’s shot.
Just as it looked as though Dundee were to change ends still a goal to the good, the game swung dramatically in East Fife’s favour with two goals in the final two minutes.
First, from a corner on the left, Connor Young rose above the Dens defence to head home. Then, just as the ref was looking at his watch, the visitors struck again, a tap-in by sub Ross Mutch after Konnor Lyndsay had set him up.
HT Dundee 1 East Fife 2
It took Dundee only six minutes of the second half to draw level, Josh Skelly picking up a pass on the halfway line and outpacing a Fife defender before slipping the ball under Shaw.
East Fife’s Young showed his aerial prowess once again but this time his header sailed narrowly over the bar.
On 64 minutes Alex Gibb came on for Ryan Lamond who had taken a knock earlier.
A superb through ball from McHardy, who, along with Ryan Hunter, was controlling the midfield for Dundee, to Ross Cunningham looked like producing a goal but the keeper was out quickly to block.
Skelly then fired in a shot which Shaw saved before Dundee brought on Cameron Tough for Cook who had had a steady game.
On 76 minutes Dundee grabbed the winner and it was Skelly again, brilliantly turning his marker and shooting into the far corner of the net.
The Methil men fought hard to force an equaliser before the end but the Dens defence held firm. Robbie Casey had a final chance for the Dark Blues but Shaw saved well from the winger.
FT: Dundee 3 East Fife 2
Dundee: Robbie Paterson, Dylan Cook (Cameron Tough 67), Liam Gibb, Sean Gallacher, Jack Neave, Ryan Hunter, Robbie Casey, Ryan Lamond (Alex Gibb 64), Josh Skelly, Calum McHardy (capt), Ross Cunningham.
East Fife: Connor Shaw, Euan Terry, Greig Urquhart, Connor Young, Grant McManus, David Smith, Ritchie Hutton (Ross Mutch 20, Cameron Bell 77), Michael Iskander, Konnor Lyndsay, Mark Shaw, Connor Gray (Jack Gibson 78).
Report: Jim Davie
