A young U20s side were beaten 3-0 by St Mirren in the Development League. Goals from Ryan Watters, Connor O’Keefe and Cameron Breadner secured all three points for the Buddies against a Dundee side without regulars Kyle Gourlay and Kerr Waddell, who both joined Clyde on loan last week, and Connor Coupe who has joined Dundee Violet on loan. Of the 15 man squad, 11 of the Dundee side were 17 or under.
Saints started the match on the front foot and with 12 minutes on the clock, opened the scoring. Ryan Watters drilling the ball past Callum Ferrie from the top of the box.
Dundee’s best half of the chance came after 18 minutes. Matty Henvey found Mark Smith with a clever flick, and the big striker saw his left foot drive beaten away by Saints stopper Chris Henry.
Saints were seeing most the ball, and would have extended their lead if not for some excellent goalkeeping from Ferrie. Kalvin Orsi was denied by the Dundee keeper before Watters follow up effort was cleared off the line by Matty Smyth.
Watters was then thwarted by Ferrie 60 seconds later, before Orsi was again denied by the Dundee keeper nine minutes before the break.
Saints continued their dominance of the ball in the second half and doubled their lead after 58 minutes. Orsi cutting the ball back for O’Keefe, who slammed home from the top of the box.
Dundee were failing to cause the Saints defence any real problems, and weren’t helped when Mark Smith’s injury saw them reduced to 10 men for the final twenty minutes.
Watters was again denied by Ferrie after 80 minutes, but Saints added a third three minutes later. Cameron Breadner managing to beat Brian Rice on the wing, before cutting inside and curling the ball into the far corner of Ferrie’s net, sealing the three points for the Buddies.
Despite the one-sided score line, this was a very young Dundee side, most of whom played a full match for the U17s team on Sunday. Callum Ferrie made several fine saves to keep the score down, while 14-year-old Finlay Robertson showed real glimpses of class in the second half.
Dundee (4-4-2): Ferrie, Dryden, Smyth, Thomson (Matthews 53), Rice, Kemp, Moore (Hornyik 45), Henvey (Robertson 53), M. Smith, I. Smith, Anderson
Subs Unused: C. Allan
St Mirren (4-2-3-1): Henry, Whyte, Barclay, Fjelde, McKendry (Glover 56), McDonald, O’Keefe, MacPherson, Watters (Pignatiello 81), Orsi, Reilly (Breadner 63)
Subs Unused: Willison, McNaughton, Erhahon, Fawkes
Goals: Watters 12’, O’Keefe 58, Breadner 83’
Report: Andrew Creegan
