Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Fiesty clash take the Wee
DUNDEE took the Wee Derby spoils after a hard-fought 1-0 Development League victory over rivals United at Links Park last night.
An early Jack Lambert goal was enough to give t he Dark Blues youngsters the win in Montrose in what was at times a fiery encounter.
Defeat leaves the Dundee United U/20s equal bottom of the fledgling Development League table, while Dundee’s three points put them level at the top alongside Hearts, St Johnstone and Motherwell.
Going into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw with Hearts, the Dark Blues quickly asserted themselves at Links Park in grabbing what turned out to be the winning goal.
Dundee had two first-teamers in the starting line-up in Randy Wolters and Lewis Spence alongside two trialists, one an unnamed centre-back and the other former Burnley striker Richard Pingling.
Spence hasn’t been able to push himself into the first-team while Wolters is returning from a hamstring problem picked up at Hamilton two weeks ago.
And it was the Dutchman who created the opening goal, driving down the left before cutting the ball across the goal in the sixth minute.
Striker Matthew Henvey had a go at goal before the ball fell perfectly at the feet of Lambert, who blasted beyond Josh Donaldson in the United goal.
It was a great start for the young Dark Blues and they looked to double their lead quickly with Jesse Curran, playing at right-back, showing a nice touch and shooting just wide before Wolters had an effort from the left.
Then came a chance for Pingling, who raced clear on to a throughball but, despite taking it around the goalkeeper, he was pushed wide and the chance went a-begging.
Dundee continued to make the most of the play with Spence and Lambert dominating the middle of the park while Wolters showed he was a step above the rest on show.
The Tangerines, though, were causing problems, particularly through Logan Chalmers, and had a big shout for a penalty moments before the break.
Dundee keeper Calum Ferrie was slow to pick up the ball after a United attack and Declan Glass robbed him of it.
After a real battle between the two, Ferrie managed to leap on the ball again