Deadly Dundee sink Arbroath in Dens thriller
DunDee secured a dramatic win in a pulsating six-goal thriller against Arbroath at Dens. The Dark Blues took the lead through Luke McCowan late in the first half but were pegged back just after the break by a nicky Low penalty. Dundee took the lead once more through Zak Rudden but Arbroath equalised again with a Colin Hamilton goal. However, two late further goals from Zach Robinson and Josh Mulligan secured the thrilling win for the home side. Prior to kick-off, there was a minute’s applause to celebrate the life of Dundee’s Scottish League Championship winning goalkeeper Pat Liney who passed away this week. There was an early scare for the home side when centre-half Tyler French gifted possession to Arbroath with Michael McKenna playing in Daniel Fosu but his shot was saved by Harrison Sharp. Dundee then had the woodwork to thank for preventing the Red Lichties taking the lead when a Colin Hamilton header from a McKenna corner struck the post.
On 37 minutes, Arbroath keeper Derek Gaston made a superb save, diving to his right to keep out a downward header by Cammy Kerr. However, Gaston was finally beaten in the 40th minute. French embarked on a barnstorming run from inside his own box down the right before playing a pass to Rudden who backheeled the ball back to the defender. French’s shot was blocked but the ball fell to Paul McGowan who calmly teed up McCowan to fire high into the net past Gaston. Dundee had a chance straight after the break to increase their lead but Mulligan’s flick was saved by Gaston. Instead it was Arbroath who were next to score in the 51st minute when Sharp brought down McKenna after a defensive error by Jordan Marshall with referee Graham Grainger pointing to the spot. Low stepped up and calmly fired the penalty into the back of the net, sending Sharp the wrong way. However, Dundee nosed back in front in the 64th minute. Gaston came to punch a cross but only half connected, with the ball falling to Rudden who stabbed home on the stretch. Dundee may have thought their work was done but Arbroath equalised a second time in the 81st minute. Sub Bobby Linn swung a corner in from the left with the ball eventually being bundled home by Hamilton from close range.