The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Dundee U20s lose to Alloa in Irn-Bru Cup
Henvey double not enough as young Dens Park side tumble out of Irn-Bru Cup
DUNDEE U20S 2 ALLOA ATHLETIC 4
Dundee became the sixth Premiership side to crash out of this season’s Irn-Bru Cup at the first hurdle after losing a sixgoal thriller against League One Alloa at Dens Park last night.
The Dark Blues’ U20 side found themselves three goals down by the half-hour mark but staged a terrific comeback thanks to a brace from Matty Hevey only for the Wasps to add a killer fourth in the closing stages.
Dundee joined Rangers in exiting the competition last night, while Celtic, St Johnstone, Hibs and Kilmarnock all bowed out on Tuesday.
Alloa were seeing most of the ball in the opening exchanges, and Dundee had Callum Ferrie to thank for keeping the score level after 10 minutes.
Scott Taggart’s fierce drive from 20 yards forced the Dundee keeper into a flying save. The keeper’s heroics proved to be in vain as Alloa opened the scoring two minutes later. Alan Cook’s cutback was met by former Stranraer striker Craig Malcolm, who controlled the ball and drilled a low shot into the net.
None minutes later the visitors added a second. Taggart’s cross was brought down by Callum Crane, who fired a shot across Ferrie and into the net after 21 minutes.
The Dee got a let off as Crane’s cutback was skied by Cook. With just over half an hour gone, Alloa added a third through Iain Flannigan when the midfielder smashed Kevin Cawley’s pass into the roof of the net.
Matty Henvey handed the young Dees a lifeline after 39 minutes when the striker curled the ball home from 20 yards.
Dundee began the second period on the front foot. Cammy Mooney skewed an effort wide from 20 yards, while Ian Smith should have done better with his effort after 69 minutes. Max Anderson teed up the wide man but he blasted his shot into the stand from 15 yards.
Substitute John Smith was the next Dundee player to be denied.
He raced on to a volleyed pass from Jack Lambert but saw his effort from a tight angle pushed behind by Parry.
With 12 minutes remaining Henvey got his second. The striker got on the end of Jesse Curran’s cross and blasted the ball high into the net.
Cai Matthews volleyed over before Alloa captain Andy Graham received treatment for a head knock.
This stoppage halted Dundee’s momentum, and in the dying minutes, Alloa sealed their place in the next round. Adam Martin’s cross was bundled into the net by Malcolm, ending any chance of a Dee comeback.
Dundee U20s: Ferrie, Dryden, Rice, Curran, Piggott, Moore (Berry 68), Mooney (J Smith 60), Lambert, Henvey, Anderson, I Smith (Matthew 74). Subs unused: Gourlay.
Alloa: Parry, Taggart, Graham, Meggatt, Crane, Cawley, Robertson (Hetherington 58), Flannigan (Grant 58), Cook (Martin 69), Malcolm, Renton. Subs not used: McDonald, McKeown, Cunningham, McDowall.
Referee: Stephen Brown.