DEE LUKE SHARP AS THEY TAKE IT TO THE MAX
DUNDEE ................. 4 DUNFERMLINE ...... 2 NEIL ROBERTSON AT DENS
GAFFER GARY Bowyer hailed the determination of injury-hit Dundee as they were made to fight for their place in the SPfL Trust Trophy semi-finals.
The Championship side, who face Raith in the last four, opened the scoring through Paul McMullan with Dunfermline level by the break thanks to Lewis McCann.
finlay Robertson, Luke McCowan and Max Anderson were all on target in the second half before Craig Wighton netted late on for League One Pars. Bowyer said: “We’re delighted to be through. That was the message before the game – get through.
“We’re 100 per cent down to the bare bones and picked up some knocks again. As a manager I’ve never been in this position before.”
In the 29th minute, Kwame Thomas burst down the left before squaring the ball to McMullan who shot past Pars keeper Deniz Mehmet from just inside the box.
That lead lasted just nine minutes with the Pars equalising with a superb goal. Kevin O’Hara sent a pinpoint cross in from the wide right with McCann rushing in to bullet a header past Sharp.
The Pars had the first chance of the second half but Chris Hamilton’s shot flew over the bar.
Dundee edged in front again in the 59th minute after a quick corner with Josh Mulligan playing the ball back to Robertson who drilled past Mehmet.
With seven minutes to go sub McCowan produced a fine finish with a clinical shot from the edge of the Pars box before Anderson added a fourth eight minutes later.
Dunfermline sub Wighton swept home his consolation three minutes into stoppage time.
Pars boss James McPake said: “Until the third goal went in, we were well in the game.”