Junior hosts North End hit visitors Dundee Under 20s with a late sucker punch to claim victory in this friendly match at North End Park.
And yet it all started so well for the Dens youngsters who were two up after only three minutes.
Virtually from the kick-off Thomas Carberry found Lee Cameron inside the home box and the striker shot confidently past keeper Dale Easton.
Two minutes later the same players combined, but this time it was Cameron who set up Carberry for a good finish into the top corner.
It was almost three after only five minutes but Easton’s legs kept out a goalbound effort from Josh Skelly.
Dundee paid for that miss 60 seconds later when Scott McComiskie reduced the deficit and, incredibly, after only 11 minutes played, it was all square, North End’s equaliser coming from Barry McNaughton.
Eight minutes later Cameron and Carberry combined again for Carberry to put the Dark Blues back into the lead. Carberry then chipped the goalkeeper but saw his shot sail just over the bar.
Max Avolio then had a chance with an audacious chip from far out but his effort also went over the bar.
Jonathon Smart almost headed past his own keeper as the Dee youngsters ended the half on top.
HT: North End 2 Dundee 3
Dundee made a couple of substitutions, John Bonnar replacing Calum Brodie and Declan Milne coming on for Cameron.
The Dokens’ Ryan Hunter tried his luck from all of 35 yards after he latched on to a Bonnar clearance but Dundee were soon down at the other end to test Easton.
Calvin Colquhoun fed Avolio who shot over, then Skelly and John Black both had efforts saved.
On 65 minutes Carberry was replaced by Dale Davidson and a minute later Milne by Pat Martin.
North End tried to get back on level terms but the best they could manage was an Abi Njie overhead kick that cleared Bonnar’s bar.
Ryan Gemmell had a chance to clinch it for Dundee but his shot hit keeper Easton’s legs. Gemmell then went off to be replaced by Greg Warwick, who went to left back, allowing John Black to move into midfield.
Eight minutes from the end the home side were awarded a penalty and McComiskie made no mistake and, with virtually the last kick of the game, a ball over the top caught out the Dundee defence and McNaughton latched on to it to score the winning goal.
FT: North End 4 Dundee U20 3
Dundee: Brodie (Bonnar 46), A Black, J Black, Allan, Trialist, Gemmell (Warwick 76), Cameron (Milne 46 (Martin 66)), Colquhoun, Skelly, Carberry (Davidson 65), Avolio.
North End: Easton, Stewart, Deuchars, Weir, Smart, McNaughton, Ritchie, Hunter, McComiskie, Dailly, McCabe. Subs: Clark, Njie, McLeary, Grier, Agani, Buchan, Rae.
Coach Eddie Johnson was naturally disappointed with the final scoreline, especially after his youngsters’ whirlwind start. He said, “We started off fantastically and scored two great goals and then we let ourselves down a little bit and let them back into the game.
“Second half we came out and played well again and I’m disappointed with the result. They didn’t look like scoring and we gave away a silly penalty. They scored and that gave them a lift.
“We looked tired towards the end which is something we’re going to work on next week.”
Eddie, however, was upbeat about the talent he has at his disposal. “There’s enough good players in there and obviously Paul, who was here tonight watching, is looking for me to push them on so I’ve got to make sure that gap’s as close as it can be for when I push them on to the first team.”
Report: Jim Davie.
