Dundee’s Under 20s produced one of their best displays of the season in defeating second top Hamilton Accies.
Up against a Hamilton side containing player-boss Martin Canning, alongside free-scoring Eamonn Brophy and new signing Oumar Diaby, and themselves without the services of Cammy Kerr, Craig Wighton, Sam Dryden and Josh Skelly, the young Dark Blues never let the visitors settle.
Right from the off the Dens men were in the faces of the Accies team and Sean Gallacher sent in a dipping drive that was turned over the bar by keeper Alex Marshall.
Kerr Waddell had two headers in quick succession, the second one flashing just wide of Marshall’s left hand post.
Then a Jesse Curran free kick found John Black inside the box but the midfielder’s shot flew over the bar.
It was 20 minutes before Accies registered their first effort on goal, Ross Cunningham bringing out a save from Dundee skipper Kyle Gourlay.
They were behind three minutes later. Pressure from Andy Black and Kyle Clark forced the visitors to play the ball back to their keeper from the Dundee half and when Shaun Want mis-controlled the keeper’s kick out, Ryan GEMMELL was on to it in a flash to stab the ball into the net.
It was a superb piece of anticipation from Gemmell who had raced from the halfway line to pressurise the Accies back line.
Waddell’s aerial ability was causing problems for the visiting defence and, on the stroke of half time, he again won a header from a corner, but Marshall was alert and plucked the ball to safety.
The Dark Blues created the first chance of the second half when Curran and Gemmell combined to set up Andy Black for a shot that was blocked by desperate defending, but Accies gradually worked their way back into the match.
Brophy went close for the visitors with a shot that was well held by Gourlay, but the keeper was beaten seconds later when Chris Mandiangu hit the post.
Want almost made amends for his earlier mistake when he headed a corner over the Dundee bar.
Taylor Berry came on for the injured John Black on 65 minutes as the game hung in the balance.
However, with 10 minutes left, Dundee wrapped up the points. A foul on Curran gave them a free kick 25 yards out. Manager Eddie Johnson instructed WADDELL to take it and his faith was rewarded when the young defender curled the ball over the wall and past a stranded Marshall.
This was an excellent win for the young Dens Parkers with great performances all round. They have now lost only two of their last nine matches and are steadily climbing the table.
FT: Dundee 2 Hamilton 0
Dundee: Gourlay, Warwick, Priest, Waddell, Gallacher, A Black, Curran, Colquhoun, Gemmell, J Black (Berry 65), Clark. Subs not used: Beattie, Gibb, Steele.
Report: Jim Davie
