Two teams at the wrong end of the Development League table served up a cracking match which belied their league status.

The young Pars were particularly impressive in the first half and their high pressing game kept Dundee from building any fluent moves from the back.

The first threat to Dens keeper Kyle Gourlay’s goal was a jinking run by Lewis Spence that took him into the Dundee box but the Pars man was denied by an excellent tackle by Greg Warwick.

Dundee responded with Josh Skelly racing on to a through ball but he was unable to find the target.

The home side’s back line was hard pressed but the centre half pairing of Ben Priest and Kerr Waddell kept the eager Dunfermline forwards at bay.

Despite their first half domination the visitors only tested Gourlay once, when he had to dive to his right to turn away a strong header by Johnny Galloway from a Reece Duncan cross.

Three minutes before half time the Fifers spurned a good chance to take the lead when Cammy McClair stole in behind the Dens defence but headed high and wide.

They were to pay for that miss seconds before half time when Dundee opened the scoring.

Dylan Carreiro was brought down in the box by Shaun Rooney and, despite strong protests from the Pars, a penalty kick was awarded.

Skelly’s spot kick was saved by Cammy Gill but the Dark Blues striker managed to get to the rebound first to put Dundee ahead.

The Dark Blues seemed determined to put a lacklustre first half behind them as they took the game to the Pars. First, Dylan Carreiro wriggled his way through the Fife defence and saw his shot deflected for a corner.

Then substitute John Black sent Skelly scurrying down the left and, when his shot was parried by Pars keeper Gill, Calvin Colquhoun was on hand to head the ball goalwards.

Unfortunately for the Dens midfielder the ball came back off the right hand post and the danger was cleared.

This was a much more positive display from the Dens youngsters now and Dunfermline spent more time on the back foot.

Sam Dryden’s pass found Skelly and the striker’s lob beat Gill but landed on the roof of the net.

A poor clearance in the visitors’ box went to Skelly who cut the ball back for first Black and then Colquhoun to fire in efforts that were blocked.

Dunfermline replied with a speculative 25-yard effort from Rooney but Dundee were soon back up the other end. Firstly, Skelly shot wide from a good position then Dryden’s dangerous ball across the face of the goal couldn’t find a touch.

Rooney tried his luck again, this time from 35 yards, but the ball went straight to Gourlay.

In the dying seconds Dunfermline were given one last chance form a free kick on the edge of the Dundee box but Spence sent his shot well over the bar.

FT: Dundee 1 Dunfermline 0

Dundee: Gourlay, Warwick, Dryden, Priest, Waddell, Colquhoun, Clark, Berry, Skelly, Carreiro, Gemmell (J Black 53).

Dunfermline: Gill, Duncan, Rooney, Orru, McClair, Crawford (Smith 84), Spence, Luke (Morrison 77), Henderson (Sutherland 64), Crossan, Galloway.

Report: Jim Davie