Dundee 4 - 2 Aberdeen

It was third versus fourth as Paul Sheerin's young guns travelled to Montrose to face a Dundee side currently a place above them in the Development League table. Having notched their first league win in impressive style when they saw off Hibs last week, the Dons were looking to maintain their good form against a Dens Park outfit who have beaten Dundee United and Hamilton Accies this term. Aberdeen showed four changes - Joe MacPherson, Harlain Mbayo, Connor McLennan and David Dangana being replaced by Scott McKenna, Bruce Anderson, Chris Antoniazzi and Frank Ross. Dundee had first team men Darren O'Dea, Mark O'Hara and Randy Wolters in their starting eleven.

The Dons created the first chance in 2 minutes, Antoniazzi feeding the ball to Anderson but his shot didn't seriously trouble the Dundee keeper. Berry tried his luck for the home side but Roscoe and McKenna combined well to snuff out the danger. A long ball forward saw Lambert in a straight race with Harrington but the Dons full back did well to usher the ball through to Danny Rogers. It had been an entertaining opening ten minutes with both sides committed to attacking play when they had possession. A superb ball from Under 21 international Scott McKenna set Frank Ross free on the left. When the midfielder fed the ball into the area a neat turn from Anderson saw him fire a shot goalward but a fine block from Piggott averted the danger.
Lambert came close on 19 minutes firing an angled shot across the face of goal but the ball flashed wide. Five minutes later Henvey did well to get on to the end of a long clearance but, under pressure from McKenna, he couldn't get his shot on target. Dundee snatched the lead on 26 minutes when an excellent long ball from Piggott saw Lambert get in behind the Dons defence to shoot past a stranded Rogers. The Dee had their tails up and Rogers produced a fine save to deny O'Hara. From the resulting corner, Piggott headed over from six yards when he really should have scored.
Aberdeen were battling hard but finding the Dundee defence tough to break down while the home side were quick to turn defence into attack. McKenna won the ball on the halfway line and charged forward and played the ball accurately to Anderson but the striker, currently on a development loan at Elgin City, dragged his shot well wide.
With two minutes of the half remaining O'Dea was yellow carded for dissent and the referee decided to give the Dons an indirect free kick just inside the 18 yard box. The ball was played short to Frank Ross whose shot was blocked but the rebound fell perfectly for Bruce Anderson to lash the ball past Fernie to tie things up at one apiece.
An open first half with both sides having their moments, equality at the break being just about the right score line given the balance of play.

Half time - Dundee 1 Aberdeen 1

O'Dea didn't appear for the second half, Rice taking his place in the home ranks. Dundee regained the lead on 47 minutes with a goal right out of the top drawer. Wolters cut in from the right and fired a spectacular thirty-yard effort high past Rogers. A magnificent strike which would have graced any stadium.
The Dons drew level again on 55 minutes when Bruce Anderson fired the ball into the net after the Dundee defence failed to clear a corner. Once again, the goal was reward for the persistence and desire of the striker to pursue what looked like a lost cause as he battled really well to fashion the chance for himself. Dundee grabbed the lead back on 58 minutes when Henvey headed home after an accurate free kick from Wolters. A second Dark Blues substitution saw Anderson replace Aurenetxe. Seconds later it was 4-2 as Henvey grabbed his second goal, racing on to a through ball to slip the ball past Rogers. The quickfire double from the Dundee striker was a real body blow to the Dons.
Bruce Anderson had the chance to pull the Dons back into the game when he raced on to a misplaced pass from Dundee but the ball got stuck under his feet and the opportunity was lost. Rogers produced a wonderful save to spare Scott McKenna's blushes as the defender deflected Wolters' driven cross towards his own goal.
David Dangana replaced Seb Ross on 71 minutes as the Dons looked to find a way back into the game which had swung the way of the home side after Henvey's devastating 1-2. The Dens Park striker nearly grabbed a third goal when he found space in the area but a brilliant block from McKenna denied him his hat-trick. A double switch on 81 mins saw Ethan Ross and Lewis Hutchison replace Trialist and Antoniazzi. Dundee almost notched a fifth goal when Berry curled a twenty-five yard effort inches wide. This was the last action from the grandson of Jocky Scott as he was replaced by Mooney. Some neat passing from Dundee led to Wolters sprinting clear of the Dons defence but he fired into the side-netting. The Dark Blues were awarded a spot kick on 90 minutes when Anderson went down but Danny Rogers produced a great save from Henvey's penalty.
That was the final action of an entertaining encounter which saw Dundee run out deserved winners although there were some good individual performances from the men in red.