Juan Sara and Beto Carranza were spectators at the game, perched high in the terracing in the East Stand, sitting on the wet grass and getting their pictures taken with the tea ladies and signing autographs for the bairns. Kenny Cameron paid me in when he saw me arrive. (Must have been my begging bowl look, hung over expression and poverty stricken appearance. Mind you, when the guy at the gate said he'd paid the OAP entrance fee for me I'm not so sure that was a compliment - but thanks Kenny).
All in all this was a good day out, got a chance to speak briefly to Javier Artero, who's a real gent, by the way, Kenny Cameron who I know through my own kids team training at Dens and Ray Farningham who declined my offer to put on a strip and take a game. Dave Young, the official site administrator was at the game, camera in hand and he should have a pic of Steven Narey holding silverware in a Dundee jersey on his site soon. Dave's son, Tommy, was also there, helping with his dad's report. And Tealing Dee was there, trying to prise some scoops from the Dundee officials and players.
Dundee began with Vanderesyl in Goal; a back 4 of Steven Narey, Dean Wallace, Steven Watson and Allan Youngson; in midfield were Neil Jablounski, Chris Brash and Dougie Cameron; up front were Harry Artero (our over age player), Jason Walker and Duncan McLean.
This was my first view of the youth team in action and I must say I was most impressed at the skill level and ability some of these youngsters possess.
Within two minutes the young Dundee stormed into the lead. DUNCAN MCLEAN cut in from the left, beating his man delightfully before sending a neat shot past the keeper to make it 1-0 to the young Dees.
For the next 10 minutes it was all Dundee and they were running the show. However, the older heads began to come much more into the game and Lochore showed some excellent skills as well. They soon upset the dashing flamboyance of the youth side with some solid tackling. That, and plenty of shirt pulling, off the ball talking and attempts to cajole the ref and linesmen to give them fouls and free kicks at every opportunity.
The slyness of the aged against the trickery of the young turned the game Lochore's way for the remainder of the half and but for the heroics of young Vanderesyl in goal they could easily have ran up a lead before half time. This young goalkeeper isn't the tallest I've seen but what command he has in his box, fast off his line and superb reflexes.
Young Dean Wallace took a shot full in the face just on half time and had to be led away blood streaming from his nose. This young man was on Wimbledon's books last I heard and whether he's joined Dundee or was only guesting, he's a quality central defender. I hope he's ours.
Steven McInally replaced Wallace for the second half and turned in a good stint during his 45 minutes on the park.
Lochore equalised when CURRY beat Vanderesyl with a fiery (no pun intended) ground shot that rocketed inside the post. Most at the game expected Lochore to take advantage at this stage of the game when experience might have proved too much for the exuberance of youth. But it wasn't to be.
Chris Hegarty also came on at half time and was soon in the thick of the action. This kid's good, a totally different style from his old man, he has craft and strong running to his game and he wasn't on long before a great run saw him come close to giving Dundee the lead, his shot just trundling the wrong side of the post with the keeper beaten.
When Boylan was added to the fray midway through the half Dundee began to control the game once more and came close on several occasions.
Then with time running out and penalty kicks looking on the cards Hegarty sent Narey free on an overlap down the right and when he sent a perfect low cross over, COLIN BOYLAN swivelled and scored to give Dundee the winning goal.
Here's my views on the young Dundee players, most of whom I saw for the first time:- GOALKEEPER VANDERESYL is an excellent prospect. As I've said he could do with a half inch or an inch in size (eat up your greens, son), but what reflexes, what command, lightning fast off his line; STEVEN NAREY is an intelligent young player who can tackle well enough, has a cool head under pressure and plenty of skill, set up the winning goal with composure and accuracy; DEAN WALLACE was a solid defender who gave nothing away and displayed great courage when the more experienced team tried to talk the kids off their game; STEVEN WATSON, a young Aberdonian, whose mum, dad and gran were at the game, was another who had a steady game, gave little away and always tried to use the ball when in possession; ALLAN YOUNGSON was up against it at times as Lochore played down the right a lot, but the youngster kept his nerve and played his part in this win; NEIL JABLOUNSKI is a youngster we might hear more of in the future. Solidly built, he reminded me a lot of Gavin Rae as he uses his strength and no little skill to win balls and set his team on the attack; CHRIS BRASH had a fine game in midfield but in the second period he was moved to Left Back where he wasn't quite as effective but overall looked a good player; DOUGIE CAMERON, sporting what we old timers would call a Mohican haircut, put in a hard shift. He was strong, made good runs forward and was able to get back and defend with great resilience. HARRY ARTERO played his first game of the season, still recovering from injury, and though he wasn't putting himself about much in this game it was used to give him a chance to get closer to match fitness. He played just over half the game and looked pretty tired. JASON WALKER was my man of the match before he was taken off with 15 minutes to go. This kid has great pace, bags of skills and but for a tendency to overrun the ball at times he looked sharp and a great prospect. DUNCAN MCLEAN got the first goal and he also has a good turn of pace and packs a fair shot, though at times he passed when he could have had a go himself. STEVEN MCINALLY played well in central defence when he replaced Wallace in the second half, and he's composed, skillful and confident on the ball. CHRIS HEGARTY definitely looks to be a future star, he's cool, cultured and has a deceptive burst of pace. He can use the ball well, almost scored and had a hand in the winning goal. COLIN BOYLAN we've all seen play for the first team and this kid looks hungry to do well. He's a moan, when team mates go greedy and don't pass or fail to spot a man in space he lets them know in no uncertain terms, just the kind of player needed in any team. his goal was well taken.