First Division
Dundee eventually emerged as clear winners of this friendly at Central Park on Saturday. It was only in the closing quarter of the game that Dundee took complete control and by that time the Fifers had sent on a number of their younger players for seasoned campaigners. Dundee had virtually a full side out but it was the hosts who dominated the opening phase of the game. John Gemmell went close in nine minutes before Mark Ramsay work good space for himself three minutes later but his finish lacked venom and former Scotland ‘keeper Rab Douglas saved easily. In 17 minutes Jon Robertson’s inch perfect pass found Fairbairn in acres of space in the Dundee box and his fierce shot from 13 yards brought out a marvellous save from Douglas. Dundee had been somewhat quiet in an attacking sense but in 23 minutes a Trialist header set up Mickel Antoine-Curier but the Frenchman was slow to react and David Hay saved. However, Dundee went ahead nine minutes later. Full-back Craig Forsyth sent over a fine cross and
Colin McMenamin was lying handy to headed past Hay. The visitors looked more menacing now and Eric Paton forced a fine finger-tip save from Hay and from the midfielder’s corner Curier’s header forced Jay Shields to clear off the line. The second period opened with Andy Traube on for Kenny Adamson for the hosts but the recast defence was beaten in 53 minutes. McMenamin sent over a dangerous cross from the right and
Curier was able to slide the ball home after Hay had failed to cut the ball out. To their credit Cowden were soon back in the picture. In 55 minutes Fairbairn’s cross from the right deceived the Dundee rear guard and
McQuade was left with an easy chance 10 yards out which he tucked away. But Dundee were not down for long. In 57 minutes another McMenamin cross posed danger and
Curier's header flashed past Hay. With both teams making full use of the the friendly substitutes ruling the game died for a spell but in the last 15 minutes the visitors stepped their game up. In 77 minutes a long ball caught the the Cowden defence square and
Bryan Deasley, who was on loan at Central Park last season, ran through to make it 4-1. Then with eight minutes left Freddie Daquin’s cross was turned in by
Deasley to complete the scoring.
Dundee:Douglas; Cowan, Forsyth (Deasley 63); McHale, McKenzie, Trialist; Paton (Gilhaney 67), Trialist (Mearns 45), Antoine-Curier (Daquin 67), McMenamin, O’Brien (Malone 62). Sub not used: Roy.
Referee-Craig Charleston.
Att: 344.
