The Dee squad was a mixture of youngsers and first team players who have been mainly on the bench lately. Emile Acquah and Aaron Donnelly were unavailable through illness.
Dundee started the game well and had control of most of the first half. They forced a few corners and nearly scored from good quick moves, and the Montrose keeper done well to push a shot round the post.
But Dundee took the lead when Hay won the ball from a dithering defence near the edge of the Montrose penalty and passed sideways for Charlie Reilly to score with a precise low shot from 18 yards.
Harry Sharp had come on for Kieran O’Hara in goal at half time.
Dundee continuted to be the better side and this was the same up to an hour when Dundee made eight changes.
It took only two minutes for the newcomers to claim the second goal. The Dark Blues launched a good attack down the right. Yan Dhanda played a clever backheel to send Ethan Crombie to the byline in the penalty area. The young midfielder smashed a low cross to the near post. Keeper Matthews managed to beat it out and into the air, but Ethan Crombie reactedd quickly and followed up to send a header looping over the stranded keeper and under the bar.
The testimonial crowd should have been treated to further goals as we saw close things at either end. Harry Sharp had to scramble the ball away from Blair Lyons almost on the goal line as the Gable Endies’ striker pressed.
After 80 minutes Montrose won a corner and Dundee managed to clear. However, the referee had spotted an infringement in the goalmouth and awarded a penalty.
Of course Graham Webster stepped up to take the penalty but Harry Sharp played the pantomime villain by pulling off a tremendous full length save. That wasn’t quite the script and the home fans certainly let Harry know it!
Right at the end Graham Webster was substituted to a standing ovation. It was timed so perfectly that there was no time for anyone to come on as a replacement and the referee blew the final whistle as he left the pitch.
After the game Graham Webster made a short and gracious speech, playing tribute to the club he has served so well, and his teammates, and also thanking Dundee for coming to Links Park and taking the game seriously.
Dundee: O’Hara (Sharp at half time), Ingram, Galabov, Davies-Browne, Oosenburgh, Digby, Jones, Yogane, Reilly, Hay, Hunter
Dundee (from 62nd minute) Sharp, Ingram, Astley, Davies-Browne, Fin Robertson, Crombie, Hamilton, Mitchell, Samuels, Dhanda, Westley.
