By Dundeefc.net
April 24 2002

TUE 20TH JULY

Montrose 0 Dundee 1 (Grady 30)

Langfield Van Eijs, Raeside, Tweed, Maddison Bayne, Byers, Robertson, Clark Coyne, Grady

Subs: Slater (for Van Eijs) Valido (for Raeside) Neves (for Clark)

Subs not used: Wilkie Yates

Dutch trialist Frank Van Eijs started at right back for a much changed Dundee side as they took on Montrose at Links Park, another trialist in midfield was former Raith Rovers man Kevin Byers. The Portuguese duo were on the bench. Dundee's unfamiliar line up failed to dominate as they had in the previous matches and with Jerry O'Driscoll looking keen to prove Dundee's coaching staff wrong after his free transfer Montrose had a fair bit of the play. The home side in fact had three ex Dees in their starting eleven with trialist Paul Mathers in goal joining O'Driscoll and Gary Paterson in the line up.

Paterson in fact played a big part in Dundee's winner on the half hour, A long ball forward from Raeside was flicked on by Coyne but looked easy meat for the big defender, Paterson however stumbled and James Grady stole in to score. Van Eijs was impressing the assembled press men and he can close to scoring with five minutes to go till half time running at a defence who retreated all too readily allowing him to fire a left foot shot beyond Mathers and back off the inside of the post.

Dundee again made changes in the second period with young Mark Slater replacing Van Eijs, Valido and Neves came on soon afterwards with Raeside and Paul Clark making way. Montrose had struggled towards the end of the first half but were much more positive after the break and gave Dundee several anxious moments with Paterson almost atoning for his earlier error when his 25 yard thunderbolt was saved in spectacular fashion by Langfield.

It was Neves who provided some respite when Robertson picked him out with a long ball. The trialist skipped down the right before threading a beautiful ball into Grady, as the striker turned he was felled by a tackle but as the Dundee support howled for a penalty the referee waved play on. Neves was involved in most of the good moments but they were few and far between as time wore on and as the game entered the last minute there was a golden chance for the home side. A high ball into the box fell to Doug Scott and he steadied before firing a low shot from eight yards which appeared destined for the net but Mark Slater somehow got a boot in the way to preserve the clean sheet.