By Dundeefc.net
April 24 2002

SAT 24TH JULY

Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 (Stewart 64) Dundee 2 (McSkimming 36 Annand 66) Douglas Miller, Tweed, Smith Boyack, Rae, Robertson, McSkimming Falconer,Grady

Subs: Coyne (for Falconer) Annand (for Grady) Sharp (for McSkimming) Raeside (for Tweed)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 (Stewart 64) Dundee 2 (McSkimming 36 Annand 66)

Att:955

A penalty save by Rab' Douglas with two minutes to go ensured that Dundee won their last pre-season match. The Dees failed to impress to any great degree however, as the strong wind and an enthusiastic but limited home team caused them problems at times.

Dundee started with a 4-4-2 formation and played the first forty five minutes into a stiff breeze. With neither team managing to make any real headway in the opening minutes, the game was bogged down in midfield for long spells. Dundee's first real chance came after 25 minutes when Boyack's cross was palmed away by Calder in the home goal, McSkimming headed it back into the box for Grady to nod towards goal, but the keeper got a touch to put it behind for a corner. Caley Thistle were by now worryingly beginning to find space inside the Dundee box but were unable to exploit their opportunities. With nine minutes to half time Dundee took the lead in fortunate circumstances. Rae played the ball to Falconer 25 yards out and the striker did well to poke it wide to McSkimming as he was challenged. The midfield man advanced down the left and swung in a cross which looked too close to the keeper, but to the amazement of the crowd ended up in the back of the net. An outrageous fluke if ever I saw one and it gave the Dark Blues a barely deserved half time lead.

After 12 minutes of the second half a Falconer head flick put Grady in on goal but substitute keeper Les Fridge did well to shut him down as he tried to lob the ball home. It was to be virtually Grady's last involvement as he went off as part of a quadruple substitution three minutes later.

Dundee had looked a bit livelier in the early moments of the second half but four minutes after the changes in personnel the home side were level. A cross from Tokely on the right was headed back into the danger area by Bavidge and Robson fired in a ten yard shot which Rab' could only parry. The ball was trickling toward the goal line but before the covering Barry Smith could clear former Dundee youth player Ian Stewart pounced to net from all of six inches.

Caley Thistle were level for only two minutes however, with Rae and Coyne combining to put Eddie Annand in on goal, he coolly slotted the ball low into the corner from 12 yards. Three minutes later the lead was almost extended as a Coyne dummy put Eddie in again. Annand has looked by far the sharpest of the strikers in pre season but on this occasion he blasted high and wide from eight yards.

Dundee were nearly made to pay for this miss when with a couple of minutes to go a Robson shot cannoned off Willie Miller and despite the defenders protests a penalty was given for handball. Sheerin strode up to take it and placed his shot low to the keeper's right but Douglas was equal to the task and saved with some ease.