By Dundeefc.net
April 24 2002

SAT 31ST JULY 1999

Dundee United 2 (Skoldmark 13 Quim 85) Dundee 1 (Falconer 53)

Douglas Miller, Tweed, Smith, Maddison Boyack, Rae, McSkimming, Sharp Falconer, Grady

Subs: Yates (for Sharp 86) Coyne, Robertson, Langfield, Bayne

Dundee lost the opening day derby to a late headed goal from United's Portuguese striker Quim. The United new boy, on as substitute for Thompson made a big difference to the outcome of this match with the Dees never looking comfortable when he was near the ball. Dundee had a spell when they controlled the game, but without the suspended Eddie Annand, they lacked a cutting edge. The introduction late on of Michael Yates saw the youngster storm into the box and fire a ball across the six yard box, but Shaun McSkimming couldn't make contact when any touch would surely have led to a second equaliser.

An angry Jocky Scott slated his players for stopping playing after Willie Falconer had equalised Skoldmark's early counter, "Right after we scored we started defending too deep" he said clearly frustrated that the team had allowed United to dominate the last twenty minutes of the match and conceded "Two bad goals, The first was a total lapse of concentration, and the second was a bad goal to lose as well" he said.

United had taken the lead at sun drenched Tannadice in 13 minutes when Patterson's corner from the right skimmed off a defenders head and fell for Skoldmark, six yards out, to fire home via the underside of the bar.

As the half finished Dundee began to dominate and a good start to the second half meant it was no surprise when they levelled. A fine spell of passing ended with the ball at Millers feet 30 yards out, and his fired ball into the box saw Falconer with an age in which to turn and power home a shot from 12 yards.

Dundee had United on the ropes, but suddenly began to defend deeper, and give the ball away more. United more and more began to have the upper hand and Rab' Douglas made a string of saves, notably from Quim and Davidson.

They only delayed the winner however, Dodds found Paterson wide on the left and his early ball saw Quim easily beat Tweed in the air, Douglas made contact with the net bound header but the ball bounced towards the line, and although Barry Smith bravely dived to head the ball clear from the inrushing Dodds, the linesman signalled to the referee that the ball had crossed the line.