It was a narrow defeat for our under-19s on Tuesday night as they lost 2-1 to Dundee at Glebe Park, Brechin.
Dundee started on the front foot and it was Ryan Bland with the first real chance of the match after seven minutes. The wide man cracked a shot just inside the penalty area that looked goal-bound, but Arran Brookfield did well to deflect behind for a corner.
Saints were next to have a go when full-back Adam Shaeb beat his man to a loose ball in the middle of the park. The defender then unleashed a powerful effort that crashed off the crossbar.
Just five minutes later on 20 minutes, Saints were ahead when striker Darryl McMutrie pressured and took advantage of a goalkeeping error before bundling home into the back of the net.
After a bright start by Saints, Dundee regrouped after going a goal behind and a quick fire double turned the game on its head. Ethan Crombie firstly made the game level with a powerful strike across the goalkeeper from inside the box on 24 minutes.
Dundee captain Luca Perrie would then grab the hosts their second of the evening when he controlled, turned his marker, and fired low into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Saints looked for an equaliser and had shouts for a penalty on the half hour mark when Jack Robertson drove into the box before hitting the deck. There were appeals from the Saints players, but the referee waved play on.
Dundee started brightest after the half-time interval and again Perrie looked sharp. The striker went close with a strike inside the penalty area, but Saints goalkeeper Conner Douglas stood well to deny.
On the hour mark some fantastic pressing from McMutrie and Dougal McAdam forced Dundee into another defensive mix-up. Saints twice took aim at goal from inside the box, but defensive heroics from the hosts denied an equaliser.
The young Saints continued to press for a leveller with Sam Gallagher’s curled effort on 88 minutes the closest attempt in the final stages, but ultimately it was Dundee who ran out narrow winners.
Next up for the under-19s is a home match against Partick Thistle. Full fixture details will be confirmed on our social media channels.
