DREAM DEBUT FOR HYDE AS HE HELPS DUNDEE WIN A POINT!

Dundee 1-1 Dunfermline

Jake Hyde, 20 year old striker on trial from Lochee United scored the goal that earned Dundee a well deserved point against title challengers Dunfermline Athletic at Dens on Tuesday night and also extended the clubs' fantastic unbeaten run which now stands at 22.

With the squad down to the bare bones, Barry Smith drafted in the youngster to help with attacking options and her partnered 18 year old Leighton McIntosh up front.

Dundee started the match very brightly and were passing the ball around very crisply and the early signs were evident that Hyde and MacIntosh were looking to forge a dangerous partnership with one another.

Dundee's best chance of the half came just after the half hour mark when a great passing move resulted in Forsyth picking the ball up at the edge of Dunfermline's area and he shot rather tamely at Chris Smith the Pars keeper. A minute later and Alex Burke recieved the ball in midfield and he kept running with the Dundee defence backing off from him and from about 25 yards he let rip with an unstoppable shot which beat Rab Douglas and into the bottom left hand corner of the net. It was totally against run of play.
Nevertheless, Dundee tried in vain to get an equaliser before the break but Dunfermline were squeezing Dundee out and stopping our attacks in full flow. Gary Irvine, fresh from scoring his first goal for the Dees on Saturday against Falkirk, tried his luck from 18 yards just before half time but again his shot was straight at the Pars keeper.

From the re-start Dundee looked as if they were sensing that there was something in the game for them and just after the break, trialist Jake Hyde had a wonderful chance to equalise as he was played through but his shot was superbly touched over the bar by the keeper.

Rhys Weston had to be substituted around midway through the second half as he was feeling the effects from an earlier rash challenge from Liam Buchanan which went unpunished by the referee. On came Craig Robertson who slotted into midfield while Irvine slipped back into defence at right back and Kyle Benedictus moving to centre back.

Dunfermline then were gifted a chance when a slip by Benedictus allowed Buchanan to run in on goal from an acute angle and he passed the ball back to Cardle whose shot was well blocked from McKeown otherwise it looked as if it could have been a goal.

That block proved to be a pivotal moment in the game and how Dunfermline were going to rue that chance. Approaching the 70th minute and Dundee won a free kick wide left of the box. An expert Harkins delivery saw Hyde rise above the defenders and power his header just inside the post and the aid of the keepers hand allowed for the ball to drop into the goal. Dundee had done it again! Clawed back from the brink.

Dens was rocking now and there was only going to be one winner now surely if there was to be a winning goal. Dunfermline boss brought on ex Dee Pat Clarke but he made very little impact in the closing stages of the game. Gary Harkins brought a measure of composure to the midfield in the closing stages of the match and when he won a free kick in a very dangerous position, the Dundee fans were willing him on to score yet an other dramatic winner but alas it wasn't to be as he put the ball harmlessly over the bar and both teams had to settle for a hard fought draw.

Full time scenes at Dens were fantastic as the supporters gave the Dee players another standing ovation and the players showed their gratitiude too. The scarves were being waved and there was generally a true feeling of togetherness and spirit from both the players and the fans. And of course, the unbeaten run was now extended to 22 games. Does this team ever know when they are beaten?



DUNDEE:

Douglas, Benedictus, McKeown, Weston (Robertson 65), Lockwood, Riley, Irvine, Harkins, Forsyth, Hyde, McIntosh

Unused subs: Gibson (gk) Rennie, Bartlett, Tulleth

Goal: Jake Hyde, 70 mins



DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC:

Smith, Woods, Rutkiewicz, Keddie, McCann, McDougall, (Cardle 61), Dowie, Hardie, (Higgins 88), Burke (Clarke 79) Buchanan, Graham

Unused subs: Paterson (gk), Scott

Goal: Burke 32 mins

Referee: Mike Tumilty.

Attendance: 4,507

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