Dundee North End 3 Lochee United 1

Reporter:Jim Davie

A Gary Sutherland hat-trick inside 10 second half minutes consigned champions Lochee United to their second defeat of the season, meaning they have now dropped more league points than they did in the whole of last season.

The visitors started strongly, with former Doken, Kevin Milne, heading over the bar in the first minute. That was followed by a Grant Lawson shot that hit the side netting.

The home team replied with a Robert Malone header easily dealt with by keeper John Sinclair and a Brian Rice cross that was just too strong for the inrushing Sutherland.

On the 20 minute mark Lochee took the lead. A Logan Davie corner was met by the head of Danny MILLAR who despatched the ball past Neal Ferrie in the home goal.

Despite having the bulk of possession the Bluebells were finding it difficult to penetrate a stuffy North End defence and it was five minutes before the break before they troubled Ferrie again, Milne’s shot rebounding off the keeper’s legs.

At the other end Sinclair wasn’t seeing too much action but he had to look lively to deny Sutherland when the striker broke through.

The second half was to see the game turned completely on its head. After having a goal disallowed for offside, the Dokens were soon back on the attack and, on 50 minutes Ryan Rigden’s cross was met at the far post by SUTHERLAND to put North End on level terms.

Lochee suffered a blow when central defender Garry Kenneth had to go off at this stage, with Reece Ritchie coming on and a defensive reshuffle having to take place.

Seven minutes later, the home team grabbed the lead. A short passback by Stephen McNally was picked up and squared to SUTHERLAND who made no mistake from close range.

On the hour mark North End struck again. A long ball out of defence was chased by SUTHERLAND who beat Sinclair to the ball and scored with ease.

Sinclair almost gifted the striker a fourth with a loose ball which fell at the North End man’s feet just outside the penalty area, but the ball was cleared.

Lochee tried hard to get back into the game but a resilient Dokens defence blocked them at every turn and the home side deservedly ran out winners against a side which suffered a rare off day.

Best for North End were Sutherland and former Dundee full back Brian Rice who actually played for Lochee United in one of their pre-season games.

For Lochee, Logan Davie continued his recent good form but, like his team mates, grew more frustrated as the game wore on.

North End: Ferrie, Gibb, Rice, Ballantyne, Lunan, Allan, Rigden, Smith, Sutherland (Thomson 80), Malone (McArtney 62), Devine.

Lochee United: Sinclair, Millar, Kenneth (Ritchie 50), Kirk, McNally, Cavanagh, Davie (Gallacher 78), Lawson (Buchan 78), Blair, Milne, McComiskie.