Reporter: jim davie

Dundee Violet 0 Lochee United 4

Lochee United are into the next round of the Quest Engineering Cup after a convincing victory over Violet at Glenesk Park.

It was an unfamiliar looking Bluebells side that started against their local rivals, with Danny Millar and Ross McDonald in the full back roles and Dougie Cameron at centre half. Garry Kenneth was on the bench and top scorer Scott McComiskie was missing from the squad altogether.

Despite that, the visitors took the lead after only five minutes, Ross GALLACHER picking up a pass from the right and drilling the ball past keeper Fraser Burnett.

The Pansies missed a great opportunity to level after 14 minutes when Lawrie Butcher sent his shot past Jordan Millar’s right hand post when it looked easier to score.

With a strong wind at their backs the youthful home side had another chance on 20 minutes when Sean Tucker fired in a shot from an angle that Millar did well to block with his feet.

At the other end Lochee had two penalty claims turned down when Kevin Milne and Ryan Blair both went down in the box under challenges from home defenders.

The strong wind made it difficult for Bluebells keeper Millar when he dropped the ball under pressure and he was relieved to see Jordan Garden’s shot blocked by one of his defenders.

But it was home keeper Burnett who was to suffer embarrassment when he dropped Greg Kirk’s up and under cross into the box leaving Logan DAVIE with a simple tap-in to double Lochee’s lead.

Violet had a great chance to reduce the deficit two minutes before the break but Tucker, after brilliantly bringing the ball down and turning his man, fired wildly over Millar’s bar.

The homesters came out for the second half in determined fashion and pinned Lochee back into their own half, but were caught out after only five minutes when a beautiful cross ball by Davie was picked up by Blair who in turn fed Kevin BUCHAN. The striker fired home from an acute angle off the unfortunate Burnett.

Home heads dropped a little after this but Mike Edgar had a chance from a corner kick which he headed into the side netting. He was to rue that miss when Lochee broke upfield from Millar’s goal kick. MILNE outpaced the home defence and rounded the keeper before coolly slotting the ball home.

Milne and McDonald both had chances to extend Lochee’s lead but the closest effort on goal came at the other end when tricky winger Cammy Ross cut in to send in a wicked shot that Millar did well to turn round the post.

In the closing minutes Milne hit the bar for Lochee and also missed a good chance when he fell over the ball after being set up by sub Danny Cavanagh and Davie.

The visitors rested a few players ahead of their Scottish Cup tie next week but were still too strong for a youthful and enthusiastic home side who gave a good account of themselves against their more experienced opponents.

Dundee Violet: Burnett, Taylor, Kinnear, Connelly, Wilson, Johnson, Butcher (McWilliam 67), Edgar (Kelly 75), Tucker, Garden, Ross.

Lochee Utd: J Millar, D Millar, Cameron (Kenneth 64), Kirk, McDonald, Davie, Lawson (Ritchie 69) Gallacher, Blair, Milne, Buchan (Cavanagh 64).