Football: Hinds Finds End to the Fairytale ; Dundee ... 1 Aberdeen ... 1 Spl Extra _- Dens Doom Drags On Dream Dundee Start Is Too Good to Be True

Summary

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DUNDEE fans were treated to one of the goals of the season at Dens Park - but were probably the first to realise it would be too good to be true. Mark Fotheringham's fantastic free kick after just eight minutes will not be bettered anywhere by anyone - not even by a certain Mr David Beckham. But the former Celtic youngster's fourth goal for the club proved to be little more than another false dawn for the supporters in Dark Blue. Calling this a roller coaster season for Dundee is a football understatement of epicproportions. They have been in administration since last December with debts of over pounds 20m but the fans have rallied round with magnificent fund raising efforts. However, just days ago, they were dealt what they see as the final insult. They learned they could be playing next season at thehome of arch rivals Dundee United. Many fans have since expressed their belief that it would be better to stay at Dens and die peacefully. However, there were suggestions yesterday that officials of the Lithuanian FA will have fresh talks in 10 days with Dundee United. And one proposal is that the Eastern Europeans put up the money to build a new pounds 20,000 capacity stadium to house both clubs. Dens boss Jim Duffy insisted that would be the perfect answer and the way forward for Dundee and United. But Duffy and everyone else at Dundee will believe the new stadium when they see it. They have heard most of it before. They will treat any potential fairy godfather with caution after their experiencesGiovanni Di Stefano, who spoke of a pounds 23m investment not long before the financial roof caved in. At least Fotheringham's goal was something real and something to cling to for the fans. Spanish striker Nacho Novo was hauled down outside the Aberdeen area by Chris Clark as he tried to break through.Fotheringham somehow managed to get his free- kick up over the wall and down again into the corner of the net as David Preece dived in despair. As Dundee celebrated the lead Novo and Venezualan Jonay Hernandez - a former Real Madrid player - reminded fans that more important things have happened in recent days.They pulled up their Dundee jerseys to reveal T-shirts proclaiming "No To Terrorism." Hernandez explained: "We thought there should have been a minute's silence before the game to remind everyone what had happened in Madrid. "I spent two hours trying to contact my brother Daniel in Madrid after I heard the news. It turned out all right for me because he was at University when the bombs went off. "But I feel for all the other families affected and after 11 million people took to the streets in Spain last night I felt wearing the T-shirt was something I should do." For a long time after that it looked as though the goal would be enough to give Dundee the win. They certainly had luck on their side at times. Five minutes before half time Zdrilic turned sharply inthe box and beat Julian Speroni only to see the ball come back off a post. But the Dundee luck ran out after 61 minutes. Speroni seemed to have the ball safely at Clark's feet but it came loose and Clark squared for Hinds to net. Dundee did almost grab the points at the death but Preece produced the save of the game from a Novo strike.

MAN OF THE MATCH BRENT SANCHO Power of strength as Dundee fought to hold on. DUNDEE: Speroni 6, Mackay 6, SANCHO 8, Mair 7, Hernandez 6 (Cameron 4), Brady 6 (Linn 4), Fotheringham 7, Barrett 6, Robb 6, Novo 6, Milne 6. ABERDEEN: Preece 6, McNaughton 6, McGuire 6 (Hart 6), Diamond 6, Morrison 7, Heikkinen 6, Sheerin 7, Clark 7, Muirhead 6 (Stewart 4), Zdrilic 6 (Printy 4), Hinds 6. MANAGER RATINGS:Duffy 7; Paterson 6. REFEREE:S Dougal 7.

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Football: Hinds Finds End to the Fairytale ; Dundee ... 1 Aberdeen ... 1 Spl Extra _- Dens Doom Drags On Dream Dundee Start Is Too Good to Be True

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