By Bob Alexander

‘Dee made the long journey north to an overcast Harmsworth Park, with the playing surface in excellent condition.

The clubs were meeting for the first time.

‘Dee won the toss and elected to play up the slope and within a minute were a goal up. A corner from the right by Watson was swung into the edge of the six yard box and headed home by skipper Winton.

The away side were dictating the play in the early stages, with any possession Wick had being snuffed out by the resolute ‘Dee defence.

Shearer then replaced the injured Salmon in goal.

Watson was causing havoc down the right with his devastating pace and it wasn’t long before ‘Dee doubled their lead with a neat back post finish by L. Macleod following a pin point cross from the left by Gilmour.

Three minutes later the hosts were reduced to ten men when Anderson was red carded for serious foul play.

With a two goal advantage at the break, ‘Dee were looking to put the game to bed in the second half and immediately Watson headed over from an Armstrong cross when it looked easier to score.

Play then switched to the other end and the Wick striker was denied a penalty award by referee Baxter when he appeared to be brought down by the diving Shearer.

Gauld then had three unsuccessful attempts on goal, and ‘Dee were now on the ascendancy.

Minutes later it was a third goal, with Armstrong slamming home an unstoppable left foot drive from the edge of the box, following a partial clearance by the under pressure Wick defence.

Winton then added a fourth with a crisp shot from inside the box and the floodgates opened, with an amazing quick fire hat trick from Gauld in the space of four minutes, all sharp finishes from around the penalty box (trademark Gauld).

Winton then rounded off the scoring three minutes from time with goal number eight (to complete his hat trick), being the first to react to a loose ball in the box.

‘Dee move up to sixth place in the league table, and are on their travels again next Saturday to MacKessack Park, Rothes on league duty.