CHRIS CADDEN admitted he had dreamt of scoring his first senior goal 24 hours before it came to life on Tayside.

But the Motherwell starlet fumed that the nightmare of being wrongly penalised for conceding a late penalty turned the day into a nightmare for him.

Just a week on after he made his first start for the Steelmen, the 19-year-old put his team into a stunning lead in the first four minutes against Dundee, smashing a half-volley high into the net from the edge of the box.

It looked like the goal that would gift Motherwell a vital three points as they held a 2-1 lead going into the closing stages, only for John Beaton to give the hosts a penalty in the dying seconds after Cadden was adjudged to have kicked Kevin Holt.

Kane Hemmings stepped up to convert from the spot to nick a draw, and the Well youngster couldn’t help but hide his frustration when asked to reflect on a bittersweet afternoon.

“It has put a bit of dampener on it,” said Cadden. “It is not about my goal it is about the three points. “We didn’t get them and so we have to kick on again next week. “The manager told us all to keep our heads up.

“I have kicked the ball and then him (Holt). I got the ball and I don’t know what the referee has seen if I am being honest with you. If that is a penalty then we will be seeing eight penalties a game.

“The referee said it was a stonewall penalty but I don’t really know what he was talking about. He told me to go away.

“It is a bit raw just now. I was raging in the dressing room and threw some shin pads about. I am disappointed but when I reflect I will probably look back and think I have done quite well in the game.”

And so he should. In just his second ever Motherwell start, Cadden was one of the driving forces in the Well midfield that alleviated the pressure coming from the Dundee attack.

Often he could be seen scampering away down the right side, and, in truth, the late concession should not detract from another positive display by the Lanarkshire lad.

“I felt great and I was actually dreaming about it on Friday night,” said Cadden of his goal. “It was my left foot as well, I can’t believe it.

“It came off my left shin, I don’t know how it happened because I have never kicked the ball with my left foot before in my life.

“It was brilliant to see it go in and I was in my own little world for a few seconds. “I went mental but it was good.

“I might watch my goal on Sportscene and then turn it off or I could end up throwing something at the telly! “I will be watching Sportscene though.”