By Gary McKenzie
September 27 2003

Scottish Football League Division Three, Saturday 27 September 2003, Links Park, Montrose. Montrose 2 (Kerrigan (76), Michie (81)) Stranraer 4 (Moore (5, 17, 52 pen, 90) Any hopes Montrose had of putting Tuesday night's drubbing behind them were quickly dented when lanky Stranraer striker Michael Moore pounced on a fumble by home keeper, Hankinson, to slot home the opener after 5 minutes. Things got worse on 17 minutes when Moore rose again at the far post to nod home a corner from inches out.

Montrose managed to rally a little, but found the Stranraer defence formidable and trudged off at half-time two down.

The second half was more even, but disaster struck on 52 minutes when Fergie found himself the wrong side of Finlayson in a crowded penalty area and slid in for a penalty, ably converted by that man Moore again.

Henderson and Watt replaced Brash and Spink and at last Montrose started to show some form, and threw themselves a slender lifeline when Kerrigan prodded home a Michie knock-down on 76 minutes. Keith Gibson struck a beautiful volley home from 25 yards which the keeper could only watch after 81 minutes, and we dreamed of saving a point from this match which had looked out of reach.

However, it was not to be, as, in injury time, Moore again found himself in space as Montrose had bodies up the field. Hanky tried a fresh-air header outside the box and Moore made no mistake.

The first 75 minutes of this match were truly awful for the Mo. No rhythm, committment or accuracy, and Stranraer took full advantage of the lack of confidence. Yet the last 15 minutes were an indication of how well Montrose can play. OK, Stranraer were sitting back and playing on the break at that point, but we came mighty close to pulling it level.

Worryingly, it is clear that there is still something seriously wrong at Links Park, for the players, not for the first time, to only really start to play once the team is three down.

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Teams

Montrose:

Hankinson, Trialist, McQuillan, Simpson, Ferguson, Spink, Gibson, Black, Brash, Michie, Kerrigan

Subs: Watt, Henderson, Sharp, Smith, Gilpin

Stranraer:

McCondichie, Swift, Wingate, Henderson, Wright, Finlayson, Jenkins, Aitken, Sharp, Moore, Graham

Subs: Grant, Cruickshank, Marshall, Kerr, McCaulay

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BBC Sport Report