By Gary McKenzie
July 13 2004

Friendly. Saturday 10 July 2004, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 0 ST. JOHNSTONE 3 (Stevenson (13, 56), Moore (89))

Yes, it's been a long close season, even with Euro 2004 to keep us occupied, but finally Scottish football is back, albeit the friendly variety, and new Saints boss, John Connelly, brought a strong St Johnstone side to Links Park for the first friendly of the new season.

Montrose took the field in all yellow as the Saints sported their usual blue shirts and white shorts.

The Gable Endies were without the now departed Scott Michie, John McQuillan and Elliot Smith and we wondered if those influential players would be missed. We didn't have long to wait to find out as the Saints pinned us back in our own half at the start, and Ryan Stevenson opened the scoring with a magnificent curling shot from the edge of the area after 13 minutes.

Montrose rallied a bit and Woody had a shout for a penalty waved away. Montrose's best chance of the half came when Sharpy hit the post, but St Johnstone finished the half on top.

Watson was finding it hard going filling Michie's boots and it was no surprise when he was substituted by Spink at the start of the second half. Hanky came on for Butter and Stephen replaced Budd. Smart moved up front so Spink could play in midfield and Fergie went to left back to accommodate Stephen in the middle.

Montrose shold have levelled almost immediately as Euan Hall smashed the ball off the bar from close in.

Dodgy home defending allowed Stevenson to snatch a second after 56 minutes.

Webster replaced Kegsy who picked up a knock, after 64 minutes.

To give the team their due they never gave up, but the Saints look a class act, and their substitute Michael Moore, who caused us such problems for Stranraer last season, rubbed salt into the wounds with only seconds remaining with a clinical drive past Hanky from the edge of the box.

Michie, McQuillan and Smith are going to be hard to replace, and on the strength of what Henry Hall is saying in the press, quality players aren't proving easy to come by. The two trialists who spent the game at right back didn't make a huge impression, although it is probably unfair to judge them on 45 minutes of the first friendly.

Saturday's visit of Forfar will probably be a better indication of the season ahead.

Teams

Montrose

Butter, Trialist,Budd, Ferguson, Smith, Hall, Kerrigan, Smart, Sharp, Watson, Wood

Subs: Stephen, Webster, Spink, Trialist, Hankinson

St Johnstone

Cuthbert, Webb, Forsyth, Hannah, Rutkiewicz, Fraser, Fotheringham, Stevenson, Hay, Bernard, Trialist

Subs: Moore, Hardy, McConalogue, Malone, Nelson