NAE LUCK FOR NEIL

By Gary McKenzie at Links Park
September 25 2004

Scottish Football League Division Three, Saturday 25 September 2004, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 0 STENHOUSEMUIR 2 (McBride (64, Stephen OG (70)).

Kegsy relaxes before the match Montrose were buoyed by the return to the squad of long-term casualty, Stuart Ferguson. It was good to see him warming up with the team last week, and after a reserve game midweek, he was ready to return to first team action, albeit on the bench for this game against Stenhousemuir.

It was clear when the teams took to the pitch that Stenny have a team haircut policy due to the number of shiny heads in their team. The Mo were in all blue as usual, while the opposition wore their away strip - all yellow with blue socks.

Stenhousemuir were clearly up for the match and settled quickly, a header flying over the bar after only a minute. Montrose were having our usual slow start, but Smart broke down the left a minute later. Webster was unable to connect with the cross.

Stephen had to put the ball behind for a corner to the visitors on 4 minutes, but Hanky dealt comfortably with the resultant kick.

Montrose at last begain to settle and after 8 minutes, Webster crossed well and earned a corner. Then Hall put in a 40 yard cross which was too high for Smarty this week.

The game was an uncomfortable scrap in midfield, neither side getting any time on the ball.

Kegsy and the Boss

After quarter of an hour, Stenny were forced to replace Savage with Davidson, the no 9 haing gone down heavily in a challenge.

Stenhousemuir still looked the more dangerous in attack, but Montrose were defending resolutely.

Mnntrose's first real chance of the game came after 17 minutes, when Sharpy ran on to a ball over the visitors' defence but shot wide.

Montrose were playing the better football, when they could keep it on the deck.

On 20 minutes Sharpy had a chance when he got a break of the ball off a defender after he made a run into the box, but his shot from a tight angle went wide.

Webster went close after 23 mins with a solo run and shot which forced the keeper into a diving save.

Kev was playing some good stuff and he saw another cross headed behind for a corner on the half hour.

Kerrigan found space in the box to fire a close range shot off the keeper and wide.

However, Stenny were pushing on at the other end and forced Donachie to make a saving challlenge for a corner on 35 mins.

Kegsy had another chance but shot well over on 37 minutes from a good cut back from Sharp.

Stephen then had to play the ball over his own bar in the face of pressure from the Stenny strikers.

Hanky then made the save of the match as McInally looked to have volleyed home the first goal. Somehow, Hanky managed to dive across to the right and palm the shot away.

With a minute until half-time McGrillan dived speculatively in the Mo box, which attracted the wrath of the home support. No cards from the referee, though, and the teams went in level at half time.

warm up Stenny started the second half as they had the first, with some good attacking pressure on the left and in the Mo penalty area.

On 48 mins, Sharpy again pulled the ball back for Kegsy, but his shot was deflected for a corner.

Donachie was next to try his luck, but fired well over from 30 yards on 55 minutes.

There was an anxious moment for Hanky on 57 minutes as he failed to gather at the feet of the Stenny attack, but the rest of the defence stepped in to mop up the danger.

Doyle was booked for a foul about 25 yards out on the Mo right and Stehousemuir sent on John Paul McBride for Lauchlan on 63 minutes. It was to prove a crucial substitution and the former Celtic player curled the freekick past Hanky for the opener.

Webster and Hall swapped wings at the restart. The game exploded with controversy on 66 minutes. Smart was attacking through the inside left channel when he was tripped by Smith who also seemed to take a kick at the Mo striker. Incensed, Smart pushed at Smith who went down theatrically to the consternation of the home fans.The referee gave Smart a straight red and Webster a yellow for dissent, before booking Smith for his part in the fracas. It looked like a case of the red mist decending, since Smart will be fully aware that you can't raise yor hands like that and get away with it these days. However, the behaviour of Smith was unsporting to say the least.

Henry Hall replaced Webster, who was clearly upset, with Craig o'Reilly.

Worse was to come for the Mo when on 70 minutes, Hanky made another fine diving save, only for the ball to come off the unlucky Neil Stephen and end up in the Mo net.

It was the last throw if the die for Henry Hall, and he sent on Ferguson and Spink for Dodds and Greenhill. Montrose tried to push forward and Henderson was booked for a foul on 72 minutes.

Sharpy made another good run on 76 minutes, but shot straight at the keeper.

Stephen almost scored another own goal with 10 mins to go when he sklaffed over his own bar.

Hall was booked on 83 for tripping, then Spink skied a chance over the bar.

The players were clearly tense leaving the field at the end of the match, with the home support making their feelings known about the Warriors' apparent acts of "simulation". However, although a draw might have been a fair result in terms of possession and effort, the lack of effective finishing by the Mo meant that Stenny probably edged it anyway.

Teams

Montrose

Hankinson, Donachie, Dodds, Doyle, Stephen, Webster, Greenhill, Smart, Hall, Sharp
Subs: Ferguson, Spink, Watson, O'Reilly, Butter

Stenhousemuir

McCulloch. Fallon, McInally, Knox, Smith, Henderson, Lauchlan, Collins, Savage, Murphy, McGrillen
Subs: Davidson, McBride, McGregor, Gardiner, McKeown

Montrose FC

NAE LUCK FOR NEIL

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