By Gary McKenzie @ Links Park
March 20 2005

Scottish Football League Division Three, Saturday 19 March 2005, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 2 (Wood (50), Smart (59, pen.) QUEEN'S PARK 0 Montrose leapt to third place in the table with a fourth win on the trot.

Watson started the match after his midweek hattrick against Forfar reserves and the only surprise in what is becoming a very settled-looking side was the omission of Sharp who was replaced by Dodds on the left wing. Maybe Henry Hall was worried about the greater attacking threat that Queen's Park might pose. It looked like that fear might not have been misplaced early on as Billy Stark's team took the initiative and dominated the first five minutes. Their only dangerous moment, however, was when Clark fired over from 25 yards.

Montrose came right back into it and won a corner on 8 minutes, but Stephen headed wide from the cross.

A minute later, Watson found himself deep in the Queen's Park box with the ball at his feet but he just couldn't get it out to get in a decent shot. Smart then had a go, but the keeper managed to keep it out.

Butter caused hearts to jump after 4 minutes when he failed to come for a ball but Carroll missed the target.

On 26 minutes, Rushford gave Crawford in the visitors' goal a fright when his header back went past the keeper, but he managed to scramble back and collect.

A minute later, Molloy shot well wide for the Spiders.

Watson went close on 31 minutes as he bore in on the away goal but his shot ricocheted of the post to safety.

It was a close match with the teams well matched and Ferry shot wide for the visitors on 35 minutes.

Webster was guilty of going for glory when he should have passed out wide on 39 minutes, but his shot went well wide.

On 30 minutes Montrose got a free kick just outside the box and Stephen headed wide.

Watson cut isnide and had his shot saved on 42 minutes.

Just before half-time, there was a bit of a melee in the Mo box when Butter dived into a ruck of players to retrieve the ball. The referee talked to Smart and Graham but took no further action.

A draw at half-time was a fair score, but it was entertaining nevertheless.

Montrose came out guns ablazing at the start of the second half and their pressure was to pay off. WOOD received a great long diagonal ball from Smart at the left corner flag. The striker tokk the ball between two defenders, cut inside past another, and fired a low drive past Crawford. That may well have been Montrose's goal of the season from a player who has has an up and down season.

Harvey was fortunate to escape a booking for dissent. The first booking wasn't far away, however, as on 54 minutes, Kettlewell committed a bad foul, then complained about the award and was yellowed for his protests.

A minute later, Watson went flying as he ran into the box, but the referee gave a freekick right on the edge.

Montrose did get a penalty after 58 minutes, when Dodds was fouled by Rushford who was booked for his actions. SMART shwed why he is the Mo's penalty king with another clinical finish.

Montrose kept pushing and Webster volleyed over on 59 minutes after good work down the right.

Harvey received his booking belatedly for a trip on 63 minutes.

The next five minutes saw McLean and Sharp sent on for Wood and Webster

With 10 minutes remaining, Clark joined his fellow Spiders in the referee's notebook.

Felvus then replaced Graham for the visitors, but Montrose ran out comfortable winners.

Montrose may not hold on to third place for long, with Cowdenbeath and Queen's Park both to play their games in hand in midweek.

Next week sees an away trip to a beleaguered Cowdenbeath who haven't won in seven.

Teams

Montrose

Butter, Donachie, Ferguson, E Smith, Stephen, Fraser, Webster, Smart, Wood, Watson, Dodds

Subs: Sharp, McLean, Spink, Hall, Hankinson

Queen's Park

Crawford, Trouten, Molloy, Rushford, Sinclair, Harvey, Kettlewell, Clark, Graham, Carroll, M Ferry

Subs: D Ferry, Whelan, Quinn, Felvus, Cowie

Other match reports

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/4359283.stm
http://www.montrose-mad.co.uk/news/loadrprt.asp?cid=MTCH&id=212587
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=154746&cc=5739