By Gary McKenzie
September 3 2003

CIS Cup, First Round. Tuesday 2 September 2003, Links Park, Montrose. Montrose 2 (Smart (46), Kerrigan (51)) Stirling Albion 0 (MOTM - Steve Kerrigan) Montrose were forced to make a change for tonight's Cup match against the current Division 3 leaders. Keith Gibson's suspension allowed Martin Wood to play from the start. Montrose lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with a "diamond" midfield, Stevie Kerrigan linking with the front players and Conway performing the defensive midfield duties.

It's fair to say that Montrose missed the influence of Gibson to begin with, and both teams settled into a long ball game, with both defences coping without too many problems. Indeed it took a good half hour for the first shot on goal to occur.

It was no surprise then, when the teams went in goalless at half-time, and when the tannoy announcement came that there would be extra-time and penalties if the match wasn't settled in the 90, we feared the worst. It was good to see some members of the Aberdeen FC coaching staff and team in the crowd, and there was some good-natured banter. A lonely soul with a "Sheran must go" banner had appeared just after kick off, but he had little to complain about in the first half, apart from the lack of a goal.

Our fears for extra time soon vanished as straight fromkick-off, Montrose took control and went on the attack. Stevie Kerrigan popped up on the right wing and floated a great ball over to Smartie at the far post who nodded the ball home.

Five minutes later, in a carbon copy of the first goal, Kevin Webster crossed for Kerrigan to power a header down into the bottom left corner for our second.

Stirling really started to come at us and forced an extrordinary number of corners, but Montrose defended resolutely to keep them out. This was a spirited defensive performance, with Montrose players getting themselves behind the ball and supporting their colleagues.

Montrose sent on Michie for a tired-looking Wood and Farnan for Black who received an appreciative response from the home support.

With five minutes to go, Kevin Webster made a great cross form the right on a counter attack from one of the Binos many corners but Michie couldn't keep it down as he connected first time and it pinged over the bar.

Montrose deservedly hung on until the final whistle, and there were many fine performances on the night. Kerrigan got man of the match, but Ferguson, Conway and Smart could all stake their own claims.

Was this a flash in the pan or is this the beginning of the Mo revival?

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Teams

Montrose

Butter, Donachie, Ferguson, Simpson, McQuillan, Conway, Webster, Wood, Smart, Kerrigan, Black

Subs: Michie, Farnan, Sharp, Henderson, Hankinson

Stirling

Hogarth, Nugent, McNally, Rowe, Anderson, Gibson, Ferguson, Elliot, O'Brien, Devine, McLean

Subs: Davidson, Hay, McKinnon, Wilson, Morrison