By Gary McKenzie at Links Park
August 14 2004

Scottish Football League Division Three, Saturday 14 August 2004, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 0 PETERHEAD 1 (Michie (37)) Montrose's first home game of the new season, and the tannoy blasted out Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back in Town".

Successive away defeats against Gretna, East Fife and Falkirk have demonstrated that the team has real problems just now, particularly with injuries to key players.

 

However, this afternoon saw the return of Keith Gibson and Scott Michie to Links Park, after their summer moves north. Henry Hall was quoted in the Courier that the Blue Toon are paying six times the wages of Montrose players, and that perhaps added a hint of frostiness to the reception those two players got. In addition, old stager, Kevin Tindal was on the visitors bench. Has anyone forgiven him for moving to Arbroath? Thought not.

The Mo took the field in their new blue home strip, and very fetching it is too, looking even more like Chelsea than last year's shiny kit. Peterhead wore their white shirts, black shorts and socks away kit.

Peterhead took control early on and put pressure on the Montrose defence. However, it soon became clear this was going to be a bit of a scrap and the home fans were cheering when Kerrigan made a crunching tackle on his old team mate Michie.

Montrose came back into the game, and Sharp was caught marginally offside, then Smith sent over a great cross but there were no takers in blue shirts.

Peterhead still looked dangerous and forced a couple of corners.

It was end to end stuff and the Mo went close in a goalmouth scramble, then Hanky made a fine save at the other.

Sharp harshly received the first booking of the game for a foul on Youngson, and the ball eventually fell to Tully who shot over the bar.

Bavidge was looking like the danger-man for Peterhead and he fired over and then had a shot saved by Hanky shortly after.

Michie eventually broke the deadlock with a well-taken penalty box strike on 37 minutes.

Michie then came close again, but Hanky saved at his feet.

Half-time arrived, and Montrose were still very much in this game.

The start of the second half was niggly with Tully booked for a foul on Sharp and Gibson booked for persistent fouling.

Sharpie then drove over from a reasonable position on the right side of the box.

Gibson was extremely fortunate not to be sent off when the referee appeared not to notice his kick at a Montrose player.

Youngson went down in the left back position and there was a lengthy delay as he was stretchered off. Montrose took the opportunity to replace the limping Daryn Smith with Duncan Jones, the midweek scorer for the Mo.

Youngson was replaced by Johnston.

Sharpy was sent through only for Mather to save at his feet, then Hanky did the same at the other end.

Hall shot just over from the edge of the penalty area.

Budd was playing well making some excellent tackles at left-back.

Watson was booked and then replaced by young Morrice, who was then joined by Kerrigan in attack as Montrose sought the equaliser.

Perry was then booked for a foul on Hall and Kit Bremner replaced Sharpie up front.

Montrose were really pushing for a goal by this time and Kegsy had a header saved by Mather. However there were to be no more goals, only a cameo appearance by Tindal who must have got all of 30 seconds on the park when he replaced the applauding Michie.

We haven't had the easiest of starts to the season, and it doesn't get any easier with next week's second trip to Gretna.

Teams

Montrose

Hankinson, Donachie, Budd, Kerrigan, Stephen, Spink, D Smith, Hall, Watson, Smart, Sharp

Subs: Jones, Morrice, Bremner, Lindsay, Butter

Peterhead

Mathers, Tully, Youngson, Good, Perry, Gibson, Campbell, Buchan, Michie, Bavidge, Hagen

Subs: Johnston, Tindal, Bain, Milne, Buchanan

 

Links to other reports

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/3558548.stm

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=152363&cc=5739