By Gary McKenzie
October 31 2004

Scottish Football League Division Three, 30 October 2004, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 2 (Smart (15)< Wood (71)) ELGIN CITY 0.

Ex Montrose coach, David Robertson's Elgin City were the visitors at Links Park. Elgin are vastly improved this season and it looked as if they would give us a game early on. While Montrose carved open the first real chance on 5 minutes when Smart headed just wide from a Donachie cross, it was the home defence that was busiest during the opening 10 minutes.

Butter held a corner easily after 8 minutes and then Elgin wasted a free kick from around 25 yards when their man strayed offside.

In 12 minutes, Elgins Philip Reid shot straight at Butter, again preferred to Hankinson between the Mo sticks.

Elgin were enjoying a lot of posession without creating any real chances and Montrose opened the scoring after 15 minutes, against the run of play. A great move down the left ended when the ball came to Smart just inside the box with loads of space to control the ball and hit it hard and low in at Renton's right hand post.

This buoyed a now settled Montrose. who were starting to pass the ball well through midfield. Smart had another chance on 23 minutes when Cumming slipped as he took a freekick at the halfway line, the ball was headed into Smart's path but he screwed it wide with just the keeper to beat.

Elgin went close on 29 when Harty's shot was saved by Butter into the path of Kaczan, but he hit the post when he really should have scored.

The first booking came when Bremner tripped Webster, but the winger skied the resultant freekick.

Webster went close again on 38 minutes when he tried to curl one in but it was wide.

Elgin had another shot which Butter saved easily with a minute to halftime and the Mo went in just about deserving their halftime lead.

Montrose tried to turn the screw in the second half and made numerous chances. Kerrigan was first to have a go but fired wide. Elgin were committing a number of fouls and Nelson was next in the book for his challenge on Smart. Smarty shot just wide after a header from Stephen from the freekick.

Sharpy tried to chip the keeper after 55 minutes but it was saved. He tried again with a weak shot two minutes later with the same result.

More foul play by Elgin, this time Cumming, earned another booking on the hour.

Robbo tried to change things when he replaced Napier with a trialist. They won a freekick on the right just outside the box. Kegsy headed it out only as far as McKenzie who belted it high and wide.

Henry Hall sent on fresh legs in the shape of O'Reilly for Greenhill.

Elgin had a good chance in 62 minutes when Harty received the ball in what looked like an offside position but tapped the ball weakly at Butter.

Montrose's search for the second goal continued when Webster ade a great run  on 68 minutes which was halted illegally by Kacsan and the defender ended up in the book.

The points were effectivey sewn up by Martin Wood on 71 minutes when he struck the ball expertly into the net in a crowded penalty area. Elgin, to their credit, tried to respond and Butter made a fine save at his left post shortly after.

Vigurs came on for Roddie for Elgin on 74 and Watson replaced Woody who acknowledged the home fans acclaim.

On 80 minutes, Donachie played in Watson but he shot straight at the keeper. Euan Hall replaced Sharp.

Butter still had work to do when he saved well from an Elgin freekick on 82 minutes.

The Elgin rough challenges continued when Harty was booked for a bad one on Webster.

As Montrose tried to play out the last few minutes of time in the Elgin half, Webster was hacked down by Cumming at the corner flag and the big number 2 saw red for his second bookable offence.

With only seconds remaining, Calum Watson went on a fine run only for his shot to be deflected over for a corner.

 

This wasn't a classic by any means, but Montrose played some magic football in patches and the rest of the game, played in a controlled, professional manner. The team, who were leaking goals and not scoring many at the start of the season, have a real confidence, and, yes, swagger about them at the moment as they continue to climb the table. That climb is about to get steeper as we are within a game of catching Elgin. Catching Gretna and Peterhead above them, however, would seem like a very tall order indeed.

Teams

Montrose

Butter, Donachie, Ferguson, Doyle, Stephen, Kerrigan, Greenhill, M Wood, Smart, Sharp

Subs: Dodds, Hall, Watson, O'Reilly, Hankinson

Elgon City

Renton, Cumming, Napier, Kaczan, Trialist, McKenzie, Bremner, Nelson, Reid, Harty, Roddie

Subs: Vignurs, G Wood, McDonald, Trialist, Pirie

 

Other Match Reports

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/3963507.stm

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=153143&cc=5739