By Gary McKenzie @ Links Park
January 29 2005

Scottish Football League Division Three, Saturday 29 January 2005, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 1 (Doyle (5)) COWDENBEATH 2 (McCallum (26), Gribben (59)) Henry Hall was forced to change the side as Webster was out with a knee injury. The much-maligned Euan Hall was rested.

Montrose began this game much brighter than usual, and the effort paid off as we were ahead within 5 minutes. Dodds, on the right wing, did well to beat a defender and cross from the bye-line on the right to find DOYLE in a crowded penalty area. He connected first time on the half-volley and the ball flew into the roof of the net.

Watson went close when his shot was pushed wide by Carlin in the Cowden goal.

Montrose should have had a penalty in 7 minutes when Dodds pushed the ball past the defender again on the right. His path weas blocked, but the referee waved away the Montrose appeals. From where I was sitting, it was a stonewaller.

On 12 minutes, Graeme Shnarp burst through the middle of the Cowden defence, managing to shrug off a shirt-tug, but his shot was tipped over by Carlin.

Cowdenbeath equalised on 26 minutes when MCCALLUM found the ball at his feet in the Mo penalty area and he fired low past Butter.

On 28 minutes, Watson was booked for going in too hard on a challenge. TThe big striker was certainly putting himself about, but a booking was perhaps harsh.

Montrose lost the influential Stevie Kerrigan on 32 minuutes when he went in for a challenge near the halfway line on the right wing. He had to go off with his arm in a sling and he may well have broken it. Slater replaced him in a straight swap.

On 39 minutes Watson went close again, put through brilliantly by Smart, but his shot was somehow saved by Carlin, who stuck his arm out to send it wide.

The referee was annoying the home support by his inconsistent decisions, and he earned their wrath again on 43 minutes when he booked Slater for a challenge when the substitute clearly took the ball.

Cowdenbeath went ahead when the Montrose defence opened up just before the hour to let Gribben through to fire low past Butter.

Montrose tried t fight back, and on 65 minutes, Cowden's Williams was booked for a foul on Donachie at the Fifers' corner flag.

Dodds put in a good early cross on 70 minutes, but Sharp headed just over.

Mauchlen was booked for a bad foul on Fergie a couple of minutes later, and he was substituted by Kelly soon afterwards.

Cowdenbeath's McCallum was replaced by Buchanan with 10 minutes to go.

Gribben was booked for kicking the ball away with 8 minutes to go as he tried to waste a bit more time for his side.

Montrose sent on Greenhill for Watson with 5 minutes to go, and Smart moved up front for a last push.

As tradition would have it, Donachie went into the book for dissent.

Wood missed a good chance to equalise with 2 minutes to go when a defensive header in the Cowden box went high and loose and fell to him on the volley on the right, but he sent it high and wide.

So the Mo's miserable run continues with injuries to Webster and Kegsy into the bargain. The games don't get any easier with Stenhousemuir the visitors to Links Park next Saturday.

Teams

Montrose

Butter, Donachie, Ferguson, Doyle, Stephen, Kerrigan, Dodds, Smart, Wood, Watson, Sharp

Subs: Slater, Spink, Greenhill, Budd, Hankinson

Cowdenbeath

Carlin, Shand, Williams, Fusco, McKeown, Ritchie, Mauchlen, McHale, McCallum, Gribben, Bain

Subs: Buchanan, Kelly, Baird, McGregor, Fleming

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/4214227.stm
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=154191&cc=5739
http://www.montrose-mad.co.uk/news/loadrprt.asp?cid=MTCH&id=202447