By Gary McKenzie @ Links Park
March 25 2005

Forfarshire Cup Semi-Final, Thursday 24 March 2005, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 0 DUNDEE UNITED 1 (Kenneth (75)). United caretaker manager, Gordon Chisholm, kept to his word and fielded a strong side.

Montrose, however, had one eye on the weekend clash with Cowdenbeath and Henry Hall sent out a side with six players who have been on the fringes of the side all season.

It was a misty night at Links Park, and the teams took a wee while to really get going. United were playing with three at the back when they were attacking, which gave Barry Robson plenty room down the United left.

Montrose's first chance came in 11 minutes, when Smith was first to test Colgan with a long drive that Colgan collected easily.

Two minutes later Montrose had a shout for a penalty when the United defender blocked the ball with his foot and it swung up and looked to hit his arm. However, it ended up behind for a Montrose corner.

United came back on 15 minutes and Kenneth headed over from a corner. McInnes then had a shot well over from outside the box.

Tall Ross Graham was giving the United defence a tough time and he earned a freekick at the edge of the box when McInnes tripped him a minute later. Daryn Smith sent the resulting freekick crashing off the wall.

On 27 minutes, the ball was in the Montrose net when Hall headed a United cross high past his own keeper, but the flag was up for offside.

McLean tried to hassle Ritchie off the ball with the defender facing his own bye line in the box. Ritchie reacted badly to it, and the experienced defender was lucky not to enter the referee's book.

Archibald then produced a very bad foul on McLean, but the referee seemed determined not to use hs cards tonight.

On 32 minutes, Hall shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Hall was in action again when he fouled Billy Dodds on the edge of the Mo penalty area, but the shot was no problem for Hanky in the goal.

On 34 minutes, Daryn Smith found himself in space inside the United box but shot wide.

Smith was unlucky on 40 minutes when he connected well with a Sharp cross from the left, but a combination of a save from Colgan and the post kept the scores level.

Montrse deservedly went in level at half-time and showed enough to suggest that they had a chance against their SPL neighbours.

Wood came on for Graham at half-time.

United looked more like an attacking force in the second half and Samuel had a great chance to open the scoring on 53 minutes when he was clear running into the right side of the box but he pulled his shot wide.

On 55 minutes, Sharp did well to get to the bye line on the left but his cross was cut out by Colgan.

United sent Duff on for Dodds in 57 minutes.

In 60 minutes, Hanky made a great double save as United looked sure to score. Then, in true Hanky eccentric style, he almost let a speculative effort from Samuel through his body, but managed to collect at the second attempt.

United were getting closer and in 69 minutes, Samuel cut inside from the right but Hanky got down well to the shot.

Montrose still threatened, and on 70 minutes, Fergie over hit a cross from the left after Wood had played him in with a lovely backheel. Wood's backheel was in action again moments later. This time he tried to play Mclean in on the edge of the box but the striker shot well over.

Webster then replaced Sharp and Callaghan replaced Cameron for the visitors.

Smith did well to head the ball behind for a corner on 75 minutes, but United scored from the kick. The ball was floated invitingly across and KENNETH was at the near post to head it in.

Two minutes loater Robson's shot was well over. Kerr Dodds took a sore one over by the farside touchline and had to be stretchered off. Watson replaced hiim and Daryn Smith moved to right back.

Montrose kept up the pressure and Hall came close when he tried to lob the keeper from 35 yards afer Colgan had raced out to make a clearance, but the ball went just over.

Ther was no shame in this result or performance for Montrose, and if we'd taken one of the chances in the first half, it could have been very different. United boss Chisholm clearly has a lot to do if he wants to keep this team in the SPL.

Teams

Montrose

Hankinson, K Dodds, Ferguson, Spink, Stephen, Doyle, D Smith, Hall, McLean, Graham, Sharp

Subs: Donachie, Wood, Webster, Watson, Butter

Dundee United

Colgan, Cameron, Archibald, McInnes, Kenneth, Ritchie, Grady, B Dodds, Samuel, Scotland, Robson

Subs: Duff, Holmes, Robertson, Callaghan, Bullock

DUFC Report: http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=2&nid=1917&cd=2005