GREG'S RED FAVOURS FIFERS

By Gary McKenzie
March 8 2003

Scottish League Division 3, Saturday 8 March 2003, Links Park, Montrose. Montrose 0 (McKechnie sent off (21)) East Fife 2 (Donaldson (11), Herkes (46))

It looked like a tall order for the Mo as the league leaders visited with Johnston, Donachie and Webster all out injured, and so it turned out.

McCheyne began at right back, Riley and Thomson in midfield with Gibson and David Craig on the right wing.

The game began at frantic pace and Montrose looked to be as good as the Fifers until on 11 minutes Donaldson ducked inside and hit a well struck shot over McGlynn.

Montrose still looked as if they would have a go at East Fife, but the incident which was to change the game occurred after 21 minutes. McKechnie was crudely fouled by ex-Endie, Farnan, and reacted angrily with a girly push, knocking the East Fife player to the deck. The referee showed him a straight red card, booked Farnan, and Sheran bellowed at McKechnie as he headed up the tunnel.

Riley managed to hit the bar for the Mo but Craig was unable to get sufficient direction on the header to knock the rebound home.

The second half started as the first had ended, and Montrose were coping well with being a man down. However, after only a minute, as Montrose were attacking in the East Fife half, McCheyne hit a pass behind McQuillan on the halfway line, Herkes latched on to the loose ball and made no mistake against the helpless McGlynn.

The game was all but over at that point. The referee was making some howlers and booked Ferguson for a bad foul, yet let an East Fife player off with a similar foul on Fergie only seconds later.

Sheran shuffled his team and put on Sharp, Brand and Henderson for McCheyne, Thomson and Ferguson, and although we hit the post and had one cleared off the line, it was clear that this was not to be our day.

Mo Team
McGlynn, McCheyne, Ferguson, Gibson, Christie, McQuillan, Craig, Riley, Kerrigan, McKechnie, Thomson

Subs: Anderson, Sharp, Brand, Henderson, McDonald