DODGY V DONS

By Gary McKenzie
July 20 2003

Friendly. Saturday 19 July 2003, Links Park, Montrose. Montrose 1 (Smart 50) Aberdeen XI 3 (Bird(1, 70), Morrison (55)) (goal timings are approximate)

Keen to maintain the standard of performance shown against Brechin on Wednesday and in front of a healthy away support (surprising really, since their first eleven was getting beat by Caley Thistle at the same time), the home support were hopeful of a good start.

Unfortunately, hope has the habit of kicking you in the teeth and the Mo were one down after about a minute when Bird timed his run perfectly and danced past Barry Donnachie, standing with his hand in the air like he was asking teacher to go to the toilet. He struck the shot well past Hankinson and it was 0-1.

Montrose were finding it difficult to settle, but eventually did so, and Conway was unfortunate not to score after 20 minutes when he met a volley perfectly from a few yards, only for Dons keeper Hutton to palm it away for a corner.

Montrose were playing well at this stage, although trialist Heiniger was finding it difficult in midfield.

Montrose replaced Donachie, Webster Wood and Heiniger with Narey, Sharp, Henderson and Gibson and Gibby made an immediate impact linking well with Graeme Thomson and Ferguson crossed for Smart to score his first goal for the club from inches out.

Gibby also had a shot of his own palmed away by Hutton in the Dons goal.

However, level pegging was only to exist for a short time, when Hanky fumbled a Morrison shot which crawled over the line. Hanky's face was redder than the Dons shirts.

Conway limped off and Hanky was subbied which made way for Lindsay and trialist Gilpin.

Further defensive frailties were apparent when Bird turned Smith on the edge of the box and thumped another fine goal after 70 mins.

Unfortunately, Lindsay had such a bad game that he was replaced by Atagan. Smartie was replaced by Hall.

Montrose had some good spells in this match and played some good stuff. However, the Dons looked much more comfortable on the ball and didn't give it away like we did.

Teams

MO

Hankinson, Donachie, Ferguson, Conway, Smith, Farnan, Webster, Heiniger, Smart, Wood, Thomson

Subs

Narey, Lindsay, Atagan, Henderson, Sharp, Gibson, Hall, Gilpin

DONS

Hutton, Donald, Morrison, Jones, Higgins, Payne, Tiernan, Gibson, Bird, Hinds, Muirhead

Subs

Lombardi, McDonald, Thomson, McAllister