MO'S SMART COMEBACK FOILED BY BINOS
By Gary McKenzie
October 18 2003
Scottish Football League Division Three, Saturday 18 October 2003, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 2 (Smart (74, 77)) STIRLING ALBION 3 (Gibson (15), McKinnon (28, 84))
Under-fire boss John Sheran made seven changes to the starting line-up from last week's thumping by the league leaders. The game began scrappily with the referee flashing yellow cards merrily. However, Stirling got a lucky first goal after 15 minutes. Gibson took a free-kick on the left touchline around 25 yards out. It certainly looked a harsh award, and the Stirling player was fortunate it went his way. Andy Gibson took the kick which bounced in the penalty area. Neither defence nor attack managed to get a touch on it and it sailed over Hanky's head and into the top right hand corner for a Hedman-style opener.
Mention should be made of the Stirling support who, with their accoustic guitars and 70s hippy-style karaoke numbers sounded a bit like a Sunday school picnic as they sang their theme tune, Rave On. Fair play to them for bringing a bit of atmosphere to the normally austere Links Park.
Montrose were making heavy work of this match and fell further behind on 28 minutes to a Colin McKinnon header from a fine cross from the right.
Nothing was happening for the Mo, and we lost Greig Smith who was replaced by Barry Donachie, which forced Elliot to move into central defence. Although we hit the post just before half-time, the visitors were good for their lead.
Montrose dragged themselves back into the second-half and shortly after Gibson replaced Watt, we started playing the best football of the match. Webster finally got a good cross in from the right after 74 minutes and Craig Smart got on the end of it to give the home fans some hope. We could scarcely believe it three minutes later when Smartie popped up again to force home Martin Wood's rebound and level the scoring.
Henderson replaced Black as Montrose tried to go for the jugular. However, Stirling continued to look menacing on the attack and they sewed up all three points with six minutes to go as McKinnon knocked home from close range after a goal mouth scramble.
I can't really fathom Montrose out just now. For an hour today, we were hopeless, yet we can turn in the form to come back from the dead and not for the first time this season. The officials, especially the near-side linesman were atrocious yet again. The rumour going round Links Park today was that the manager would be getting his books this week. If he doesn't, and we fail to take all three points next week at home to East Stirlingshire, his position would seem completely untenable.
Teams
Montrose: Hankinson, Elliot Smith, Ferguson, McQuillan, Greig Smith, Black, Webster, Smart, Watt, Wood, Kerrigan
Subs: Gibson, Donachie, Michie, Henderson, Gilpin.
Stirling: Hogarth, Hay, McNally, Rowe, Anderson, Gibson, Smith, McKinnon, Devine, McLean, Davidson.
Subs: Elliot, O'Brien, Ferguson, Wilson, Morrison