SCOTT IS MO MICHIE-TAKER

By Gary McKenzie
December 13 2003

Scottish Football League Division Three, Saturday 13 December 2003, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 2 (Black (39), Michie (pen, 44)) GRETNA 0

We knew we were in for a tough encounter against the in-form Gretna who were unbeaten in nine before this match. Henry Hall recalled Gibson and Kerrigan to the side.

The burly Gretna team settled first but the Mo managed to deal with early attacks and came back into it to make an exciting end-to-end match.

Montrose should have opened the scoring when Michie blasted a Webster cross over the bar.

Montrose took the lead on 39 minutes when Smart sprung the offside trap and floated a great ball over for Roddy Black to meet with his head and score the opener.

Montrose went further ahead when Smart burst through the Gretna defence and was taken out in the penalty area by Irons. The veteran defender was sent off as the last man and Scott Michie stepped up to take it. He drove it into the net to consolidate Montrose's lead.

The second half started with no changes in Mo personnel or tactics. Gretna forced a number of corners without success although they did hit the bar.

Sharp replaced Kerrigan, Wood replaced Michie and Farnan came on for Smart as the game progressed, but Montrose looked comfortable against the 10-man Borderers.

The three points keep us in sixth spot and closing on Cowdenbeath who lost today and are three points ahead.

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Teams

Montrose: Butter, Donachie, Ferguson, McQuillan, Elliot Smith, Webster, Kerrigan, Gibson, Black, Michie, Smart.

Subs: Simpson, Wood, Farnan, Graham Sharp, Hankinson.

Gretna: Mathieson, Birch, Irons, Holdsworth, Maddison, Baldacchino, Prokas, Galloway, Stevens, Allan, Skelton.

Subs: Cosgrove, McGuffie, Cohen, Gordon, Wylie.

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BBC Sport Report