DEEK MAKES US SEEK

say cheese!
By Gary McKenzie
July 29 2004

125th anniversary challenge match. Wednesday 28 July 2004. Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 1 (Sharp (18)) ABERDEEN 4 (Adams (46 pen, 78), Craig (64, 87))

Montrose went into this game off the back of three straight friendly wins and with Kegsy, Smart and Webster back in the squad. Surely the Dons, now led by Jimmy Shnorbitz Calderwood would prove too strong? As it was the 125th anniversary of the founding of Montrose FC, the teams were led out by the officials, who looked as if they'd been playing with Stabilo Boss fluorescent marker pens. The teams lined up international match-style and got their piccys taken. It certainly added to the atmosphere in fron of a much-larger-than-usual Links Park attendance.

Aberdeen started strongly and looked comfortable at the back. Things looked bad for the Mo when Wood limped off to be replaced by Spink. However, Sharpy continued his excellent pre-season scoring record record by picking up an opportunist's goal as the ball broke in the Aberdeen box and he drove home on 18 minutes. The goal gave Montrose confidence and we were matching the Dons at this point. Aberdeen hit the bar just before halftime, but the Mo went in at the break with a deserved lead.

Henry Hall, probably mindful of the fact that the Mo have a Bells Cup game against Gretna on Saturday, replaced Kegsy, Greig Smith and Watson with Jones, Hall and Webster. We'd barely had time to take our seats again when Aberdeen were awarded possibly the softest penalty I've ever seen at Links Park. Adams went down like Petrov in a swimming pool and the crafty striker levelled things from the spot with a well-taken kick. This knocked the stuffing out of the Mo, and perhaps the 2 Jimmys had given them a roasting because Aberdeen looked like a different side.

Craig scored in 64 minutes and Adams got his second to put the match beyond doubt on 78  minutes. Lindsay came on for Daryn Smith, who got a great reception form the Mo faithful and he looks to be a good acquisition.

Craig got his second just before the final whistle, but we'd pretty much lost interest by then.

It's cold comfort, but we could claim that when we had our strongest team out in the first half, we were better than the Dons. However, the real business starts on Saturday at Gretna.

Teams

Montrose

Butter, Donachie, Budd, Stephen, G Smith, Kerrigan, D Smith, Smart, Wood, Watson, Sharp

Subs: Morrice, Jones, Hall, Lindsay, Webster

Aberdeen

Esson, McGuire, Morrison, Anderson, Diamond, Severin, Tosh, Heikkinen, Craig, Adams, Foster

Subs: Tiernan, Sheerin, Stewart