DONS DUO DO IT

The Boss
By Gary McKenzie
July 13 2005

Friendly. Tuesday 12 July 2005. Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 0 ABERDEEN 2 (Dempsey (59), Wlardczyk (61)). A good first half for the Mo, but a fine strike by Dempsey and a lucky break for the Polish trialist see off our challenge in the second.

Wasn't it Aberdonian songstress Annie Lennox who sang "so good to be back home again" all those years ago with the Tourists? It certainly felt good to be warming the red plastic seats again at Links Park last night for the visit of the Aberdeen tourists! A fine summer's night, with a slight hint of the haar which chilled the town during the day, made for perfect pre-season friendly weather.

The Dons' own bronze idol, Jimmy Calderwood was in the dugout for the visitors and we eagerly awaited the debuts of a number of our new signings.

The new boys in the starting line-up were Andy Reid in the goal, Martyn Fotheringham in the middle of the park, Willie Martin at centre-forward and Greig Henslee on the left wing. A look down the substitutes had us rubbing our eyes with disbelief as Craig Smart was named as a trialist. More of that in the seocnd half...

Montrose started well and Fotheringham went close on 5 minutes when the ball broke to him in the box, but his shot was deflected wide. Andy Reid looked lively to kick out as Aberdeen threatened down their right.

Watson did well to beat 2 defenders on 8 minutes but shot wide.

Wlardczyk looked dangerous for the visitors and he was getting into good forward positions down the left. He had a shout for a penalty turned down after quarter of an hour as he seemed to be pushed, but it would have been soft. He again broke down the left and rounded Reid at the edge of the area but pushed it too wide and his cross was cleared for a corner.

In 20 minutes Dodds shot wide from a corner.

Montrose went close again in 25 minutes when Stephen connected well with a corner but his header came off a defender to safety. Hall then shot form the edge of the box but it was well saved by Esson.

Wlardczyk  went close again when he shot just wide in 31 minutes.

In 35 minutes, Elliot Smith got down the left wing and his good cross was cut out for a corner.

Aberdeen came back up the park and Reid bravely dived at the feet of Wlardczyk.

Montrose's best chance of the half came in 37 minutes when Fotheringham found room in the edge of the box but his shot flew over the bar. Foxy was quickly in action again when he picked up a loose ball in the Aberdeen defence and tried to lob the keeper from distance, but it wasn't accurate enough.

The honours were even at half-time and it was a fair reflection of a good first-half for both sides.

Both managers rang the changes at the break. Reid, Doyle and Watson were replaced by Hankinson, Cargill and McLean for the Mo, while Considine and Winter made way for Dempsey and Muirhead for the visitors.

The introduction of experience quickly paid of for the Dons as they hit the post then Dempsey fired over in 50 minutes.

Wlardczyk again missed the target after 52 minutes when he should have done better.

Aberdeen were turning the screw and Jamie Smith fired wide from a promising break down the left.

The breakthrough came for the Dons just on the hour when DEMPSEY volleyed home from the edge of the box.

WLARDCZYK made it 2 two minutes later. His first shot was blocked but it broke kindly for him and he drove it home.

In 65 minutes, Euan Hall had a good chance to pull one back when Martin put him through down the left, but he ballooned his shot high and wide.

Barry Nicholson was replaced by Foster and John Stewart was replaced by McAuley for the Dons, while Smart came on for Martin for the home side. This trialist version of Craig Smart is younger, lighter and has longer hair than last year's Craig Smart!

The final substitution of the night came when Derek Adams came on for Clark after 81 minutes.

Henslee went close to his first counter for the Mo in 84 minutes, when he pounced on a free-kick floated over to the far post, but his effort was cleared.

Thsi was a good first game for the Mo, and we should get better as the players' fitness improves. We should remember that Aberdeen had their first game at the weekend so are 90 minutes ahead of us.

Best of the new boys in my view were Reid in goal - he looked brave and confident and has a good long kick on him; Fotheringham - his first half performance was excellent and he is full of trickery; and Cargill - he showed calmness and good close control when he came on.

A more realistic test is the visit of Forfar at the weekend.

Teams

Montrose

Reid, Donachie, Smith, Doyle, Stephen, Fotheringham, Dodds, Hall, Martin, Watson, Henslee

Subs: Cargill, McLean, Smart (trialist), Hankinson

Aberdeen

Esson, McNaughton, Considine, Winter, McStay (trialist), Byrne, Nicholson, Clark, Wlardczyk (trialist), Stewart, Smith

Subs: Dempsey, Muirhead, Adams, Foster, McAuley, Preece