LUCKY BUCKIE
Mo scorer, Henslee
By Gary McKenzie
July 24 2005
Friendly, Saturday 23 July 2005, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 1 (Henslee (72)) BUCKIE THISTLE 2 (Scott (67), Souter (85)). Montrose were buoyed by the news that Stephen "Chippy" Fraser signed for real after his loan period from St Johnstone last season.
The teams took the field, Montrose in usual shirts and shorts but with navy socks while Buckie wore their copycat Celtic strips.
Montrose lined up in an unfamiliar 4-5-1 formation with Watson the lone striker and Fotheringham linking between him and the midfield.
Watson went close in the first few seconds, but shot wide.
Buckie came back quickly and tested Reid but he managed to scramble it wide.
On 4 minutes Watson ran on to a throw in down the right. His first shot was saved by the Buckie keeper, and he put the rebound wide.
On 6 minutes, Webster floated in a freekick which Fotheringham connected with, but his header was well saved by Main.
Buckie went straight up the park and the Mo defence had to clear off the line.
Reid was tested again after 11 minutes when the Buckie striker noticed him off his line, but the young keeper managed to tip the long-range effort over the bar.
The ball was getting stuck in the crowded midfield and little got through until 25 
minutes when Fotheringham took one of his trademark freekicks but the keeper got down well.
On the half-hour, Davidson struck a long range shot over the bar for the visitors.
On 41 minutes, Watson did well to get to the bye line on the right, but his cross beat everyone and was put behind at the far post.
A draw was fair at half-time, and Buckie looked pretty useful, passing well and 
putting themselves about.
At the break, Henry Hall replaced Reid with Butter and Stephen with Cargill. Buckie sent on Smith for Davidson.
Kegsie went to centre-half to allow Cargill to operate in midfield.
Montrose were first to threaten in the second half, Watson breaking down the inside right channel after 52 minutes, but his shot was saved.
Donachie then fired in a shot from long range after a corner, but it was easily collected by Main.
Montrose went even closer a minute leater when they won a corner. Kegsy headed the cross on to Henslee in the box, but he hit the post.
Buckie had a great chance ten minutes later but the shot was well over.
MOntrose replaced Fraser and Watson with Martin and Smart.
In 66 minutes, the visitors created another chance but SCOTT shot wide.
The striker's efforts were to be rewarded a minute later, however, when he beat the offside trap and drove past Butter for the opener.
The Mo went looking for the equaliser and in 70 minutes Webster's good run played in Martin wide left but the big striker's shot was well saved.
The substitutions paid off for the Mo in 72 minutes when Smart went through. His shot was saved, but rebounded to HENSLEE who knocked it home.
Foxy then hit the bar after fine play by Cargill.
In 74 minutes, Buckie's McGugan found himself in a good position, but Butter saved well.
It was the striker's last meaningful contribution as he was repalced by Smith on 81 minutes.
The game was won by a deflection in 85 mnutes when SOUTER found space in the box and
his shot came off a Mo player's boot to dip spectacularly over Butter into the net.
Henslee and Webster both had efforts saved in injury time, but the Highlanders left with the victory.
Teams
Montrose
Reid, Donachie, Smith, Fraser, Stephen, Kerrigan, Webster, Hall, Watson, Fotheringham, Henslee
Subs: Cargill, Smart, Martin. McLean, Hankinson, Butter
Buckie
Main, Shewan, Grant, Angus, Davidson. Small, Souter, Munro, McGugan, Scott, MacDonald
Subs: Smith, Harrison, MacGregor, Clarke