HENRY'S HEADACHE

Ouch!
By Gary McKenzie
September 25 2005

Scottish Football League Division Three, Saturday 24 September 2005, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 0 STENHOUSEMUIR 3 (Mercer (6), McGrillen (59, 85)). As half the managers in Angus vacated their posts this weekend, Henry Hall's position also seems to be under threat after another poor performance at Links Park.

The first significant action in the game came after 5 minutes when Foxy won the ball well in midfield and passed to Henslee who tried an audacious lob that was well over.

A minute later former Smokie, Jim MERCER rose to head home a cross from the right. Reid looked like he might have saved it, but the downward header was too powerful and he couldn't keep it out.

The referee was attracting most of the attention in the first half and he was woeful, giving freekicks to Stenny for the slightest of challenges. He further alienated the home crowd by booking Foxy in 21 minutes for a challenge that was pretty soft.

Willie Martin shot over in 31 minutes and Webster put over a great cross a minute later, but the Stenny defence ushered it behind.

Martin ended up with a nasty head wound after a tussle and returned to action with a big bandage, Dado Prso-style.

Ten minutes into the second half, Martin challenged McKeown late for the ball, the Stenny number 5 kicked out, but the referee booked only Martin.

Willie was swiftly hooked and replaced by Calum Watson.

The game was effectively over on 59 mnutes. Neil Stephen slid recklessly in on a Stenny striker's run into the box and a penalty was awarded. MCGRILLEN converted the spot kick.

Stephen was replaced by Doyle.

On 69 minutes, Henslee was unlucky not to score when his back post header came off the front post and into the arms of the grateful Stenny keeper.

Stenny sent onMcAlpine for Mercer in 70 minutes.

Webster was then subbied by HH after 75 minutes, and the winger was clearly unhappy, although he returned to the dugout later. Fraser replaced him.

Montrose's woes continued with a defensive blunder letting MCGRILLEN in to fire the ball past Reid although the striker looked to have controlled the ball with an arm.

Arbuckle was replaced by Sinclair for the visitors.

McGrillen received his customary booking for unsporting behaviour.

Fraser tested the keeper with a drive, but the rebound was forced behind by the Stenny defence.

With 2 minutes to go, Henners had a shout for a penaly turned down.

This was a poor, poor performance. The gossip flying around in the wake of Brian Fairley's resignation from Forfar and Cairney falling on his sword at Gayfield is that Henry was asked to resign but refused. Whether this is true and whether the board will now decide to dismiss him will make interesting reading in the press in the days to come. Whatever happens, it is a dejected and demoralised side that will travel to face league leaders Berwick next week.

Teams

Montrose

Reid, Dodds, McKenzie, Stephen, Kerrigan, Webster, Fotheringham, Martin, Hall, Henslee

Subs: Donachie, Doyle, Fraser, Watson, Butter

Stenhousemuir

McCulloch, Renwick, Henderson, Denham, McKeown, McBride, Mercer, Collins, Carroll, Arbuckle, McGrillen

Subs: McAlpine, Murphy, Sinclair, McGregor, Fahey