BOO-RAY HENRY

Respects to WJ
By Gary McKenzie
October 16 2005

Scottish Football League Division Three, Saturday 15 October 2005, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 0 QUEEN'S PARK 1 (Weatherston (55)). A good first half for the Mo descended into a poor second as we paid the price for our lack of strikers.

The goodwill Henry Hall may have earned a fortnight ago at Berwick disappeared in the second 45 minutes at Links Park, and the gaffer is again at risk of getting his books after a game we should have won. Indeed the first calls of "resign!" could be heard from the Wellington Street end towards the end of the game.

It began 90 minutes earlier after a sombre minute of respect for Wilie Johnston, with only the seagulls breaking the silence. I reckon the old fellow would have approved.

Queen's Park under boss Billy Stark have been doing ok this season, and Trouten forced Reid into a save on four minutes. The striker did well to make space for himself at the edge of the box but Reid was equal to the shot.

Foxy went close for the home side in 6 minutes when he went on a fine run from the centre cirle right into the visitors' box, but ran out of steam when it came to his shot which was gathered easily by Crawford.

Dodds was caught sleeping on ten minutes when the ball over the top found Trouten, but Reid dealt easily with the shot. Weatherston ran on to a short pass back in the left back position but Reid did well to knock it off the striker and wide.

Harvey was controlling much of the early game for the visitors and sprayed passes expertly right and left.

Montrose finally created another chance in 14 minutes, but Watson's shot was easily saved.

Montrose put more pressure on and Webster had two chances in the 19th minute. His first shot hit off the head of a Spiders defender, knocking him for six, then his second shot was comfortably held by the keeper.

Webster again threatened on 21 minutes but his shot was deflected wide. A Kegsy bullet header from the corner missed the target.

On 26 minutes, Sinclair headed back to his keeper only to find him not there and was fortunate to see the ball end up behind for a corner to the Mo. Doyle screwed his shot from the kick wide.

Dunlop was lucky to escape with a warning after a foul on Webster.

On the halfhour, Hall's shot was easily handled by the keeper, then Websterwent on a great run and tried to play in Hall, but the ball ended up back with Crawford.

Queen's should have scored on 34 minutes when Weatherston found himself in the box with just Reid to beat, but Doyle did brilliantly to knock it away for a corner.

Reid made a good save on 41 minutes from a long range shot from Quinn. Ferry then had a good chance but his shot trickled wide with Reid at full stretch.

Webster fired a fine shot towards the top right corner on 44 minutes, but the keeper made a fine save to tip it over.

Halftime came and we worried that we should have made more of the chances we had in the first.

Halftime choons: Green Day: Boulevard of Broken Dreams (an omen, anyone?) and Blobby Millions: Let Me Entertain You

Harvey was still pulling the strings for Queen's in the second, and his tempting cross was well cut out by Reid on 47 minutes.

There was a bit of a flashpoint in the centre circle when Kegsy reacted angrily to a foul by Trouten. The referee spoke to both then booked the Queen's Park no 10.

The Mo were shocked when Queen's took the lead on 55 minutes. WEATHERSTON cleverly lobbed Reid when he received the ball on the edge of the box. It was a good finish, but a bit against the run of play.

On 69 minutes Hall went close for the Mo when his dipping volley came back off the bar.

On 71 minutes Henry Hall replaced Calum Watson with Stephen Fraser. This meant that Henners and Foxy became the front two with Fraser slipping into Foxy's spot in midfield. Webster and Hall exchanged wings.

Smith was booked for a heavy tackle on Trouten.

The rash of substitutes continued:

Proctor replaced Harvey and Weir replaced Weatherston for Queen's Park.

Donachie repalced Dodds in a straight swap for the Mo.

Dunlop was booked for the visitors for wasting time with seconds remaining.

Billy Stark then wasted a few more seconds by bringing on Whelan for Trouten and the game fizzled out to its conclusion.

This game brought the Mo back down to earth after their good performance against the league leaders. The pressure on the manager has returned, and his days may be numbered if the team don't achieve maximum points against Elgin and Albion Rovers.

Teams

Montrose

Reid, Dodds, Smith, McKenzie, Doyle, Kerrigan, Webster, Fotheringham, Watson, Henslee, Hall

Subs: Donachie, Stephen, Fraser, Russell, Butter

Queen's Park

Crawford, Clark, Dunlop, Sinclair, McGinty, Harvey, Kettlewell, Quinn, Weatherston, Trouten, Ferry

Subs: Whelan, Weir, Proctor, Molloy, Cowie