WOOD'S GOOD!

By Gary McKenzie
January 8 2006

Scottish Football League Division Three, Saturday 7 January 2006, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 0 BERWICK RANGERS 0. In another roller-coaster week for the Mo, a draw with Berwick is another indication that Eddie Wolecki, is on the right track.

The departure of Jim Butter and Jamie McKenzie and the addition to the squad of Graham Hay and keeper, Sandy Wood resulted in changes to the starting eleven.

Both new boys were thrown in and Stevie Kerrigan returned to the middle of midfield. Greig Henslee was the surprise absentee - he had picked up a knock before the game.

Berwick began well, making sweeping runs down both flanks, but the new boss has made his priority shoring up an often leaky defence, and the Mo coped well with the early pressure.

After 18 minutes, Calum Watson made a good run to the right bye-line and fired over a low cross, but the Berwick defence managed to get it away.

James Russell looked in the mood in 20 minutes when he made a run into the box, made a couple of drag backs to get him through the Berwick centre halves. The ball ended up at the feet of supporting right back Barry Donachie who fired into the arms of O'Connor in the visitors' goal.

Sandy Wood had his first real save to make in 28 minutes when he did well to get down to his right to save a shot from the edge of the box.

On 38 minutes, Foxy made a fine mazy run and fed Watson down the inside right, but O'Connor gathered the striker's shot at the second attempt.

Wood made another great diving save in 40 minutes, then saved at the feet of a Berwick striker just before half-time. The self-confessed Montrose fan made an excellent start to his Gable Endies career.

Montrose came closest to opening the scoring after 54 minutes. Foxy's cheeky lob came off the bar and back into play. Fraser's shot went just wide.

On the hour Sandy Wood made another spectacular save from McLeish and sent it wide for a corner.

In 66 minutes, Berwick had the ball in the net, but the referee gave offside after conferring with his linesman.

Berweick replaced McGroarty with Gordon.

In 71 minutes, Dodds came on for the tiring James Russell.

The game began to get niggly and Hall was booked for a kick then 5 miinutes later, Foxy followed him for complaining to the referee.

Greenhill came on for Haynes for the visitors in 79 minutes, then Montrose sent on Don for Foxy.

Watson became the third Montrosian in the book in 83 minutes for a foul, and the points were shared.

Montrose was the only Angus side to take anything from today's matches - both Arbroath and Forfar went down heavily to teams from higher divisions, while Brechin went down narrowly to Falkirk, all in the Cup.

Teams

Montrose

Wood, Donachie, E Smith, Doyle, Hay, Hall, Russell, Kerrigan, Watson, Fotheringham, Fraser

Subs: Don, Cargill, Dodds, Hankinson

Berwick Rangers

O'Connor, Murie, McGroarty, Horn, Cowan, McNicol, McLeish, McGarty, Haynes, Swanson, Little

Subs: Hutchison, Gordon, Greenhill, Lucas, Trialist