STENNY OLD IRON

By Gary McKenzie
January 30 2006

Scottish Football League Division THree, Saturday 28 January 2006, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 0 STENHOUSEMUIR 2 (Diack (15), McBride (85 pen)). Another defeat for the Mo with no goals as Eddie Wolecki bloods more new faces.

The scale of the change at Links Park was made plain by the fact that the side sent out to face league leaders Stenhousemuir contained only three names from the Hall era that ended only two months ago - Donachie, Doyle and Fraser.

Tis match saw debuts for Ian McLeod from North End and Stephen McManus, signed from St Johnstone. We also learned earlier in the week that Kevin Don and Robert Smith were loaned to McLeod's former team until the end of the season, although both will train with the Mo.

Middleton was unlucky when his shot was touched over by McCulloch in 8 minutes, and the Mo looked good early on.

However, that feeling of well-being was to be ended in 15 minutes when DIACK ran on to an inch-perfect through-ball to slot home the opener. The striker then found himself in the referee's book for over-celebrating.

Only impressing in flashes, Montrose's game fell away, and Donachie was booked in 22 minutes for clatering Cramb, who had been niggling the Mo defence.

Middleton's shot on 29 minutes was easily handled by McCulloch.

Brash was the next home player in the book on 38 minutes for a poor tackle.

Cramb was replaced by Mercer at half time for Stenny, and Montrose sent on Ewan Hall for Fraser.

Montrose were forced into another replacement a minute later when Kris Brash went through on the left and McCulloch saved at the defender's feet. The collision sent Brash to the dressing room and he was replaced by Watson.

Stenny were domiinating and Sinclair fired just wide on 58 minutes.

Diack was replaced by Templeton on 68 minutes.

Middleton then couldn't get enough on his header from McLeod's cross after good work from the big striker.

Templeton had the ball in the net a minute later but it was chalked off for offside.

On 72 minutes, the home crowd gave a warm welcome back to Fergie when he replaced McManus. However, it was to be a tough first game back as Stenny threatened to run riot.

Doyle had to clear the ball on the line and Templeton went close again.

McBride replaced McGrllen with 11 minutes to go.

Th reeree capped a truly dire performance with his biggest blunder of the match in 83 minutes. A Stenny striker blasted the ball through a crowded penalty area and it hit Russell on the arm from around 5 yards. How he was supposed to get out of the way of that one I'll never know. However, the referee used it as a good excuse to award Stenny the softest penalty they'll ever get and MCBRIDE slotted it away expertly.

Middleton and Mercer both received late bookings and Stenny left with the points.

Teams

Montrose

Wood, Donachie, Brash, Doyle, Hay, McManus, Russell, Davidson, Middleton, McLeod, Fraser

Subs: Hall, Watson, Ferguson, Dodds, Hankinson

Stenhousemuir

McCulloch, Menzies, Denham, Henderson, McAlpine, Gibson, Murphy, Sinclair, McGrillen, Diack,Cramb

Subs: Renwick, McBride, Mercer, Templeton, Fahey.