MO MIX-UP SUITS CITY

MON watches new team
By Gary McKenzie
April 8 2006

Forfarshire Cup, Tuesday 4 April 2006, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 1 (Russell (7)) BRECHIN CITY 2 (King (34), Templeman (80)). Montrose had plenty chances to win this match before a defensive blunder allowed Templeman to snatch a winner.

New Brechin manager, Michael O'Neill, was in the stand to watch his new charges. Both teams fielded teams of mostly fringe players, and those coming back from injury.

Montrose came out of the blocks quickly and almost capitalised on a defensive mix-up in 5 minutes when Webster cottoned on to a miskicked high attempted clearance, but pulled it wide.

However the opener was only 2 miinutes away. RUSSELL, playing through the middle, beat the offside trap and got on to a Donachie through ball. With the Brechin defence calling for offside, he calmly rounded Sunday Mail columnist, John Hillcoat and scored.

In 18 minutes, Kevin Webster had a couple of shots on goal but the first was saved and the second ended wide.

Russell was causing them all sorts of problems with his trickery. In 26 minutes, he burst down the right and fired in a cross which was just knocked away from the head of Corre for a corner. The resultant kick saw Hay popping up in the box and he looked to be pushed as he went for the heeader but the referee waved claims away.

In 31 minutes, Russell found space on the left and tried to lob Hillcoat but found the wrong side of the post.

Brechin's first real chance of the game led to their first goal. KING found himself with loads of room in the box and fired expertly past Hanky.

Montrose were the better side in the first half and deserved to be ahead.

A minute into the second half, McManus tried a snap shot but fired just wide.

Geddes and Templeman replaced Gibson and Burns for the visitors in 61 minutes. Webster was tripped in the box, but again the referee waved play on.

In 65 minutes, Russell beat two players in the box but his shot was saved.

Webster put over a fine cross three minutes later. McManus controlled it well and his volley was tipped over by Hillcoat.

White replaced Bollan for Brechin in 70 minutes.

It all went pear-shaped for the Mo in 80 minutes. Byers was first to react when Brash and Hanky both left a harmless ball heading for the bye line to each other. Byers cross was met by scourge of the Mo, TEMPLEMAN, who fired easily past Hanky.

Smith for Corre, then Foxy and Hall for Webster and Donachie, could not send the match into extra time and a glorious chance to put one over our first division neighbours was lost.

Things are looking a bit brighter in terms of the wider squad that Wolecki has at his disposal. McLeod played right back, Donachie played as the anchor man in central midfield, and Russell did well through the middle in the first half.

 

Teams

Montrose

Hankinson, McLeod, Brash, Hay, Fraser, Donachie, Webster, McManus, Russell, Kerrigan, Corre

Subs: Fotheringham, Hall, Smith, Ralph, Wood

Brechin

Hillcoat, McEwan, Wilson, Bollan, Grainger, King, Byers, Devlin, Callaghan, Burns, Gibson

Subs: White, Geddes, Templeman, Smith, Nelson