ROGUE REF REDS KEGS

By Gary McKenzie
April 16 2006

Scottish Football League Division Three, Saturday 15 April 2006, Links Park, Montrose. MONTROSE 1 (Watson (41)) ELGIN CITY 3 (Booth (7, pen), Kaczan (72, 85)). The two teams served up a fine game in spite of probably the worst refereeing performance at Links Park in recent years.

On paper it should have been no contest - the Mo languishing in second bottom and Elgin in pole position for a play-off spot. Eddie Wolecki sent out the team in a strange 3-1-4-1-1 kind of formation with Barry Donachie playing just in front of the back three and Kegsy supporting the lone front man Watson.

With 5 minutes gone, Mo keeper Sandy Wood came off his line to face up to Martin Johnston. The big striker had his foot up and connected with the keeper, which left him requiring treatment. For some reason the referee decided it was a penalty. BOOTH made no mistake from the spot, firing it right down the middle.

In 10 minutes, Webster rifled a first-time shot against Renton in the away goal but the rebound came off an Elgin defender and wide.

Wood had to dive acrobatically to push a shot wide in 16 minutes.

Montrose had a shout for a penalty waved away as Watson was pulled down in the box as he shot on 20 minutes.

In 35 minutes, the ball clearly came off an Elgin hand in the box, but the home pleas were again ignored by the referee.

Donachie was booked for a tackle in which he looked to have got the ball.

In 38 minutes, Cumming joined him in the book for fouling Kelly.

Montrose finally got a deserved equaliser. Kegsy headed the ball on to the path of WATSON who sent a dipping volley past a stranded Renton.

Watson almost turned provider in 42 minutes when his good cross was just missed by Kegsy.

The captain ended up in the book just before halftime.

Montrose certainly looked the better side after the early wobble.

Dempsie was booked for the visitors in 48 minutes for a foul on Webster.

In 58 minutes, Kegsy played another great header into the path of Henners whose shot was tipped over. Watson was then unfairly booked for what the referee deemed to be diving in the box.

Om 65 minutes, McKenzie was booked for raising his feet. Pity something similar didn't happen at the start of the first half...

Elgin won a free kick in 72 minutes. Kaczan connected well with it and Elgin were in front again.

In 75 minutes, Kesgy said something to the far side linesman on his way back down the park and the referee showed him a second yellow after conferring with the pfficial.

In 79 minutes, Booth was replaced by Bremner for Elgin and Russell replaced a tiring Webster for the Mo.

Two minutes later, Middleton replaced Brash to give Watson some support up front.

Hines volley on 85 minutes was sent just wide by Wood.

£Elgin wrapped it up with 5 minutes to go when Kaczan somehow managed to head the ball over Wood and followed it into the net.

Tweedie replaced Johnston, then Hay was booked for tugging at his opponent's shirt.

Much better from the Mo, although the result looks poor. Elgin made the most of their chances and, of course, had the help of the man in black!

Teams

Montrose

Wood, Kelly, Donachie, Hay, Fraser, Webster, Davidson, Henslee, Brash, Watson, Kerrigan

Subs: Middleton, Russell, McManus, Ralph, Hankinson

Elgin City

Renton, Kaczan, Easton, Dickson, Dempsie, Cumming, Hind, Gardiner, Booth, McKenzie, Johnston

Subs: Shewan, McIntosh, Bremner, Tweedie, Gillian