Monty no match for Blues: Stranraer 2 Montrose 0

Neil Watt celebrated his Bells manager of the month award by guiding Stranraer to a comfortable, if lack-luster, win over an improving Montrose side.

Stranraer started well and a Kevin Finlayson cross was volleyed just wide by Michael Moore. Shortly later Moore got fouled about 30 yards out. Up stepped Fraser Wright and his 30 yard screamer flew narrowly past the left hand post.

The opener came in the 28th minute when a long throw by Lee Sharp got flicked on by Moore to Finlayson. The striker turned and swivelled before hooking the ball into the far corner of the net from 6 yards.

Allan Jenkins got booked for a late tackle midway through the half and then just before half-time Montrose nearly equalised when Martin Wood blasted against the bar from eight yards. Jenkins committed another late tackle just before the whistle and maybe was a little lucky the ref let him off.

A few minutes into the second half Moore was played in and his thunderous drive screamed over the bar from 18 yards. Swift had another effort easily saved.

Montrose had their best opportunity of the game when Fraser Wright bundled into the back of a Montrose striker when he was going nowhere. The penalty was well saved by McCondichie with ball coming back to the taker Smart but he wildly sliced the ball over the bar form 8 yards. Very similar to Bruce Cleland in 1988 against Celtic. This seemed to wake Stranraer up a bit and the Blues nearly extended their lead when Sharp's good cross was headed goalwards by Moore but his header was kept out firstly the post and the goalie. Lee Sharp had a free kick, which went straight down Jim Butter's throat.

The Blues finally clinched the game in the 77th minute when substitute Brian Crawford who had only been on for a couple of minutes latched onto a low Jenkins cross and the ball got forced over the line from close range.

Men of the Match- Kevin Finlayson for his usual workman like performance. Also Stevie Aitken and Derek Wingate had good games.

Overall Summary- A hard fought win against a much improved Montrose side, but three points non the less

Attendance: 320