Match Report

Wednesday, 21st February, 2024

www.montrosefc.co.uk

by Steve Doyle

Falkirk 3-0 Montrose

Several changes were made by Montrose for this midweek fixture at Falkirk. Those on the subs bench included Dillon, Watson, Gardyne and Callaghan and those starting the game included Brown, Craig, Shrive and Hester.

Referee Iain Snedden got the game underway on a dry night which became colder and windy later.

Both sides started slowly with man to man and back again moves but it came to life in the 5th minute when a cross from the right was sliced in for an own goal by the unfortunate Matheus Machado to make it 1-0 to the Bairns.

A minute later young Harry Craig was yellow carded for a foul then Blair Lyons hit a shot from wide left which went the wrong side of the far post. The first corner went to Falkirk but was collected cleanly by Gill who did well with the next Falkirk attack when Graham slipped on the wet surface and let the attacker away but Gill made a 1 on 1 save. Not so fortunate in the 20th minute when it became 2-0 to Falkirk.

A ball down the left was hit hard and low into the box where Aidan Nesbitt reacted first and deflected it in close in at the near post.

Twenty minutes gone and a mountain to climb now for Montrose and although Falkirk looked more of a threat Montrose did have plenty of possession. Craig did well through midfield but his shot was held by keeper Hogarth then Steeves sent a long ball which resulted in a corner for Montrose on 28 minutes. All went quiet for a while with end to end moves then Morrison hit a shot high and wide and Ross hit a 25 yarder just wide. A corner for each side came to nothing as the half-time whistle sounded at 2-0 to the Bairns.

No changes for the start of the second half as Falkirk went for an early goal. Gill saved comfortably with one attempt and another was ruled out for offside. Montrose were defending well now, couple more corners for Falkirk came to nothing then Montrose looked dangerous as Webster used pace down the middle of the park and looked to have a shot but was late tackled from behind by Henderson who was yellow carded – the Mo free kick was wasted.

Coming up to the hour mark and Falkirk made the first changes with McIver on for Shanley and Tait on for Henderson. That was followed by Montrose making changes with Watson, Gardyne and Callaghan replacing Brown, Shrive and Craig.

Montrose were coming into the game more now in attack. Lyons used pace down the left and cut in for a shot which was held by keeper Hogarth. Three more Falkirk changes on 72 minutes had Agyeman, Miller and Oliver replacing Morrison, Nesbitt and Ross as the balance of play edged slightly to Montrose.

Yeats was yellow carded for a push on Hester who was replaced by Batchelor on 77 minutes. A good spell from Montrose now as they attempted to pull the scoreline back but keeper Hogarth was having none of it and saved well twice, one from an overhead kick which was conceded for a corner to the Mo.

Into the last few minutes. Falkirk had a corner which was saved well by Gill then whipped away downfield for a corner to Montrose coming into stoppage time.

Montrose piled into it when it came over but it was cleared to two Falkirk players on the hallway line. Gary Oliver was one of them, he collected it and hit it past the advancing Cammy Gill to make it 3-0 instead of 2-0 with the very last kick of the game.

Onwards and upwards for the Mo at Queen of the South next and hopefully a strong team will get them on the winning track again.