Match Report
Sunday, 1st October, 2023
www.montrosefc.co.uk
by Steve Doyle
FALKIRK 3-2 MONTROSE
Montrose made an enforced change when Millar Thomson was ruled out by injury and Andrew Steeves was in the starting line-up at left back in place of young Matheus Machado.
The referee was George Calder who got the game underway in front of a crowd numbering 4,093 which included around 100 Mo fans.
Falkirk started on the front foot as expected but Montrose defended well and had the first chance of the game when Lyons was felled out wide but the in swinging free kick was scrambled away and another similar free kick when Williamson was fouled resulted in a corner to the Mo. That was cleared swifty and resulted in a succession of attacks by the Bairns and from one the crossbar was rattled then cleared.
In the next Montrose attack Hester hit the crossbar as it went otherwise over the top. Falkirk huffed and puffed but Montrose had plenty of possession as well but maybe didn't create as many chances in the first 30 minutes but the best chance came via Craig Brown who threaded a pass inside to Blair Lyons but keeper Long saved it at full stretch.
Two more long range shots by the Bairns were wide of the mark than Nesbitt was yellow carded for a foul on Lyons then substituted as he was injured in the tackle and replaced by Oliver. The remaining minutes of the first half saw corners from each side as the whistle was sounded at 0-0.
No changes to start the second half then Montrose took the lead in great fashion, Craig Brown wriggled his way down the left then cut the ball inside to Blair Lyons who shot past keeper Long from 15 yards central to make it 1-0 on 47 minutes.
Falkirk were not used to going a goal down this season so it was all pressure now for the Mo. The next 10 minutes saw Morrison on the right and Agyeman on the left tear into the Montrose defence, Steeves was yellow carded then Agyeman crossed and although Cammy Gill got a hand to it Gary Oliver was lurking to poke the ball home to make it 1-1 on 62 minutes.
Falkirk were desperate for a second so piled on the pressure. Andrew Steeves was replaced by Liam Callaghan who was detailed to mark the lively Morrison and Michael Gardyne was replaced by Luke Graham on 64 minutes.
Coming up to the last 30 minutes and Falkirk's Morrison fired just wide again then made amends when his side were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box by Dillon, who was yellow carded. It was Callumn Morrison himself who took the spot kick and in it went via the left-hand post to make it 2-1 on 71 minutes.
Surely there was no way back for Montrose if Falkirk kept up the pressure but the Mo were in fact having as much possession but were not creating as many chances.
Masson was replaced by Shrive on 74 minutes then Lyons was yellow carded before a further two changes were made with Brown off for Batchelor and Machado on for Quinn who appeared to have taken a knock. Falkirk also made a change with Agyeman off and Ross on.
Into the last 10 minutes and Montrose kept plugging away out of defence and sending the younger legs up front to try to save the game and on 85 minutes Blair Lyons weaved his way across the box and was brought down by keeper Long.
No sending off for the keeper but Graham Webster put the penalty kick the right way to make it 2-2. Still several minutes plus stoppage time to go and Falkirk went for it with two corners and a shot which went over from 20 yards.
Then disaster for Montrose as Callumn Morrison let fly from 25 yards and for once it was the right height and flew into the top corner to give the 3 points to the home side in the third minute of stoppage time and immediately before the final whistle.
Montrose had 50% possession without creating as many chances but came ever so close to ending Falkirk's unbeaten run but in the end it was the Mo's mini unbeaten run that came to an end. Credit where it is due however and on this form Montrose should be confident of getting back to winning ways very soon - hopefully starting next week.