Match Report

Annan’s poor away record showed no signs of abating when they were defeated 2-1 at Links Park Montrose. It was a game played in atrocious cold and windy conditions and if the truth be told Annan will look back on this game as a match when victory was taken from their grasp in 3 crazy minutes .For Montrose who have brought in five new players it was an important victory which earned them 3 vital league points but Annan will look back on this game with some regret.

Omar grabbed his first league goal

Annan lost the toss and Montrose elected to play against the strong wind and it was a decision which paid dividends as the game progressed. Annan pushed forward from the kick off and in the 6th minute Weatherson’s effort tested keeper McKenzie. Montrose replied immediately when David Banjo’s effort went wide of the target.
Montrose were forced to defend for long spells and in the 9th minute Josh Todd’s effort was pushed past the post for a corner kick. Annan‘s normally reliable Peter Weatherson was given an opportunity in the 15th minute when Annan won a free kick from a promising position but the 25 yard free kick failed to hit the target.
Chances in the first half were few and far between but Montrose came close in the 42nd minute when David Banjo connected with a corner in the 42nd minute only to see the effort strike the post. It was a lucky escape for Annan.
As the game approached half time Annan created a promising chance when Martin McNiff’s 44th minute effort went agonisingly wide of the target.
Annan started the second half well and in the 51st minute it looked like they had taken the lead when Peter Weatherson scored from inside the 6 yard box when Omar’s shot was deflected off Moyes into the path of Weatherson. The goal was chalked off for offside but it looked a wrong decision as play had entered the second phase.
Montrose replied through efforts from Gary Wood and David Banjo which were both confidently dealt with by Alex Mitchell, within minutes Annan had carved open a good scoring opportunity when Todd released Rabine Omar in on goal but a good challenge by Moyes denied a real scoring opportunity.
Annan went ahead in the 63rd minute when Rabine Omar hooked the ball into the net from close range from a Stuart McColm cross swung in from the left. Annan barely had the time to savour the moment when Montrose replied immediately when David Banjo’s effort was saved by Mitchell but the ball fell invitingly for Jordan Allen to hammer the ball into net from 3 yards.
It was just the tonic Montrose needed and within another minute the home side went ahead. Banjo did the damage when he forced Mitchell into a good save but the ball fell to the feet of Gary Wood who slammed the ball into the net from 3 yards.
Montrose had turned the game around in 3 crazy minutes and it took another first class save from Alex Mitchell to deny Jordan Allen in the 67th minute.
Chances after this were few and far between, substitutes were introduced in an effort to try and turn around the outcome for Annan, striker Junior Ogden signed on loan from Rangers looks like he could be a handful but if Annan are to win a place in the play offs they must learn quickly how to defend.

MONTROSE . Stuart McKenzie, Jonathan Cox after rawford, Ross Graham, Ewan Moyes, Marvi easiln Andrews, David Banjo, Stephen O’Neil( R McCord 82 min), Greg Cameron, Garry Wood, Scott Jonston, Jordan Allen. Subs not used Paul Harkins, Alan Campbell, Bryan Deasley, Graham Webster, J McCaffrey.

Goals- Allen (64), Wood (66)

ANNAN ATHLETIC: Alex Mitchell, Keiran Brannan, Steven Swinglehurst, Martin McNiff, Peter Watson, R McStay (Steven Logan 80 min), Josh Todd, Matty Flynn ( Chris Dickinson 87min ), Peter Weatherson, Rabine Omar, , Stuart McColm ( Junior Ogden 80 min) . Subs not used Jack Breslin, Callum Cook, Dan Wood, Jordan Hart.

Goals- Omar (63)

REFEREE: Ryan Millar. ​Assistants Alistair Mather and Chris McNab. ​

Crowd 244