Match Report

Mangerless Montrose take victory

It was a fairly entertaining game at Links Park, with both teams having nothing to lose and looking to attack. Montrose maybe had a little more to show their fans on their last home game of the season.

Annan however started on the front foot and Ally Love was enjoying a lot of the early play down the left which the Montrose full back Crawford struggled to deal with, earning himself an early booking in the process and  Annan winning several early free kicks around the box. One of them leading to the first shot on target when Steven Swinglehurst connected with a header but it was straight into the keepers arms.

Annan welcomed back David Hopkirk into the starting line up and he looked very lively, linking up well with the front men and making runs in behind the defence. Hopkirk found himself in a great position when he latched onto a great through ball from Todd, putting him through with only the keeper to beat but Mckenzie was quick to get out and Hopkirk’s chip wasn’t high enough to beat the keeper.

It was a chance that cost Annan dearly as Montrose went straight up the other end and took the lead, Johnstone’s cross found Paul Watson at the back post who headed down and Bryan Deasley poked the ball in from close range.

Beasley did have a couple more decent chances throughout the game but Kenny Arthur pulled of some decent saves to keep the visitors in the game.

Into the second half and it was the home side that looked the more settled and from an early corner Wood found himself unmarked in the box but his header went over the bar.

Annan took that warning  and Hopkirk, looking like he’s never been out the game, went on a great run weaving in and out the full back, beating him to the bye line before crossing a wonderful ball to Henderson inside the 6 yard box. But Henderson somehow looked to control the ball rather then put it in the net, and the chance disappeared.

Montrose then missed a great chance when their long ball forced Arther wide out his box but his clearance fell to Montrose with an open goal, But swinglehurst raced back to clear off the line. This time it was costly for the home side as Annan equalised minutes after.

Henderson put Hopkirk through with a tricky back heel and he made no mistake, hitting hard and low into the bottom corner.

But it lasted only two minutes before Woods put the hosts ahead again, Arthur managing the block his first attempt but it fell straight back to the strikers foot for him to blast home.

Annan pushed for the win and in the dying minutes Mckenzie pulled off as wonder save to deny Brannon when his deflected shot was heading for the bottom corner. And in injury time Jardine’s volley from the corner of the box smashed off the underside of the bar and bounced back into play giving Montrose the victory.

Jim Chapman said ” Some of it was okay today, I wasn’t too dissapointed but we didn’t pick up enough second phase of play and we were punished for that. We played some decent stuff at times but our tempo isn’t at the level we have played at, but we’re working towards that.

Montrose- 1 McKenzie 2 Crawford 3 Bell (Mcintosh 86′) 4 Wilson 5 Cambell 6 McCord 7 Masson 8 Watson 9 Wood 10 Johnston 11 Deasley. Subs not used- 12 Gray 14 Bonar 17 Webster 18 Sturrock 21 McCafferty.

Goals- Deasley 29′ Wood 76′

Annan Athletic- 1 Athur 2 Chisholm 3 McNiff 4 Bradley 5 Swinglehurst 6 Jardine 7 Brannon 8 Todd 9 Henderson (Davison 80′) 10 Hopkirk (Mackay 80′) 11 Love. Subs not used- 12 Black 15 Flynn 17 Mitchell (Gk) 18 Sloan 19 Wood

Goals- Hopkirk 74′

Referee- Gavin Ross

Attendance- 264