MONTROSE 3 SHIRE 0

Shire’s poor record at Links Park continued as the team went down 3-0 to Montrose. Again, the downfall was not taking chances when the opportunities presented themselves.

The best of them was a 45th minute penalty kick from Gary Kelly which the home keeper saved. But Eddie Forrest and Michael Bolochoweckyj both missed fantastic chances to give Shire the advantage.

Montrose had no problem taking their opportunities. Scott Anson headed them in front after just eleven minutes, and second half goals from Jamie Buchan and Kevin Bradley added a flatering gloss to the final result.

More changes to the team followed the defeat against Stenhousemuir. Out went Stephen Oates, Sean Anderson and Andy Rogers who were replaced by Gary Kelly, David Dunn and Marc McKenzie.

Shire lined up at Links Park with Brian Graham as the solitary striker, with McKenzie given clear instructions to support him whenever possible.  Dean Richardson filled the left-back role in a back four, with Derek Ure again given the freedom to play in the centre of midfield.

But it was Dunn who gave Shire some early hope. After just two minutes Craig Donaldson was fouled wide on the right and Dunn’s free-kick into the box found Eddie Forrest unmarked by his header crept just wide of the keeper’s left-hand post.

After seven minutes Ure found space wide on the right and his ball in towards the near post was met by a glancing Graham header which keeper Greg Kelly clutched onto.

On nine minutes Montrose striker Scott Anson found Steven Doris but he managed to shoot wide. With eleven minutes on the clock Montrose took the lead in simple fashion. Bradley’s free-kick from the left was met perfectly by Anson on the six yard line and his header gave Jamie Barclay no chance.

Shire were quick to respond and McKenzie might have equalised on 13 minutes but his shot from the back edge of the box was dragged wide and into the side net.

Dunn’s setpieces were looking like Shire’s best hope and on 19 minutes he fired over a corner kick which Michael Bolochoweckyj headed on target but Kelly in the Montrose goal tipped the ball over for a corner.

After 40 minutes Ure was fouled 20 yards from goal and Dunn sent the resulting free-kick over the bar. But, on the stroke of half-time Shire were thrown a lifeline back into the game.

Graham made a strong run into the home penalty area and was upended by the combined efforts of Thomson and McLaughlan. There was no hesitation on the part of referee Colin Brown in pointing to the penalty spot, and no doubting Gary Kelly’s intention to take the spot kick. But the Shire man’s penalty was too close to the Montrose keeper, who dived low to his left to smother the ball.

The second half started badly for Shire. Richardson was involved in a penalty box clash of heads and had to leave the pitch on a stretcher. Sean Anderson came on, with Derek Ure taking over Richardson’s place at left-back.

The game briefly became bad-tempered and there followed a rash of bookings with Graham and Gary Kelly going into the referee’s notebook, but that was the preface to Montrose taking the game away from Shire on 57 minutes. Another simple goal made it 2-0. Baird’s near-post corner found Buchan and his powerful header flew past Barclay into the net.

Forrest had a chance to reduce the leeway on 60 minutes but his shot from the edge of the box, although deflected by a Montrose leg, was easily saved by Kelly.

After 71 minutes Graham was shown his second yellow card for kicking out at Baird after a Montrose free-kick and Shire were down to ten men. A minute later they were 3-0 down as well.

Anson’s cross to the back post was headed wide by Baird but the provider hooked it back across the face of goal just before it went over the byeline for the unmarked Bradley to head in from inside the six yard box.

Montrose : Kelly, Worrell, Thomson, McLaughlan, Buchan, Stewart, Doris Nicol 88), Davidson, Anson(Maitland 84), Baird(Gibson 75), Bradley.

Shire : Barclay, Hay, Richardson(Anderson 51), Forrest, Bolochoweckyj, Kelly, Donaldson, Ure, Graham, Dunn(Rodgers 71), McKenzie.

Referee : C. Brown

Attendance 364.