IRN BRU Scottish Football League
Division Three
Saturday 20th March2010
East Stirlingshire 2 Montrose 3

Montrose Football Club recorded back to back victories for the first time this season with an impressive victory over second top East Stirlingshire at Ochilview Park on Saturday.
Like Tuesday nights derby match against Forfar Athletic the Gable Endies raced into a two goal lead and although they were pegged back on a couple of occasions they still had the will to win and held on to end the week on a high.
After trailing Elgin City by twelve points on 20th February, Montrose have pulled that deficit back to three points with the sides due to meet at Borough Briggs on Tuesday night in what should be an entertaining match.
The victory over East Stirlingshire was the first against them since September 2008 when Montrose won 3 – 0 at Links Park since that match they had lost six times in a row to the Shire.
Top performers again for Montrose were John Gemmell back to showing the form that had manager Steven Tweed desperate to sign him in the summer and Aaron Sinclair who again showed some delightful skill on the left hand side of the park.
After the victory over Forfar Athletic, manager Tweed was forced into one change with Chris Hegarty starting a four-match ban his place was taken by John Maitland just back from injury.
There was a stronger look to the Montrose bench with Steven Nicholas and Sean Fleming back from injury to join Daryl Nicol (back from a ban), Martin Boyle and goalkeeper Steven Coutts.
It was the home side who had the first opportunity of the match in the third minute on what was a glorious day for football. Midfielder Jamie Stevenson let fly from twenty-five yards out but his shot went well wide of the far post.
A minute later John Gemmell got on the end of a Stephen McNally cross but he could only head into the arms of goalkeeper Jamie Barclay.
Montrose came so close to opening the scoring in the seventh minute midweek hero Fraser Milligan let fly from out on the flank his effort looked net bound but it rebounded off the crossbar.
Two minutes later Davidson fouled Stevenson giving away a free kick to East Stirlingshire. David Dunn swung his kick into the area but Andy McNeil got up well to grab the ball.
A Stephen McNally throw in caused all sorts of danger in the home penalty area. Tweed headed the ball down to John Maitland whose shot was blocked and the ball was cleared.
In the 16th minute Montrose opened the scoring. The Gable Endies won a free kick on the edge of the home box after Steven Tweed was fouled. Up stepped JOHN GEMMELL and he calmly drove the ball home with keeper Barclay routed to the spot. It was the striker’s third goal in two matches after having not scored in the league since August.
Four minutes later Ryan Harding strode forward for the home side but his effort was well wide of the post.
With 22 minutes gone Montrose scored their second goal of the afternoon. Craig Donaldson delayed clearing the ball inside the box on the touchline and young AARON SINCLAIR made him pay by winning the ball off him and from a tight angle he blasted home his second goal in two matches at Barclay’s near post.
The Gable Endies were so close to a third goal in the 28th minute with a well worked move. Tosh sprayed a great pass to John Maitland inside the area he did well to hook the ball back to Hugh Davidson ten yards out and his volley appeared net bound until keeper Barclay pulled off a wonderful stop to deny him.
Two minutes later East Stirlingshire’s Hay crossed to the far post but Stevenson was off target with his header.
The home side kept up the pressure and a pass through by Eddie Forrest caught out the Montrose defence Stephen Lynch caught the ball with the outside of his boot but his flick went past McNeil’s far post.
Montrose were forced into a change in the 35th minute when Fraser Milligan landed on his back and appeared to suffer an injury to his neck. He was helped off the pitch and replaced by Daryl Nicol on the right flank.
The home side started to put some pressure on the Montrose defence and Derek Ure curled an effort from the edge of the area but it landed in the arms of Andy McNeil.
With four minutes of the half remaining Ryan Harding was warned for another foul from behind on John Gemmell.
With three minutes of the half remaining a great through ball from McNally put through Gemmell but the striker was given offside.
In the opening minute of the second half Montrose had a fantastic chance to go three goals ahead. A pass from the ever improving Sinclair sliced open the East Stirlingshire defence and put John Gemmell through on goal, he beat the last East Stirlingshire but with only keeper Barclay to beat he dragged his shot from ten yards out inches past the post.
In the next minute Gemmell was fouled by Forrest giving Montrose a free kick, McNally’s free kick went into the area but Sinclair headed well wide of goal.
Another flowing Gable Endies move almost brought about a goal in the 49th minute. Gemmell headed the ball on to Nicol, he flicked the ball into the path of Paul Tosh but from the edge of the box the striker hooked the ball over the crossbar.
In the 52 minute Jamie Stevenson found himself unmarked in the area but he headed into the arms of McNeil.
Montrose suffered a blow in the 55th minute when East Stirlingshire pulled a goal back. Montrose failed to clear the danger a couple of times after a corner kick and the ball landed at the feet of JAMIE STEVENSON some 25 yards out and he curled an unsaveable effort into the top corner.
With sixty-one minutes gone the Shire won a free kick after a foul by Crighton on Hay. Dunn’s kick sailed into the Montrose box but it was well cleared by Tweed.
Montrose then forced a couple of corner kicks taken by Sinclair at one side and Nicol at the other but the home defence managed to clear on both occasions.
Montrose had valid claims for a penalty kick waved away by referee Clancy in the 67th minute. Gemmell raced into the box and appeared to be held back by Harding. The referee waved play on before booking Gemmell for his protests.
East Stirlingshire then made a switch bringing on former Montrose favourite Andy Rodgers in place of Derek Ure.
Montrose went so close to a killer third goal in the 71st minute Davidson flicked the ball forward from the middle of the park to Paul Tosh he tried to lob keeper Barclay but he didn’t get enough on it and Barclay managed to grab the ball.
The Gable Endies didn’t have long to wait for a third goal, the first time they had scored three away from home this season, as it came the next minute.
John Maitland sprayed a pass wide to John Gemmell on the right and he played the perfect pass across the six yard box to the overlapping to substitute DARYL NICOL and he planted a perfect volley past Barclay into the bottom corner of the net. The delighted youngster went to celebrate with Gemmell, closely followed by the rest of his teammates.
Both sides then made changes, Montrose brought on Sean Fleming for the impressive Aaron Sinclair and the home side changed Harding with Stephen McGuire.
East Stirlingshire made another change in the 79th minute when Marc McKenzie replaced David Dunn.
East Stirlingshire had a chance in the next minute when Rodgers got on the end of a cross but he headed over the crossbar.
The home side found a way back into match in the 81st minute when they were awarded a soft penalty kick Davidson tangled with Richardson on the byeline and the Shire player fell to the ground. Referee Clancy awarded the spot kick despite the Montrose protests. STEVENSON sent McNeil the wrong way from the penalty spot for his second goal of the afternoon.
Four minutes later Shire came close to an equaliser when Bolochoweckyj got on the end of a Donaldson free kick but he headed over the crossbar.
Despite referee Clancy adding on nearly five minutes of stoppage time Montrose held on with some resolute defending with the nearest East Stirlingshire going to scoring was a far post header from Stevenson at the death