IRN BRU Scottish Football League
Division Three
Saturday 17th October 2009
Forfar Athletic 2 Montrose 2

A thirty-five yard strike from Chris Hegarty in the third minute of stoppage time gave Montrose a deserved share of the spoils at Station Park on Saturday.
The point was Montrose’s first away from Links Park this season and only their third of the season but it was no more than Steven Tweed’s side deserved in an entertaining local derby. It was also the first time this season the side had come from two behind to snatch a point this season.
The draw also keep Montrose’s unbeaten run at Station Park now stretching back twelve years going.
After the midweek defeat by Queen’s Park at Links Park Montrose made two changes to their line up. Out went youngster Ryan Stewart and trialist David McGowan and into the side came midfielder Paul Watson signed on an emergency temporary transfer from neighbours Arbroath on Friday and Chris Hegarty after suspension.
Montrose lined up with McNeil in goal with Campbell and Davidson again in the full back positions. Tweed and Crighton again partnered in central defence.
There was a diamond shape to the Montrose midfield with Watson in front of the back four Hegarty and Sinclair in the middle with Tomara at the head of the diamond. Sean Anderson wore the number nine jersey as he partnered Daryl Nicol in attack. The youngster doing well to recover from a nasty ankle injury picked up against Queen’s Park.
It was again youngsters on the bench with Mark Russell, Jordan Leyden, Nick Gray and Ryan Stewart listed alongside Steven Coutts.
It was Montrose who got the match underway in glorious autumn conditions at Station Park with the sun in their favour.
Montrose created an early opportunity with Sinclair playing a great ball up the flank to Sean Anderson and he ran in and shot at keeper Ally Brown.
It was the Gable Endies who keep up the pressure and went so close to grabbing the lead in the third minute. Youngster Aaron Sinclair grabbed the ball in the middle of the park and raced forward before unleashing a tremendous 25 yard strike which smacked off the crossbar with Brown well beaten, the rebound fell to Daryl Nicol who chested the ball down and fired into the net. But the assistant’s flag was already up for offside against the forward.
Two minutes later Forfar Athletic created their first opening when their debutant Chris McGroarty volleyed well over at the far post.
The open nature of the match continued and Montrose had another good chance to open the scoring in the tenth minute. Sean Anderson who was playing well in attack raced down the left and into the penalty area and he slipped the ball into the ball of the overlapping Marek Tomana whose right footed effort slipped inches wide of the far post with Brown beaten.
Forfar Athletic were claiming a penalty in the 13th minute when Ian Harty went down under the challenge of Hugh Davidson but referee John Beaton quite rightly waved play on.
Paul Watson gave away a free kick in a dangerous position and Fotheringham’s kick found Ian Harty at the far post and he looped a header over the crossbar after out jumping Sean Crighton.
In the 26th minute Montrose won a corner kick, which Sinclair took. The ball was cleared back to the youngster whose cross was then put out for a throw in. Sinclair’s long throw found manager Tweed but his header went into the arms off Brown.
After creating the bulk of the chances it was Montrose who fell behind in the 28th minute. Martyn Fotheringham beat Hugh Davidson on the right wing and Forfar Athletics’ top scorer ROSS CAMPBELL fired his cross-home at the back post.
Six minutes later Forfar Athletic scored again a long ball over the top by Mark McCulloch caught out the Montrose defence and ROSS CAMPBELL was able to race into the box take his time before firing high into the net for his second goal of the afternoon.
In the 42nd minute Montrose got a foothold into the derby match when the pulled a goal back, their first away from Links Park this season. Chris Hegarty played the ball over the top and SEAN ANDERSON was able to outpace Andy Tod and fire past keeper Brown despite taking a nasty kick in the process.
Montrose had a great chance to equalise in the last minute of the half Hegarty again played a great ball over the home defence and Daryl Nicol only had Ally Brown to beat but after chesting the ball down the youngster fired straight at the keeper.
The last action of the half saw Montrose win a corner kick which Sinclair took but the ball was cleared by Tod.
Marek Tomara suffered an injury scare in the 51st minute but he was able to continue after treatment.
A minute later Chris Hegarty won a corner kick for Montrose which Sinclair again whipped in but Sean Crighton could only head the ball up into the air and Forfar Athletic managed to clear.
Referee Beaton warned Paul Watson as he tugged back the jersey of Ross Campbell.
Forfar missed a glorious chance to go further ahead in the 57th minute when on loan striker Ian Harty raced clear of the Montrose defence from what looked like an offside position. As in neared goal he seemed to run out of steam and he stumbled to the crowd before collapsing on the turf with the ball going out of play.
On the hour mark Steven Tweed joined in attack with some wing play that took him into the box and he slipped the ball to Sean Anderson but he could only shoot tamely at Brown in the home goal.
Seconds later as Montrose kept up the pressure Sinclair was fouled in the middle of the park giving the Gable Endies a free kick. Hegarty dinked the ball over the top and it feel kindly to Anderson but he could only lob the ball tamely at Brown.
Ross Campbell was looking for his hat trick and he nearly got it in the 62nd minute but Andrew McNeil was equal to the task and he pulled off a good save.
With 68 minutes gone Forfar Athletic should have sealed all three points Ross Campbell got goal side of Davidson and fired in a low cross into the goalmouth which was met by Ian Harty and his shot appeared net bound until two Montrose defenders launched themselves at the ball to stop it entering the net.
Seconds later Forfar Athletic again went close to scoring but Andrew McNeil kept Montrose in the game with a fantastic double save. Firstly blocking from Ross Campbell and then making a mid air save when Ian Harty followed up on the rebound.
With seventy minutes gone Montrose made their first change with Ryan Stewart coming on for Tomana. Nicol moved back into midfield with Stewart pushed upfront.
At the same time Forfar Athletic brought on Chris Templeman for Ian Harty.
Two minutes later Stewart won the visitors a corner kick, which Sinclair whipped in. Tweed went up to challenge for the ball and it broke to Chris Hegarty who lashed the ball well over the crossbar.
Alan Campbell became the first booking of the match in the 75th minute for a soft foul on Chris McGroarty.
Two minutes later Daryl Nicol became the second Montrose player to be booked when he was penalised by the referee for what the official adjudged to be a dive outside the Forfar Athletic box.
Forfar Athletic won a free kick some twenty-five yards out after Tweed blocked off Martyn Fotheringham. The home side wasted the chance when Iain Campbell blasted the ball out of the ground from the free kick.
Montrose made another change in the 78th minute when Jordan Leyden came on to replace Aaron Sinclair who had been injured earlier in a challenge.
Forfar Athletic had a let off with ten minutes left when Brown made a hash of a clearance and gave the ball straight to Sean Anderson but he couldn’t take advantage of the chance given.
Dick Campbell continued to break up the play by taking off players and the next switch in the 80th minute saw Stephen McInally replace Martyn Fotheringham.
Two minutes later Forfar Athletic made a final change with Graham Gibson replacing Chris McGroarty.
It didn’t take Stephen McNally long to pick up his token booking and it duly came with five minutes remaining when he tripped up Paul Watson near the corner flag.
Chris Hegarty took the free kick which was cleared as far as Paul Watson but he could only fire widely wide of the mark.
In the 88th minute booking number four arrived when Chris Templeman was yellow carded for a clear dive in the box to win a penalty kick.
With the match entering the 93rd minute Montrose launched one last attack. McNeil found Watson in a wide left position and he played in CHRIS HEGARTY who strode forward from the middle of the park and from 35 yards out he launched a rocket of a shot, which flew into the top corner for a deserved equaliser. His set of scenes of delight amongst the fans and players with Hegarty heading over to a section of the Forfar crowd that had earlier been on his back. The goal was no more than Montrose deserved for their efforts over the course of the match.
There was time for Forfar Athletic to restart the match before referee Beaton blew for full time keeping Montrose’s twelve year unbeaten run going at Station Park.
There were no failures in the Montrose side who must look to record their first win of the season at Banks O Dee on Saturday in the Scottish Cup in Aberdeen.