Active Nation Scottish Cup
Fifth Round
Saturday 6th February 2010
Hibernian 5 Montrose 1

Montrose Football Club’s run in this season’s Active Nation Scottish Cup came to an at the Fifth Round stage at Easter Road on Saturday as they went down 5 – 1 at the hands of Hibernian.
The Gable Endies can have no real complaints with the result but after a slow start and conceding an early goal they came back well and played some good football of their own against one of the Countries top sides who had only ten days ago beaten Celtic at Parkhead. They even managed to get on the scoresheet themselves with a cracking drive from Chris Hegarty – a goal they thoroughly deserved.
Hibernian sitting third in the Premier League were a slick outfit who passed the ball around at ease on a poor pitch. They certainly could have added more to their tally if it hadn’t been for the excellent display in goal from ex Hibernian keeper Andy McNeil who was brilliant.
The result certainly put the 9 – 0 defeat in the league cup from 2003 to bed.
Now with their cup exploits behind them Montrose can now concentrate on picking up the league points to get them off the bottom of the table.
For the Gable Endies first appearance in the last sixteen for fourteen years manager Steven Tweed made two changes from the side that had beaten Berwick Rangers the previous week out went Aaron Sinclair and the cup tied Paul Tosh and into the side came Sean Fleming and John Maitland.
The Gable Endies lined up in an attacking formation with McNeil in goal, McNally and Fleming in the full back positions with Crighton and Campbell in central defence. Davidson who moved into a wide left position with Milligan down the right. This allowed Hegarty and Maitland in play in central midfield. Up front it was Nicholas and Gemmell.
On the bench was keeper Steven Coutts, Daryl Nicol, Aaron Sinclair, Marek Tomana and Martin Boyle who had been capped for Scotland Schoolboys earlier in the week against Australia.
There was a noisy Montrose support of over 500 in the away end.
Montrose got the match underway in damp and overcast conditions in the capital out to erase the memories of their last trip their in 2003.
The home side were straight into the attack and won a corner kick after thirty seconds, which was taken by John Rankin, but Montrose cleared the danger.
Montrose had a chance to open the scoring in the third minute when Nicholas got clear inside the box and squared to the unmarked Hugh Davidson who couldn’t believe his luck but somehow managed to fluff his kick and the chance was gone.
Seconds later a strong run from Rankin saw him find Liam Miller whose shot was blocked by Andy McNeil.
In the fourth minute it was Hibernian who opened the scoring. Anthony Stokes went on a mazy run and Andy McNeil did well to push away his low effort but COLIN NISH followed up to fire the rebound into the roof of the net.
A minute later Derek Riordan sent in a curling effort, which McNeil tipped over the crossbar.
Montrose suffered a blow in the 8th minute when John Maitland appeared to pull a hamstring and Marek Tomana came on in his place in central midfield.
With 13 minutes gone a Riordan cross was met by the head of Stokes inside the box but he flicked the ball over the crossbar.
Two minutes later as Montrose settled into the match they won a free kick when Chris Hogg held back Gemmell. Hegarty swung the free kick into the area Gemmell appeared to be pulled back but referee Alan Muir waved play on.
The home side almost made it two in the 22nd minute Stokes slipped the ball back to Colin Nish after a mazy run but the goalscorer curled an effort just wide of the far post with Andy McNeil beaten.
Montrose found themselves two goals down in the 24th minute a quick free kick from Ian Murray after a foul by McNally sent John Rankin away down the left and his driven cross was met by COLIN NISH who bundled home his second goal of the match.
From the centre Chris Hegarty took a shot which almost caught out keeper Graeme Smith but he managed to get hold of the ball.
Montrose came so close to pulling a goal back in the 27th minute. McNally was fouled and took the free kick himself from the touchline. Crighton headed the ball on and as the home defence stood still John Gemmell just couldn’t supply the touch to put the ball beyond keeper Smith.
A mazy run from Steven Nicholas was ended when he was pushed over by a home defender some 25 yards out.
John Gemmell took the free kick, which was low and on target but Graeme Smith pulled off an excellent stop to deny Montrose.
With 37 minutes gone Milligan fouled Wotherspoon to give Hibernian a free kick. Stokes got in a shot but Andy McNeil was once again equal to the task.
Montrose won their first corner a minute later, which was taken by Hegarty. It was low but the home defence cleared to set up a counter attack and from it Rankin’s shot was deflected wide.
Riordan then got in another shot, which McNeil saved only for the ball to go behind for another corner kick.
On the stroke of half time Stokes was fouled giving Hibernian a free kick. Riordan’s free kick was met by centre half Chris Hogg who headed wide.
The second half got underway with Montrose shooting towards their fans in the lower tier of the main stand and immediately won a corner kick through Fraser Milligan. Hegarty took the kick, which was cleared by the home defence.
Montrose created a good opening in the 50th minute after Gemmell was once again fouled by Chris Hogg. Milligan and Nicholas linked up from the free kick before the latter found Hegarty but his effort went well over the crossbar.
A minute later and the Gable Endies played out another good move down the right. A McNally pass found Davidson sprinted down the right but with only one home defender and Gemmell in the middle the Montrose man just couldn’t get to the ball first and the chance was gone.
With 54 minutes gone Montrose continued to put a little more pressure on the Hibs defence. This time captain Davidson and McNally linked up and when `Scoobs` picked up the ball at the edge of the box he could only blast the ball well over Smith’s crossbar.
Three minutes later Derek Riordan shot wide from what appeared to be an offside position as Hibernian counter attacked.
In the 62nd minute Marek Tomana got in a shot, which hit a Hibernian defender, and when the ball came back out Gemmell just couldn’t get in a shot.
Seconds later Sean Fleming was booked for kicking the ball away after a free kick was given against him. It was to be his last involvement in the match as he was replaced by Aaron Sinclair.
At the same time Hibernian brought on Merouane Zemmama for Kevin McBride.
Colin Nish was looking for his hat trick and he almost did that in the 65th minute but from a tight angle he volleyed the ball over the crossbar.
Two minutes later Montrose had another good opportunity to score. Stephen McNally raced down the right nutmegged his opponent and found Steven Nicholas inside the area he had two bites at the cherry but he couldn’t find his way past Smith. Hegarty’s corner found Alan Campbell who headed straight at Graeme Smith in the Hibs goal.
Andy McNeil pulled off a wonderful double save in the 68th minute to keep Montrose in the tie. He firstly did brilliantly to save from substitute Zemmama and when the ball spun across the goal-line Nish looked certain to score a tap in but the Montrose number one appeared from nowhere and from point blank range he kept out his effort, at the expense of a corner kick.
The third Hibernian goal arrived in the 69th minute and what a strike it was DEREK RIORDAN raced through the heart of the Montrose defence and with nobody putting in a tackle he let fly from 25 yards out and the ball flew past Andy McNeil and into the net.
Hibernian showed the quality of their side by immediately making a double switch bringing on debutant Alan Gow the ex Rangers player and Abdessalam Benjelloun for strikers Colin Nish and Anthony Stokes.
Hibs should have had a fourth goal in the 71st minute when right back David Wotherspoon burst through. McNeil saved his first effort only for the youngster to blast the second over the crossbar.
Montrose’s moment of glory arrived in the 73rd minute when they pulled a goal back. Tomana took a quick free kick, which found Davidson on the edge of the area. He turned the ball back into the path of CHRIS HEGARTY who from 22 yards out blasted a low effort into the corner of the net.
Hegarty immediately raced towards the Montrose support over the advertising boards and in beside the fans to celebrate a sweet strike.
When he returned to the field of play and despite his protests and that of the home support he picked up another booking.
Montrose took heart from the goal and Nicholas and McNally linked up again only for the latter to put his cross out of play from a good position.
With 15 minutes remaining Sean Crighton became the third Montrose player to be booked for a late tackle on John Rankin.In the 77th minute Hibernian scored a fourth goal of the afternoon and it was made and finished in Morocco Zemmama crossed from the right and his fellow substitute ABDESSALAM BENJELLOUN rose above the Montrose defence to head into the net.
With five minutes remaining Montrose manager Steven Tweed made his third switch of the afternoon bringing on 16-year-old Martin Boyle for his debut in place of Steven Nicholas. The youngster wearing the Montrose shirt with his age on the back!
With time running out Hibernian scored a fifth goal with Montrose tiring fast. ALAN GOW picked the ball up on the left skipped past a couple of challenges before knocking the ball past man of the match Andy McNeil.
When referee Alan Muir sounded the final whistle The Montrose players grabbed whatever Hibs jersey they could and then when across to applaud their very vocal support who had given them encouragement throughout the match.
There were no failures in the Montrose side with McNeil, Crighton, Tomama and Nicholas the standouts.