IRN BRU Scottish Football League
Division Three
Saturday 13th December 2009
Montrose 0 Annan Athletic 0

Montrose picked up their sixth point of the Division Three campaign courtesy of a goalless home draw with Annan Athletic. Both sides had chances to win the match, although a draw was a fair reflection of an even clash.
The home side included former Motherwell man Stevie Nicholas in their starting line-up, the striker playing his third consecutive match as a trialist, while Annan gave starts to former Montrose men Greg Kelly, David Cox and Scott Anson.
Montrose were the first side to come close to scoring, Paul Watson forcing Kelly to make a save with a shot from 40 yards out.
Seeking to maintain that momentum, Montrose came close again a few moments later, Steven Tweed sent a long ball wide to Nicholas. His ball inside to Chris Hegarty was measured to perfection, but the full back dragged his shot wide of the target.
Alan Campbell came close to breaking the deadlock in the 15th minute, crashing a header from a Watson corner against the underside of the crossbar.
Annan’s best chance of the early stages came in the 17th minute when Derek Townsley headed a Mike Jack corner at goal, forcing Andrew McNeil into a diving save. Graeme Bell headed wide from the resultant corner.
The match was largely an end-to-end affair, with both sides regularly testing their opposing goalkeepers. Nicholas shot wide from the edge of the box in the 24th minute, while Hugh Davidson shot at Kelly after being sent clear in the box from a Tweed pass.
Continuing to push forwards, Watson was unlucky to see a half volley from the edge of the box tipped over the crossbar by Kelly, Tweed heading over from the Hegarty corner that followed.
On the verge of half time, McNeil kept the scoresheet clean with an acrobatic save from a Cox shot from the edge of the box.
McNeil was called into action again shortly after the break, pulling off a point blank save from a Bell header, tipping the ball over the bar.
Annan came close again minutes later, Townsley reaching the goal line and hammering a shot at goal that Sean Crighton did well to clear off the line.
A series of long range shots from both sides failed to break the deadlock, as did two Montrose free kicks that were deflected wide.
Montrose looked to have taken the lead just after the hour mark, a corner causing chaos in the Annan area, but both Tweed and Nicholas were unable to poke the ball into the net.
Annan could have snatched all three points 10 minutes from time, a corner bouncing across the face of the Montrose goal but none of the visiting players on hand to finish the move.
Substitute Daryl Nicol should have won the game for Montrose in the dying minutes, Sean Anderson sending him clear in the box, but the youngster sent his shot over the crossbar from the edge of the six yard box.
The let off almost proved crucial, with Annan afforded two opportunities to win the match as the seconds ticked away. Phil Storey was sent clear, but his shot cracked off the base of the post and out for a goal kick, Bell doing likewise deep into stoppage time.

Match Report by Mark Rae