IRN BRU Scottish Football League
Division Three
Saturday 8th August 2009
Montrose 1 Elgin City 1

Montrose hit back from a goal down to draw with Elgin in their opening match of the league season.
A draw was the least the young Montrose side deserved as they played some decent football throughout the 90 minutes and might have been rewarded with three points instead of one.
John Gemmell and Sean Anderson were suspended, denying them the chance to make their competitive home debuts. Fortunately manager Steven Tweed and Sean Fleming were fit enough to start and Aaron Sinclair was passed fit to take a place on the bench.
Allan Campbell switched to right-back to allow the player-boss to resume his central defensive partnership with Sean Crighton and Gordon Pope was at left-back in front of keeper Steven Coutts.
Chris Hegarty was pushed forward to the right side of midfield with Davidson and Maitland in the middle and Fleming on the left. John Voigt and Daryl Nicol were paired up front.
A strong run from Fleming earned Montrose an early corner, then at the other end, David Craig looped a header over from a corner.
Montrose almost grabbed the lead in 18 minutes. Davidson headed the ball forward and Jon Voigt lifted it over the advancing keeper Gibson and on to the roof of the net.
Nicol had a shot blocked after good work by Davidson, then at the other end, Tweed did well to block a shot from Nicolson.
In the 29th minute Allan Dempsie became the first booking for crudely taking out Pope.
Two minutes later, Nicol flicked wide on the near post from a Hegarty corner.
In 36 minutes a pass from Steven Coutts put Pope in trouble and the left-back was booked for pulling back Gunn.
Montrose pressed in a bid to grab a goal before half-time. Fleming made a great run down the left and his pass was just behind Voigt, then a Pope shot from distance was saved.
Elgin City grabbed the lead in 50 minutes. Montrose failed to get the ball away properly and Nicolson crossed from the right for CRAIG FRIZZELL to head home on the back post.
In the 60th minute Gordon Pope had to be taken off on a stretcher with a broken foot and was replaced by Sinclair.
Montrose didn't let their heads go down and went close to equalising in 62 minutes. Tenacious play by Fleming got the ball to John Maitland and his chip for the top corner was tipped behind at full stretch by Gibson.
Montrose equalised in 67 minutes. CHRIS HEGARTY burst into the box and was felled by Craig, then picked himself up to score from the penalty spot.
The home side looked for a winner and Hegarty blazed wide from a tight angle when a little ball across goal was the better option. A minute later, Nicol shot over from a Davidson pass.
In 77 minutes a bit of casual play by Sinclair gave the ball to Crooks. The attacker skipped past Tweed and ran in on goal, but shot just wide with Coutts to beat.
In 81 minutes, Nicol went down a bit easily in the box. The referee was contenting himself with waving play-on until Edwards got involved and both he and Nicol were booked.
With the 90 minutes up, Montrose had one last chance, but a lob from Leyden dipped wide of the far post.