IRN BRU Scottish Football League
Division Three
Saturday 14th November 2009
Montrose 1 Stranraer 1

Montrose won a point but were denied the three their performance deserved against Stranraer, with Steven Tweed’s men unable to find a winner despite creating the better of the chances throughout.
An entertaining match saw Montrose take the lead in the 54th minute. Stranraer’s Darren McGeouch fouled Aaron Sinclair wide on the left, Paul Watson stepping up to flight the free kick into the box. Sean Anderson met the cross and flicked his header over goalkeeper David Mitchell and into the net via the far post.
Montrose’s lead didn’t last long though, Michael Moore equalising inside 10 minutes. The striker beat Montrose’s offside trap and fended off a despairing Tweed challenge to place his low shot into the bottom corner.
The opening spell of the match saw both sides playing attacking football, although there was little in the way of clear-cut chances. Stranraer midfielder Danny Mitchell should have done better in the third minute, blasting over the crossbar when a poor clearance fell at his feet on the edge of the box, while Alan Campbell did well to cut out a low cross in the six yard box moments later, sending his clearance over his own crossbar.
Montrose’s first real chance of note saw Anderson cut inside before sending a rising 25-yard drive just over the crossbar. Stranraer were also able to test their opponents, McGeouch curling a free kick into the six yard box only for all the assembled players to fail to connect.
Hugh Davidson was unlucky to see a low shot blocked by Damiano Agostini in the 29th minute, before Danny Mitchell again missed the target from the edge of the box, volleying well wide.
The match burst into life in first half injury time, Mitchell heading a McGeouch cross against the post, Montrose’s Anderson curling a long shot wide of the left-hand post and John Gemmell shooting over from 25 yards.
Montrose started the second half as they had ended the first, Sinclair’s long shot held by David Mitchell. Minutes later, Montrose goalkeeper had to look lively to slap a corner out from underneath the crossbar.
Once Anderson had given Montrose the lead, the home side could have doubled their advantage, Watson heading narrowly wide.
Having equalised, Stranraer could have taken the lead in the 68th minute, Mitchell shooting over from the edge of the box.
Route one football almost gave Stranraer the lead in the 78th minute, a long ball over the top to substitute Martin Jack allowing the visiting player to half volley directly at McNeil.
Montrose should have scored in the 79th minute when Gemmell was sent through on goal by Watson. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Gemmell dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Passing up yet another opportunity in the 86th minute was Stranraer captain Danny Mitchell, the midfielder heading Lee Sharp’s corner narrowly over the crossbar.
Throwing caution to the wind, Montrose should have wrapped up all three points in the dying minutes, Player-manager Steven Tweed somehow managing to volley over the crossbar from three yards out, David Mitchell tipping a Daryl Nicol shot wide and John Maitland shooting wide from inside the box.

Match Report by Mark Rae