IRN BRU Scottish Football League
Division Three
Saturday 3rd April
Queen's Park 3 Montrose 0

Montrose Football Club lost for the first time in four matches as three defensive errors went a long way to deciding the outcome of this match at Hampden Park on Saturday.
The result kept Queen’s Park in a top four position and gave them their fourth victory over the Gable Endies this season. Thanks to results elsewhere Montrose remained ahead of Elgin City in ninth place.
Once the home side went ahead from the penalty spot there was only really going to be one winner in this match as Montrose rarely managed to test the home goalkeeper throughout the ninety minutes. It what was a poor performance after recent displays.
The poor discipline, which resulted in the absence of four experienced players, meant that it was a changed line up at the National Stadium.
Out went the suspended Tosh and Gemmell and into the line up came Steven Nicholas for his first start since early March due to injury and Marek Tomana.
Montrose lined up in an unfamiliar 4 – 5 – 1 formation in compensate for the lost of their two main strikers.
McNeil was in goal with McNally and Campbell in full back roles. Tweed and Crighton where in central defence. The five-man midfield consisted of Nicol and Sinclair on the flanks with Tomana, Maitland and Milligan in the centre. Nicholas was the lone striker.
Sean Fleming was on the bench alongside three sixteen year olds Ryan Arbuckle, Andy Anderson and Jack Presly. Back up goalkeeper was Steven Coutts. There was no place in the sixteen for Martin Boyle who had played the previous night across the water for Scottish Schoolboys against Republic of Ireland.
In the absence of Messrs Davidson, Hegarty and Tosh it was defender Alan Campbell who captained Montrose for the first time this season at the National Stadium.
Montrose won an early free kick when Marek Tomana was fouled, Crighton took the kick but the chance was wasted.
In the fifth minute referee David Somers warned Daryl Nicol after he hauled back Barry Douglas. Martin McBride took the free kick some twenty yards out but it was easily grabbed by Andy McNeil.
Montrose created a chance in the tenth minute when Tomana ran at the Livingston defence and knocked the ball to Nicholas in the box but his shot was blocked by the home defence.
Five minutes later Montrose won a free kick in a dangerous position on the touchline after Ricky Little fouled Sinclair. Daryl Nicol took the free kick but his effort was too high and it swung out of play and over McGeown’s crossbar.
Montrose almost opened the scoring in the tenth minute full back Stephen McNally went on a surging run from midfield he beat two home defenders on the edge of the box and fired in an effort that home keeper Mark McGeown did well to turn the ball around the post.
The game changed the following minute when Queen’s Park were awarded a soft penalty kick. Little crossed the ball from the right and when the ball came in referee Somers ruled that McNally had shoved striker Michael Daly. Left back BARRY DOUGLAS stepped up to send Andy McNeil the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Having started the match with a five man midfield Montrose switched things about and moved Milligan out to the right flank leaving Maitland and Tomana in the middle of the park with Nicol and Nicholas now paired together in attack.
It got worse for Montrose in the 27th minute when the home side scored again. Ricky Little crossed from the right and Crighton and McNeil got in each other’s way and this allowed MARTIN McBRIDE to nip in between the pair and head the ball into the net at the near post.
Montrose tried to hit back and with half an hour gone Daryl Nicol went on a strong run but his chip went over the crossbar.
With 34 minutes gone Steven Nicholas was fouled giving Montrose a free kick, McNally took the kick but the Queen’s Park defence easily cleared.
The home side almost made it three in first half stoppage time. Paul Stewart got hold of the ball inside the box but his shot smacked off the base of the post and went behind for a goal kick.
Two minutes into the second half Fraser Milligan became the first player to be booked for a late challenge on Barry Douglas.
In the 49th minute a good move from the Gable Endies almost brought about a goal for Montrose. Nicholas played the ball wide to Sinclair his cross was blocked but the ball came back to Alan Campbell whose cross found the head of Milligan whose effort went just wide of goal.
It was game over for Montrose in the 50th minute when Queen’s Park scored a third goal and it was another defensive error from the Gable Endies. There appeared to be no danger when the ball went to the edge of penalty area but McNally left the ball to McNeil who came racing from goal and neither made contact and DAVID MURRAY skipped past the pair and knocked the ball into the empty net.
In the next minute Queen’s Park made a change when James Brough was replaced by Paul McGinn.
A one two between Tomana and Campbell saw the latter’s cross go behind for a Montrose corner kick. Nicol’s corner came over the ball was easily cleared by the home defence.
With 56 minutes gone Queen’s Park made another change when Ryan Holms came on to replace goalscorer Murray. At the same time Montrose made their first substitution of the afternoon when Sean Fleming came on on the left hand side of midfield for Aaron Sinclair.
In the 67th minute after some sustained pressure Queen’s Park could have scored a fourth goal. Barry Douglas swung over a free kick into the six-yard box where Paul Gallacher was unmarked but he could only head over when it seemed easier to score.
Montrose then made another change 16 year old Andy Anderson came on to make his Montrose debut in place of Marek Tomana. Anderson went upfront with Milligan put back into the centre of midfield and Nicol back on the wing.
Ten minutes later Montrose won another free kick when Maitland was fouled. Fleming swung the kick into the area but Steven Tweed just couldn’t quite force the ball home.
Substitute Ryan Holms raced at the Montrose defence in the 78th minute and curled an effort just wide of McNeil’s goal.
The next minute saw Queen’s make their third and final change when Ian Watt came on to replace Michael Daly.
With ten minutes left Montrose made their final change of the afternoon when another 16-year-old Jack Presly made his second appearance for the club in place of Fraser Milligan.
Three minutes later Presly went on a surging run, which took him past three home players before he was hauled back on the edge of the area. Nicol struck the free kick sweetly and McGeown made the stop before just managing to keep the ball out after it squirmed out of his grasp.
The last piece of action came on the stroke of full time when Tweed gave away a free kick, which was taken by Douglas, but McNeil was on hand to make a good save.
Montrose can have no complaints with the result with the absence of four experienced players being too much to overcome against a side going for a place in the top four.