Pre Season Friendly
Saturday 10th July 2010
Montrose 1 Raith Rovers 3

An experimental Montrose Football Club side that contained two trialists in its starting line up and a further four on the bench got its pre season underway with a home match against Scottish Cup semi finalists Raith Rovers at Links Park on Saturday.
Montrose took the lead early in the match but the First Division visitors hit back to record a deserved win although Steven Tweed’s men can take a lot of positives from the match.
The players ruled out due to holiday’s, other commitments and injury Montrose gave debut appearances to Sandy Wood in goal, making his return after four years away and new midfielder Terry Masson who was signed in the summer from Brechin City.
The Raith Rovers line up included Andrew McNeil who had left Links Park in the summer to join the Kirkcaldy side and striker John Baird Montrose’s top scorer in season 2007/08 who had joined Raith in the close season also from Airdrie United.
The match got underway in typical Scottish summer weather of cold conditions and driving rain making underfoot conditions difficult for both sides.
In the fourth minute Terry Masson gave away a free kick in a dangerous position when he fouled Davidson on the edge of the box. Ex Hearts player Stephen Simmons took the kick but blasted it straight into the Montrose wall.
In the next minute Masson found himself twenty yards out but volleyed wide of McNeil’s post.
Montrose opened the scoring in the eighth minute when their two trialist strikers linked up. The number 10 flicked the ball on to number 9 and the youngster raced clear of the Raith Rovers defence and calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the net.
Raith Rovers hit back and three minutes later Iain Williamson curled a shot wide from the edge of the box.
With fifteen minutes gone Baird turned inside the six-yard area but his shot was blocked by the home defence for a Raith Rovers corner.
From the resultant corner kick the visitors equalised. The ball found its way to Tade and his half hit shot bounced up kindly for IAIN DAVIDSON to head home from inside the six-yard area.
Two minutes later Simmons drove in a shot from 25 yards out which Sandy Wood did well to block.
Baird was next to have a go as the visitors kept up the pressure and this time his close range header hit the roof of the net.
In the 26th minute Crighton fouled Baird giving Raith a free kick in a dangerous position. This time McBride took the kick but his effort went well over the crossbar.
With half an hour gone Raith Rovers had another good chance to take the lead. Williamson whipped over a cross from the right but from six yards out Simmons headed wide.
Five minutes later a good passing move almost brought about a Montrose goal. Sinclair played in number 10 who found Masson and his ball almost played in Nicol to add the finishing touch.
Danger man Baird then turned on the edge of the area but this time he just fired wide of Wood’s goal.
Baird then played in McBride with what appeared to be an easy chance but as he was about to shot McNally got back to put in a foot and deflect the ball over the crossbar.
Montrose were forced into a change with two minutes of the half remaining when Fraser Milligan replaced the injured Aaron Sinclair.
The Gable Endies restarted the second half with a couple of changes to their line up. Trialist No. 15 replaced Gordon Pope at left back while another trialist number 16 came on for Daryl Nicol who had picked up an injury in the first half.
Within three minutes of the second half starting Montrose went behind. On the advice of the far side assistant Raith Rovers were awarded a penalty kick for a foul by Hugh Davidson on Simmons. IAIN WILLIAMSON stepped up to score from the penalty spot although Wood dived the right way.
Montrose made a further change in the 53rd minute with James Collier coming on in attack to replace the trialist goalscorer.
Two minutes later the first division side scored again. Williamson went on a good run and squared the ball across the face of goal for ex Montrose favourite JOHN BAIRD who dispatched the ball into the corner of the net.
Montrose’s trialist number 16 went on a good run but he could only hit his effort straight at Andy McNeil.
Baird then raced into the box and looked certain to add a fourth goal for the visitors but a great tackle from Sean Crighton stopped him in his tracks.
Montrose then created a good chance when Milligan went on a good run and set up the impressive number 10 but his shot was gathered by Andy McNeil.
In the 65th minute Raith Rovers made six changes at the same time with Walker, Weir, Ferry, trialist, , Beveridge and Mackie coming on in place of Davidson, Williamson, Simmons, Baird, Tade and McBride.
A minute later Collier had a half chance for Montrose but he could only shot into the side netting.
With 74 minutes gone another great surging run from Milligan saw him halted at the edge of the area. The trialist full back stepped up to take the kick but he could only fire into the Raith Rovers wall.
With ten minutes remaining the impressive number 10 trialist came off to be replaced by another trialist.
In the 85th minute the action ended when Raith Rovers brought on Donaldson for Wedderburn.

MONTROSE – Wood, McNally, Pope (trialist), Campbell, Crighton, Masson, Nicol (trialist), Davidson, trialist (Collier), trialist (trialist), Sinclair (Milligan) Sub not used – trialist (gk)

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