Pre-seaon Friendly
Saturday 16th July 2011
Arbroath 3 Montrose 2

A second half fightback by neighbours Arbroath saw them inflict upon Montrose their first pre season defeat at Gayfield Park on Saturday.
After victories over Stenhousemuir, Raith Rovers and Dundee United Montrose looked to be on course for their fourth win after grabbing two early goals from the on form Martin Boyle. But a great second half performance by Arbroath saw them score three times to win the match.
Montrose were good in the first period and outplayed their second division opponents but lost their way in the second half and ultimately the match.
Montrose sprung a surprise before the match fielded new signing goalkeeper Michael Andrews. The 20 year old Scotland Under 21 internationalist had spent last season on loan to East Stirlingshire last season from Falkirk. He was surprisingly freed by Falkirk in the summer in a cost cutting exercise and had been on trial with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The Montrose line up also contained two players signed from Arbroath in the summer David Dimilta and David McGowan.
It took Montrose less than sixty seconds to open the scoring at Gayfield. Jonathan Crawford slipped a pass down the right flank to MARTIN BOYLE who outpaced his marker before firing into the corner of the net past Darren Hill.
In the fifth minute Montrose had another good opportunity to score a second goal when Malcolm brought down McGowan on the edge of the area. Terry Masson stepped up to take the free kick and blasted the ball at goal only for Hill to produce a great save and tip the ball around the post.
The Gable Endies didn’t have long to wait for a second goal and it came in the tenth minute. This time it was Masson who produced the killer pass with a ball down the right to MARTIN BOYLE. The youngster this time outpaced McAnespie, cut inside another Arbroath player in the box before again finding the bottom corner from close range. It was his fourth pre season goal.
There was a flare up in the 12th minute when Smart put in a solid tackle on Doris. There was a flare up before play could resume and referee McDermott warned both Smart and Arbroath’s Swankie. The Third Division Player of the Year took the kick but fired it straight into the Montrose wall.
A Boyle corner caused danger in the Arbroath box and the home defence put the ball out for another corner kick. This time Dimilta took the kick but Arbroath scrambled the ball clear.
In the 19th minute Montrose had another opportunity when a McNally cross was headed out straight at Boyle but his volley was saved by Hill.
Arbroath had a chance three minutes later when a Mark Baxter cross found Doris at the back post but he could only volley over the bar.
Montrose restarted the second half with a couple of changes in their line up. Sean Pierce and trialist Jamie Winter coming on in place of the injured Alan Campbell and Scott Johnston.
Montrose hadn’t quite settled in their new system when Arbroath pulled a goal back in the 46th minute. The visitors failed to deal with a cross ball and the unmarked LEE SIBANDA was on hand to net from close range.
Three minutes later and the match was all square. A deep cross from Sibanda was missed by keeper Andrews and player boss PAUL SHEERIN was on hand to lob the ball back into the corner of the net.
Two minutes later and Montrose had a chance to go back in front. Masson crossed from the right and David McGowan headed past the post.
On the hour mark Arbroath took off goalscorer Sibanda and replaced him with Lee Bryce.
Montrose then made a final switch with another trialist ex Forfar Athletic and Arbroath player Paul Lunan coming on in place of David Dimilta. Lunan when to a right back position with Crawford moving back into midfield.
Michael Andrews then pulled off a great save when he tipped a shot from Bryce around the post.
With 15 minutes remaining Arbroath made a double switch sending on Elfverson and Wedderburn for Busch and Swankie.
With eleven minutes remaining Arbroath completed their come back when they scored a third goal. With Montrose claiming offside Bryce was allowed to break through the visitors defence and unselfishly squared the ball to PAUL SHEERIN who knocked home his second goal of the afternoon from close range.
With five minutes left Montrose were almost gifted an equaliser when Michael White kicked a clearance straight at Boyle but he just couldn’t gather the ball quickly enough to get a shot at the unguarded net.

MONTROSE – Andrews, McNally, Campbell (Winter), Crighton, Smart, Masson, Dimilta (trialist), Crawford, Johnston (Pierce), McGowan, Boyle Sub - Wood.

..