IRN BRU Scottish Football League
Division Three
Saturday 21st January 2012
East Stirlingshire 3 Montrose 1

Coming on the back of their resounding 4 – 0 home victory over Clyde the previous Saturday this was a poor performance by Montrose at Ochilview on Saturday.
East Stirlingshire were the bottom side and with only two wins all season (one against Montrose) it appeared to be plain sailing for the Gable Endies but it wasn’t to be the case. Sadly Ray Farningham’s side just didn’t show up at the weekend. They struggled badly with the wind in the first half but once the home side had scored again early in the second half there was only going to be one winners.
Montrose just didn’t pass the ball around and couldn’t cope with the home midfield who over ran them over at times. This was probably the worst performance of the season but take nothing away from the Shire they deserved the win.
After the win over Clyde, Montrose were forced into making one change to their line up with Lloyd Young unavailable due to a prior commitment Garry Wood stepped into the starting line up for his first starting appearance since rejoining the club last week.
~ Montrose lined up with Wood in goal with Crawford and Cameron in full back positions. Crighton and Smart were in central defence. The midfield three was Masson, Winter and Johnston dropping back into midfield. This saw the front three of Wood through the middle with McGowan on the left and Boyle on the right.
It was a strong looking Montrose bench with goalkeeper Andrews being joined by McNally, Lunan, Campbell and McPhee.
It was the Gable Endies who got the match underway at Ochilview but it was the home side that had the elements in their favour, with the gale blowing down towards Sandy Wood’s goal.
Montrose won an early free kick which Douglas Cameron whipped in but the home defence cleared for a fruitless throw in.
In the seventh minute East Stirling won a free kick after Cameron tripped Horner. Hunter played it short on loan Hibernian midfielder Horner but he curled his effort over the bar.
Then using the elements the Shire forced three corners in succession but Montrose managed to cope with the danger on each occasion.
With eleven minutes gone Lewis Horner tried his luck again with a wind assisted 25 yard shot which flew over the crossbar.
Two minutes later as East Stirlingshire kept up the pressure it was Horner again who tested Sandy Wood with a low shot which the keeper gathered at his near post.
Montrose created a great opportunity to score in the 15th minute. McGowan played a ball through to Martin Boyle he rounded keeper Calum Antell who somehow managed to block the ball, it came back to the Montrose striker but this time his effort was cleared off the line by a home defender. Cameron’s corner kick was headed clear by a home defender.
Five minutes later East Stirlingshire kept up the pressure when Steven Jackson saw his low effort deflected wide for a corner kick.
Montrose managed to create another chance in the 22nd minute when a Winter through ball put Scott Johnston clear but he was tripped on the edge of the area by Chisholm who was booked. Jamie Winter stepped up to take the free kick but his low effort hit the Shire wall.
On the half hour mark Horner tried his luck again from long range for East Stirlingshire but his effort went wide of goal.
In the 35th minute some good football from Montrose saw David McGowan get wide on the left but Garry Wood saw his header go wide of Antell’s post.
In the next minute Terry Masson harshly picked up a booking for a foul on Andy Stirling when it appeared that both players went in for a fifty fifty ball.
With five minutes of the first half remaining and Montrose still holding on despite the strong wind Andy Stirling was allowed to run around five Montrose players before getting in a weak effort which Wood held easily.
Seconds later Montrose gifted Shire the opening goal. Sandy Wood’s kick out fell to Sean Crighton who didn’t manage to control the ball and ALEX LURINSKY robbed the Montrose defender and ran through to slot the ball past the keeper and into the corner of the net.
As the half came to a close a home corner was punched clear by Wood and found its way to Steven Jackson who shot well wide of the far post.
The Gable Endies had strong claims for a penalty kick turned down in the opening minutes of the second half a Winter pass put Boyle in down the right flank and he raced into the area and along the byeline before he appeared to have his legs taken from him but referee Robertson waved play on.
In the 49th minute the referee did award a penalty kick to the home side when Lurinsky was brought down by Douglas Cameron. LURINSKY stepped up to send Wood the wrong way and net his second goal of the afternoon leaving Montrose with it all to do.
It got even worse for Montrose in the 55th minute when East Stirlingshire amazingly scored their third goal of the afternoon. They played the ball wide to Scott Maxwell and his cross was headed home inside the six yard area by captain KEVIN TURNER who was totally unmarked.
Two minutes later and Ray Farningham made his first change of the afternoon. Sending on Steven McPhee in place of David McGowan.
Montrose then won a free kick and from Winter’s delivery Jonathan Smart headed over the crossbar.
McPhee was starting to cause problems for the home defence and he won a free kick which he took himself but Smart coming in at the far post just couldn’t connect with the ball.
In the 59th minute Montrose won a penalty kick. Steven McPhee skipped down the left flank and into the box before he had his legs taken from him by Lurinsky who was booked. JAMIE WINTER stepped up to score from the spot with a low effort for his ninth goal of the season and to give Montrose a glimmer of hope.
Two minutes later Winter set up McPhee with a shooting chance but his effort was held by Antell.
In the 65th minute as Montrose kept pressing McPhee cut inside to tee up Jamie Winter with a long range shot but again Antell in the home goal got down well to save.
Montrose made another change in the 72 minute when they brought on Paul Lunan in place of Terry Masson.
Five minutes later the Shire made their first change with Graeme Ramage replacing goalscorer Lurinsky.
With ten minutes remaining Scott Johnston worked himself into a goalscoring position but his run ended when he toe poked his shot wide of the far near post.
With seven minutes left Montrose had strong claims for another penalty kick turned down by the referee Martin Boyle got clear of the home defence and with only the keeper to beat he appeared to have his legs taken from him but referee Robertson was having none of it and play continued.
Boyle’s frustrations from not getting the award of a penalty boiled over seconds later when a foul was given against him in the middle of the park. He picked up the ball and threw it away resulting in a yellow card.
Stephen McNally then came on in place of Crawford for Montrose and at the same time the home side brought on Devlin for Maxwell.
In the 89th minute the Shire made a final switch with Team replacing Turner.
There was one final opportunity for Montrose in a well below par performance when Martin Boyle got free down the right. His shot was blocked and spilled by Antell but there was no Montrose team-mate on hand to put away the rebound.
It what was one of the poorest displays of the season only Jamie Winter and Steven McPhee put it worthwhile performances for the Gable Endies.

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