IRN BRU Scottish Football League
Division Three
Saturday 17th September 2011
Montrose 2 Annan Athletic 3

MONTROSE suffered a home defeat at the hands of high-flying Annan, who twice came from behind before snatching a late winner.
The Gable Endies had opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Martin Boyle latched onto a headed clearance from Jonathan Crawford, raced into the Annan box and slipped the ball low into the net with the side of his foot.
But Annan levelled the scores almost immediately, Scott Gibson left unchallenged at the back post, meeting Chris Jardine’s corner with a powerful header just three minutes after Montrose’s opener.
With half time looming, Boyle grabbed his and Montrose’s second goal of the afternoon, collecting a Sean Pierce through ball, carrying on into the box and hitting a low shot that visiting goalkeeper Craig Summersgill could only deflect inside his own post.
It was no less than the home side deserved, and they looked to be on course for an impressive home win.
But Annan started the second half in more determined and organised fashion than they had finished the first, pinning Montrose back inside their own half for extended periods.
Nonetheless, clear cut chances were few and far between, and Montrose appeared to be doing enough to secure all three points.
But the balance of power shifted in the 84th minute when Gibson collected a long ball pumped into the box and thumped a shot low and hard into the bottom corner.
With Montrose reeling, Annan looked to capitalise, and sneaked home to the Borders with all three points when Jordyn McKechnie met Jardine’s deep cross with a firm header that left Michael Andrews helpless.
It was a harsh result given Montrose’s strong first half performance. The home side had played a neat passing game in the first 45 minutes, leaving Annan’s powerful side chasing shadows for extended periods. Montrose’s first chance of the match came in the opening seconds, Pierce sending a low cross to the near post, where Summersgill kicked clear from a sliding Boyle shot.
Torrential rain throughout the match made the plastic pitch slick, which suited Montrose’s fast young front line. In contrast, Annan often resorted to long-range efforts, such as in the 15th minute when Jardine’s 25-yard drive was tipped over the crossbar by Andrews. That effort began the period of play that culminated in Annan’s equaliser, a spell of corners that also saw Sean O’Connor’s header tipped over.
Montrose’s central midfield pairing of Jamie Winter and trialist Steven Masterton looked creative throughout the first half, the latter sending Crawford clear in the 17th minute, only for his shot to fly wide of the target.
Alan Campbell also came close a minute later, his header from a Masterton free kick held by Summersgill.
Annan should have taken the lead in the 25th minute when O’Connor lashed a shot off the crossbar. The rebound fell kindly for David Cox at the back post, but the ball bounced harmlessly off his shins and out for a goal kick before he could react.
Annan were largely restricted to long range efforts in the first half, with Jardine shooting over from 25 yards and O’Connor blasting a shot across the face of goal.
In contrast, Montrose’s best football was played on the ground, Boyle coming close after 27 minutes when Summersgill fumbled a catch. Boyle picked the ball up near the goal line, but his shot was blocked by Gibson.
Having enjoyed a comfortable first half, Montrose found themselves penned in for much of the second, although Annan struggled to create clear-cut chances. Stephen McNally could have put Montrose two goals ahead five minutes after the break, but his shot was held by Summersgill. Annan’s Cox also came close, shooting just wide from 20 yards out.
Boyle’s best chance of completing his hat trick came in the 59th minute, when he latched onto Crawford’s through ball, only to see his shot deflected into Summersgill’s arms.
As Annan’s desperation increased, they came close again from long range, Aaron Muirhead’s shot tipped over by Andrews.
Having conceded the equaliser, Montrose looked to restore their advantage, but Masterton could only shoot high and wide from 20 yards out.
When Annan’s winner came, there was no time left for Montrose to find a way back into a match from which they deserved at least a point.

Match Report by Mark Rae