IRN BRU Scottish Football League
Division Three
Saturday 22nd October 2011
Montrose 2 Clyde 1

MONTROSE came from behind to book their place in the third round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
Visitors Clyde had taken the lead in the 18th minute when John Neil nipped between two defenders to bullet a header past Michael Andrews from Liam Cusack’s cross.
It took Montrose just five minutes to equalise. Scott Johnston’s shot from inside the box was parried by John Charles Hutchison, the ball falling to Paul Lunan outside the box. The midfielder took a touch before curling a sublime 22-yard shot over Hutchison and into the net.
What proved to be the winning goal came five minutes after half time as a result of a fast Montrose counter attack. A long ball from the back was well controlled by Dougie Cameron, the Montrose captain slipping a perfectly-weighted through ball to Sean Pierce. Carrying the ball into the box, he hit a shot with the outside of his boot that flew into the net via the inside of Hutchison’s left-hand post.
Both sides created chances throughout the match, Clyde striker Stephen McDonald testing Andrews as early as the fifth minute. Montrose also came close early on, Pierce dragging his shot wide of the target in the sixth minute.
Pierce passed up another chance in the 13th minute, shooting wide after Martin Boyle teed him up.
With both sides on the scoresheet midway through the first half, Clyde could have restored their advantage, but Brian McQueen sent his volley over the crossbar.
The visitors came even closer in the 32nd minute, Liam Cusack meeting a long ball on the half volley. Andrews was caught out of position, and was lucky to see the shot trickle wide of his post.
Montrose’s top goalscorer, Martin Boyle, could have added to his tally in the 33rd minute, bursting into the box but having his shot blocked. He could have turned the rebound home, but instead could only hit the post while under pressure.
Scott Johnston could have put Montrose ahead in the 35th minute, meeting a Jonathan Smart cross but only succeeding in turning the ball into the side netting.
Having taken the lead early in the second half, Montrose found themselves under pressure for extended periods, Paul Hay shooting over and McDonald cracking a shot across the face of goal and out for a throw-in.
Clyde’s best chance to equalise came on the hour mark, the ball dropping to Cusack on the edge of the six-yard box from a Lee Sharp cross. The striker somehow managed to scoop his half volley over the crossbar.
Johnston could have put the result beyond doubt 10 minutes from time, but shot high and wide. Clyde substitute Mark Archdeacon passed up a last-minute chance when he shot over the bar, before Clyde’s claims for a penalty for what they deemed a Jonathan Smart handball were waved away by referee Don Robertson.

Match Report by Mark Rae