THE PROMOTION SEASON 1994/95
BY ANDREW COCKBURN
PART ONE - 9th-16th August

After relegation from the First Division in 1992, Montrose had failed to make any real impact back in the Second Division, finishing a rather disapointing twelfth and tenth in 1993 and 1994 respectively. So in a bid to resurrect the club's fortunes, manager John Holt spent the summer of 1994 busy in the transfer market, releasing Stephen Craib, Jim Smith and Neil Irvine, and signing proven goalscorer Colin McGlashan and former Montrose favourite Innes McDonald, for what would be the latter's third spell at Links Park.

In July, Montrose embarked on a six-game pre-season programme against both English and Scottish opposition. They began with a trip down to Yorkshire to face Harrogate Town of the Northern Premier League, and lost an exciting game by the odd goal in seven. They then defeated another NPL side Farsley Celtic 4-1 (thanks to goals from Colin McGlashan (3) and another from fellow "new boy" Innes McDonald), before returning to "home soil". Then then drew with Motherwell (0-0), defeated Carnoustie Panmure rather convincingly by 8-0 (helped by another McGlashan hat-trick), and narrowly lost 1-2 to both Bon Accord Juniors and Dunfermline Athletic. And while the results of these matches had been fairly mixed, the performances had still been encouraging. Therefore there was perhaps hope of better fortunes in 1994/95, which saw Montrose competing in the newly-formed Third Division, following reconstruction of the Scottish League.

The season commenced Tuesday, 9th August with a trip to Second Division Berwick in the Skol Cup first round. Colin McGlashan made his debut up front in the following line-up:

Larter, Robertson, Tindal, Craib, Grant, Haro, Garden, Stephen, McGlashan, Kennedy, Masson.

The home side started brightly, and came close to opening the scoring after fourteen minutes when a tremendous thirty-yard effort from Hawke was turned over the bar in fine style by Larter. But Montrose soon responded, and missed a great chance to go ahead in the twenty-third minute when Robertson and Masson combined to set up Kennedy, who headed wide when it seemed easier to score. And while sides continued to press thereafter, the first half ended goalless.

Montrose began the second period on the offensive, and seemed to have a clear-cut case for a penalty when Stephen appeared to be brought down inside the box, but surprisingly the referee waved play on. At the end of normal time the match was still goalless, then in extra-time McGlashan had a great chance to win the match when put clear by an astute Kennedy pass, but he hesitated allowing a Berwick defender to clear the danger. The extra period failed to produce a winner, so it was onto the lottery of a penalty shoot-out. And keeper Larter was to prove the hero for Montrose, saving from both Neil and Bell, while Kane shot over the top. And while Tindal and Robertson also missed for Montrose, Stephen, Kennedy and McGlashan were enough to edge Montrose through by 3-2, their reward being a trip to Falkirk of the Premier Division.

The following Saturday, saw Montrose begin their League campaign with a home game against an East Stirling side who like Montrose, were perhaps seeking better fortunes. Montrose fielded an unchanged to that which had put Berwick out of the Skol Cup, andn a lively start saw them edge ahead after just fifteen minutes. A Stephen corner narrowly evaded Grant, and when Masson's shot was blocked, the landed back at the feet of Stephen whose cross found Grant again, who this time headed firmly home.
Rattled by this early setback, the visitors stormed back in search of an equalizer, and Larter was forced to make a brave double save from Cuthbert. But Montrose were soon back on the offensive, and Moffat in the visitors goal just managed to keep out an effort from McGlashan at the second attempt.

The visitors began the second period brightly, but Geraghty and McCallum both missed good chances, shooting over the top from good positions. Kennedy and McGlashan both went close for Montrose, but on seventy-four minutes Montrose made the game safe, and just as he had been instrumental in the move for the first goal, Stephen again was involved in the build-up for the decisive second goal. His cross from the left picked out McGlashan who was unable to get in a shot at goal, but when the ball broke loose, Craib took full advantage, firing low into the bottom corner. Craib nearly had another to his name eight minutes later when set up by McGlashan and Milne, but his curling effort came back off the woodwork. Still Montrose were no doubt pleased to get off to a winning start in the League, and the performance had no doubt hope for the rest of the season, as well of course being a confidence-booster for the difficult trip to Falkirk in the Skol Cup.

Manager Holt again kept faith in the same eleven for the match at Brockville, where despite the difference in status, Montrose would upt up a brave, battling performance. The game was goalless when in the seventy-first minute, a Stephen corner was only half-cleared, and when the ball was returned to the middle, a Haro header was turned over the bar by Parks in the home goal for another corner. This was also cleared, this time for a throw-in to Montrose, and when Haro launched the ball into the box, Craib headed down for Kennedy, who despite having his back to goal, beat two defenders on the turn and rifled the ball home to send the visiting Montrose fans wild with delight.

But any thoughts Montrose may have had of creating an upset were dashed with just six minutes left of play, when Grant conceded a needless free-kick twenty-five yards out. May's free-kick found Weir, who headed across the face of goal to find Cadette who up to this point had been relatively quiet, but who accepted the easiest of chances to score from close range. And there was more drama to come with just twenty-five seconds left on the watch, when indecision between Larter and Tindal let in McDonald, who was then brought down by the Montrose keeper. But Larter made amends, repeating his heroic penalty-saving performance from the Berwick game, tipping May's spot kick round the post to deny Falkirk a win at the death and thus take the game into extra-time.

The first period of extra-time saw Falkirk on top with Cadette and McCall missing good chances, while the second period saw defences on top, though Montrose did have a good chance to snatch a winner when Grant headed just wide from a Stephen free-kick.

So with extra-time failing to find a winner, it was onto penalties. Stephen, Robertson, Kennedy and McGlashan were all successful for Montrose, though matters still went to sudden-death. McCall then missed for Falkirk, but so did Haro for Montrose, and it was left to Cadette to again break Montrose's hearts when he tucked away the decisive spot-kick for a 5-4 penalty win. The result was perhaps an injustice to Montrose, but again the performance perhaps gave hope for the rest of the campaign.