Montrose’s first pre-season fixture of the new campaign ended in disappointment when they lost to Championship side Raith Rovers at Links Park.

It was a healthy turn out for the fixture with home fans getting their first look at summer arrivals Cammy Gill, Ryan Williamson and Craig Batchelor who started the match with record signing Kane Hester on the bench alongside Ali Shrive.

Montrose were also in their new uhlsport strips bearing the name of new sponsors Montrose Port Authority.

Like any other side The Gable Endies were looking for a much wanted win against a good full time side.

Within the first few minutes Dillon made a clean interception and played a perfect through ball over the top to Batchelor but Raith’s trialist keeper rushed out of his box to clear.

A few minutes later Lewis Vaughan showed a silky bit of skill by flicking the ball over Brown’s head then striking from distance but the shot was blocked by Dillon.

In the 7th minute Craig Brown had a golden opportunity when he intercepted a pass across the Raith’s defence and then played a few good passes with new signing Williamson. He played an inch perfect cross towards Graham Webster who had a stunning acrobatic attempt, but it went just over the bar.

Ten minutes later Raith showed a glimpse of what they are capable of when Vaughan played a pass to Jamie Gullan who wriggled past the Montrose defence with ease and was able to fire a shot at goal but was denied by new signing Cammy Gill.

On the 20th minute mark, Williamson received the ball out wide and played a beautiful through ball to new boy Craig Batchelor who got a shot off at goal but it was easily collected by the trialist keeper.

Three minutes later Raith won a free kick after Kerr Waddell fouled a visiting player on the edge of the box. Jamie Gullan scored a beautiful set piece with the ball flying into the top left corner.

Not long after, a slick bit of link up play between Webster and Batchelor saw Webster flicking on a long ball to Batchelor whose shot was well saved.

On the half hour mark Raith won another corner, the ball was played in and in a massive scramble Terry Masson managed to make a goal line clearance, but it wasn’t enough, and Lewis Vaughan was able to knock the ball home.

Raith were starting to become dominant in this game as not long after Vaughan managed to get onto the end of a through ball and played in a wonderful cross for the unmarked Josh Mullin who put the ball just over the bar.

Near the end of the first half Dylan Easton had a chance to show his skill with a good bit of dribbling but put his effort just wide of the goal.

At the end of the first half Raith made it 3-0 with Easton once again showing his skill by dancing around the Montrose defenders and from close range netting with a shot which came off the post and into the back of the net.

At the start of the second half Montrose made a triple switch with Kane Hester, Rory McAllister and Ross Matthews coming on for Batchelor, Gill, and Waddell.

A few minutes after the second half commenced a wonderful bit of link up play for the new strike force of McAllister and Hester led to Rory’s driving a shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner, giving the Montrose fans a feeling of what’s to come from these 2 deadly strikers this season.

In the 64th minute Raith had another good chance with Jamie Gullan having a good strike from distance, but the shot went just over the bar.

The second proved to the be the quieter half of the two. In the 80th minute Montrose had a good freekick chance with Gardyne and McAllister standing over the ball. Gardyne rolled the ball to McAllister, but the strikers tame shot went straight at the keeper.

Near the end of the game Raith showed a moment of magic with Ross Millen putting in a sublime cross but Vaughan’s header hit the bar.

Overall, Raith looked the better side throughout and were worthy winners, but Manager Stewart Petrie will have been glad of the opportunity to field all his new signings in such a tough and tricky fixture, with the early signs being very encouraging. We now look forward to Friday night and welcoming Angus neighbours Forfar Athletic as our pre-season campaign continues.

Watch the Gaffer’s post match interview here: https://youtu.be/v0qiFU_PJ40

Report by Rhys Cowie

Pic by Phoenix Photography