Montrose’s second pre season fixture of the new campaign ended in disappointment when they lost to League 2 neighbours Forfar Athletic at Links Park on Friday night.

In front of a healthy crowd, Manager Stewart Petrie gave starts to Ross Matthews, Luca Giacomini, Ally Shrive, Kaisey Brown, Kane Hester and Blair Lyons, while the visitors fielded ex Gable Endies Matty Allan and Adam Hutchinson. 

In the 4th minute Montrose had the first chance of the game with Lyons trying to get on the end of a ball over the top of the Forfar defence but McCallum rushed out of his box to clear the danger.

Two minutes later Montrose played the ball over the top of the Forfar defence again but Kane Hester could only shoot wide.

A few minutes later Montrose received a blow with Kerr Waddell having to come off the pitch with a knee injury and was replaced by Aidan Quinn.

In the tenth minute Montrose had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the Angus Derby with Kane Hester but he shot straight at keeper McCallum. 

In the 12th minute Montrose opened the scoring. Blair Lyons got on the end of a through ball, he drove forward before playing a pass across the goal for Craig Batchelor who managed to flick the ball into the back of the Forfar net opening his account for the club.

Not long after Batchelor put Montrose ahead, Forfar fought back straight away to equalise, Craig Thomson dribbling right along the edge on the Montrose box before playing the ball to new signing Kieran Ingils whose shot took a deflection off a Montrose defender to wrong foot Matthews.

In the 20th minute Forfar had another good chance from a free kick, Morrison managing to get his head on the ball but heading over the bar.

Not long after Hester had a great chance but was unable to finish it, before Callum Moore put Forfar ahead with a shot from the edge of the box curling past Ross Matthews.

Near the end of the first half Andrew Steeves made a brilliant header to clear the ball off the line from a Seb Ross header.

Five minutes into the second half Forfar scored a third goal when their trialist scored with a header after the Montrose defence failed to clear a corner kick.

In the 57th minute Montrose again tried to play the ball over the top of the visitors defence, this time McCallum rushed out of his box and cleared over Hester’s head.

In the 60th minute Graham Webster drove down the wing with the ball and played a ball into the box. He couldn’t find a Royal blue shirt but instead it was almost put in the back of his own net by Callum Moore the ball going just wide of the post.

Not long after Forfar’s Roberto Nditi tried to put the game to bed by playing a wonderful ball to former Montrose striker Josh Skelly who tried to flick the ball into the back of the net but his attempt was easily handled by Matthews.

In the 80th minute Blair Lyons had a chance to get Montrose back into the game. He got onto the end of a long ball and cut inside and managed to get a shot in on his weaker foot but it wasnt powerful enough and McCallum was able to get a strong hand and parry it wide.

In the 86th minute Machado managed to pull off a stunner of a strike from the edge of the box but McCallum pulled off a wonderful save.

A few minutes later Graham Webster tried his luck from very far out but his attempt strayed wide of the post.

Overall, Forfar proved to be the better side on the night and fully deserved their victory.

Report by Rhys Cowie

Pic by Phoenix Photography 

Watch the post match interview here: https://youtu.be/eyCloDvXRM8