After their heroics against St Mirren on Saturday the Mo were unable to reproduce the same form.

They showed their intent after just two minutes when Kane Hester latched onto a loose ball in the box but fired past the post. Just minutes later, a scramble in the visitors’ box gave McAllister a possible chance but he was unable to get his shot away.

It was not all one-way traffic and Seb Ross should have done better but his shot was saved before a Stuart Morrison header was also saved at the expense of another corner.

On 24 minutes., Hester latched onto a through ball but he delayed too long and the chance was lost.

Just after the half hour mark Seb Ross appeared to have been fouled in the box and referee George Calder had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Josh Skelly stepped up to take the spot kick and he slotted the ball into the right-hand corner for the opener.

Worse was to follow for the Gable Endies on 40 minutes when the defence failed to clear the ball following a corner and Ross was on hand to bundle the ball over the line. 

In the last minute of the first-half The Loons might had added to their total but Cammy Gill saved well from Ross.

The re-start saw Matheus Machado replace Craig Brown. The Mo showed more purpose in the second period and Hester headed wide from a cross by. Webster.

The Gable Endies got a lifeline on 57 minutes when Hester outpaced two defenders and fired the ball into the right corner.

After 61 minutes Hester went down in the visitors’ penalty area but the referee waved play on. Minutes later, Forfar had the ball in the net but the offside flag saved the day for the Mo.

The Gable Endies were pressing forward in an attempt to equalise but that resulted in gaps at the back and both teams might have added to their respective goal tallies.

With minutes left on the clock Blair Lyons got a shot in but the ball was blocked in a crowded box and eventually ricocheted into the hands of a relieved Marc McCallum in the Forfar goal.

Despite some Forfar time-wasting Montrose continued to push forward but couldn’t find the all-important equaliser. Just on the final whistle Machado got in a cross from the left but McAllister could only head wide.

Sadly, it wasn’t the Gable Endies’ night and they still have it all to do if they hope to progress in the competition.

Report by Forbes Inglis

Pic by Phoenix Photography

Post Match Interview: https://youtu.be/0Sk1hArR1rE