Montrose made changes to the starting line-up both enforced by injuries and also by positioning against an unbeaten Hamilton side in a tough looking game. Machado was at left back in place of Steeves, Shrive was in midfield whilst Hester was on the bench. Referee Peter Stuart started the game in front of a crowd of 1345 including a decent number of Mo fans.

Hamilton started very much on the front foot as expected but the first attack was too long and went out of play. Not so the second attack however as the ball was swung around in midfield and found its way to the left wing where a great cross found the head of Dylan Tait who put it firmly past Cammy Gill from 10 yards central to make it 1-0 on 4 minutes. At that point Montrose fans had reason to think the floodgates might open but although Accies had most of the possession it did not turn out that way.

In the first 20 minutes Montrose had no attacks to speak of but on 24 minutes Webster got in a cross from the right and only a desperate save from keeper Smith prevented an own goal from a defender’s boot. Accies had a free kick wide right but it was cleared swifty and Brown created space to try at the other end but again keeper Smith was equal to it. It was a decent spell for the Mo who again got to the corner flag but the cross found no takers.

Up to the 30-minute mark and Accies were back in almost full control with a succession of corners all of which were cleared or wasted. Montrose rode it out to half-time although Quinn was harshly yellow carded as the attacker ran straight across his path. Half-time 1-0.

No changes to either side for the second half but Accies did make a double change on 50 minutes with Euan Henderson on for Barjonas and Ryan One on for Winter in an attempt to try and make more of their superior possession. It almost paid off immediately but for a good save by Cammy Gill but surely an offside flag would have been given otherwise as it was clearly offside. 

Two more corners to the home side with Quinn getting both out of danger and one clearance went out to Webster who took it downfield and it ended with a corner – except the referee gave a goal kick much to the disgust of Webby who was yellow carded for his objections. Accies also had a yellow card shown at Tumilty for upending Craig Brown near the edge of the 18-yard box.

Up to 60 minutes and Montrose had their best move so far with Ryan Williamson weaving his way down the right then cutting in to shoot only for keeper Smith to get in the way and clear it. That started another good spell for Montrose who really should have equalised when the ball fell to Masson 15 yards out but his snatched shot through a crowd of players went just wide. Another change for Hamilton with Tumilty off and Murray on. Cue a double change on 65 minutes for Montrose who despite not as much possession were still very much in the game whilst Accies failed to make their dominance pay with another goal. 

Blair Lyons come on for Shrive and Kane Hester came on for Gardyne in an all-out effort to salvage a point from the game. Accies missed a sitter on 66 minutes as Ryan One failed to connect properly when the goal beckoned. Dylan Tait was next to be shown yellow for felling Lyons then Paul Watson came on for Webster on 70 minutes. Machado was next to be yellow carded for a trip on One then a slip by a Montrose defender allowed an attacker clean through but Gill went for it and saved well. Watson had a power shot blocked as Montrose tried to save the game.

McAllister was substituted as he ran his socks off up front more or les on his own for much of the game and Craig Batchelor came on. Accies had another corner but again the flag was missing for what looked a clearly offside decision. And yet another dubious offside decision came to nothing when Gill again made a great save on 89 minutes. 

Into stoppage time and Lyons went for goal across the front of the 18-yard box but his shot was held by Smith and the last piece of action was a late change for Accies with O’Hara off and Hewitt on.

After going a goal down early on against a rampant Hamilton side it is to the credit of Montrose who stuck to their task against the odds and in the end could well have taken a point from this game. Hamilton will do well in League 1 but if they fail to capitalise on their possession they will probably come up against others who do.  

Report by Steve Doyle

Pic by Hamilton Accies