MONTROSE recorded a comfortable home win against bottom of the league Edinburgh City.

Craig Brown’s drive from the edge of the box with five minutes gone was the first notable chance, but the ball flew over Aidan McAdams’ crossbar.

Aidan Quinn put Montrose ahead in the 17th minute. Graham Webster met a Michael Gardyne corner with a flying volley which McAdams did well to save at full stretch. The ball dropped at the feet of Kane Hester, who rolled it to QUINN to thump the ball into the net.

Hester could have doubled the advantage in the 22nd minute, shrugging off a challenge on the edge of the box before dragging a half volley just wide of the post.

Edinburgh’s Innes Murray was denied an audacious equaliser in the 26th minute, his long range drive palmed around the post by Cammy Gill.

Montrose extended their lead in the 28th minute, Miller THOMSON robbing Lewis Spence on the edge of the Edinburgh box, then having his shot deflect off Jack Wilkie, up and over McAdams and into the net.

Gill was called into action again in the 30th minute, reacting quickly to block a low shot from Spence.

HESTER added Montrose’s third in the 37th minute when Blair Lyons stole the ball from Lee Hamilton in the six yard box before rolling it to Montrose’s record signing to tap into the empty net.

Calum Crane could have reduced the deficit in the 42nd minute, but skied his shot at the back post from Kelsey’s Ewen’s cross.

THOMSON grabbed his second and Montrose’s fourth on the verge of half time, riding a clumsy challenge from Crane on the edge of the box, steadying himself and firing the ball through McAdams’ legs.

Cammy Gill did well to save the first real chance of the first half, turning Ryan Shanley’s shot around the post.

Edinburgh pulled a goal back in the 61st minute when Lee HAMILTON rose unchallenged to head Kieran MacDonald’s corner across goal and in at the far post.

But Montrose restored their four-goal lead almost immediately, Thomson bursting down the right and squaring the ball into the box for Blair LYONS to strike Montrose’s fifth.

Substitute Matheus Machado was denied a goal in the 76th minute, his long-range shot curling around the post and out for a goal kick.

Former Montrose striker Russell McLean was denied by the post in the 33rd minute, his header rebounding clear of the goal.

Edinburgh scored a second in the 80th minute, Danny HANDLING thumping home from a corner.

A quick break from Montrose with four minutes to go could have given them a sixth goal, Hester bursting clear of Liam Fontaine and squaring the ball to Lyons, but he could only shoot over the bar under pressure.

Attendance: 434

Report by Mark Rae

Pic by Phoenix Photography 

Post match interview: https://youtu.be/Sn3hGCEHPY8?si=rB6g024Pb1ijpRZj