Montrose were seeking their first win against Alloa Athletic in a league game since 1995 which was 25 games ago and indeed the first win against Alloa at Links Park since October 1988. On a cold, wet and windy day a small crowd braved the conditions as referee Steven Kirkland got the game underway.

A couple of changes were made by the Mo with the injured Quinn replaced by Waddell and Luke Graham made the starting line-up with Miller Thomson back in the side as well. It was the Wasps who took the initiative at the start and continued to exert the pressure for several minutes. A long ball down the middle saw keeper Cammy Gill collect it just in time before the onrushing Bobby Wales then a shot from wide right whistled over the bar. In the next attack Alloa sent a header just over and Wales had a shot from 15 yards central hit straight at keeper Gill.

Montrose were struggling to adapt to their line-up in the first 20 minutes but Webster did make keeper Ogayi work with a shot from 25 yards. A Mo free kick from wide left produced nothing and a corner by Gardyne was hit long but halted by a foul on keeper Ogayi.

Having weathered the fist 30 minutes Montrose started to get it together and Lyons was always a threat down the left and through the middle as a shot went just wide. Hester was trying to impose himself on the game but nothing was coming off for him and frustration got the better of him as he was yellow carded after appearing to be fouled and complained about not getting a free kick.

Approaching half-time and Kerr Waddell was having a great game with his as usual solid defending and that gave Montrose the platform to take the game more to Alloa which they did on 43 minutes as Blair Lyons hit a screamer into the Alloa net from 15 yards to make it 1-0 at the break.

No changes to start the second half and Alloa started somewhat disorderly with 3 yellow cards in the first 15 minutes of the half with Taggart, Buchannan and Hetherington all seeing yellow for fouls on Thomson, Hester and Lyons. Alloa had two corners which came to nothing but Montrose matched that with good runs from Williamson and Webster.

Keeper Ogayi was forced to concede a corner which came to nothing except the Wasps came away downfield and equalised on 54 minutes as Alistair Roy rifled a shot past Cammy Gill from 15 yards into the bottom corner.

Montrose needed to maintain the initiative now and made changes. Firstly Steeves came on for Thomson and Callaghan came on for Brown. Steeves made a difference slotting into his usual left wing back role. Two clear handballs were missed by the referee to the consternation of the crowd and the Montrose bench as we moved into the last 20 minutes.

Big Connor Sammon came on for Bobby Wales up front and McKay replaced Debayo as Alloa changed shape. Then for Montrose Batchelor replaced Hester as they upped the pressure with two corners which created a couple of scrambles but nothing more. Paul Watson came on for Graham Webster on 81 minutes and for Alloa Roy came off and was replaced by Rodden. Alloa had a shout for handball waved away by referee Kirkland as we moved into stoppage time with both teams looking for the winner.

The winner turned out to be fans favourite Paul Watson who got on the end of a free-kick by Gardyne out wide left and bundled it past keeper Ogayi from close range at the far post in stoppage time to see the game out at a 2-1 win for the Mo. Waddell starred at the back with Lyons starring at the front and back to form as we know they both can be. Montrose ended with a win against Alloa at long last.

Report by Steve Doyle.

Pic by Phoenix Photography

Post Match Interview https://youtu.be/LbpE4VnmNlM?si=C6NOArkOZOHxMe7T