For this SPL Trust Trophy game against Championship side Raith Rovers it was a much changed Montrose side who took the field in front of a crowd of 1,388 which included around 200 from the Mo. 

The starting line-up was Matthews, Steeves, Quinn, Waddell, Webster, Watson, Batchelor, Shrive, Callaghan, Thomson and Machado and the referee was Lloyd Wilson. 

It was very much a defensive line up with Batchelor up front on his own as Montrose wound their way into the game without giving the home side any space from the off. Raith were keen to attack of course but they were forced to shoot from distance as the first one went over the top from a tight angle and the second one went well over the top. Waddell got on the end of a Raith corner but the ball went wide left and the cross was put in the Montrose net but ruled out for offside. No Montrose attacks in the first 15 minutes but the defence were holding their own with Matthews alert more than once when Raith threatened and Quinn was a rock in the centre of defence.

It was 28 minutes before Montrose had a shot as Webster found space but his shot from 25 yards was pushed away by keeper Dabrowski. 

Watson was next to have a pop but his shot from distance went over the top. Montrose then had two corners but as we thought they were getting more into the game it changed completely as Raith took the lead on 32 minutes. It was Callum Smith who went one on one with Matthews and slipped it past him from what looked like an offside position as he was at least 5 yards ahead of a defender when he got the ball but the flag stayed down. It stayed at 1-0 until half-time but there were signs that Montrose were gaining in possession.

No changes to start the second half but Montrose made positional changes which meant they were much more of an attacking threat and had a good spell of pressure in the next 10 to 15 minutes. Three corners for Montrose and from one a Batchelor shot went just wide of the post. Then with their first attack of the second half Raith scored again. Montrose were wide open in the right back position as the ball came over and was slotted past Matthews from close in by Dylan Easton to make it 2-0 on 57 minutes. Easton was injured in the process and replaced by Mullin.

Montrose were very much still in the game but Raith looked much sharper as you might expect from a strong Championship side. Thomson tried his luck but his shot looked good but slid the wrong side of the post. Back at the other end the right back position was exploited by Raith again to make it 3-0 on 67 minutes as Josh Mullinhad space and time to hammer it past Matthews into the bottom corner.

That prompted changes from Montrose as Brown and Lyons came on for Webster and Shrive on 70 minutes. Watson by now was more up front in support of Batchelor with Lyons on the left wing and that move paid off on 72 minutes. A cross from the right by Machado was met by Paul Watson in the centre of the area and his header ended up in the top corner to make it 3-1. Montrose deserved that goal at the time but defensive errors cost them twice. 

Gardyne came on for Thomson on 73 minutes and slotted in behind Watson and with Lyons in support on the left wing suddenly another Mo goal looked likely. Raith made a change as well with Hannah replacing Byrne.

Into the last 15 minutes and Watson had another effort just over with the keeper beaten. Two more corners to the Mo followed then another change as Williamson and Dillon replaced Machado and Callaghan. It was Williamson who almost scored on 89 minutes but keeper Dabrowski saved at point blank range.

The last piece of action was Watson hitting an effort just over the top but Watson appears to thrive on his support up front behind the striking players and that now seems to his best position in the present set up.

Little or no stoppage time was added but for Montrose it was good to get this hard game out of the way without injuries and suspensions and give several players pitch time against a good Raith side.

Finally, a special word for referee Lloyd Wilson who kept his cards in his pocket when controlling the game without annoyances from either side. Hopefully Dylan Easton of Raith will recover well from his injury and Montrose will take this game to seek more dominance in the league games to follow starting at Cove Rangers next week.

Report by Steve Doyle  

Pic courtesy of Raith