MONTROSE picked up their first competitive win of the season from a frenetic League Cup encounter with recently-relegated Edinburgh City.

Montrose threatened as early as the third minute when Mattheus Machado robbed Samuel Jones on the edge of the Edinburgh box, but scrambled touches from Machado and Blair Lyons culminated in visiting goalkeeper Mark Weir seizing control of the ball.

But the first goal arrived just three minutes later when Craig Brown’s corner flicked off the head of an Edinburgh City defender and dropped to Craig SMITH at the back post, who nodded into the net.

Edinburgh’s first real opportunity to level the scores came in the 11th minute when confusion between Montrose goalkeeper Ross Matthews, Sean Dillon and Andrew Steeves saw Connor Young collect the ball inside the Montrose box, but his finish lacked composure and flew safely high and wide.

Ryan Williamson was denied a goal in the 15th minute when his shot from a tight angle was palmed over the crossbar by Weir.

Edinburgh defender Lewis McArthur tried his luck with an audacious long-range effort in the 22nd minute that Matthews held at the second attempt.

Brown was denied by another full-stretch tip over the bar by Weir moments later.

Edinburgh City equalised in the 29th minute when Connor Young’s piledriver free kick from 30 yards out rebounded off the chest of Matthews and into the path of Innes LAWSON, who poked the ball into the unprotected net.

The visitors appeared to grow in confidence following the strike, and Shea Scally came close with a shot from the edge of the box three minutes later as they pressed Montrose back.

Samuel Jones was inches away from putting Edinburgh ahead in the 35th minute, his shot on the half volley whistling past Matthews’ post.

At the other end, Ryan Williamson came close to restoring Montrose’s advantage.

Edinburgh City won a corner with their first attack of the second half, Matthews called into action to turn Quinn Mitchell’s fierce shot around the post.

Lyons was denied by a point-blank save from Weir in the 53rd minute, Edinburgh managing to clear the subsequent corner.

The visitors should have gone ahead in the 54th minute when the ball fell to the unmarked Lawson in the box, but his first time shot flew narrowly wide of the post.

Machado failed to test Weir with a weak shot in the 60th minute.

Montrose pulled back in front in fortunate fashion in the 65th minute when Edinburgh goalkeeper Weir and centre back Samuel Gormley both came to meet a high ball into the box. The ball broke free and dropped in front of goal for Blair LYONS to tap into the empty net.

Callum Hannah came close to opening his account for Montrose in the 74th minute, his driving run down the left culminating in a shot that rolled across the face of goal and out to safety.

Edinburgh’s Connor Young was denied by the woodwork in the 84th minute, his long-range free kick crashing back off the crossbar and ultimately scrambled to safety by the ruffled Montrose defence.

Blair Lyons and Ben Maciver-Redwood were denied in quick succession at the other end less than a minute later.

Attendance: 414

Report by Mark Rae

Pic by Phoenix Photography 

Post match reaction https://youtu.be/FncpXAn5-I0?si=1SUqaBR6j9pk-jcN