MONTROSE and Kelty Hearts shared the spoils from the opening match of the league season.

Montrose came close in the fifth minute, Terry Masson driving forwards to the edge of the Kelty box but shooting wide under pressure.

The home side tried their luck again in the ninth minute, Craig Brown having a shot deflected wide after good build-up play from Blair Lyons and Ben Maciver-Redwood.

Kelty goalkeeper Ruairidh Adams gathered a low shot from an Andrew Steeves shot in the 13th minute.

Ross Cunningham was the first Kelty player to get a shot away, firing high over the crossbar in the 15th minute.

Kelty player-manager Michael Tidser tried to beat Cammy Gill with a cheeky quickly-taken free kick in the 16th minute, but the effort was easily gathered by the Montrose goalkeeper.

A low bouncing shot from Tidser beat the diving Gill in the 26th minute, but the shot bounced wide of the post.

Cunningham tried his luck from long range again the in the 28th minute, but again blasted well over the crossbar. Gill did well to hold a shot from Lewis Moore a minute later.

Sean Dillon looked to have put Montrose ahead in the 31st minute, meeting a Michael Gardyne free kick with a header that Adams did well to punch over the crossbar.

A Montrose free kick resulted in Blair Lyons being sent free in the box in the 36th minute, but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Scott Williamson fired a header high and wide of the goal from a Tidser corner in the 41st minute.

A quick break from Kelty almost saw the visitors take the lead with three minutes of the first half remaining, but Scott Williamson curled a shot just wide of Gill’s post from the edge of the box.

Ali Shrive had Montrose’s first chance of the second half, bulletting a header wide of the post from a Gardyne free kick.

Former Celtic and Hibernian midfielder tried his luck from 20 yards out in the 53rd minute, but his shot flew harmlessly over Gill’s crossbar.

Craig Brown’s dipping volley in the 56th minute didn’t test Adams.

But BROWN put Montrose ahead in the 59th minute when he lashed a shot across Adams and in off the post from the edge of the box after good build-up play from Blair Lyons.

Kelty equalised in the 67th minute when Ross CUNNINGHAM blasted a loose ball past the helpless Gill.

Both sides pressed forwards in search of a winner, Cunningham having a header held by Gill in the 81st minute from an Allan corner.

He was denied again in the 82nd minute when Gill dived to hold his low shot from the edge of the box.

Scott Williamson should have put Kelty ahead with seven minute remaining when he collected the ball in acres of space in the Montrose box, but he lacked composure and blasted well over the crossbar.

Lyons was inches away from putting Montrose back in front in the 85th minute, his volley whistling just wide of the post.

Brown was denied a second goal of the match when his shot from a Machado pass was palmed clear by Adams.

Attendance: 516

Report by Mark Rae

Pic by Phoenix Photography 

Post match reaction https://youtu.be/sW_KbBuQ9QA?si=RzoFi57iZHOCD1TF

Match highlights https://youtu.be/QOvqFB056Lw?si=DecW860NfulCWjdC