Queen’s Park v Montrose 1/9/24 at Ochilview

Lineup; 

Pratt, Ross, Carter, Cowper, Delworth, McLaren, Robb, Brown, Stewart, Murchie Guthrie

Subs; Creamer, McHattie, Murphy, Daniel, Taylor, Bruce, Codegoni

Craig Feroz made 3 changes from last week’s match against Rangers with Erin Henderson sitting the match out due to her concussion last week, and Taylor and Codegoni dropping to the bench. In came Erin Ross, Maisy Stewart and Rachel Murchie. 

The opening 5 minutes were pretty uneventful with neither team seizing the initiative. In the 6th minute a foul by Erin Ross lead to a free kick for the home team but the resultant shot went wide of the post. 

Ross was again involved a minute later but her through ball was not seized upon. 

Two minutes later Louise Brown won the ball and passed to Neve Guthrie who put in a great cross but Rachel Murchie was unable to convert 

On 9 minutes, more determined play from Louise Brown lead to a corner. The initial clearance was headed back towards goal by Cassie Cowper and Brown was on hand to slide in and guide the ball low into the corner of the net to put the visitors 1-0 up.

Montrose continued to press forward and on 12 minutes, a great through ball from Cowper lead to Queens Park defender Hannah Cunningham bringing down Brown.The referee pointed straight to the spot and sent Cunningham off. Brown calmly slotted the ball to the keeper’s left to make it 2-0 to the Mo.

On 18 minutes, another dangerous ball into the box from Cowper lead to a corner. Shortly after, Maisy Stewart found herself in the box, but shot over from 8 yards. 

A minute later, Georgia Carter fouled Cairney on the edge of the Montrose box leading a free kick to Queens Park. Morgan Hay’s goal bound shot was superbly tipped round the post by Kirsten Pratt, who must have seen the ball late as it curled around the defensive wall.

On 23 minutes, a promising break by Louise Brown was halted by the referee’s whistle for a foul. Undeterred, Brown again broke down the right hand side, leading to a long throw in, headed on by Jade McLaren but Brown was caught offside.

Montrose continued their onslaught and another Cowper free kick from midway inside the Queens Park half was driven in towards the back post, but no one gambled and the dangerous ball went unrewarded. 

On 26 minutes a carefully threaded through ball to Neve Guthrie saw the striker collide with the Spiders keeper McGregor, who came off worse and was treated for an injury. 

Yet another dangerous ball into the box saw Brown slide in to win the ball, but accidentally clash with McGregor, who reacted by raising her hands to Brown. The referee spoke to both players but left his cards in his pocket.

Another couple of Montrose incursions into the box were easily dealt with by McGregor.

In the 40th minute a good shot from Spiders skipper Ellie Kane was well saved by Pratt. A minute later Brown was booked following a clash with Morgan Hay in the Queens Park box and the defender was carried off injured, being replaced by Darcy Molley, 

The last few minutes of the first half saw further sustained pressure from Montrose who were seeking to exploit their numerical advantage before the break. McLaren flicked on to Neve Guthrie, who won a corner, but this was gathered easily by McGregor. Guthrie had another shot saved following a header on by McLaren. Another driven free kick into the box from Cowper was missed by everyone and a ricochet off Rachel Murchie went harmlessly out for a goal kick.

The last action of the first half saw Queens Park on the attack. Captain Ellie Kane turned neatly inside the box and fired towards goal, but Pratt saved well. 

Manager Craig Feroz made one tactical change at half time with the hard-working Brown giving way for Demi Taylor. 

A heavy challenge on Tally Robb by Queens Park substitute Megan Quigley led to the Montrose midfielder needing treatment. 

Undeterred by being down to 10, Queens Park broke forward and Erin Ross had to intercept a pass to Nicole Cairney to concede a corner. The resulting shot from the edge of the box went harmlessly past the post.  

Despite the spell of pressure from Queens Park, Montrose showed their threat going forward again in the 58th minute when another excellent pass from Cowper picked out Jade McLaren on the edge of the box. The midfielder chipped the ball towards the far corner and despite McGregor getting her fingertips to the shot, it found the back of the net to make it 3-0 to the visitors. McLaren celebrated putting the result beyond doubt in front of the loyal band of travelling Mo fans. 

The Mo nearly went 4 up a minute later when McGregor’s attempted clearance on the far side of the 6 yard box hit Maisy Stewart and looped up and over the keeper but onto the roof of the net.

To Queens Park’s credit, they kept pushing forward, and a shot from Quigley fell kindly for Pratt to gather. 

Some neat interplay between Murchie and McLaren lead to a corner. Demi Taylor’s low dead ball to the near post nearly crept in but was cleared off the line.

A dangerous Montrose attack saw Erin Ross break down the left and pass to Neve Guthrie, who flicked the ball into the path of the onrushing Taylor, but her powerful shot was tipped over the bar by McGregor. 

Manager Feroz decided it was time to freshen things up on 75 minutes as Alma Codegoni and Eilidh McHattie replaced Erin Ross and Rachel Murchie.

The home side pushed forward, and Molley struck the ball with the outside of her foot on the edge of the Montrose box, but the shot curled just wide. 

The final changes for Montrose saw Flo Bruce and Nyla Murphy replace Tally Robb and Maisy Stewart.

The result was beyond doubt and the last few minutes saw little notable action apart from yet another excellent Cowper free kick narrowly evade Neve Guthrie at the back post. 

3 goals, 3 points and up to 10th. A great day’s work from the team. We now look forward to another crucial match against the Spartans in next Sunday’s televised March at Links Park.