A competitive game against our friends from Arbroath is always something to look forward to for us and them as well. 

Montrose were without several regular players through injury or suspension but it was a game for others to step up to the task and they did that until they we reduced to 10 men when Webster was red carded for a most unfortunate event.

Arbroath were on form having moved into the top half of the table so referee Stewart Luke started the game with the Mo kicking towards a packed end of Arbroath fans at the beach end.

It was the start Montrose needed with an early goal in the 4^thminute. Blair Lyons weaved his way through as he does and his cross found Paul Watson around 25 yards out and his shot low and hard across keeper McAdams found the corner of the net to make it 1-0 to the Mo.

It was a typical Paul Watson goal and as it was his first start for quite a long time we immediately thought that was the touch we have missed during his absence from the team. Still a long way to go of course scoring early and as expected Arbroath immediately started to make their mark on the game as well. Possession was 50/50 for most of the rest of the first half but it was Arbroath who looked more threatening up top whilst Montrose also looked likely to score a second with gaps appearing due to Arbroath pressure up front.

It was Watson who almost scored again on 9 minutes as a shot from distance was pushed away for a corner. A couple of minutes later the same thing happened and McAdams was the hero again for Arbroath.  

The visitors however were having a go themselves at the other end but Dillon and his defenders were coping well with Cammy Gill alert to what came his way.

Ryan Dow had two efforts but Gill was equal to them whilst Coulson provided chances down the left for Arbroath. 

Grahan Webster was yellow carded for a foul which was a free kick but never deserved a card and that became a real turning point of the game later as it turned out. Montrose had three corners leading up to half-time as Lyons was a threat down both wings as he crossed over with Webster time and again. Watson on 41 minutes hit a shot to the top corner but McAdams touched it over for another corner but it stayed at 1-0 when the half-time whistle blew.

The second half started with no changes for either side as Arbroath were piling on the pressure with Montrose always looking to break forward as well. A goal at either end was likely so important not to make a mistake by giving the ball away in midfield.

Then the turning point of the game on 54 minutes. Graham Webster was yellow carded for a second time and thus red carded. He appeared to be pushed in the back during a tackle and hooked the ball away but by doing so his foot appeared to catch the defender’s face – he went down and referee Luke sent Webby off but it was a most unfortunate event and the free kick could have gone either way.

Down to 10 men and Montrose now had to soak up a lot of pressure to maintain their lead. It was not helped when reliable defender Craig Smith had to be subbed when he went down injured. Aidan Quinn replaced him then there were a raft of changes on 64 minutes. For Arbroath Murray replaced Spalding and for the Mo Hannah replace Machado and Brown replaced Watson.

Mostly Arbroath pressure now for an equaliser but Montrose had chances as well so it was not one way traffic though with 10 men it was certainly more difficult. Kane Hester replaced McIvor-Redwood on 74 minutes to give the Mo more pace up top. Quinn was yellow carded for a mis-timed tackle then came the equalising goal on 80 minutes. Dylan Smith provided the touch in the middle of the box and Ryan Dow hit it hard through a ruck of players to send the Arbroath fans into dream world behind at that end.

At 1-1 it was all to play for now. Callaghan replace Wilkie for Arbroath. Hester was yellow carded for dissent then as we entered several minutes stoppage time Gill was yellow carded for time-wasting as Montrose looked to keep the point they deserved. Arbroath did have the ball in the net twice but both were disallowed and clearly offside. O’Brien was yellow carded for a foul on Lyons and the last chance of the game was with Lyons only just failing to get the final touch to send the ball into the net as a cross from the right sped across goal.

The full-time whistle sounded with a point each and although Montrose were under a lot of pressure with 10 men for most of the second half a point each was probably the fairest result. For Montrose the bright side was the appearance of Paul Watson in the starting line-up, he makes such a difference with his motivation and others coming back from injury or suspension soon will also give Montrose similar motivation in a very tight League 1 this season.

Report by Steve Doyle

Post match reaction https://youtu.be/msiyUqZMkHE?si=m8Y2DTIpNaD3-eRA