Montrose started this game with determination and what looked like a more attacking formation. In goal was Gill then a back three of Dillon, Quinn and Bertie with Masson, Machado and Gardyne in midfield though also in upper midfield were Webster and Lyons to support the front two of Hester and MacIver-Redwood. 

Referee Stewart Luke got it started on a cool but dry day with a fair crowd of Mo fans on the far side. Montrose were first to attack but the Alloa defence did well and broke quickly so the Mo had to be on their guard. Play was 50/50 and a goal could have gone either way if a mistake had occurred but both sides coped well and it was on the 14-minute mark when the first great chance arrived when keeper Gill saved from a good shot on the turn.

Gill played it to the wing and MacIver-Redwood was fouled which gave Montrose a free kick but Alloa went swiftly downfield and forced the first corner of the game on 20 minutes. It was a good delivery but Gill pushed it away and it was cleared. 

Machado was next to give it a go and his shot flew over the top from 25 yards. Another corner to Alloa which came to nothing but Webster got on the end of the clearance and a shot went wide. 

The first yellow card went to Quinn as he mis-timed a challenge on the edge of the area but the free kick went just over the top. Lyons came more into the game coming through from the centre to the left wing as he and Machado combined but the final shot was blocked.

Webster and MacIver-Redwood were next but the Alloa keeper foiled the chance. Leading up to half time the second yellow was issued to Alloa player O’Donnell and it stayed at 0-0.

Second half started with no changes and Alloa had the first great chance on 46 minutes but the shot went just past the post to the relief of Montrose. It gave the Mo a jerk into concentration however and that started a good run of possession. A second yellow to Alloa’s McKay followed by corners to each side which came to nothing.

A third yellow to Alloa went to Neill as Montrose pressurised them and that pressure paid off on 67 minutes following a scramble in the Alloa goalmouth. The ball was played in from the left and as it bobbled about it was Blair Lyons who finished it off as the defence dithered and he tucked it away to make it 1-0.

The first goal was so important in an otherwise open game but that was followed by the second goal which went to Alloa on 70 minutes. The ball went wide left and found Kane Thomson who cut in and fired a stinging shot pas Gill into the far corner to make it 1-1.

Substitute time now with Cawley and Honeyman on for Alloa in place of O’Donnell and Buchanan and for Montrose MacIver-Redwood and Bertie were replaced by Shrive and Hannah.

Now up to the 75-minute mark and full concentration was required by both sides. Alloa made another change on 87 minutes as big Conor Sammon replaced McDonnell and the Mo replaced Masson by putting Watson on with 3 minutes to go.

Alloa had a good chance on 89 minutes but the cross from the right went across the area with no takers. Then Paul Watson put his stamp on the game. His pinpoint cross found Shrive at the back post whose header struck the bar bouncing down and out but Kane Hester reacted quickest and headed the ball into the net to make it 2-1 in the 89^th minute.

Stoppage time now and Alloa tried in vain to break the Mo defence again. Balfour replaced Machado on 92 minutes for Montrose then a fourth yellow was issued to Donnelly in the 3^rd minute of stoppage time just before the final whistle blew for a 2-1 win to the Mo.

Overall the game could have gone either way but the more attacking looking line-up saw MacIver-Redwood occupying one huge defender well which gave Hester more room for manoeuvre and with both Webster and Lyons playing attacking roles as well the Mo defence had less to do but nevertheless did well and the midfield trio also played well in a good performance against decent opposition.

Report by Steve Doyle

Post Match Reaction https://youtu.be/4Cac0X78J0Y?si=WtaflDisJT4Jpu0a