Montrose and Kelty Hearts served up an entertaining but goalless draw at Links Park in the first match of 2025.

The visiting team was picked by defender Thomas O’Ware, with player/manager Michael Tidser on the verge of moving to Dunfermline to replace James McPake.

Montrose gave a debut to on-loan Hearts midfielder Callum Sandilands as they sought to end a poor run of results.

Cammy Gill pulled off a double save in the fourth minute to deny Kelty an early opening goal.

Blair Lyons was the first Montrose player to test visiting goalkeeper Ruairidh Adams, his low left foot shot easily held.

The bulk of the first half passed without either side seriously testing their opponents, both teams squandering possession in the middle of the park on numerous occasions.

A quick break from Kelty in the 39th minute came close to breaking the deadlock, but Robert Cole fired wide from Lewis Moore’s cutback.

With three minutes of the first half remaining, Moore blasted a shot high over Gill’s crossbar from the edge of the box.

Lyons came close to opening the scoring in the 51st minute, his fierce shot palmed over the bar by Adams. From the corner that followed, a close-range shot from Aidan Quinn was held by the goalkeeper.

Lyons headed wide from a deep cross from Graham Webster in the 57th minute.

The winger was denied again in the 63rd minute when he collected Terry Masson’s long ball and cut inside, but his shot was deflected wide of the goal.

A last ditch challenge from Sean Dillon in the 65th minute saved a near-certain goal for Kelty. The visitors almost capitalised on the corner that followed, one shot well saved by Gill and a second rebounding off the post before referee Duncan Williams halted play for offside.

Few clear-cut chances were created in the remainder of the second half, Terry Masson coming closest when he collected a loose ball on the edge of the box before sending a shot inches wide of the post in the 86th minute.

Attendance: 609

Report by Mark Rae

Pic by Phoenix Photography 

Post Match Reaction https://youtu.be/d6Bkyaih8s8?si=0tzVpQYTtey8vYhb