This was a game where both teams needed a win to go further up the table or at least stay away from the other end of the table. 

Montrose started off with a strong line-up which included younger players as well as more experienced ones. Craig Wighton started up top on his debut for the Mo and it was important to have his experience alongside young Owen Stirton though it was the latter who mainly occupied the leading role.

Montrose started well with several attacks but it was Alloa who had the best chance on 3 minutes but Dillon was equal to it and cleared the danger. Lyons got on the end of a cross from Freeman and usually would have scored but the keeper saved the day at the expense of a corner which came to nothing. Alloa were next to attack but their two corners came to nothing then at the other end Montrose created another chance from a corner but the header went wide.

Montrose at that point were playing well and moving the ball about well and that paid dividends on 17 minutes when Owen Stirton got on the end of a Wighton cross at the far post and it was 1-0 to the Mo. 

Alloa you expect would have come back strongly but it was Montrose who kept up the pressure for a second goal. Machado and Wighton combined but the cross was cut out. Then a Lyons cross found Stirton at the far post but his effort went past the wrong side of the post. Then Lyons himself hit the post with another effort on 26 minutes.

A long ball from Quinn to Stirton who was on his own but the Alloa defence covered well at the expense of a corner. Alloa tried long balls as well and almost succeeded as the ball went wide as two defenders honed in on it. Coming up to the break and another corner to Montrose then a Sandilands effort was gathered by the keeper.

Then yellow cards were issued to Waters of Alloa and Sandilands of Montrose before the half-time whistle blew at 1-0 – but it should have been more.

Second half saw a change for Alloa as Rankin replaced Donnelly as Alloa changed to a more attacking style of play. They became much more of a threat and indeed levelled at 1-1 on 53 minutes as Cammy O’Donnell hit a beauty from 25 yards into the top corner. Shortly after the same player was yellow carded for a bad foul but it was Alloa who were more in the game now and a full turn around from the first half. 

Alloa found the net again on 65 minutes when a cross from Gentles was put into the bottom corner by Steven Buchanan to make it 2-1 to the ‘Wasps.’

All to do now for Montrose who suddenly were behind after a very good first half. Lyons crossed but no takers then another Alloa yellow card to Gentles before Montrose made changes. On came Bertie as Steeves switched to centre back and Quinn was replaced by Webster to give more to the attack. Alloa also made a change with Mullen replacing Roberts all on 74 minutes. 

The clock ticked on with Montrose eager to find at least an equaliser but Alloa had found their attacking form and were constantly a threat. Chances at each end as a Montrose header was collected by the keeper then O’Donnell headed just wide. A Wighton header found the keeper then Stirton headed wide. 

Into the last few minutes and Montrose made further desperate changes – Watson, Masson and McIver-Redwood came on for Machado, Sandilands and Wighton with seven minutes plus stoppage time remaining. 

Finally the changes took effect as more Montrose players got up field into the Alloa area and a penalty was given on 86 minutes. Up stepped young Owen Stirton with keeper Morrison bobbing about in front of him. The keeper did in fact get a hand to the ball but Stirton’s shot was hard enough to trickle into the corner to make it 2-2. 

A few minutes of stoppage time remained as both sides needed the points but a draw it was in a game dominated by each team in each half. Both managers will have leaned a lot from the game however and hopefully will put that to good use in the remaining games of the season.

Report by Steve Doyle

Pic by Phoenix Photography 

Post match reaction https://youtu.be/tJKWHNAtPnY?si=VyXkQCZlrGilVvRK