TWO late goals from Cove Rangers denied Montrose what would have been a hard-fought win at Links Park.

Blair Lyons had the first clear chance for Montrose, firing wide from the edge of the box in the sixth minute.

Montrose goalkeeper Cammy Gill did well to deny Findlay Marshall in the 12th minute, blocking the midfielder’s shot from inside the box.

Cove’s Mitchel Megginson should have done better with a chance in the 16th minute, shooting straight at Gill when unmarked in the box.

Aidan Quinn came close to putting Montrose ahead in the 28th minute, heading narrowly over the crossbar from a corner.

Megginson had the ball in the Montrose net in the 33rd minute, but he was ruled offside.

Lyons came close again in the 40th minute, sending a diving header narrowly wide of Balint Demus’ post.

Terry Masson had a long-range shot easily held by Demus in the 50th minute.

Montrose took the lead in the 52nd minute when Cammy Gill’s quickly-taken long clearance was collected by Blair LYONS. 

The winger muscled Michael Doyle off the ball, carried on into the box and slipped a low shot through Demus’ legs and into the net.

Gill pulled off a great diving save to deny Megginson an equaliser in the 61st minute. The goalkeeper did well to hold a low shot from Fraser Fyvie from the corner that followed.

Lyons tried his luck again in the 67th minute, but curled his shot well high and wide of the goal.

Montrose were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute following a tangle of limbs and bodies in the box, but after consulting with his linesman, and with the ball on the spot and Owen Stirton preparing to take the kick, referee Joel Kennedy changed his decision to offside and a freekick to Cove.

Stirton came close to adding to the tally in the 77th minute, but fired his shot over the crossbar.

But Montrose went two goals ahead a minute later when Demus smashed his clearance against Stirton, the loose ball falling to Craig WIGHTON, who blasted it into the empty net from the edge of the box.

Cove pulled a goal back in the 88th minute when Ryan HARRINGTON raced through on goal and curled a shot past Gill.

They equalised a minute later when substitute Quinn COULSON slid in to poke the ball into the net.

Gill denied Megginson a winner in the 90th minute with a diving save.

Attendance: 735

Report by Mark Rae

Pic by Phoenix Photography 

Post match reaction https://youtu.be/h2pyx489LNE?si=3jAzdkEYvaHSuIrO