MONTROSE’S fight to avoid being dragged into the relegation spot continued for another week at least, with a home draw against already-relegated Dumbarton.

Dumbarton’s James Hilton had the best early chance, curling a free kick into the side netting from wide on the left.

Montrose were awarded a penalty in the 18th minute when Dumbarton captain Mark Durnan felled Owen Stirton as he was bearing down on goal. Stirton’s first kick was saved by Shay Kelly in the Dumbarton goal, but referee Ian Snedden ordered a retake, ruling that Kelly was off his line when the kick was taken. Kelly saved the second attempt as well, but his parry rebounded off the post and back in front of STIRTON, who smashed the ball into the empty net.

Dumbarton had a penalty claim of their own turned down in the 23rd minute when Kalvin Orsi went down, claiming that Sean Dillon had tripped him, but their claims were waved away by the referee.

The visitors should have equalised in the 26th minute when Montrose’s Keir Bertie passed the ball stright to Carlo Pigantiello in the box, but the Dumbarton man’s low shot was straight at Cammy Gill in the Montrose goal.

Carlo PIGNATIELLO equalised for Dumbarton in the 41st minute, sweeping home Orsi’s cutback from six yards out.

Blair Lyons could have put Montrose back in front in the 51st minute, but he could only head wide from Craig Brown’s cross.

Montrose had another opportunity in the 60th minute when Callum Sandilands fed the ball into the path of Craig Brown, but his shot was straight at Kelly, who palmed it out to safety.

Dumbarton were awarded a penalty in the 62nd minute for a foul on Pignatiello. Anthony WALLACE made no mistakes with his kick, sending it to Gill’s right.

Montrose captain Paul Watson, introduced as a substitute, had a shot on the turn held by Kelly in the 65th minute.

Aidan Quinn headed wide from a Graham Webster corner in the 71st minute.

Montrose were denied an equaliser when a quick break saw Blair Lyons square the ball to Graham Webster in the box, but his shot was blocked by Kelly.

Their equaliser finally came in the 85th minute when QUINN rose to bullet a header past Kelly from a Webster corner.

Dumbarton’s Mouhamed Niang was denied by Gill with three minutes to go, Dillon hacking the loose ball away after the save.

David Wilson came close for the visitors late on, but his 30-yard drive was held by Gill.

Report by Mark Rae

Post Match Reaction https://youtu.be/smSz-EYjxVY