Montrose fielded a strong side though a couple of changes were made bearing in mind the upcoming league game away in midweek at Alloa. Gill was back in goal, Williamson was on the bench, Brown started as did Freeman. 

Partick fielded a strong side but also with a couple of changes as they set off with great pace up top and in midfield.

Referee Lloyd Wilson started it on a dry but cold day and it was the Mo who were first to attack and from a Montrose corner Thistle attacked with pace but Dillon intercepted and sent Lyons off on the left but he was offside. 

It was fully 10 minutes before the first effort on goal but it became 1-0 to Thistle when Tony Watt found time and space to head home from the centre of the 18-yard box. The Mo had to knuckle down now and tighten up which they did well for the rest of the first half. 

Lyons sped down the left but his cross was blocked then another run from Lyons saw a shot from Sandilands blocked on the 6-yard line. Thistle had a shot from 30 yards but well over the top as Montrose had two corners both of which were poor deliveries and were defended well.  

Another Thistle shot from 18 yards flew over the top as they used pace down the wings and through the middle. A cross from the right found no takers then another sky high shot didn’t trouble Gill. 

Just before half-time Loudon had a good run down the middle but the defender deflected his effort for a Mo corner then Gill saved another corner from Thistle as the half-time whistle sounded at 1-0. Montrose had some good possession but just lacked the finishing touch.

For the second half Quinn was replaced by Williamson as Webster moved more up field. In the first Montrose attack a penalty maybe – but, no said referee Wilson. Thistle again used energy and pace to win two more corners one of which ended in a goal for Thistle as the cross sped across the 18-yardbox without a defender’s touch but found Tony Watt again who rifled it pas Cammy Gill to make it   2-0 on 48 minutes. 

Then the first yellow card to Chalmers of Thistle for a foul on Lyons. The free kick led to a Mo corner but again the delivery was poor and Thistle sped quickly downfield again. The first Thistle change on 56 minutes saw Logan replacing McPherson. Then a yellow card to Steeves led to a Thistle corner which was wasted as Montrose sped downfield and from the cross Webster headed over the top.

Two more changes on 65 minutes as Turner replaced Watt for Thistle and Masson replaced Sandilands for Montrose. Another good run from Loudon saw Thistle concede a corner then two changes for Montrose as they brought on energetic youngsters Tommy North and Gus Stevenson to replace Freeman and Webster. 

Thistle were reduced to 10 men as Chalmers was yellow carded again and thus red carded as Thistle made 3 more changes on 79 minutes. Montrose were now pressing harder but Masson was yellow carded as referee Wilson used his cards often in the last quarter of the game.

Youngster Euan Glasgow replaced Sean Dillon on 79 minutes as Montrose were finishing the game with more youth, energy and pace. Two more Mo corners came to nothing then on 85 minutes Tommy North scored on his debut for Montrose as he hit the target from the centre of the 18-yard area to make the score 2-1. 

Thistle closed up now with ten men in the last few minutes but the Mo were reduced to 10 men on 88 minutes as Masson gave away a free kick which referee Wilson deemed to be offensive and yellow carded then red carded Masson. It looked a harsh decision and the Mo dug-out also thought so and someone there was also yellow carded.

Then with the last touch of the game Thistle made it 3-1 with a long ball down the middle saw Ricco Diack out pace the Mo defence and slot it past Gill.

Overall Montrose did quite well but were out played by a Championship side on the day but the positive on the day was the effort from the yougsters North, Glasgow and Stevenson who together made quite a difference which Loudon up top appreciated and as a result he became more involved. The Mo management will have a good squad to start the next game at Alloa which is an important game to focus on in League 1.

Match Report by Steve Doyle