Montrose used their squad to rotate and to try and find the winning formula in a difficult run of fixtures towards the tail end of the season with games against not just those wanting to get in the play-off at the top but also the play-off at the other end. In came Johnston and Whatley for McAllister and Brown with a re-shuffled midfield and back line as well as up front.

For Airdrie it was a must win game and they soon were on the attack from the off. Montrose held firm however and the first chance of the game fell to the Mo when a Lyons shot was deflected for a corner and from the kick the ball clattered against the Airdrie post and was hacked away. Back came Airdrie but the end to end stuff saw another Montrose chance with Gardyne crossing for Lyons whose header went straight at keeper Rae. End to end again and a Steeves slip almost caused an opportunity for Airdrie but keeper Matthews was equal to the shot which came his way.

The first yellow card of the game was for a high tackle by McGill on Matty Allan but the hosts started to play down the middle through midfield. Two corners were awarded but one was cut out and the other wasted. Machado did well with a shot on the turn from 20 yards but it was blocked by the defensive line while at the other end Allan did well to block an Airdrie shot at the last gasp. It continued in the same vein up to the half-time break with two more corners to the Mo and one more for Airdrie and from one of each Johnston crossed for Lyons but his header went wide and for Airdrie a scramble in the Montrose box was ended when Matthews finally got hold of it. Goalless at the break and about right on balance.

For the start of the second half Montrose brought on Mackinnon for Machado and it was they who threatened first with two corners and a Johnston shot which went too high. Frizzell did the same for Airdrie but on 60 minutes the game took a turn with Airdrie scoring the vital goal. A cross from the left was headed home by Gabby McGill from close range to make it 1-0. The Mo tried to hit back straight away but Johnston saw yellow for a foul on keeper Rae and was almost immediately substituted with McAllister coming on and at the same time Brown and Watson came on to replace Lyons and Whatley all on 63 minutes.

Airdrie responded with Telfer and McGregor on for Smith and Devenny then Masson was harshly yellow carded for a tackle which could have gone either way. Airdrie were pushing for a second goal but Montrose were pushing for an equaliser but the break of fortune never came their way. Masson was replaced by Milne on 70 minutes then Webster was also yellow carded which gave Airdrie a free kick in a dangerous area but keeper Matthews dealt with it.

Another change for Airdrie brought Stanway on for McGill and two more Montrose corners were dealt with as the time drifted on. Into the last 5 minutes with Montrose pushing forward but at the same time it left the door open for a counter attack. Dillon was yellow carded for a foul just outside the 18-yard area and the kick was taken by Adam Frizzell whose shot sailed hard and accurately into the top corner giving Matthews no chance – 2-0 to Airdrie and game over in the 88th minute. 

Or so we thought, but it ended 3-0 with a very late stoppage time goal when Lewis McGregor latched onto a through ball and hit the last lick of the game past stranded Matthews.

Airdrie did well in the end to win and got the goals which counted whereas Montrose failed to find any sort of finishing touch to 50% of the possession they had. Sean Dillon was immense at the back for Montrose but that scoring touch just has to be found at the other end.

Report by Steve Doyle

Pic by Phoenix Photography