MONTROSE picked up three important points in their promotion playoff chase, with a hard-fought but well-deserved win over Kelty Hearts.

Montrose took the lead after just 29 seconds, Blair LYONS sent through on goal and side footing the ball over Kelty goalkeeper Kyle Gourlay on the half volley.

Graham Webster came close to adding a second in the 17th minute, collecting a perfectly weighted pass from Sean Dillon in the Kelty box, but his shot was palmed over the crossbar by Gourlay.

Another corner in the 23rd minute gave Montrose an opportunity to extend their lead, but Dillon fired a volley over the bar from Matheus Machado’s cross.

The home side enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession during the first half, and their persistence paid off in the 25th minute when Lyons controlled the ball in the Kelty box, beat two opposition players and rolled the ball into the path of Andrew STEEVES, who blasted in at the near post.

Machado should have done better when the ball fell to him when he was unmarked in the box in the 34th minute, but he snatched at his shot and it flew harmlessly wide of the target.

Kelty’s first real chance of note came in the 35th minute with an elaborate free kick routine that culminated in Paul Watson booting the ball clear from the Montrose goal line. A corner shortly afterwards allowed Ross Cunningham time and space to hit a shot that curled narrowly over Cammy Gill’s crossbar.

Ross Cunningham had the first chance of note in the second half, sending a shot narrowly wide of Gill’s post when under pressure on the edge of the Montrose box.

At the other end, Luke Graham sent the ball just over Gourlay’s crossbar with a header in the box.

Blair Lyons could have added his second and Montrose’s third in the 54th minute, but he couldn’t get a shot away on time while on the edge of the six-yard box.

Graham Webster, playing through the middle of the Montrose attack, tried his luck from long range in the 57th minute, but his shot flew well over the crossbar.

Kelty pulled a goal back in the 60th minute when captain Reece Lyon capitalised on a loose ball in midfield to surge forwards. Cammy Gill attempted to close the midfielder down, but he squared the ball across goal for former Montrose striker Craig JOHNSTON to slide the ball into the empty net.

JOHNSTON equalised for Kelty four minutes later, bundling the ball into the net under pressure from the Montrose defence.

Cammy Gill pulled off a great save to deny Lyon in the 71st minute, getting down quickly to block a low shot.

Montrose regained the lead in the 77th minute when a Craig Brown corner was headed on by Sean Dillon, Graham WEBSTER finding space at the back post to nod the ball into the net.

The home side continued to push forwards, Craig Brown heading over the crossbar from a Webster cross in the 80th minute.

Webster also sent Kane Hester through on goal a minute later, but he couldn’t connect with the ball.

Brown came close again in the 82nd minute, having a shot deflected wide of the post. From the corner that followed, Aiden Quinn headed over the crossbar.

Kelty’s Brad McKay volleyed well over the crossbar in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Cammy Gill’s long goal kick sent Kane HESTER clear through on goal, and he made no mistakes with a low finish.

Attendance: 531

Match Report by Mark Rae

Pic by Pheonix Photography

Post Match Reaction https://youtu.be/TeNqobwNCZ0