Experience and youth were in the starting line-up for Montrose against Stenhousemuir who had thus far acquitted themselves well in League 1. Cammy Gill was in goal with Ryan Williamson, Aidan Quinn, Blair McKenzie and Andrew Steeves in the back four with Terry Masson, Michael Gardyne, Craig Brown and Matheus Machado supporting the front two of Kane Hester and Ben Maciver-Redwood. The bench included would be regulars Paul Watson, Graham Webster, Blair Lyons and Callum Hannah. The referee was Joel Kennedy.

Stenny gained a corner from the first attack but it was hit long and out to safety. In their first foray forward the Mo saw Williamson surging down the right but keeper Jamieson got to it first. From another corner Wedderburn headed wide as play went from end to end.

Then it changed as Masson intercepted a ball in midfield, fed it to Brown who in turn put Kane Hester on a run which ended in a low shot across the keeper and into the net to make it 1-0 to the Mo on 9 minutes.

Another corner to Stenny was wasted then Hester hit a shot just wide as he used his speed to outrun the defenders. The first yellow card was shown at Kyle Banner for a late tackle but the free kick to Montrose was cleared easily.

Hester was enjoying the game and long passes were chased well and another 25-yard shot whistled just the wrong side of the post. Although Stenny had plenty of possession it was Montrose who looked more likely to score and they did just that on 30 minutes. Masson again showed his experience in midfield and put Brown through and he in turn put Ryan Williamson through on the right at pace – he hit a low shot across the keeper and into the far side of the net to make it 2-0 to the Mo.

Quinn was yellow carded for a late tackle and Masson saw yellow for a hard tackle as Stenny has three corners just before half-time but nothing came from them as the score stayed at 2-0 to Montrose.

Into the second half with Stenny desperate to pull the game back but weak finishing and good goalkeeping foiled them. In one such attack a goal looked certain as a poor back pass was intercepted but the first shot was saved and the second was cleared. A let off for the Mo but they then turned on the aggression themselves and a 30-yard free kick was saved by Jamieson them Hester missed what he himself would call a ‘sitter’ as Machado put him through but his hard hit shot whistled an inch past the post on the wrong side.

Into subs time now and Stenny moved first with Ewan and Steele replacing Allan and Alston on 64 minutes. That was followed a few minutes later as Machado and MacIver-Redwood were replaced by Webster and Lyons.

Steeves was next to see yellow as Stenny tried to take a quick free kick and it appeared to hit Steeves before he had a chance to move away. That allowed Hannah to come on for Steeves and at the same time Brown came off for Watson who stayed up top using his experience as he kept the Stenny defenders in position. 

Another yellow for Stenny as Anderson did a late tackle on Lyons. Stenny sub’d Berry and Jacobs for Wedderburn and Anderson as the Mo were dealing with the game looking positive. Lyons and Hester combined to give a chance but the final ball was cut out. Another yellow to Stenny as Ewan hacked down Williamson as we moved into stoppage time. 

Craig Smith came on for Kane Hester as the time ticked on, Watson shot just over the top and the last bit of action saw a corner from Webster land on the head of Aidan Quinn at the near post and Aidan does not miss chances like that as the game ended in a 3-0 win for Montrose to move them up into the top four just a point behind the leaders.

Man of the Match was Ryan Williamson for a great attacking role down the right but at the back Andrew Steeves also had a great game using his experience to good effect. 

Report by Steve Doyle

Pic by Phoenix Photography

Post Match Reaction https://youtu.be/_BuXNV8PzDE?si=Tqg0JNHXcnwr5rHJ