MONTROSE dropped all three points to bottom of the table Dumbarton on a windy December afternoon.

Blair Lyons was denied a spectacular opening goal in the 6th minute, Dumbarton goalkeeper Patrick O’Neil punching his bicycle kick over the crossbar.

Lyons should have put Montrose ahead in the 20th minute when Graham Webster’s low cross from wide on the right was missed by players from both sides as it travelled through the box, but the Montrose winger somehow managed to scoop his finish over the bar when unmarked at the back post.

It was the visitors who took the lead in the 25th minute, Finlay GRAY collecting a long ball at Cammy Gill’s front post and smashing his shot into the roof of the net.

Ben Maciver-Redwood had a weak header easily held by O’Neil two minutes later as Montrose pushed for an immediate equaliser.

Michael Gardyne almost equalised in bizarre fashion in the 44th minute, his free kick from wide on the left catching the wind and dropping just wide of the post.

With the first half entering its fourth minute of added time, Dumbarton’s Kalvin Orsi curled a shot wide of the post from the edge of the box.

Dumbarton’s David Wilson passed up a glorious chance to put the visitors two goals ahead in the 60th minute, collecting a long ball on the edge of the Montrose box with space to run into, but he blasted his shot wide of the post.

Dumbarton spent most of the second half absorbing Montrose pressure, sitting back and clearing their lines, but the visitors doubled their lead in the 77th minute when the unmarked GRAY slammed the ball past Gill from inside the box after a quick break up the park.

Montrose clawed a goal back with nine minutes remaining, Blair McKENZIE first to react to tap the ball into the net after O’Neil saved a low Paul Watson drive.

Aidan Quinn was sent off for a second bookable offence deep into stoppage time as Montrose pushed for an equaliser that would not come.

Attendance: 541

Report by Mark Rae

Pic by Phoenix Photography 

Post match reaction https://youtu.be/WpxYNENuyvs?si=TLlZt8wNxCcBOm0h