As this game started Alloa wanted to get into the promotion play-offs and Montrose wanted to save themselves from a relegation play-off place. As the game ended both objectives were achieved in a game which was dominated by Montrose first half but by Alloa second half.

Montrose had Gill in goal then a back four of Freeman, Quinn, Waddell and Dillon with Gardyne, Brown, Sandilands and Webster in midfield then Lyons and Stirton up top. 

Webby was in an unfamiliar left sided role but adapted well with he and Brown having very good games. Referee was Euan Anderson and was arguably the best we have had this season.

Montrose kicked off on a dry but cloudy day with no wind but Alloa gained possession and a shot was blocked from which the Mo made a quick break downfield but were foiled 20 yards out.

Quinn then fed Lyons but he was outnumbered then Stirton hit a hard shot which whistled just wide. Alloa responded with a corner conceded by Gill but it came to nothing. The next 20 minutes were even mainly in midfield – Montrose almost scored with a long lob over the keeper but it landed on the roof of the net.

That Mo pressure paid off on 26 minutes as a ball from Lyons found its way to Owen Stirton who hit it low and hard past keeper Morrison to make it 1-0.

Alloa responded with two corners which were long and wasted then two shots which the Mo handled well and Montrose deservedly went in at half-time 1-0 up.

The second half was very different however as Alloa changed their tactics and started to control midfield. Craig Bown was having a good game however and hit the Alloa post from distance but the ball was scrambled away.

More Alloa pressure gave Montrose opportunities to send long balls up top but a Lyons shot was too high then a similar Stirton shot went the same way. Coming up to the hour mark Alloa had more corners one of which should have been an equaliser but it went wide from close range.

First changes on 68 minutes saw Alloa bring on Sammon, Devine and O’Donnell and that changed the game. They had a ‘goal’ ruled out but in the next minute they did equalise through Conor Sammon who scored from close-in at the second attempt to make it 1-1.

Montrose brought Williamson on for Waddell who appeared to have taken a knock then Wighton replaced Lyons which then left Montrose with little pace up top. 

Sammon was yellow carded but it was all Alloa now with Montrose defending a point. That was also lost on 84 minutes when Sammon fed Luke Rankin who found the bottom corner from 18 yards to make it 2-1 to the Wasps.

Stirton had a chance but again the shot went wide as a triple Mo change brought on Watson, McIver-Redwood and Bertie for Webster, Sandilands and Stirton on 87 minutes and Alloa brought on Virtanen for Rankin. Time ran out however and Montrose were left to hope results elsewhere were in their favour.

As it happened they were safe. Disappointing result on the day but on a positive Graham Webster and Craig Brown both appear to be back to great form again. A quick look at the league table shows Montrose have won fewer games than everyone else except Dumbarton so that shows what the Mo need to do come next season.

Report by Steve Doyle

Post match reaction https://youtu.be/YZDQqEj5-UI?si=wktSfVn9-XU_fmDi