Montrose marked Terry Masson’s record-breaking 501st appearance for the club with victory in a televised nine-goal thriller at Links Park.

The Gable Endies and visitors Alloa served up a spectacle that swung backwards and forward between the two sides, the home side coming out on top thanks to three second half goals.

Taylor Sutherland was the first player to seriously threaten either goalkeeper, but his shot from the edge of the Alloa box flew over Liam McFarlane’s crossbar in the 15th minute.

But it was the visitors who took the lead in the 19th minute when Callum BURNSIDE fired a loose ball inside the Montrose box into the bottom corner of Harrison Sharp’s net.

BURNSIDE doubled his and Alloa’s advantage in the 27th minute when he turned Kieran Freeman and rifled another low shot past Sharp, this time from the edge of the box.

Montrose had two shots cleared off the goalline in quick succession in the 33rd minute as they looked to claw their way back into the match.

Burnside pulled a shot wide of target in the 36th minute as he looked to complete a first half hat-trick.

Graham Webster came close to pulling a goal back for Montrose in the 38th minute, but his lobbed effort fell just wide of the post.

The hosts found the net in the 40th minute, Andrew Steeves chesting down a long pass from Sean Dillon, powering into the box and squaring for Taylor SUTHERLAND to blast the ball into the roof of the net from point-blank range.

Montrose could have equalised a minute later, but Callum Sandilands opted to square the ball towards Blair Lyons instead of shooting himself, the winger unable to reach the pass.

The Gable Endies restored parity in the first minute of first half stoppage time, Kieran FREEMAN reacting quickest to nod home after Ryan Williamson’s cross had been headed back across goal by Aidan Quinn.

Montrose survived a scare in the 52nd minute when Lewis Stewart intercepted Sean Dillon’s short passback, but Sharp did well to close the danger down and prevent a third Alloa goal.

Calum Adamson sidefooted a low shot wide of Sharp’s post in the 63rd minute, and Lewis Stewart blasted a wild shot wide a minute later.

Sharp held a header from Luke Donnelly on the goal line in the 66th minute as Alloa looked to move back in front.

Montrose took the lead for the first time in the 68th minute when Sandilands hooked Steeves’ long diagonal ball into the middle of the box for Blair LYONS to slam a shot past MacFarlane.

SANDILANDS added Montrose’s fourth just a minute later, staying on his feet under pressure to slip the ball under MacFarlane and into the net.

Kurtis Roberts ended a 50-yard run with the ball by sending a low shot wide of Sharp’s post in the 73rd minute.

Montrose scored their fifth goal in the 78th minute when Blair Lyons capitalised on a loose ball in the Alloa box and squared to the unmarked Ewan LOUDON. He had time to pick his spot and slam the ball past the helpess McFarlane.

Alloa pulled a goal back in the 80th minute, Luke DONNELLY picking up a loose ball and curling a shot past Sharp.

Callum BURNSIDE completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute, Sharp making a huge error in failing to clear the ball, the Alloa striker taking full advantage.

Attendance: 467

Report by Mark Rae