THE FIRST ever meeting between Montrose and East Kilbride ended in a comfortable win for the Gable Endies, and their first three league points of the 2026/27 season.

Montrose captain Aidan Quinn had the first attempt at goal in the third minute, but his long-range shot flew harmlessly over visiting goalkeeper Shay Kelly’s crossbar.

East Kilbride’s first shot on goal came from Owen Moffat, but the winger’s low shot was held by Cammy Gill.

Blair Lyons came close to opening the scoring in the 12th minute when he beat his marker and dinked a shot past Kelly, but the ball bounced inches wide of the post.

Montrose were awarded a penalty in the 36th minute when Aaron Steele tripped Blair Lyons in the box. Gary OLIVER sent Kelly the wrong way with his spot kick to put Montrose ahead.

OLIVER scored his and Montrose’s second five minutes later. His initial effort, a 25-yard free kick, crashed off the wall, but Oliver collected the rebound, nipped past Joao Balde and looped an audacious lob over Kelly and into the net.

East Kilbride made three substitutions at half time as they looked for a way back into the match, and the visitors piled on the pressure early in the second half, Sean Fagan sending a header narrowly wide from a Moffat corner.

Montrose should have done better in the 50th minute when Harry Craig burst down the right, but his square ball was cut out before Blair Lyons could reach it.

Lyons and Craig did manage to combine to lethal effect in the 62nd minute, Lyons racing down the left wing and sending the ball across goal for CRAIG to thump his shot back across Kelly and into the net.

Craig McGuffie was unlucky not to score in the 70th minute, his curled free kick evading everyone in the box before rebounding off the post into Gill’s hands.

Lyons was a constant threat down the left wing, and another low cross could have resulted in a fourth Montrose goal in the 85th minute, but substitute Shaun Byrne’s shot was blocked.

Cammy Gill was called into action in the 87th minute, blocking first from Malek Zaid, then recovering to stop Cameron Elliott’s shot from the rebound.

Ross Clark could have added a fourthin stoppage time, but his shot trickled wide of the post.

Montrose: Gill, Duffy, Quinn, McGinty, Barjonas (Clark 83), Lyons, Freeman, Sutherland (Loudon 75), Oliver (Byrne 75), Bertie (Williamson 75), Craig (Webster 65)

Unused substitutes: Millar, Dillon

Booked: Craig 35, Freeman 68, Bertie 69

East Kilbride: Kelly, Steele (Dargie 46), Fagan, McGrattan (Gray 46), Balde, Elliott, Zaid, Calder (Hamilton 46), O’Connor, Armstrong, Moffat (McGuffie 57)

Unused substitutes: McKendrick, Ross, Smith, McKenna

Booked: O’Connor 19, Armstrong 26

Attendance: 547

Report by Mark Rae