Montrose 1 Brechin City 1

In truth this was not a classic game but the main reason for warm-up games is to give as many players as possible some pitch time and try out different formations ahead of the competitive stuff. The first of those objectives was achieved and hopefully manager Stewart Petrie will feel the other one was useful.

It was a fairly quiet start on a sunny but windy day as Montrose started with Lennox in goal behind a back three of Dillon, Waddell and Quinn and wing backs Cammy B and Steeves. In midfield were Watson and the industrious Cammy F whilst in behind Hawke and Johnston was Webster who put his freedom of movement to good use once again. No sign of McLean again or Milne or Callaghan today but Montrose had a trialist on view and Brechin had three in their squad.

Nothing much of great interest to report in the opening stages of the game but Brechin looked to be moving well and hopefully that is a sign of a better season for them. Montrose created a couple of half chances but neither were clear cut as the game drifted to just after the half hour mark then jerked to life as Montrose scored. Cammy B did well down the right and LEWIS HAWKE opened his account from close range to make it 1-0

Both sides had corners but the score remained 1-0 at half-time.

The second half started with Montrose looking more urgent yet still struggling to be creative up front and although kicking towards the dynamo end there was no home crowd willing them on as usual. Brechin made one second half change with Reekie coming on.

The first real chance was created by Cammy F who chased down the right on a long mazy run but his end shot was straight at keeper O’Neill who collected comfortably. It should be said that whilst Cammy F was again very influential he was certainly supported well by the experienced Paul Watson. It was Watson who put Steeves through to the goal line and create a great chance but the alert O’Neill anticipated the cut back and saved the day for Brechin.

Just after the hour mark Brechin made three more changes with Bollan, and both trialists 7and 10 coming on. For Montrose Allan replaced Quinn, Iain Campbell replaced Cammy B and Ross Campbell replaced Hawke and the trialist replaced Waddell as Montrose went with a back four.

Brechin should have equalised on 64 minutes but a poor finish from a good shooting position and shortly afterwards again a good chance went begging. The fifth and sixth substitutions were made for Montrose in the 77th minute as Fraser MacLeod and Theo Leslie came on for Johnston and Watson but by then any rhythm to the game had gone. Indeed it was Brechin who looked more lively and deservedly equalised in the 90th minute when substitute BENJAMIN LUISSINT angled a shot across Lennox and into the far corner to make it 1-1 and that’s how it finished moments later.

For Montrose it was by no means a dominating display but as a warm-up game it will have served its purpose although a bit more creativity would not have gone amiss.
For Brechin it was a good opportunity for them to play without the pressure of points being at stake after a dismal last season. All of us at Links Park sincerely with them well in the season ahead and they no doubt wish the same for Montrose.

Steve Doyle

Team Lineups & Stats

Pre-season Friendly

Saturday 26th September 2020

21	Aaron Lennox	21	Patrick O'Neill
2	Cammy Ballantyne (s67)	2	Sean McIntosh
3	Andrew Steeves	3	Dave McKay
5	Kerr Waddell (s67)	6	Jonathan Page
14	Sean Dillon	8	Kieran Inglis (s67)
17	Aidan Quinn (s67)	9	Rory Currie
8	Paul Watson (s77)	11	Scott Cusick
22	Cammy F Ballantyne	15	TRIALIST
7	Graham Webster	16	Connor Barron (s67)
16	Craig Johnston (s77)	17	Leeroy Makovora
9	Lewis Hawke (s67)	18	Matthew Todd
5	Matty Allan (s67)	4	Ross Brown (s67)
18	Iain Campbell (s67)	5	Luc Bollan
15	Ross Campbell (s67)	7	TRIALIST
20	Fraser MacLeod (s77)	10	TRIALIST
23	Theo Leslie (s77)	12	Scott Reekie
24	TRIALIST (s67)	14	Benjamin Luissint (s67)
1	Allan Fleming	1	Lewis McMinn

Referee:
..

Assistant Referees:
..

Goalscorers:
Montrose - Lewis Hawke (34)
Brechin City - Benjamin Luissint (90)

Yellow Cards:
None

Red Cards:
None

Attendance:
0