East Fife 2 Montrose 2

It was an unfamiliar looking Montrose side which started the game as their usual line up was ravaged by injuries and suspension to key players, but if there was good news on the day it was to see the names of Liam Callaghan and Russell Mclean back in the squad albeit on the bench along with youngsters Rhys Clark, Jack Rollo and Jack McCormick.

Montrose had a makeshift side but East Fife will also feel they had key absentees as two of their players were also suspended and they too had injuries to contend with.

Referee David Lowe got the game underway in blustery conditions with Montrose putting in the first effort by Watson whose shot was deflected for a corner. The Fifers had two good chances but squandered both as then Webster had a good penalty shout turned down whilst a Johnston charge down the right ended up as a corner which was short and cleared.

The game changed on 25 minutes as JACK HAMILTON hit a 25 yarder into the top corner to give East Fife a 1-0 lead. It almost became worse for Montrose as another Fifer effort lobbed just too high but no matter for them, they did increase their lead to 2-0 a minute later, the 29th as KEVIN SMITH took advantage of a stumble by a Montrose defender to lob it over the keeper and at that point it looked bleak for Montrose with only 30 minutes played.

The game then changed again, this time it swung the Montrose way as Webster gathered a long ball from left to right, took on his man and crossed low for LEWIS MILNE to sweep it in cleanly to bring the score back to 2-1 in 34 minutes and that’s how it stayed at half-time.

No immediate changes as the second half started but a change was made by Montrose in the 50th minute as Waddell had sustained an injury just before half-time. Yet more defensive problems for the Mo as young Aidan Quinn became the lynch-pin at the back, Yano joined him in the middle and a welcome return for Liam Callaghan as he filled in at left back.

Chris Mochrie then went on a weaving solo run which only ended deep in East Fife territory when massed defenders felt he had gone just a bit too far. The just as impressive Cammy F was booked for a dive in the area, and it was a booking but more out of frustration than anything. Rennie was having a thin time but his chance came in a 1on1 situation but keeper Brett Long was equal to it.

More yellow cards followed as Manager Petrie apparently spoke out of turn and for the Fifers Scott Agnew didn’t like it as Craig Johnston beat him to the ball.

Ross Campbell and Lewis Hawke replaced Rennie and Watson as that equalising goal was searched for. Montrose were right back in the game. Young Cammy F jinked his way into the box and this time was definitely upended and GRAHAM WEBSTER dispatched the penalty with ease to make it 2-2 on 69 minutes.

Collins replaced Swanson for East Fife and for Montrose Yano was booked. From the free kick just outside the box Lennox did well to get across and keep it out.

Ten minutes to go and it could have gone either way but unlike the first half Montrose were by now shading possession and moving well but had to avoid being caught at the back. East Fife made their last change but Montrose also made a significant change in the 88th minute as Russell McLean made his welcome return to action when young Mochrie came off having done his job well indeed.

In last gasp efforts to nick the game both sides could have done just that but it ended at 2-2 and Montrose earned their first point of the season with a depleted side and the impressive pair of Cammy F and Mochrie along with the returns of Callaghan and McLean were a plus and hopefully other returnees to the side will be along soon.

Report by Steve Doyle

Team Lineups & Stats

SPFL League 1

Saturday 24th October 2020

1	Brett Long	21	Aaron Lennox
4	Stewart Murdoch	5	Kerr Waddell (s49)
6	Craig Watson	18	Iain Campbell
3	Chris Higgins	17	Aidan Quinn
8	Pat Slattery	7	Graham Webster
16	Ross Davidson	11	Lewis Milne
11	Scott Agnew	22	Cammy F Ballantyne
14	Liam Watt	8	Paul Watson (c) (s64)
12	Danny Swanson (s73)	16	Craig Johnston
10	Kevin Smith (c) (s85)	23	Martin Rennie (s64)
22	Jack Hamilton	20	Chris Mochrie (s88)
2	Jack Healy	9	Lewis Hawke (s64)
7	Cameron Dow	10	Russell McLean (s88)
9	Jordan MacKenzie (s85)	15	Ross Campbell (s64)
17	Josh McConville	19	Liam Callaghan (s49)
18	Liam Newton	2	Rhys Clark
19	Thomas Collins (s73)	4	Jack Rollo
23	Aiden McLauchlin	6	Jack McCormick
21	Jordan Hart	1	Allan Fleming

Referee:
David Lowe

Assistant Referees:
Ross Macleod, Gordon Seago

Goalscorers:
East Fife - Jack Hamilton (25), Kevin Smith (29)
Montrose - Lewis Milne (34), Graham Webster (69pen)

Yellow Cards:
East Fife - Scott Agnew (62)
Montrose - Iain Campbel (77), Cammy F Ballantyne (53)

Red Cards:
None

Attendance:
0