Arbroath 2
Montrose 2
Scottish Cup (Second Round)

Match Report

Arbroath welcomed Montrose to Gayfield for the second time this season as they took battle on the pitch vying to get into round 3 of the William Hill Scottish Cup. Even though it had been raining nearly all day and overnight in Arbroath it had become bright and fair by kick off with the sun even managing to make an appearance.

Arbroath were without Captain Kevin Nicoll who missed the game due to work commitments and Dylan Carreiro who is away on international duty, but returning to take control of the team was manager Allan Moore.

With the enforced changes Arbroath lined up with Crawford in goal and Ricky Little came into replace Kevin Nicoll to play alongside Whatley and Johnstone with Hamilton also kindly giving Arbroath permission to play Aldin El-Zubaidi in this cup competition.

Adam Hunter regained his place in the starting line up in the absence of Carreiro and partnered Stewart in central midfield with Linn and McBride playing on the wings. Paul McManus was captain in absence of Kevin Nicoll and he was joined up front with Simon Murray who looked to keep up his good form.

Arbroath were unable to fill the bench but Michael Wallace did make the substitutes for the first time this season with Buchan, Travis, Lindsay, McWalter and Morrison but Connor Birse, Jack Lowdon and Jack Smith were all sidelined.

Arbroath kicked off the game shooting towards the Harbour end and it was Montrose who had the first attempt on goal after winning an early corner kick, however Arbroath were soon on the scoresheet. Craig Johnstone found Simon Murray on the right wing and he went past Graham before shooting across goal only for his shot to beat McKenzie but bounce off the far post back into play however Paul McManus was on hand to stab home from 6 yards to give Arbroath the lead in the 7th minute.

The goal changed the play but in favour of Montrose who started to pass the ball around better and although Paul McManus almost took advantage of a slack back pass it was Montrose who drew level after a foul allowed Ross McCord to curl a free kick into the box finding Garry Wood who headed past Crawford in the 15th minute.

Montrose were causing all sorts of problems at set pieces throught out the game. The Montrose players would all gather very close together right infront of Crawford in tight formation and it meant that the Arbroath defenders couldn’t all get round this human ball, and as the free kick or corner was taken, the Montrose players all moved out leaving the Arbroath defenders trying to pick them up and normally allowing one Montrose player to be unmarked.

However Arbroath were soon back in the lead. Craig Johnstone found Adam Hunter who was in space and after a quick look up he struck the ball from 28 yards out and his shot flew low past McKenzie to give Arbroath the lead again in the 24th minute.

Arbroath had the better of possession for the remainder of the second half and Bobby Linn managed to find space to have three shots as he found space on the right again and again but he couldn’t find the back of the net and the first half drew to an end.

Half time – Arbroath 2 –1 Montrose

If it had been a boxing match the first half was definitely a win for Arbroath, but in the second half Arbroath seemed flat compared to recent weeks and it was Montrose who definitely had the better of the play.

Simon Murray again caused Montrose all sorts of problems and his best chance came in the 55th minute when he fired in but the keeper pushing it away for a corner kick. Montrose swapped Day for Bell and shorty after Paul Watson scored to level the score for Montrose although he escaped a caution for a similar style celebration that earned Linn a booking in the last encounter.

Each team did have chances and a series of corners but it seemed like no team wanted it that little bit more and unlike an Arbroath Montrose derby, the game never really erupted into life on and off the pitch. Arbroath brought on Buchan for McManus and Travis for McBride but the game never found the winning goal and it ended all square.

Full time – Arbroath 2 – 2 Montrose

Both teams will go head to head next weekend at Links Park with a 2pm kick off as they try to get through to the third round, by Monday afternoon they will know who they could possibly face in Round 3 which maybe added motivation. Perhaps the high level of performances this season in the league have left the draw feeling a little underwhelming but Arbroath weren’t quite themselves today and Moore and Lumsden will be hoping that they find that winning spark again next weekend.

Match report written by Arbroath FC Official Website