Montrose1–3Arbroath

Arbroath made the short trip up the east coast to take on Montrose in the replay of the second round tie in the William Hill Scottish Cup with the winners facing Highland League Nairn County at home on Saturday 1st November.

This was the third meeting of the Angus clubs in the space of a matter of weeks with Arbroath facing a trip to Montrose in 14 days in a league fixture. Both teams tinkered with their line ups following the draw last Saturday. Arbroath brought back Captain Kevin Nicoll in for Ricky Little and Jordan Lowdon made the squad for the first time after recovering from a thigh injury with the former Celtic youth player hoping to get some game time after joining the Lichties from a spell in New Zealand and Australia.

A bright and warm autumn afternoon greeted both teams as they ran out but a rather subdue atmosphere as the attendance failed to break past 800. The artificial 3G pitch at Links Park was the first generation of its kind several years ago but perhaps compared to the newest surfaces it’s looking a tad tired and old.

Arbroath kicked off playing into the sun towards the Montrose entry gate and it wasn’t long before Arbroath took the lead. Simon Murray picked out Paul McManus who ran towards goal from the right side and as McKenzie rushed out McManus pulled the trigger from about 14 yards at the angle and fired the Lichties ahead.

Montrose were resilient and had possession of the ball for spells but they always struggled in the final third with nobody taking the chances they were creating with Paul Watson their best player and Garry Wood missing a fantastic opportunity.

Paul McManus and Simon Murray were relentless in their pursuit throughout the game and neither player gave the Montrose defence any respite and both had chances throughout the game, yet Montrose clawed their way back into the game.

In the last seconds of the first half Montrose won a free kick on the half way line and as it was played into the Arbroath box and Johnston and Harkins somehow combined in the melee of bodies for Harkins to get the ball into the back of the net.

Half time – Montrose 1 – 1 Arbroath

In a flashback to the second half of last weekend both teams had chances to win the game with Montrose having the better of the opening ten minutes before Arbroath started to create more openings with perhaps Bobby Linn having the best effort and being very unfortunate after playing a one-two with Paul McManus before having an audacious effort with a back heel volley which McKenzie saved for a corner.

In the 66th minute Jordan Lowdon finally made his Arbroath debut coming on to replace Keiran Stewart to play in midfield but Arbroath were forced into another substitution in the 80th minute when Craig Johnstone took a knock and he was replaced by Ricky Little. Montrose did have a free kick in a great position in the final minutes but Watson’s effort was wide.

Full time - Montrose 1 – 1 Arbroath

Extra Time loomed as the game had to be played until a result was settled so as the Arbroath players took on fluid the strategy board could be seen as Allan Moore directed his players for the next 30 minutes. Whatever the tactics were they worked wonders as Montrose kicked off the first period of extra time they were caught sleeping as Kevin McBride found Paul McManus in the box and he fired in his second of the game in the first 60 seconds of the restart.

Arbroath almost got their third as Mark Whatley continued his run into the box but McKenzie ran out and blocked Whatley’s shot but the third did come just moments later as Murray powered into the box before looking up and passing to McManus who slotted past McKenzie to grab his hat trick and send the Montrose supporters towards the exit.

It could have been four as Murray was clean through on goal but frustration for him as McKenzie again was quick off his line and smothered Murray’s strike.

Extra Time, Half Time – Montrose 1 – 3 Arbroath

Montrose were tiring and perhaps with one eye on their league trip down to Berwick in midweek they took of Paul Watson and that seemed to give Arbroath even more space and time but perhaps we found out that Paul McManus is human after all as he took on a volley from 20 yards out but hit it wide. He was soon replaced to a huge round of applause for Kevin Buchan in the 118th minute. As the clock ran down Simon Murray showed his pure determination, fitness and drive as he ran after the ball trying to win it from three Montrose players in a desperate attempt to get a goal but showing no signs of fatigue.

The referee finally blew his whistle and sealed Arbroath’s win.