Day Seventeen: Montrose (Links Park)

Montrose v Stranraer

Scottish 2nd Division

Saturday 9th October

I'm supposed to meet my dad at his house no later than 11.30am for the next game of our journey, we're off to see Montrose versus Stranraer today. Emma & I went to see The Charlatans last night and a few shandies were involved and I'm a little bit late. I forgot my Uncle Raymond was joining us for the game today and it's a pleasant surprise to see his motor parked in front of my parents' house. It does mean, however, that I'm relegated to the back seat for the journey north.

We make good time as always up the road and even have time to stop in at a bakers in Forfar. Last week when we were in town to see the Forfar v Airdrie United game but unfortunately we missed out on the famous 'Forfar Bridie' as inexplicably they'd run out of them pre-half time; so Dad's here to sample and take some back to Edinburgh. It's a break from tradition to have such a treat before we've even got to the ground, but while in Rome as they say.

We park at the ground about five past two and after I've taken Raymond's picture outside, he and I take a wander into town whilst my dad stays in the car to read the paper. My Uncle regales me with stories about him and dad going to watch football when they were younger. He tells me that when my dad was a student at Glasgow University, they were drawn to play against his beloved Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup and my dad wore his university scarf to the match instead of the his Killie one. I'll have to get this verified when we get back to the car.

Raymond's been involved in football for as long as I can remember. He ran the Ayrshire Boys team for ages, he's been out in Australia coaching, scouted for loads of teams, including Aberdeen, where he got me a signed ball.

After a brief walk, we head back to the car and join my dad. We've already noticed that the turnstiles are back the way we came so I'm surprised when my dad wanders back down towards the players' entrance and disappears up the stairs. I've no idea what he's up to so I stay outside. When he doesn't reappear after five minutes however we join him upstairs. We've walked straight into the inner sanctum of Montrose Football Club and find my dad just as he's being introduced to the Honorary President, John Paton. Turns out he's a friend of Duncan Ferguson from Glenfords Ford Garage in Forfar, you'll remember him as he got us complimentary tickets for last week's game. This time he's gone one better and got us tickets and a place in the Director's Box.

The pre-match entertainment is therefore a wee bit different this week. This time we're in the the Willie Johnston Suite enjoying cups of tea; we're given a free programme and team sheet and part with a few quid to enter the half time draw. We only leave the warmth of the indoors ten minutes before kick off to take our seat in the Director's Box. As most of the other gents are still inside I take the opportunity to nip down to the Club shop to buy a pin badge for my dad (he's got a fair wee collection on the go now) and three pies for us to enjoy.

First impressions are not good as appearance wise it looks pretty shoddy. Never judge a book by it's cover and all that lark however, as the pie turns out to be a beauty. Nice crunchy crust, nae grease and plenty filling, so says my dad.

Before the game starts there is a minute's applause in memory of Norm Chrisite an ex-Montrose player and manager who passed away recently. Here's hoping he gets a winning performance from his old team.

The game kicks off bang on 3pm and it's a bright start from both teams. Looking around the ground we can see that there's a huge fence set up behind one of the goals to stop the ball disappearing into the adjacent gardens. From one of these windows I can see a bloke settling down to watch the game. As entertaining as the Director's Box may be, I'd happily swap the warmth of his home for the freezing cold of a Montrose afternoon.


Stranraer are first to threat with a corner but it's cleared easily. After five minutes the whole of the Montrose side of the Director's Box is up in arms at the near side linesman when he awarded a throw-in to Stranraer instead of the home side. This is not the last time this linesman will feel the venom of the home crowd.

Moments later a long-ball throw is flicked on by the huge Frenchman Armand One into the path of Winter who smashes it home from just inside the box. The whole ground and the home bench are on their feet screaming dogs abuse at the linesman, so much so that the Referee has to come over and speak to one of the Montrose management team stood by the dugout.

Stranraer have got their tails up however and Scott Agnew in the midfield is seeing plenty of the ball. My Uncle tells me the player spent some time at Rangers as a youth but never made it to the first team. He does possess a sweet left foot however, and he goes really close to adding to their lead with a deft lob which the home keeper, Bennett, scrambles to tip over.

Paul Tosh is the first to threaten for the home side; but his half volley on the turn falls the wrong side of the post. What's this, are my ears deceiving me, it's a song from the home fans. Twenty Five minutes in and we're treated to a song. I hadn't heard it before and can't remember it now but it felt good at the time to hear home fans getting involved.

The linesman, by the way, is still getting grief from all sides of the ground.

Armand One has some great footwork skills for his size, he's mostly all muscle but if he slimmed down a bit he'd be a fantastic player. From his hold up play he creates a chance for Craig Malcolm but his volley is punched clear by the keeper. A Connor Thomson free kick goes just wide for Montrose and minutes later the same player should have drawn his side level. A shot is deflected into his path and he's one-on-one with the Stranraer keeper, Mitchell, who does well to save with his feet and the ball's booted clear.

Ten minutes before the break, one of the Montrose centre backs, Sean Crighton, makes a total hash of trying to clear the ball and Craig Malcolm takes advantage to smash it home with his left foot from just outside the box. Calamity defending from Crighton and the home fans are thoroughly unhappy with their team's performance.

Sitting in the Directors Box you are surrounded by men who care passionately about their team, many of these fellas look like they've been coming here for years. The old boy in front of us for example is totally engrossed in the game and I bet here's the only place he'd behave in such a manner.

Montrose are holding on now, one more before half time and this game's surely over as a contest. The half time whistle goes and player manager Steven Tweed is going to have to give the hair dryer treatment to gee his team up to come out fighting in the second half.

Our half time consisted of cups of tea, scotch pies, mini muffins and a warm seat inside listening and talking to some of the characters in the aforementioned suite. My dad notices a strip hanging up in a frame on the wall. Nothing out of the ordinary you may feel in such a place, this one however has a signed pair of red frilly ladies underwear in there too, check the picture above for proof.

I take some time before the second half starts to wander round the ground to take in the view of the stand from the terracing. On the way I notice Lee Wilkie of Dundee and Dundee United fame sat in the front row of the stadium. Must be hard for him to come and watch games seeing as he had to give it up in April as a result of some horrendous injuries over the years.

The game kicks off before I can get back to my seat and Stranraer score their third two minutes after the restart. From my position I don't really see the build up play but my dad tells me its another assist for Armand One as he flicks the ball into the path of Malcolm who is wide open and scores his second of the game. Surely there's no way back for Montrose now. Two minutes later and the impressive Agnew strikes a free kick off the bottom of the post , that was so close to the fourth.

There are calls from within the Director's Box for Tweed to substitute himself. This can't be good when the Director's Box are calling the player manager off the pitch. Two minutes later however the same fans are cheering when Paul Tosh finds himself free and unmarked, probably as he looks offside, and floats a great lob over the Stranraer keeper to pull one back. The keeper is furious and he races over to the far side linesman to voice his opinion. The goal stands and Mitchell gets booked for his outburst.

It's amazing the difference a goal can make to a game and Montrose are pressing forward all the time now. My dad and I have seen Stranraer throw away a lead before and if they concede a second they can easily cave in. Ross McCord, the twin brother of Ryan McCord who we saw play for Airdrie last week, is getting on the ball in the centre of the park and making things happen for Montrose. Both brothers are on loan from Dundee United and they look like they and the 'Arabs' have a bright future ahead.

Paul Tosh goes close to getting his second just before the hour mark, when a cracking shot smashes off the bottom of the post with the keeper well beaten. The second goal arrives five minutes later when McCord smacks home a shot into the top right hand corner, again there are suspicions of offside. This time it's Hegarty who gets booked for screaming at the linesman.

Montrose are then denied a stonewall penalty when one of their players is clearly pushed in the back in the penalty box. The home fans are now the ones screaming at the linesman. None of them get booked though.

Moments later the Montrose right back tries to get Mitchell sent off by falling to the ground after the merest of touches. The referee is spot on when he laughs the claim away much to the annoyance of the crowd who think their player's a saint who would never dive. He's a cheat though and should have been booked.

Fifteen minutes to go and its three each! McNally powers home a header from eight yards which gave the keeper no chance. What a come-back from Montrose, they looked totally out of it after fifty minutes.

Stranraer had a chance with ten minutes left when Winter had his shot saved by the keeper's feet; he really should have scored from there! The man sitting to my left says to his friend 'we are going to lose this from here'. I turn and tell him not to be some pessimistic and he replies with 'ah but you three weren't here for the game we lost 5 - 4 then?'. He's correct, we weren't.

Scott Agnew almost confirms his thoughts in the last minute when his corner is swerving in, only to be tipped over. From his resulting corner, a header is cleared off the line.

The full-time whistle goes. That really was a game of two halves. The first-half was dominated by Stranraer and they will go away knowing they took the foot off the gas at three up. Montrose on the other hand must feel that this is two points gained. They were awful in the first half and brilliant in the second.

We are offered a cup of tea or post match beverage in the bar after the game but we're off down the road and home. Cheers to all the folks at Montrose for the hospitality shown and to Duncan Ferguson and my sister,Isla, for arranging the tickets. And cheers to you Raymond for joining us this time out.

Next week my dad and I are off to watch Inverness Caledonian Thistle if you fancy the trip?

The Statistics

Ticket: Free. Normal prices would have been £10 for adults & £8 Concession.

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 335

Pie: £1.30

Pie Marks: 7.5/10

Man of the Match: Dad - Scott Agnew (Stranraer) Raymond - Scott Agnew Me - Ross McCord (Montrose)

Final Score: Montrose 3 v Stranraer 3

Mileage: 190 miles
Fascinating Fact of the Day: To date Montrose have had the same number of draws home & away - 252.

Next Game: Caledonian Stadium (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)