Today we entertain a decent Montrose side at Shielfield Park hopefully of a win to start to cement our promotion ambitions.
Montrose were League 2 stalwarts for all this millenium until their promotion to League 1 in 2018. In game they have stayed there, IRL the same, finishing this truncated 19/20 season in 4th.
The scouts rate them as being very similar to us squad-strength-wise, their best player being an old friend – Big Kev Waugh from our time at Civil Service. They have started well, and sit in 4th, but lost their last 2 games, letting in 9 in the process (Though 5 of those were versus Celtic in the Betfred). The Bookies have us favourites… It will be an interesting one.
Going for a comabtive midfield today – twin BWM Leitch and McIntosh allowing Davidson to be all creative-and-that in the centr of the park. Sinclair is back in goal after a rest mid-week, everything else unchanged, though I’m really looking for George Mitchell to start getting into the game – might be back to one-up-top if he doesn’t sort it out. Montrose go with a 4-2-3-1 wide – could be quite the clash of styles.
HT Berwick 1 (Mitchell 11) Montrose 0
It’s a lovely Saturday afternoon here in Northumberland – It will be interesting to see how Waugh and Slaven match up. Berwick with the majority of the play early on. And the breakthrough came in the 11th minute, a lovely Dunsmore corner finding Mitchell, who ghosted in to head home from the edge of the 6-yard box. 1-0 Berwick. Its an open game though. We are getting so many corners. A couple of times a long bomb from the Montrose Keeper has caused us issues – moved back to a Standard defensive line. And its half time – 1-0 and Montrose are absolutely shattered (8 of the 11 in the 60’s for Condition at the end of the half!)
FT Berwick 2 (Mitchell 11, McIntosh 80) Montrose 2 (Russell 48, Mann 90+3) Att 599 (71 Away)
Montrose start the half really strongtly, Sinclair doing well to keep it 1-0. But it was 1-1 in the 48th, Cammy Russell with a header, just played onside by Bow. Going Positive. And the Montrose Keeper keeps it 1-1 with a couple of wonderful saves. Slaven has missed a couple of sitters as well… Changing it up a bit with half an hour left – Dempsie on for Mackie, Turner for Slaven, Turner to DLP at DM, Dempsie & Dunsmore up to Defensive Winger, Davidson to No.10, Mitchell up top on his own. Risky. McGinn on for Davidson with 10 left, PF(S) up with Mitchell. And we then had one of those stupid FM moments that make no sense – Parry in the Montrose goal couldn’t get the ball out of his feet after a Smith backpass (had the ball for 5 seconds, having a major brain fart) , McIntosh pounced and scored an easy tap-in for his 1st of the season. 2-1 Berwick from nowhere, madness!! Montrose pushing now, scoring an offside header in the 85th. All a bit tense, wondering if we can see this out. Montrose really falling foul of the offside trap though as they push a bit too hard. So many highlights though in Injury time… 2-2, Mann with an unmarked header. FFS. That’s how it finished. Not happy with my defense, I think Big Rod many need to step aside.
It’s all a bit meh at the moment – 2 games we should have won, 4 points dropped. And its a big test next, Airdrie make the journey to the East coast, thankfully though in 7 days, so our poor wingbacks get a break 🙂 See you then.