Montrose keep good run going
Monday 3rd December 2012
Montrose were delighted that their game over the border to Berwick Rangers survived the big freeze as they triumphed 4-1 at Shielfield and moved up to third place in the Third Division table.
The win extended the Gable Endies unbeaten run to six games and moved them level on points with Elgin, and it was also a significant result for the Borderers as it marked their first home defeat of the season.
Berwick, who would have moved in a promotion play-off place if they had won, actually took the lead on 9 minutes when Darren Lavery squeezed a shot under visiting goalkeeper Sandy Wood after a fine through ball from Damien Gielty had opened up the visiting defence.
The Shielfield side were in front for only 2 minutes as on-loan Dundee striker Leighton MacIntosh headed home after a Terry Masson corner had been touched on by Alan Campbell.
Montrose went ahead midway through the first half when Berwick’s Lee Currie lost possession and Lloyd Young picked out Jamie Winter at the edge of the box and the midfielder drilled in a powerful shot.
Montrose ensured that the 3 points headed north with two goals in the last ten minutes with substitute Scott Johnston taking full advantage of a slip by Berwick shot-stopper Ian McCaldon to convert a Paul Watson free kick.
Young then put the icing on the cake when he grabbed Montrose’s fourth goal when he shot past McAldon at the second attempt.
Links Park boss Stuart Garden beamed, “It was a good victory and keeps our good run of results going. We are in a play-off place now and have no plans to let it go. We are playing with a bit of confidence which is great as we have a tricky game at East Stirling next weekend and then Rangers at home.”
Deflated Berwick manager Ian Little said, “It is disappointing to lose our home record and the score-line is a touch flattering to Montrose. However, if you make mistakes you get punished and that is what happened.”
The Stirling Albion and East Stirlingshire on the grass surface at Forthbank along with the Clyde and Queen’s Park game on the artificial surface at Broadwood were both postponed due to frozen conditions.