Boss wasn’t Bollan away
Gary gutted his Loons didn’t win derby showdown
Forfar claimed a hardfought derby draw but gaffer Gary Bollan felt his leaders might have had all three points.
He said: “We deserved a bit more. They scored a wonder goal to take the lead but we dominated possession and Grant Adam had no real saves to make.
“We lacked that bit of quality in the final third but overall things are looking good.
“Montrose is a tough place to come in a derby so we will take the point and move on.”
The home side had the first chance in six minutes when a Gregor Anderson cross was punched off the head of Jonny Court by Adam. In 15 minutes,
some great chest control by Court almost earned an opening but the Loons defence cleared.
The visitors had a chance in 19 minutes, but a 22-yard free-kick from David Cox smashed against the defensive wall.
Forfar began to take control and in 22 minutes a cross from Gavin Swankie was just too high for Cox. Play continued and when the ball found its way back to Swankie, his chip hit the bar.
In 26 minutes, Cox cut in from the left and fired a shot just wide of the near post.
Montrose took the lead in 28 minutes with a spectacular goal. Anderson chipped the bal l forward and Gary Fraser scored with a first-time volley.
Montrose tails were up and they thought they had scored again in 39 minutes. Terry Masson swung in a corner that was headed home by Michael Bolochoweckyj, but the goal was chalked off for a foul on the keeper.
Three minutes later, Fraser smashed over from 30 yards. Forfar grabbed an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
Cox crossed from the right and Danny Denholm dived to head home from close range.
Three minutes into the second half, Adam saved at the feet of Ryan Ferguson.
Forfar then had a shout for a penalty when Swankie went down in a challenge with Bolochoweckyj.
Both sides continued to make chances. Fraser cut in from the left and shot wide, then Martyn Fotheringham just missed the top corner with a 30-yard effort.
Fifteen minutes from time, a shot on the turn from Cox was saved by Allan Fleming.
Forfar had the best chances as time ran out. Jim Lister forced a save from Fleming, then in added time, Fleming made a point-blank stop from the same player.
Montrose interim boss John Holt said: “We deserved a draw. I saw nothing wrong with the goal we scored – and at 2- 0 it would have been difficult for them to come back.”