Links Park men carry on fine start to season

It was a case of “job done” for Montrose manager Stewart Petrie as he watched his men continue their unbeaten start to their league season with a win over Cowdenbeath.

Petrie said: “It was a great three points, although we were hanging on at the end and didn’t play well.

“Credit goes to Cowdenbeath for the way they set up and for the energy they showed.

“That is seven points out of nine. If you had offered me that at the start of the season I would have bitten your hand off and it was also a clean sheet.

“Sean Dillon scored with a header. We put a lot of work into set-pieces and it paid off, thanks to a great delivery from Martyn Fotheringham.

“They pushed us back and were unlucky when they hit the bar, although Andy Steeves hit the bar for us as well. We looked a bit leggy at the end, but I am delighted with the win.”

Montrose took the lead on 19 minutes when Dillon headed in a Fotheringham corner, despite the efforts of a defender to clear off the line.

The closest to a second home goal in the first half came when Chris Templeman headed over from a corner.

On 58 minutes a Steeves cross almost led to an own-goal by David Syme, then on 72 minutes Steeves hammered the ball against the bar from a Cammy Ballantyne cross.

Cowdenbeath came close to levelling on 77 minutes when Bradley Smith hit the bar from 20 yards.

Montrose held on for victory and might have scored again when a shot on the turn from Templeman was saved by Joe McGovern.

Cowdenbeath boss Billy Brown said: “We didn’t do enough in the first half but in the second half we deserved something from the game against a strong and streetwise Montrose.

“We had a shot off the bar and two or three other chances at the end, but their keeper only had one save to make.”