Petrie insists it’s safety first for Gable Endies

LEAGUE 1: Boss plays it cool as Montrose close in on fourth-placed Fifers

MONTROSE 4 STRANRAER 1

Montrose continued their push for the play-offs – but needed two stoppage-time goals to finally see off the challenge of League One’s bottom side Stranraer.

Montrose boss Stewart Petrie said: “A 4-1 scoreline flattered us no question. At 1-1 Stranraer hit the post then at 2-1 Alan Fleming made an unbelievable save. If it had gone to 2-2, who knows what would have happened.

“I got energy and pace from my substitutes and that is why we have a squad. Just like at Clyde on Tuesday, my subs made a big difference and gave us some legs.

“Stranraer put a lot into the first half then we scored a goal. They came back strongly in the second half and we had our keeper to thank.”

The win takes Montrose a point behind fourth-placed East Fife with a game in hand but, as he has done all season, Petrie refused to focus on the top four.

“We want to keep picking up points until we are mathematically safe, then we will see where we are,” he said. “There are still a lot of points to play for.

“I’m pleased Liam Callaghan scored as he hasn’t netted for a while and CJ (Craig Johnston) got two goals.

“Blair Lyons wasn’t quite at it today but he will bounce back. He missed a great chance to make it 2-0 then 30 seconds later they made it 1-1. Alan Fleming might have been at fault with their goal, but any mistake by a keeper is usually a goal and he made up for it with terrific saves.”

Montrose had their first real chance on 30 minutes when Andy Steeves put the ball on the head of Russell Mclean, but the big striker’s header bounced up and was saved by Max Currie.

Montrose took the lead on 40 minutes when Mclean headed down and Paul Watson volleyed home from the edge of the box.

On 63 minutes, a Ryan Stevenson drive forced a flying save from Fleming. Two minutes later, Lyons had the keeper to beat but Currie managed to save and Stranraer broke to the other end and a Cameron Elliot drive from the byeline somehow found its way past Fleming at the near post.

On 72 minutes a Connor Mcmanus shot hit the Montrose post and the Links Parkers celebrated the let-off with a goal two minutes later when, in a goalmouth scramble, Johnston drove the loose ball home after two shots had been blocked.

Five minutes later, a Stevenson header was bound for the bottom corner but Fleming pulled off a great save.

In the first minute of added time, Watson released Cammy Ballantyne and he passed for Johnston to slot into the empty net. A minute later, Graham Webster crossed for Callaghan to ram home a fourth goal for Montrose.