Gable Endies hero Johnston hopes to retain starting jersey

Montrose striker Craig Johnston hopes his first goal of the season in Saturday’s 1-0 Irn-Bru Cup win will see him keep hold of a starting jersey.

Johnston sent a muchchanged Links Park side into Tuesday’s draw thanks to a first half header and, despite Dumbarton pushing hard in the second half for an equaliser, Stewart Petrie’s side held out.

The match-winner said: “I had only started one game before this so hopefully I have sent a message out. We are back down here next weekend for a league game and I would like to start.

“The manager told me during the week that I would be playing. It was my chance and I have given him something to think about.”

The winner came after 19 minutes when Johnston rose superbly to meet a Graham Webster cross from the right and send a firm header past Grant Adam in the home goal.

Johnston added: “Graham found me really well and I managed to peel off their defender. The ball was coming over his head and I was ready to put it in.”

Gable Endies skipper Paul Watson almost added a second five minutes from the break when he spotted Adam off his line and sent an effort towards goal from 45 yards that only just cleared the bar.

Right on half-time Dumbarton had the chance to level when Calum Gallagher burst clear, but Jordan Millar got down low to save his curling shot.

Montrose were pushed back in the second half and they had the woodwork to thank for keeping out a 30-yard effort from Ross Forbes.

Home substitute Iain Russell slid a chance wide but referee David Munro bizarrely gave a corner and Dumbarton almost made the most of his mistake when Andrew Little headed goalward only for the ball to strike the bar and bounce to safety.

Johnston said: “We were under pressure and they missed a few chances. They also hit the post and the bar. It was a really close game as you would expect against a team from the same league.

“I came off for the last 10 minutes and they were building up pressure but Jordan and the defence saw things out.”