The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
First-half blast sends Montrose clear at top
LEAGUE TWO: Petrie pleased by hosts’ goal threat in opening 45
MONTROSE 3 BERWICK RANGERS 0
A scintillating first half performance from Montrose was enough to see off the challenge of Berwick Rangers and move clear at the top of League Two.
A delighted Montrose manager Stewart Petrie said: “In the first half we were outstanding and that was as good as we have played since I came to the club.
“Credit to Berwick as they changed things about a bit and there was not much in it in the second half.
“It was hard for us to go out and repeat our first half showing in the second half.
“If we had lost a goal it would have been a different ball game.
“There was plenty of threat in our team and we might have nicked one or two more goals.
“League position means nothing at this stage. It was three points at home where we want to be strong.
“There are no easy games in this division.
“We started the game on the front foot and got the early goal which gave everyone a lift.”
Montrose made a flying start scoring in the second minute. A Cammy Ballantyne cross was knocked down by Jamie Redman and Gary Fraser controlled the ball on his chest before scoring.
On 10 minutes Chris Templeman had a header saved by Berwick keeper Robby McCrorie.
Two minutes later, Fraser set up Terry Masson and his close-range effort was blocked by McCrorie.
Montrose got the second goal their play deserved on 19 minutes.
An angled drive from Martyn Fotheringham was pushed out by McCrorie and Templeman shot home.
A Redman header was saved on the line by McCrorie five minutes later but Montrose were not to be denied and in 28 minutes Fraser headed home an Iain Campbell corner.
The second half failed to reach the same heights as the first, but in the 70th minute, Templeman headed home and was given offside.
Eight minutes later Ballantyne blocked a clearance kick from McCrorie and the ball looped up on to the bar and over.
Fraser went close to completing his hat-trick eight minutes from time when he flicked the ball wide from a Ballantyne cross.
“In the first half we were outstanding and that was as good as wehave played since I came to the club. STEWART PETRIE