Gable Endies bow out after spot-kick woe
(Kelty won 3-1 penalties) This was a typical hard-fought cup-tie played in difficult conditions, with wind and rain causing problems for both teams.
Second Division leaders Kelty certainly didn’t look out of place against their Division 1 opponents and it was no surprise when
Joe Cardle was allowed to run unchallenged into the Montrose box and fire home from 20 yards.
On the half-hour mark, Cardle worked his way into the box again, but this time his shot was scrambled clear. Minutes later, the same player fired past.
On 38 minutes, a Montrose shot was charged down, but the Gable Endies appeals for a penalty were ignored by the referee.
As the first half drew to a close, the home pressure paid off when Craig Johnston headed in the equaliser from the rebound after Masson had hit the post.
Moments later, Johnston might have put Montrose ahead when his header came back off the right-hand post. With 20 minutes remaining, a Paul Watson header for Montrose was cleared off the line and, minutes later, Cardle fired another shot over the bar.
In time-added, Kelty’s Nathan Austin headed just over the bar and Blair Lyons’ effort was saved at the other end. However, neither team was able to find the net again and it was on to a penalty shoot-out.
Penalties from Steeves and Whatley were saved and, with sub Liam Callaghan blazing over after Johnston had put his away, Kelty were through with spot-kicks from Higginbotham, Cardle and Barjonas.
STAR MAN
As well as scoring a fine goal, JOE CARDLE was always in the thick of things, having several opportunities, finding himself in the referee’s notebook and then putting away his penalty to put Kelty on the way to a home tie against St Johnstone in the next round.