The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Ballantyne’s late strike secures spot in play-offs
Montrose manager Stewart Petrie will call on Arbroath manager Dick Campbell’s support in their bid to beat Morton on Saturday – after his side secured a last-gasp spot in the Championship play-offs.
Petrie was thrilled as his Links Park side booked a meeting with the Greenock side with a 3-2 win over champions Partick as Airdrieonians overcame Falkirk with two late goals to help Montrose into fourth.
Montrose were ahead three times through Martin Rennie, Russell Mclean and Cammy Ballantyne with Ross Maciver and Joe Cardle’s levellers proving to be consolation efforts as the hosts ran out 3-2 winners.
And Petrie, who worked under Campbell as a player at Dunfermline, believes Arbroath’s recent clash with Morton can give him an insight into Saturday’s opponents.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be in the play-offs,” said Petrie.
“But we will somehow need to let it sink in and catch some sleep before we go again on Saturday.
“We did our homework on Morton, just in case, and I’ll be on the phone to ‘the gaffer’ Dick Campbell for more info.
“But ultimately it will now be down to what we can do. We will be massive underdogs but I still believe we can go and give a really good account of ourselves and see where we end up.”
Montrose’s task on the night was far from simple.
Partick have been rampant on their charge towards the League One title, winning six out of their last seven games and hammering both Montrose and Falkirk 5-0 in the process.
The Glasgow side will lift the trophy in a closeddoors celebration at Firhill on Wednesday with manager Ian Mccall revealing Jags have banned the SPFL and SFA from attendance.
Montrose almost got off to the perfect start as wingback Cammy Ballantyne’s thunderous 20-yard strike forced Jags keeper Kieran Wright into a save.
At the other end, the hosts survived a scare as Blair Lyons broke clear and tried to round Allan Fleming, only for the Montrose keeper to snatch the ball away with his right hand.
The Links Park men took the lead in 18 minutes as Rennie’s low 25 yard effort squirmed through Wright’s hands to cross the line.
However, the visitors drew level on 25 minutes despite a stunning double block by Fleming.
Fleming made pointblank stops from Charlie Reilly and Maciver before the latter blasted in a second rebound from six yards to make it 1-1.
At that point the champions were expected to kick into gear and underline their status as the league’s top side but Montrose had other ideas.
Stewart Petrie’s men were determined to make a fist of it and deservedly regained their lead on 36 minutes as Mclean coolly drilled beyond Wright from 10 yards.
Montrose had kept their end of the bargain at halftime and emerged for the second period determined to see it through while praying for an Airdrieonians win over Bairns – and they started in determined fashion with Mclean heading a long Lewis Milne throw just wide.
But they found themselves pegged back to 2-2 just after the hour mark as sub James Lyon pulled the ball back for Cardle to drill home.
Cardle almost put Partick ahead on 70 minutes as he cut in from the left flank to flash a drive inches wide.
Fleming was again the hero for Montrose as he turned Maciver’s 20-yard strike over.
Jags’ sub Connor Murray twice came close as he was blocked by Fleming for the first before cracking an audacious 20-yard effort off the inside of the post.
But as the clock ticked down Montrose regained the lead with Mclean’s superb cross met by Ballantyne to leave the hosts praying for a late Airdrieonians goal.
Their wish was granted as a late, late show saw the Diamonds see off Falkirk.
Montrose: Fleming; Cammy Ballantyne, Rennie (Antoniazzi 73), Johnston (Mochrie 65), Quinn, Dillon, Webster, Milne (Ross Campbell 84), Mclean, Masson, Cammy F Ballantyne. Subs: Lennox; Macfarlane, Mcgale, Hawke, Iain Campbell, Lennox.
Partick: Wright; Williamson, Penrice, Cardle (Murray 78), Lyons (Lyon 46), Gordon (Owens 78), Mckenna, Reilly (Rudden 65), Niang, Foster, Maciver (Tiffoney 78). Subs: Sneddon; Ocholi, Mccready.
Referee: Peter Stuart