‘Double’ trouble a blow for Montrose

AIRDRIEONIANS 4 MONTROSE 1

Montrose assistant boss Ross Campbell bemoaned a costly “double-double” after the Links Park side crashed to defeat and missed the opportunity to move into second place in League One.

Calum Gallagher struck twice in 90 seconds for the Diamonds in the first half, before Graham Webster netted from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.

The Gable Endies pushed for a leveller after the break, but again were hit with two quickfire goals to put the game beyond doubt.

“We have spoken about the double-double in the dressing room,” said Campbell.

“Reflecting on the story of the game there were long spells where we were doing well, we’re hemming them in and you can hear their fans complaining.

“In the first half it is 2-0 and the second half it goes 4-1, the game is away from you. We find it very frustrating. It’s not like us, but that is what ultimately cost us.”

Victory for the hosts moves them four points clear of the Links Park side, who suffered only their second defeat in their last 18 league outings.

The early stages brought little in the way of goalmouth action. Blair Lyons’ fizzing drive after nine minutes was deflected behind and Montrose survived a scare at the other end as Callum Smith came agonisingly close to connecting with Brody Paterson’s cutback. A lacklustre encounter sparked into life when a sublime curling effort from Gallagher broke the deadlock after 34 minutes and, 90 seconds later, Allan Fleming was picking the ball out of the net again as Airdrie’s top scorer produced an outrageous back-heel flick to turn home Dylan Easton’s cross off the underside of the bar.

Montrose were handed a route back into the match on the stroke of half-time after Lyons’ weaving run into the penalty area was brought to a halt by Adam Frizzell and Webster made no mistake from the resulting penalty.

An excellent stop from Max Currie denied Lyons from levelling matters early in the second half and

Webster’s effort from distance stung the palms of the Airdrie keeper.

But Airdrie extended their advantage just after the hour mark through a fine strike from outside the box by Craig Watson and the game was put beyond reach six minutes later when, despite a brilliant save from Fleming, Frizzell nodded the rebound into the empty net.

The visitors were unable to respond and Elijah Simpson headed straight at the keeper before Lyons blasted over in the last action of an afternoon to forget for Stewart Petrie’s side.

Campbell added: “We are really disappointed.

“Congratulations to Airdrie. They ran out comfortable winners.

“We can’t defend like that and expect to do anything.”