CAPTAIN CALAMITY CANCELS KEV'S COUNTER

By Gary McKenzie
November 16 2002

Scottish League Division Three. Saturday 16 November 2002, Links Park, Montrose. Montrose 1 (K Webster 7) Stirling Albion 1 (Johnston o.g. 27)

It's been a funny old week for the Gable Endies. A 5-0 thumping last Saturday with two men sent off, followed by the sacking of Davie Larter as Assistant Manager on Friday, made it an eventful seven days at Links Park. With Christie and Conway both confined to the stand by suspension today, John Sheran elected to play 2 trialists from the start, in an unusual-looking side, and we all feared the worst.

However, the game started positively for Montrose and it looked like we had regained our confidence and grit as on 7 minutes Kevin Webster (who played from the start for a change) drove the ball home after a fine move on the left.

The Binos came back into it and on 27 minutes David Craig took a sore one as he challenged for the ball on his own goal line. As Craig rceived treatment behind the bye line, the resultant corner bagatelled around the home penalty area with Grant Johnston somehow heading past the re-instated Gary McGlynn. The ball seemed to take an age to finally drop in the home net. McKinnon replaced Craig and played at right back. Kevin Webster was Montrose's danger man and he popped up on the right and left wings.

Montrose dominated the second half and came close on a number of occasions, hitting the bar, but never finding the finishing touch. Stirling threatened in patches, but mostly on the counter attack.

Sheran used the rest of his subs to try to snatch the winner, with Chris Webster and Robbie Henderson replacing Colin McDonald and Kevin Webster.

It was an entertaining contest, and Montrose must feel they could and should have won it, but for a lack of luck and confidence in front of goal.

The trialists playerd well, especially our number 5. Number 11 had a good game too, only spoiled by a rash tackle towards the end for which he received a booking.

It looks like Sheran's job is safe for the moment. According to newspaper reports of Davie Larter's departure, the management trio had agreed to work for only two wages, but this was not accepted by the board. It is regrettable to see a man who was such a great servant to the club as a player relieved of his duties in this way. If the club was thinking to the future and who might take over as manager when Sheran goes, then surely, prior to Friday, Larter would have been one of the first names in the frame. Sadly, it looks highly unlikely now.

Mo Team
McGlynn, Craig, Trialist, McQuillan, Ferguson, Kevin Webster, Gibson, Johnson, Trialist, McDonald, Kerrigan.

Subs: Chris Webster, Graham Sharp, Henderson, McKinnon, Campbell.