Whilst the main issue is a failure to score in the last five games, manager Steven Tweed will somehow have to field a team against Queens Park on Tuesday having lost another two players from his already injury ravaged squad.
Montrose lined up
with Andy McNeil in goal, a back four of Hegarty, Crighton, Tweed and an unfamiliar left back position for Davidson. In midfield Ryan Stewart and John Maitland were on the flanks with Tomana and Sinclair in the middle. Up front it was Nicol and Anderson and on the bench were Coutts, Russell, Herd, Gray and Milligan.
The game kicked off with Montrose shooting with the wind and they were given an opportunity in the 2nd minute when Neilson gave away a free kick on the edge of the box. Aaron Sinclair's free kick curled over the wall, but Summersgill had plenty of time to make a comfortable diving save to parry past his right post.
Chris Hegarty conceded a needless free-kick and needless yellow card with a clumsy tackle on Cox. On 10 minutes John Maitland went in for a headed challenge with Neilson and came off worse with a nasty head knock and had to be stretchered off. Hamstring victim Fraser Milligan was thrown on in his place with Sinclair moving to the left and Milligan into the middle.
On 20 minutes Montrose were fortunate to have 11 players on the park after a flare up between Hegarty and Gilfillan, with Hegarty appearing to lift his hands to the Annan player.
With 23 minutes gone a great through ball by Milligan released Daryl Nicol who cut past the Annan centre back but fired a shot over the bar.
In 30 minutes Sean Crighton was adjudged to have fouled one of the Annan strikers and picked up a yellow card.
On 35 minutes Montrose made a great move with some delightful one touch football from Milligan, Anderson and Nicol. Anderson had an opportunity to shoot but the midfielder-cum-striker took one touch too many and was pushed off the ball by three Annan players.
Annan came out for the second half with much more emphasis on counter attacking Montrose, but in truth Montrose were barely in Annan's half for the 45 minutes and were unable to create any notable chances on goal.
Annan's first chance came from a David Cox free-kick but the ex-Montrose striker put his shot narrowly over the bar. Annan, having sensed that Montrose were unable to create any attacking chances began to press and everybody in the ground sensed that the home side were due a goal at any time. Montrose made a substitution on 55 minutes with Nick Gray going on for Ryan Stewart.
In the 66th minute, Annan broke the deadlock. John Macbeth ran into the 18 yard box closely followed by Nick Gray, the winger darted towards the byline and as Gray stood tall, the winger ran into the youngster and threw himself to the ground when ball was clearly going out of play; it was disgraceful stuff but the poorly positioned referee made the incorrect call to award a penalty kick. Substitute Lewis Sloan stepped up to convert past McNeil who made an excellent attempt to save.
Tweed made a substitution on 72 minutes sending Mark Russell on for Fraser Milligan was clearly lacking match fitness.
At this point, Annan surged up the pitch and scored again with a well worked counter attack. Chris Jardine delivered a sublime ball to Macbeth who tucked the ball past the onrushing McNeil.
Montrose never looked like coming back from this in the final 15 minutes and matters were compounded by the second yellow card for Hegarty's persistent fouling on 90 minutes.
It was obvious to see that Montrose have few ideas about attacking football. Good effort can be commended every week but it isn't bringing any points to the table.
Every week defensive errors are being punished, but in truth this happens to every football team with goals at the other end balancing out the errors.
Steven Tweed and Jim Moffat clearly need to work with the midfield and attackers to devise a system which can accommodate injuries but still enable the team to create chances.
The only positives to take from the match were Marek Tomana's performance and match time for Fraser Milligan. Tomana worked hard, tried to cut open the opposition and was always looking to get on the ball whilst the unfit Milligan showed some nice touches and was always looking for the killer pass.
Montrose: McNeil 6, Hegarty 5, Sinclair 6, Maitland 2 (Milligan) (Russell), Tweed 6, Crighton 6, Stewart 6 (Gray), Davidson 5, Nicol 6, Tomana 7, Anderson 5. Subs: Herd, Coutts.
