At the start of the season this was manager Jim Weir's target and he can be proud of his young squad in getting the side this far with a home and away clash with Stranraer being the likely prospect in the play-off semi-final.

The match wasn't the best of the season and at times seemed like a meaningless end of season clash, but in the end the outcome was the correct one for Montrose.

Neither side had many efforts at goal, with Montrose taking their unbeaten run to six matches, with their fourth clean sheet in that time.

It was certainly an under strength Montrose side that took to the field with regulars Chris Hegarty, Chris McLeod, Keith Gibson, Garry Wood and Stephen Thomson all sitting in the stand, but those who came into the side performed well.

After the 2-2 home draw against Forfar Athletic, manager Weir was forced into three changes to his line up. Out went the suspended Hegarty and McLeod and injured captain Keith Gibson and in came Ross Gardiner, Stuart Cumming and Paul Stewart. It was only Stewart's second starting appearance for the club and his first of the season.

Montrose lined up with Peat in goal, Cumming and Forsyth in the full back positions and Buchan (captain for the day) and Gardiner in central defence. Stewart was wide right with Black on the left and Stein and Davidson made up the centre midfield for the first time. Baird and Doris were the front pairing.

The Montrose bench had an unfamiliar look to it with Roddy Hunter and John Maitland joined by Under 17 players Mark Russell, who played well against Forfar in the Forfarshire Cup and Daryl Nicol, who was recently on loan to Montrose Roselea. Stuart McKenzie was the back up keeper.

Dumbarton created the first real opening in the 7th minute when Coyne beat Forsyth and got over a cross, which was headed out for a corner by Buchan.

Referee Salmond waved away Montrose penalty claims when Doris and Baird challenged for a Stewart cross and the latter appeared to be pushed.

Montrose started to come more into the match and in the 22nd minute Baird gathered a cross from the right from Stewart and his shot was deflected out for a corner. Black's corner was headed down by Gardiner into the path of Doris ten yards out and his shot was inches away from the top corner of the net.

Dumbarton centre half O'Bryne was booked for a late tackle on Baird, with the referee waiting until play had been stopped before issuing the card to the centre half.

Montrose had strong claims for a penalty kick turned down in the 35th minute when a Doris cross from the left quite clearly struck the hand of O'Bryne but referee Salmond said that it was ball to hand rather than the other way around.

In the final moments of the first half, Montrose almost grabbed a priceless lead when Paul Stewart's inch perfect cross from the right found the head of Baird. His effort appeared netbound until Crawford managed to tip the ball over the crossbar.


In the 50th minute Dumbarton went close to opening the scoring when Potter let fly from 25 yards out but Peat was equal to the task and tipped his effort over the crossbar.

Jim Weir made his first change of the match in the 58th minute when he took off Stephen Black and sent on John Maitland. The switch saw Jay Stein move out to the left wing and Maitland move into a central midfield role.

Maitland was into the action straight away when he gathered a Baird pass and sent a 30-yard effort just over the crossbar.

In the 69th minute a clever reverse pass from Baird put Stewart through on goal but a Dumbarton defender got back just in time to take the ball off the Montrose youngster's toes.

With 73 minutes gone the Gable Endies carved out another opportunity when Jamie Buchan flicked the ball onto John Baird who tried to lob Crawford, but the keeper held his effort.

In the 78th minute Mark Peat got down well to save a shot from Coyne, which had been slightly deflected.

The Gable Endies then took off John Baird and replaced him with Roddy Hunter.

Two minutes later Dumbarton almost scored when a cross from Andy Geggan from the right almost caught out Mark Peat and the ball hit the crossbar before going out of play.

With six minutes left a great piece of skill from Doris saw him chase a lost cause to the corner flag and win the ball, skip past his marker and race along the byeline, but keeper Crawford managed to block his effort from a narrow angle.

In stoppage time a Stewart punt up the park almost put Doris way with a free run at goal, but Lennon did just about enough to put him off and clear the danger.

Jay Stein was injured in the final seconds of the match and with Daryl Nicol ready to go on referee Salmond blew for full time to rob the youngster of his debut.

Montrose: Peat 7, Buchan 8, Forsyth 6, Gardiner 8, Cumming 7, Stewart 7, Doris 7, Davidson 7, Stein 6, Baird 7 (Hunter), Black 6 (Maitland). Subs – Nicol, Russell, McKenzie.