The Gable Endies had the majority of the play without scoring, but once the crucial first goal went in there was only going to be one winner.

How Montrose must rue their missed chances at Links Park on Wednesday night when they could have had the tie wrapped up and out of sight, but this came back to haunt them. Poor finishing and terrible refereeing was their downfall, with the standard not improving much at Stranraer with Charlie Richmond in charge.

Although everyone at Links Park was downhearted after the result, they can look back on a great season in which they achieved their goal of reaching the play-offs. There have been some wonderful performances from the team and some great results along the way.

The side had the best defensive record away from home in all four Scottish Leagues, the third division's top goalscorer and also a player nominated for the third division player of the year by his fellow professionals, in John Baird.

Montrose received one piece of good news prior to kick when they were able to field top scorer Baird after appealing the red card he received on the Wednesday night. He was cleared to play with an appeal pending.
With Baird able to play and Chris McLeod declared fit, Montrose made only one change from the side that drew on Wednesday night, with Ross Gardiner replacing the injured Craig Forsyth at left-back.

Gardiner's place on the bench was taken by Chris Hegarty.

Montrose had a fantastic support inside the ground at kick-off with almost 200 of the official attendance of 450 backing them.

In the second minute Garry Wood won a corner. Stein swung in the kick and McLeod's header across goal was headed behind for another corner. Stein again took the set piece but Baird headed past the far post.

There was controversy in the 7th minute when Wood raced into the box and in between two Stranraer defenders before being clearly tripped by Noble whilst on the point of shooting. Amazingly referee Richmond waved play on.

The first flashpoint of the afternoon occurred in the 16th minute when Hugh Davidson went in with a sliding challenge on a Stranraer player.

He was immediately surrounded by Stranraer players, as was the case on Wednesday night, but referee Richmond chose only to book the Montrose player.

He then went across to his assistant who was flagging and on his advice he booked Baird, presumably for an off the ball incident.

Montrose had another good chance in the 33rd minute when McLeod headed down a corner from Stein and found Baird, who turned the ball across goal but found no takers.

In the 36th minute Stranraer's Mitchell was finally yellow carded for another foul on Gibson.

With two minutes of the half remaining Mitchell fouled Gibson again and was given his final warning by the referee. Baird swung the free kick out wide to Stein and he reached the byeline and cut the ball back low across the face of goal but Gibson somehow managed to miss from a few yards out.

In first half injury-time Montrose carved out another opportunity when Gardiner swung over a deep cross to the far post which was met by Wood but he headed into the arms of Black.

In the 50th minute, a fine passing move from Montrose on a difficult bumpy pitch almost brought the first goal. Doris ran up the right flank and played the ball inside to Gibson, he in turn found Stein on the left who played in Baird but he could only turn and fire the ball over the bar at the near post.

The crime count continued to rise and in the 55th minute Tade became the fourth booking of the afternoon when he had a kick at Doris. He had escaped punishment earlier in the match for a chest high tackle on the same player.

Two minutes later, Jamie Buchan went on a fine solo run from defence and with Baird and Wood racing clear on either side he was flattened by Creaney who amazingly escaped without a caution. Gardiner took the free kick from 35 yards and his effort whizzed past the post with Black beaten.

Montrose almost opened the scoring in the 61st minute when Stein did brilliantly to send over a cross from the byeline and found Baird six yards out at the far post, but Black somehow managed to claw his header round the post.

With 68 minutes gone disaster struck Montrose when Stranraer opened the scoring. Andrew Gibson raced down the right flank and managed to send over an inch perfect cross which was met by the head of the flying Tade who bulleted the ball home past the helpless Peat.

Stranraer kept up the pressure and another cross from Gibson found Tade whose shot was deflected out for a corner kick.

Jim Weir made his first change in the 71st minute when he sent on Stephen Black to replace Stein.

Sixty seconds later he made another switch when Paul Stewart was sent on for Wood. Stewart went on to the right flank with Doris pushed upfront alongside Baird.

In the 78th minute McLeod became the fifth booking of the match for a foul on Mullen.

A minute later it was all over for the Gable Endies when Stranraer scored again. Gardiner missed his tackle on Mullen on the edge of the area and the striker was able to run into the box and find the bottom corner.

Two minutes later Gardiner was taken off as Montrose went three at the back. Roddy Hunter went on in his place to join Baird and Doris in attack.

In 87 minutes, Hunter got the ball inside the box but he could only hook over the bar.

The home side put the icing on the cake in the 88th minute when they won a penalty when Stewart brought down Creaney at the second attempt as he raced along the byeline. Gibson beat Peat from the penalty spot although the keeper went the right way.

Montrose had one last chance to score when Baird set up Gibson, but the Montrose captain fired over from 25 yards.

At full-time, with the dream over for the season, the Montrose players went over to applaud their fans who had outsung the home support for the entire match.

Montrose: Peat, Buchan, Gardiner (Hunter), McLeod, Cumming, Gibson, Doris, Davidson, Wood (Stewart), Baird, Stein (Black). Subs: Hegarty, McKenzie.