Season 2008/2009: Match 23: Montrose v Cowdenbeath

As I was taking my seat for today's Montrose match, I was trying to remember how long it had been since I'd seen the Gable Endies in the flesh, but couldn't remember.

My trip to England, which included the Norwich v Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest v Bristol City matches, meant that I hadn't been to Links Park since the win over Dumbarton on March 14.

Today offered Montrose the chance to dent another side's title hopes, top of the table Cowdenbeath hoping to stave off Dumbarton's recent surge towards the title.

The day started with Cowdenbeath a point ahead of Dumbarton at the top of the table, while Montrose knew that defeat would kill off their already slender hopes of making the promotion play-offs.

Things got off to a bad start, Cowdenbeath opening the scoring after 10 minutes, although scorer John Gemmell was so far offside when the ball was played that he was closer to Brechin than he was to any of the Montrose defenders. Nonetheless, the referee and linesman allowed the goal to stand, desite the remonstrations of the home players.

But from then on, Montrose looked the far superior side, forcing Cowdenbeath back into their own half and generally playing some good, attractive football.

It was the first time that I've been so impressed by one of Steven Tweed's Montrose sides, and now it may be that his influence is finally having some positive bearing on the team's results.

Cowdenbeath somehow managed to survive until half time, but it was more through luck than anything else, Montrose squeezing them throughout the half.

The same story was played out after the break, although it took 20 minutes for Montrose's domination to finally pay dividends, Tweed heading home from a Stephen Black corner.

Chris Hegarty (son of legendary Dundee United player Paul) secured the points from the spot six minutes later, sending David Hay the wrong way after Kevin Bradley had been tripped in the box.

Montrose could have added more to their tally, but Cowdenbeath forced them into some desperate defending late on. The home side did well to hang on though, and today's was a well-deserved victory over one of the division's better sides.

With Dumbarton thumping Forfar 4-0, the Blue Brazil (who played more like a Yellow Forfar today) slipped down to second spot in the league, two points behind the Sons, while Montrose closed the gap on Forfar and Annan, both of whom dropped points today.

It will still be a hefty challenge for Montrose to make the play-offs. But isn't being a football fan all about having blind optimism in the face of facts?