Deja vu all over again - in the past decade, the team I've seen most (after Montrose) are Peterhead, Montrose and the Fishy Jailers generally having jumped between the bottom two divisions in sync with each other.
The Fishy Jailers are, of course, now in their post-Jim McInally, post-Rory McAllister period, reducing their massive walloper ratio significantly.
The reigning Serie Z4 champions are now managed by Jordon Brown and Ryan Strachan, the "two heads are better than one" strategy aiming to prevent their stay in League 1 being limited to a single season.
Facing a Montrose team that has struggled in the league so far this season, the Fishy Jailers must have been cautiously optimistic, but Montrose raced into a two-goal lead in the first 22 minutes, Aidan Quinn lumbering forward to poke a corner low into the net, and Ewan Loudon showing some good awareness to roll a quick free kick to Graham Webster, whose low cross was sent into the net by Blair Lyons.
If the Montrose forward line looks relatively threatening against fellow part-timers, the back line is still prone to mass panic, and a complete inability to clear what looked like a simple ball led to Peterhead pulling a goal back in the 34th minute, Kieran Shanks stooping to send a free header into the net.
The Montrose defence is in a state of quandary - Sean Dillon is the most composed of the Gable Endies defenders, but at 42 is obviously not a long term option. He needs someone faster beside him, but not necessarily the flappable Quinn. Evan Towler may be the solution once he beds in, if Montrose can adapt to a back four of Steeves, Towler, Dillon and Freeman until Kerr Waddell can be coaxed back to fitness.
Michael Tidser, who started today, might be the player Montrose need in the middle of the park, a combative midfielder who can lead by example, pick a pass, and drive his team forwards.
Unfortunately, Google and Wikipedia equate playing for Montrose with retirement:
The second half started with arms and legs flying, Montrose winning a penalty for some casual brutality from Peterhead's Aaron Steele on Callum Sandilands. Ewan Loudon's penalty was weak though, and Jack Newman saved with his legs.
Otherwise, the second half was scrappy, both sides creating chances but unable to capitalise. Peterhead, 25 years on from their shift from the Highland League into the SPFL, still have some of the agricultural defensive style of their former home, and their defenders spent most of the second half throwing Sandilands and Loudon forcefully to the sandy plastic monstrosity that is the new Links Park pitch.
But Montrose clung on to pick up a first league win of the season. With Hamilton apparently about to be liquidated, what happens over the rest of the season will make for an interesting watch.
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