Montrose can call themselves Jim Duffy Cup champions after a well fought final against DUSC at North End Park. Kai Henderson put the boys in blue 1-0 up just a couple of minutes before the half time break. The number 14 then doubled his tally, and his team’s lead, in the 43rd minute and leaving them in a strong position. With full time closing in DUSC rallied the troops and grabbed one goal back in the 70th through Kieren Barron. With just injury time remaining they were unable to find a second for themselves and Montrose held out to secure the win and the silverware.

 

Montrose began the game strongly with Henderson and Calum Bisset looking particularly threatening. The first golden opportunity arose in the 8th minute as Henderson latched onto a stray back pass. The Montrose forward turned the oncoming ‘keeper and took a shot at goal. He was denied from opening the scoring, however, by some superb last-ditch defending from Kane Hynes, who was on hand to head clear off the line.    

 

The game then began to settle down as both teams tussled for full control, a sign of how well matched the sides are.

 

The next clear chance fell the way of Montrose. Henderson displayed some great hold up play, waiting for his teammates to join him in attack. He then laid the ball off to Bisset who fired a shot at goal. Leighton Quinn, in goal for the Tangerines, expertly saved and held the shot to keep his side from falling behind.

 

With four minutes remaining of the first half DUSC came close to opening the scoring themselves after being awarded a free kick within shooting range. Rory Jagusinski, taking the kick, successfully lifted the ball over the wall but just past the post.

 

Two minutes later the game witnessed its first goal. Henderson latched onto a free kick delivered long into DUSC’s penalty area and, with a neat one touch finish, lifted the ball over the on rushing goalie and into the net. Montrose grabbed their 1-0 advantage at a perfect time.

Buoyed by the momentum from the grabbing the first goal prior to the break Montrose continued in the same vain. Fraser Jamieson came close to scoring, soon after the restart, as he headed just wide of the mark from a Henderson cross.

 

As the game ticked into it’s 43rd minute Montrose grabbed their second. Henderson was the man responsible once more as he rifled the ball into the back of the net from the right. Montrose were in a strong position to go on to cup glory.

 

DUSC, in search of a way back into the game, came close to pulling a goal back in the 55th. Deano Fowlis fed in an excellent ball from the left flank into the feet of Aiden Simpson. Simpson’s shot, however, flew just wide of the target.

 

Montrose continued to threaten, however, as Henderson managed to break through on goal in the 62nd minute. With a mission to put the game out of sight the forward fired a low shot at goal, which was well saved by Quinn. The DUSC goalkeeper also did well to bounce straight back up and clear the ball before Kieron Walker could tap in the rebound. 

 

Walker did come close to grabbing a goal for himself, a minute later, as he struck a shot at goal from a cross delivered in by Henderson. In the second example of top notch, last-ditch defending, from DUSC Reece Muir was the man to clear off the line to preserve the score as it was.

 

As the game ticked into the final minute DUSC pulled a goal back to give them hope. Barron latched onto a great ball played out o him on the right wing. The DUSC number seven then cut inside towards goal and successfully shot past Montrose ‘keeper, Ross Duncan, and into the back of the net. With the deficit reduced to just one it was all hands on deck to search for an equaliser.

 

With four minutes of injury time added on DUSC threw everything into working a chance for themselves. In the third minute of stoppage time they came agonizingly close to securing that all important equaliser. Barron was put through on goal once again but ended up clattering into the oncoming Duncan. The ball then broke free to a DUSC player and the ball was sent straight back towards the empty net. There to deny, however, was Fraser Nelsen pulling off perhaps the most important goal line headed clearance in the game to preserve the lead.

 

Soon after the full time whistle arrived and Montrose were officially declared champions after some great attacking and defensive play. While DUSC were left disappointed their fight back was a great demonstration of their fantastic character, and they came so close to leveling at the end. For Montrose it was time to celebrate gaining some silverware. The team is clearly a top class outfit and will be sure to be challenging for more cup titles and league titles in the near future.