Forfar fielded four trialists in the first half, with the Mo lining up in what I suspect is likely to be just about the starting eleven come the new season.

Forfar started well and shold have scored after only a minute. They had men over in an overlap down the right wing, but our defence just managed to hack it away as the ball came over to the far post.

Montrose's first chance fell to Euan Hall after 5 minutes but he shot well wide.

Willie Martin showed good skill to carve an opening out for himself with a mazy run through the Forfar defence on 11 minutes, but his shot was easily gathered by Ferrie in the visitors' goal.

Fotheringham took a freekick right on the edge of the Forfar box and although his shot was hard enough, it was straight at the keeper.

Forfar went close again as our defence claimed offside but the shot went over.

On 27 minutes, the ball was knocked out from a corner to Fotheringham but he shot just wide.

On the half hour, Donachie put over a fine cross but Martin's powerful header was wide.

On 35 minutes, McClune hit the post for Forfar and the rebound came to the trialist number 11, but his shot was blocked.

McClune hit the woodwork again two minutes later when his shot hit the top of the bar and went over.

Martin was again involved moments later but his shot was easily gathered by Ferrie.

In 40 minutes, McLean broke into the Forfar box and was held back by Lowing. The referee pointed to the spot and had it not been a friendly may have issued a card to the defender. Willie MARTIN stayed calm and fired the ball expertly past Ferrie to put the Mo in front.

Both teams mixed it up at half-time. Henry Hall sent on Hankinson, Watson and Smart (trialist), for Reid, Martin and Cargill. Forfar replaced Lunan with Stevie Florence.

McLean wasted no time in testing Forfar again but he shot wide on 46 minutes.

In 55 minutes, Forfar replaced trialist number 9 with Paul Shields then Rattray replaced Lowing for the visitors.

The injection of experience paid off for Forfar and Montrose had to clear off the line.

The rash of substitutes continued and the last two Forfar trialists, numbers 6 and 7 were replaced by Donald and Sellars. Donald's first piece of action was to have a tug at Henslee's shirt.

In 65 minutes, Conway noticed Hanky off his line from way out on the standside touchline and fired a looping shot which Hanky had to palm on to the bar and over.

In 70 minutes, Donald again got into trouble in the middle of the park, needlessly getting involved in a heated exchange. From the freekick, Fotheringham's 30 yard shot hit the top of the bar.

Forfar deservedly equalised in 72 minutes with the best move of the match. A long ball to the far post was headed down into the path of the onrushing SHIELDS who fired it high past Hanky.

Montrose then replaced Doyle with Webster in an effort to try to make something happen down the flanks.

McLean went down in the centre circle under a heavy challenge. He looked ok after some treatment but ended up going off, and the Mo played the last 15 minutes with 10 men. Watson went closest to snatching the win with a glancing header but it was wide.

Montrose were a little fortunate to go in ahead at half-time, but as Forfar introduced their more experienced players, the initiative passed to them. Losing McLean didn't help and a draw was a fair result in the end.

Teams

Montrose

Reid, Donachie, Smith, Doyle, Stephen, Fotheringham, Cargill, Hall, Martin, McLean, Henslee

Subs: Dodds, Watson, Webster, Smart (trialist), Hankinson

Forfar

Ferrie, Lunan, Waddell, Forrest, Lowing, Trialist, Trialist, McClune, Trialist, Conway, Trialist

Subs: Donald, Florence, Rattray, Sellars, Shields, King, Brown

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