Montrose began in a kind of 4-4-1-1 formation with Martin the lone front man and Foxy linking between hiim and the midfield. Harry Cairney's side started in a 4-3-3 formation, clearly coming to Links Park looking to attack.

Arbroath has the better of the opening exchanges, with Andy Reid having to dive out to boot the ball clear at the edge of the box in three minutes.

Neil Stephen picked up a bloody nose and had to get treatment at the touchline.

Montrose began to exert control and on 8 minutes, Foxy blaster a freekick just over.

The pressure paid off when Webster went on a mazy run down the right wing and fired over a perfect low cross for Willie MARTIN to bundle over from close range at the far post.

Arbroath came back and went close on 29 minutes when Stephen had to clear off the line with Reid stranded after a diving save.

Reid was the busier keeper and he tipped a header over the bar then bravely pushed out the corner. The collision with ex-Endie Roddy Black left both players flat out and needing treatment.

There were no changes at half-time, both managers clearly happy with the efforts of their players.

Brazil should have done better for the visitors when he shot into the side netting after a good run on 49 minutes.

He had another chance a minute later but shot straight at Reid after Montrose made a mess of defence at the edge of the box.

In 58 minutes, former Arbroath midfielder Andy Cargill replaced Stephen Fraser for the Mo. Foxy fired another freekick just over.

On the hour, Elliot Smith did well to header over with Arbroath strikers ready to pounce.

In 66 minutes, McMullan was the first player in the book after a heavy challenge on Cargill.

Webster skelped the ball off the bar in 67 minutes, then Foxy thought he'd scored when the ball hit the bar, the goalie and the post, but Arbroath managed to keep it out.

Reilly replaced Watson for the visitors in 70 minutes.

Henners thought he'd scored in 71 minutes when he headed home a knock on from Kegsy, but the far side linesman gave him offside.

In 75 minutes, Reilly was booked for throwing the ball away.

The game threatened to erupt in 77 minutes when Kerrigan and Niller got in a tangle at the near touchline just beside the home dugout. Kegsy went down clutching his face and a number of players from both sides squared up. The referee booked both Kegsy and Miller.

Martin had another chance with five minutes to go but shot straight at the keeper.

Cairns was booked for petulantly kicking the ball away after he'd failed to save the ball from going out for a corner.

Foxy followed him into the book with a minute to go for a bad challenge.

Arbroath hit the post but the Mo hung on for a famous victory.

The delight was plain to see on the faces of the Mo players at full-time. They deserved this hard-fought win and hopefully we can continue to go forward from here.

Teams

Montrose

Reid, Dodds, Smith, Doyle, Stephen, Kerrigan, webster, Fotheringham, Martin, Fraser, Henslee

Subs: McKenzie, Hall, Cargill, Watson, Butter

Arbroath

Cairns, McMullan, Black, Bishop, Watson, McCulloch, Miller, Davidson, Brazil, Jackson, Stein

Subs: Kirk, Warren, Cook, Reilly, Inglis

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