After the buzz around Bayview all week, I don't suppose that we should be too surprised that today's game ended up just like King Kurt's singer's hairstyle. But with temperatures again heading south, it was a fuckin' tough afternoon for the fans who turned up. I'm not saying that a nil-nil draw can't be exciting. I'm not even saying that this one didn't have the occasional thrill. It's just that, somehow, I was expecting a wee bit more from a game between the Champions and a team still looking to guarantee their place in the play-offs.

We've grown accustomed to the team (whichever players Baikie picks) always giving their all and fighting till the last. Today was no different; there was nothing to suggest that they weren't as committed as they always are. For their part, Montrose also put in a decent enough shift. But it just all appeared to be lacking a wee something to turn all the effort into something worth getting enthusiastic about.

That was to be the overwhelming theme throughout the match. Which was a shame because the buzz and the hubbub were still discenrnible in the downstairs bar before kickoff. The Angusmeister, now confident that we'll almost certainly gain promotion this season, had decided to not only change his coat but.... leave his lucky Y-Fronts at home and try a pair of these new, fangled boxer shorts.... Distasteful as that image is, you'll be pleased to know that the John Smith's is still as piquant as always. But I'm blaming him for the lack of action on the park during the following ninety minutes. Wear yer Ys at Forfar next week big man!!

It was a very sporting touch when the Montrose players formed a guard of honour (accompanied by some old fat codgers in black coats and gold t-shirts.... nice) to greet the new champions onto the pitch. Sadly for us, the bastards then turned their sights on trying to dump us on our arses. In the opening ten minutes they kept possession well and created a few half chances (without really troubling the Fife keeper). However, after a quiet start, we eventually came back into it and were unlucky not to open the scoring just on the quarter hour mark.

The Gable Endies' keeper made a pig's arse of a clearance and knocked the ball straight to Craig O'Reilly (making a welcome return to the starting line-up). Call it lack of match fitness (or maybe the shock of getting the ball so easily) but the young man failed to convert a great chance. That didn't get him down, mind, and just moments later he combined with the Boaby to split the Montrose defence. Their keeper redeemed his earlier mistake though and brought off a decent save to knock Craig's shot just past the post.

It was then to be a busy ten minutes for the visitors' defence with the Fife starting to gain in confidence and moving forward with some ease. Greig McDonald was unfortunate not to score when he broke forward and shot from the edge of the box, only to see the ball rocket over the bar, the wall and the first fifteen rows of cars in the sea-end car park. Our best move of the first half also produced our closest effort on goal when the Boaby (again) slid a great pass for Ryan Blackadder to fire goalwards. Peat did well to tip the ball onto the post and out for safety.

Meanwhile at the other end of the park, Craig Wight spent his time thinking about flight times to North America - apparently he's headin' off the the States with his burd at the end of the season. Considering Montrose are still looking to cement their place in the play-offs, it's something of a surprise that they singularly failed to threaten the Fifer's goal at any stage in the opening forty five minutes. And even when they did get a chance, just past the hour mark, Wight was more than up to the task of keeping his shut-out record intact.

With the game bubbling along withoot really going anywhere, the referee spiced things up a bit when he awarded Montrose a penalty. They tell me that big Tweedie was adjudged to have handled the ball but he'd been in so much control throughout this one, I can't believe that he felt he needed to be playing basketball.... As it was, he needn't have worried. Montrose's John Baird strode confidently forward (well, you would, wouldn't you, if yer granda had invented the telly....?) and blasted a low shot towards Wight's left. Thereafter, you pay yer money and you take yer choice. Either it was a feeble effort that was easily smothered by the keeper or it was an outstanding save from a goalie in top form who just wasn't gonna let them score. I know the way I saw it - fuckin' great save Craig!

That should have proved the boost we needed to drive forward and put this one to bed. However, if anything, we started to look a bit unsure at the back. And although Montrose never really seemed like they were gonna come forward with abandon, they did do enough to keep Smartie et al busy. To try to fix the focus at the other end again, Baikie fired on Paul McManus and Stevie Nick with about fifteen minutes remaining. That gave the defence some respite but the Gable Endies continued to hold decent possession and defend resolutely.

But Nicholas was keen to show the gaffer that he still has a future at the club and with ten minutes remaining made a great run into the Montrose box at a corner and will feel himself unfortunate to see his effort hoist high over the bar. It was a great run and deserved a better finish but, when you only get ten minutes every ten games, it's mebbe no' surprising that he didnae have the haw-maws tae put it away.... Nonetheless, both he and McManus continued to work hard and caused the Montrose defence a fair bit of bother in the closing minutes.

But the two dozen Montrose fans who'd made the gruelling trip to Fife had one more reason to get excited before the end when Mr Baird had another opportunity late on. However, like his first effort, he failed miserably and, with nothing more than a regulation save, Wight once again made himself look like Peter Shilton... By then, of course, ah wasnae really caring that much. It was still so fuckin' cold that ah couldnae feel ma baws, and it was evident that Montrose were more than satisfied to come to Methil and no' get beat... And with that mentality, we'd always be confident that we've got enough at the back to cope wi anything they could throw at us, even if they would make it tough for us at the other end.

The cheat finally blew his whistle and the fans did their best tae be enthused and excited by the champions. Just like the game itself, however, it all seemed just a wee bit unreal. Plenty of effort, loads of commitment, bags of noise and.... well, no' much else. Thank fuck the players were still chuckin' t-shirts oot for the weans. At least the youngsters would have something to remember from their day oot. And, wi' the way the wind was still howlin', another layer of clothing would do no harm at all....

So, see you all next week in Forfar. Angus - make sure you wear yer lucky pants; Stewart - get the bairns intae care and bring the loudhailer; Ian - if ye still want a t-shirt that much, ah'll buy ye one!!!! C'mon the Fife.

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