Mar 30, 2013 at 12pm UK at ​Links Park
Montrose
0-0
RangersRangers
FT

Live Commentary: Montrose 0-0 Rangers - as it happened

Rangers' Lee McCulloch celebrates after scoring his team's second against East Stirling on March 2, 2013
© PA Photos
Sports Mole brings you live Scottish Third Division action from Links Park as Rangers travel to Montrose.

Rangers travelled to Links Park to take on Montrose in the early kickoff today with the prospect of winning the Scottish Third Division title.

A win for the visitors, and a slip up from Queens Park later this afternoon would see the Gers wrap up the championship early.

Montrose occupy third place in the table but sit 26 points behind the league leaders.

However, Rangers wait to be crowned champions goes on after they were held by Montrose.

Find out how it all unfolded with our live commentary below.


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11.37amGood morning and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Scottish Third Division action, as Rangers travel to Montrose.

11.38amRangers, who already have one hand on the title, can get a soft grip with the second hand should they emerge victorious today at Links Park.

11.39amThe Gers are 21 points ahead of nearest rivals Queens Park, albeit having played two games more. However, their superior goal difference of 51, compared with the Spiders' 13, practically gives them an extra point themselves.

11.40amRangers could have won the title last weekend, but could only manage a goalless draw with Stirling Albion at Ibrox.

11.41amBut frankly, it's just a matter of time until the Gers secure the championship, and time may just be up as far as the title race goes today.

11.42amRight, who is ready for some team news?

11.42amWe'll start with the home team.

11.43amMONTROSE XI: Gibson, McNally, Watson, Campbell, Trialist, Gray, Masson, Winter, Boyle, Wood, Johnston

11.46amStruggling to find news on the Montrose substitutes, so I'll move on to the Rangers squad for today.


11.47amRANGERS XI: Alexander; Hegarty, McCulloch, Cribari, Wallace; Faure; Crawford, Black, Hutton, Templeton; Hemmings

11.47amAnd on the bench for the Gers...

11.48amRANGERS BENCH: Smith, Argyriou, Naismith, McKay, Aird

11.49amSo Ally McCoist still has a big injury list to deal with, and is still without the suspended Francisco Sandaza after the recent scandal surrounding him.

11.50amInterestingly enough, Montrose actually come into this match in the better form. They have taken 12 points from their last six games; including four wins and two defeats. While three wins, two draws and a defeat for the visitors has earned them 11 points over the same time scale.

11.51amYou'll have noticed that Montrose are fielding a trialist today.

11.52amWe believe the trialist to be Cammy MacDonald. The 23-year-old defender, formerly of Livingston and Airdrie, has played over 200 first-team games after making his debut as a 17-year-old at Almondvale. He reportedly left Airdrie under a bit of a cloud after an argument with Jimmy Boyle and will be looking to take his chance this afternoon.

11.59amThe teams are in the tunnel and ready to go.

11.59amThese two sides hadn't met for 36 years before September, and they have now met a whole host of times since then.

12pmOut they come. Montrose are wearing blue shirts, white and blue socks.


12.01pmRangers are sporting their white shirts, blue shorts and red socks.

12.02pmIt will be Rangers to kick off.

0 minAnd we're off!

1 minRangers are playing from right to left, Montrose the opposite.

2 minHemmings up front on his own for Rangers, Faure playing as the spare man in front of defence. A very defensive Rangers side.

3 minTo epitomise that, Lee McCulloch, who is usually Rangers' striker, plays as a centre-back today.

4 minEarly sniff at goal for Rangers, the ball finds its way out to Lee Wallace on the left, who curls a ball into the box towards Hemmings, but MacDonald can clear for a corner.

5 minCHANCE! Montrose survive as the Rangers corner leads to a goalmouth scramble. Gibson, the goalkeeper, rises among a pile of bodies to punch the ball away, but it only falls to Crawford on the right of the box. His shot is blocked on the edge of the six-yard box. McCulloch follows that up with a sidefoot from the D, but Montrose hang on and scramble it away.

6 minRangers are on top in these early stages.

8 minCHANCE! Montrose have a go themselves. Martin Boyle is played down the middle and is up against McCulloch. The striker lifts it over the head of the defender and runs on to it. Alexander in goal then closes down the angle and blocks the lob which was from an acute angle. The resulting corner is cleared by the visitors.


10 minHemmings is going to have a tricky task on his hands today. He is up front for the away side by himself, against a pacey defence.

12 minCHANCE! David Templeton, back in the side today after a recent absence, has a go at goal from range. From about 30 yards out on the right, he blasts an effort. Gibson does well to get his body behind it to take the hit, and MacDonald clears the danger.

14 minSo we've nearly had a quarter of an hour of action in this match, and it is Rangers who have enjoyed much of the possession.

15 minMontrose think they have a free kick in a good area after Garry Wood was bundled over by Lee Wallace. However, the striker was in an offside position, so the Gers are given the decision.

16 minCHANCE! Lovely individual play from Templeton. He races down the left and then Cruyff turns into the penalty area before skipping past another challenge and then opts to curl the ball towards the top corner. His shot is blocked and goes behind for a corner. Nice stuff from Templeton though.

18 minCHANCE! I thought Rangers had taken the lead here. Lovely stuff against from Templeton as he slides in the overlapping Lee Wallace. The left-back is through on goal and gets his shot away, but it takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner.

19 minCHANCE! Ian Black dips a shot over following the corner being cleared to him on the edge of the box.

20 minRangers look very strong down the left, Wallace and Templeton could cause Montrose some harm today.

22 minRangers have been on top in the last few minutes. They have a free kick 30 yards out, a cross surely will be the outcome.

23 minHutton drove the free kick but it was blocked and cleared.


24 minCHANCE! Montrose break, and they break well. Masson runs across the Rangers box from the right, dodging several challenges in the process, before laying off Watson. He hammers a shot which looks goalbound, but Rangers can throw bodies in front and concede the corner.

25 minYELLOW CARD The trialist Cammy MacDonald is booked for bring down Templeton at full speed. I think that's what they call a 'professional foul'. Chance for Rangers.

26 minCHANCE! Rangers had three men around the ball for the kick which is about 25 yards out and dead central. McCulloch is the chosen one for the free kick, but his clean strike was always drifting wide of the right-hand side of the post.

27 minCHANCE! End-to-end stuff at the moment. Montrose go on the attack as Watson whips in a ball from the left, Rangers clear not once but twice, before the ball falls to Wood. He drives it low and goalbound from the centre of the half and it takes a deflection on the way through, which forces Alexander to pull off a nice save, and he even manages to hold it.

29 minGood game this so far.

29 minIan Black at the edge of the box with a neat touch, laying it off for Templeton, who lashed a shot with his left over the bar.

30 minCHANCE! Montrose have a free kick on the left, that Watson swings into the box. Alan Campbell is allowed a free header, but the centre-back's effort is just wide of the top corner.

32 minNice play from Templeton again. His trickery wins a corner.

35 minThe game has gone a bit quiet in the last few minutes.

38 minCHANCE! Great chance. Steven McNally goes down the right and puts in a wonderful cross into the six-yard box. The ball is begging to be headed into the back of the net, but Martin Boyle is just inches away from doing that. Fabolous play from McNally. Still goalless.


43 minPoor cross by Hegarty. He scooped that up and into the box but it was ridiculously overhit. Hemmings down and getting treatment after taking a bang on the thigh. Looked like a sore one but he seems okay to continue.

45 minLooks as if this is going to be goalless at half time.

45 minThere will be one minute of added time.

45+1 minHALF TIME: Montrose 0-0 Rangers

12.49pmSo it's goalless at the break and it's been a really good half. Rangers a lot better than last week, but Montrose are certainly giving them a run for their money.

12.51pmRangers have had more possession, but both sides have had chances.

1.03pmThe teams are back out at a sunny Links Park. The hosts to kick off...

45 minBack underway...

46 minMontrose have an early penalty shout waved away after Boyle went down just inside the box.

47 minCHANCE! Montrose have the first chance of the half, as David Gray hits an excellent strike from the edge of the box. But the shot dips just over the bar.


50 minCHANCE! Excellent play from Rangers. Ian Black spreads it wide to Wallace who puts a great cross into the box. It falls to Hemmings who has a good effort put behind by Gibson. The corner is held as well by the keeper from a header. Good spell from the Gers.

53 minRangers are in control at the moment, and Hemmings is playing well. He busts a gut to get down the right and puts in a great cross, but not one Rangers player makes an attempt to get into the box. Hemmings, who is upfront by himself, is really up against it.

57 minBarrie McKay is readying himself to come on. The game has dyed down a bit in the last few minutes. But Rangers now have a free kick about 25 yards out, central. Dangerous situation this.

58 minCHANCE! Templeton has a go at it and tries to put a bit of swerve on it. However, it's harmlessly wide for a goal kick.

59 minRANGERS SUBSTITUTION: Crawford, who has been pretty quiet, has made way for the exciting Barrie McKay.

60 minThe change looks as if McCoist has moved Templeton just behind Hemmings upfront, with McKay moving to the left.

62 minCHANCE! Gibson pulls off another good save, after Wallace's shot was deflected towards his near post.

64 minMONTROSE SUBSTITUTION: David Gray is off, Lloyd Young coming onto the field.

66 minCHANCE! The ball is in the back of the net but it is ruled out for a dubious foul on the keeper. Rangers are very lucky here, not a long seems to be wrong with that. The ball is put into the box and bobbles about before Masson meets the ball on the volley, which is well saved. From their Garry Wood manages to turn Alexander and put the ball in the back of the net. The goal is ruled out however. Huge let off for the Gers.

67 minMontrose looking the more likely side at the moment to go in front. They have momentum at the moment.


68 minRANGERS SUBSTITUTION: Kane Hemmings is brought off, and Kal Naismith is on.

72 minThings are a bit scrappy at the moment. A fair few fouls are being dished out.

77 minIt's quiet at the moment. The game, at this rate, is trickling out for a goalless draw.

80 minCHANCE! Montrose have a free kick about 30 yards out on the left. Jamie Winter is laid off, and he smashes the ball low and with authority. Alexander is equal to it though, and the ball goes out for a corner.

81 minAlexander comes and catches the resulting corner with ease.

84 minMontrose look as if they are going to try and go for the win. Certainly not shying out of a tackle either.

85 minYELLOW CARD Scott Johnstone picks up a silly yellow card for kicking the ball away.

86 minMONTROSE SUBSTITUTION: Ricky McIntosh has come on for the hosts. Jamie Winter has come off.

87 minNice play from the home side as Boyle bursts forward and wins a corner. Montrose have really upped their game this half, and you couldn't say that they wouldn't deserve it if they found a winner.

89 minAs the play is held up for treatment, I should mention that David Templeton was booked for a late challenge a few minutes ago. He followed through when trying to get his shot away.


90 minMONTROSE SUBSTITUTION: Leighton McIntosh comes on for the trialist, Callum MacDonald.

90+1 minWe have four minutes of added time.

90+3 minYELLOW CARD Emeilson Cribari is booked for a high foot on the edge of his own box. Silly foul. Great chance for Montrose.

90+4 minCHANCE! Watson tries to curl the ball into the bottom corner, it lacks power though, and Alexander can comfortably hold onto it.

90+4 minFULL TIME: Montrose 0-0 Rangers

1.53pmSo, a second goalless draw on the spin for Rangers, and the wait goes on in their pursuit of being crowned champions.

1.54pmThey are creeping over the line, but Montrose did not deserve to lose today.

1.55pmHowever, should Queens Park lose this afternoon, then Rangers will win the title. ALthough, a win for the former could set up their clash with Rangers nicely for next weekend.

1.56pmThat's all from me on the football front today. Hope you enjoyed the coverage. Enjoy the rest of your day. See you again soon.

Ally McCoist
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1East FifeEast Fife31166957381954
2Clyde311641149361352
3Elgin City31155114942750
4Annan AthleticAnnan311471060491149
5Queen's ParkQueen's Park31139939281148
6Stirling AlbionStirling31126134240242
7Berwick31116143848-1039
8Arbroath31115153940-138
9Montrose31107144563-1837
10East StirlingshireEast Stirling3183203771-3427