Montrose 1 Accies 4: Saturday, 5 May 2001

Scottish League Divison 3, Links Park, Montrose

Saturday, 5 May 2001

FIRST HALF

Accies won only the 4th league championship in their long history with this convincing win at Links Park.

There had been a lot of speculation on the message board about just how many Accies fans would make the long pilgrimage north to Montrose. As it turned out, the crowd of 951 must have included almost 900 Accies fans, as Montrose supporters were very thin on the ground. As a regular, I have to confess that a lot of them were people I hadn't seen at games for years. That's not a problem - the more the better. I just feel for the Accies fans who couldn't be there.

As for the football, Montrose manager John Sheran had stated that he didn't want the fans of another team celebrating at his ground. So his team were determined to get stuck in and they did give Accies quite a few anxious moments, particularly in the first half. But there was never really any doubt that this was going to be Accies day.

In the first half, David McFarlane was very unfortunate not to score a couple of goals. In fact, he had what I thought was a perfectly good goal disallowed when he forced his way between a defender and the goalkeeper to knick the ball and tap it in. However, the referee (the diminutive and very unwelcome of Mr. B Cassidy) bizarrely ruled the goal out for pushing. Just a few minutes later, Davie did get round the 'keeper again but his shot was cleared off the line.

So it looked as though Accies were getting the upper hand, but when the first goal came (just before half time) it was a bit of a softie. Ryan Kelly played the ball through to Davie McFarlane on the corner of the penalty box. Davie hooked the ball into the far corner with McGlynn in the Montrose goal unable to stop it. The fans went berserk, some of them went onto the park, and that huge release of tension swept through the Accies support.

HALF TIME

At half time, we had the usual "entertainment" of watching the substitutes take shots at reserve goalie Stuart Thomson. That was until some of the more inebriated members of the Accies support decided to join in and the whole thing became a bit of a farce. You just shouldn't have to see blootered Accies fans in XXXL shirts and silly hats falling over as they try to kick a football. (That's what some of the first team are for!)

SECOND HALF

It didn't take Accies very long to extend their lead in the second half. A terrible mix-up in the home defence led to a defender passing the ball across his 18 yard box. Davie McFarlane was alert enough to get his toe onto the ball and it trundled into the net. Time for another mini pitch invasion, with the 1 steward powerless to intervene.

So Accies were well on top and everyone relaxed. Including, unfortunately, the Accies defence, with Hutcheon allowed to run through a crack a low shot past Graham Potter. The home team took the upper hand for the next few minutes and forced several corners. The most anxious moment was when there was a communication breakdown between Graham Potter and Ross Maclaren and Montrose nearly scored an equaliser.

However, Accies scored another goal to calm things down again. This time, David McFarlane cut inside the penalty area before thumping the ball low past McGlynn in goal. This time we knew that Accies were going to do it. McFarlane nearly scored another with a blistering shot from a direct free kick which just cleared the crossbar.

Accies finally sealed the game with a rather flukey goal by substitute Michael Moore. He had the ball near the corner flag with a Montrose defender challenging. Michael twisted past the defender right to the goal line and fired the ball in low and hard towards the goal. It should have been a routine save for the goalkeeper, but he fumbled the ball and it went into the net. This time the celebrations were tinged with a little sympathy for the embarrassed goalkeeper.

That completed the scoring and it meant that the result from Central Park couldn't prevent Accies from claiming the league title.

THE PRESENTATION

When the final whistle went, there was a mass invasion of the pitch by all of the Accies fans who had been on the terracing. They surrounded the players tunnel and sang and called for their heroes to return. I went up into the stand just to see it properly and it brought a mighty lump to my throat. After all these years away from Hamilton and all the hassles of last season, Accies had triumphed and were going home.

And they'd done it in style and there were hundreds of Accies fans there to see it.

It was a real pity, therefore, that everyone was left standing on the pitch, or the stand, for fully 30 minutes after the final whistle before the much publicised SFL helicopter came into view, carrying Accies arch-nemesis Peter Donald and the league trophy. I can't believe that the flying time from Dundee airport is more than about 10 minutes, so I think we deserve an explanation.

Anyway, the pitch was finally cleared of supporters and the presentation took place. The Accies players and officials were wearing home made T-Shirts bearing the slogan, "Not by 15 points, but by enough". The look on Peter Donald's face when he saw this was priceless!

We then had the usual scenes of jubilation from the players and all the songs you can imagine were belted out to the rafters of the Links Park stand. The players took a lap of honour (led by Dylan Kerr), despite the fact that only 3 fans were still on the terracing enjoying the sunshine.

The players left the pitch to crack open the champagne in the dressing room, and I'm delighted to say that we did exactly the same in the middle of Montrose before heading home.

What a fantastic day!

What a memorable season!

Can't wait for next season, back in Hamilton in Division 2.

Accies lineup:

Michael Martin replaced Ryan Kelly

Michael Moore replaced Alex Eadie

- Read the fans' memories, or add your own, via this link.

- Please contact us if you have any information that will improve this page or if you spot any mistakes.

Images

Videos

Links and References