Montrose crashed to a shock Scottish Cup exit after a devastating Darvel display at Links Park.
The Angus side were left stunned as a double from former Ross County star Ian McShane and goals from Cameron Eadie, Ross Caldwell and Andrew Stirling handed the Junior side the win.
And while Terry Masson and Craig Brown both got on the scoresheet, Mo’s fell to a 5-2 defeat.
Key moments
Montrose found themselves 3-1 down at the break and must have wondered what had hit them.
They looked in control for much of the opening period, with Rory McAllister rattling the bar, Darvel scrambling the ball off the line and Masson netting.
85' STIRLO!!!!!
🔵⚪1-5⚫ pic.twitter.com/4lhEoz1VGs
— Darvel FC (@darvelfc) November 26, 2022
But take nothing away from Darvel, they were clinical in their finishing. They had five clear-cut chances and they netted all five.
Questions can be asked over how Darvel found themselves in so much space but there was little keeper Aaron Lennox could do at either goal.
Montrose star man
Not many Montrose players will be picking out clips from this game for their highlights reel.
But credit, where it’s due, there were still some decent performances for the hosts.
Terry Masson’s powerful running and clinical finish sees him walk away with this award.
Montrose player ratings
Montrose: Lennox 5, Steeves 5, Allan 5, Quinn 5, Webster 6, Callaghan 6, Whatley 6 (Ballantyne 61, 3), Masson 7, Lyons 5 (Johnston 46, 5), Gardyne 5, McAllister 6 (Brown 70, 3).
Subs not used: Bell, Middleton, Alexander, Giacomini.
Referee – Graham Beaton
Attendance: 616
Manager under the microscope
Stewart Petrie handed Masson a start after his recovery from a knee operation.
And the move paid dividends with Masson rattling home a leveller from 20 yards.
Graham Webster, who netted 16 times from a more advanced role last year, was again deployed at wing-back.
And while Webby made marauding runs down the flank, you can’t help but wonder what he could do in attack.
Petrie shuffled his pack in the second period, bringing on Craig Johnston, Cammy Ballantyne and Craig Brown but couldn’t halt a Scottish Cup exit.
Man in the middle
It’s far to say that referee Graham Beaton won’t be top of Montrose’s Christmas card list after this game.
A number of dubious first-half decisions from the official, let Mo seething and were pivotal to Darvel’s commanding lead at the break.
Rory McAllister was booked for diving when he could have had cause for a penalty.
And then with Liam Callaghan on the deck in pain after a meaty Ross Caldwell challenge, Darvel broke clear to net through McShane and go 2-1 up.
Beaton incurred the furious wrath from the home bench for failing to call play back for the tackle on Callaghan but the goal stood.
In fairness to Darvel, the Ayrshire side won this game convincingly in the end and can look forward to a money-spinning tie in the next round.
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