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The wind was the only winner as both sides did their best in a cinch League One clash that was totally ruined by the howling gale that swept the length of Links Park.

It was a day when defences needed to be top and that was certainly the case with ours.

Ryan Strachan and Morgyn Neill made countless well-timed clearances, with full-backs Scott Ross and Harry Milne also doing their bit to ensure we at least came away with a point.

Keeper Stuart McKenzie also deserves praise for making two crucial saves in the first half as both sets of players huffed and puffed without really getting anywhere because the ball was whirling about like a beach ball in tornado.

Home keeper Aaron Lennox also made a vital save in the second period, so a draw was a fair result on an afternoon when there was no chance of the encounter living up to its match-of-the-day billing.

We made two changes to the side that started against Queen’s Park the week before, with Milne and Ross the ones to come in.

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During the Scottish League One game between Montrose FC and Cove Rangers FC at Links Park, Montrose, Scotland, on Saturday 6th November 2021 ( Photo by Dave Cowe )

Montrose at least had the wind at their backs in the first half and thought they had taken the lead in the fourth minute, when Graham Webster swept the ball into the net from eight yards.

The striker was clearly offside though, so the effort was ruled out by referee Grant Irvine.

Kerr Waddell then tried his luck with a 35-yard free-kick, but the effort was easily gathered by McKenzie.

We threatened in the 24th minute, when Fraser Fyvie’s pass over the home defence reached Rory McAllister, but his volley from inside the six-yard box was blocked by Aiden Quinn.

Montrose had a great chance when Cammy Ballantyne broke clear, on the right, just before the half hour.

The full-back was gearing up to shoot at McKenzie, but was denied by a perfectly timed tackle by Milne inside the penalty area.

Montrose broke forward again and Mark Whatley should have done better than lash his 15-yard shot over the crossbar.

McKenzie’s first crucial stop came in the 38th minute.

Webster broke clear on the right for Montrose, but the big keeper was positioned perfectly to beat the striker’s 10-yard shot away.

McKenzie’s second save, in the 44th minute, was top drawer.

Lewis Milne hoisted a long throw over from the right and when the ball came back out to Whatley his rocket shot was going in until McKenzie stretched and deflected the ball over the bar with his finger tips.

The wind was blowing even stronger after the restart, which it made it even more difficult to play even the simplest of passes.

We at least got forward a bit more and Iain Vigurs was unlucky to see his 22-yard shot, after latching on to a lay-off from McAllister, speed wide of the target.

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During the Scottish League One game between Montrose FC and Cove Rangers FC at Links Park, Montrose, Scotland, on Saturday 6th November 2021 ( Photo by Dave Cowe )

Harry Milne underlined his class again in the 62nd minute, when he raced back to clear Whatley’s net-bound effort from inside the six-yard box.

Our best chance of the game came two minutes later, after a slip by home defender Kerr Waddell gave Fin Robertson the chance to break clear.

The midfielder then hit an excellent shot from 20-yards that would have gone in if home keeper Lennox hadn’t dived full-length to his right to push the ball wide of his post.

We had a penalty claim turned away in the 66th minute, after Cammy F Ballantyne appeared to handle the ball as he cleared it away from McAllister.

Milne got forward on the left and his cross was heading to McAllister until Lennox punched the ball clear from edge of his six-yard box.

McAllister stepped up to take a long range free-kick in the 72nd minute, but his effort flew well over the Montrose goal.

McAllister made up for that two minutes later with a clever nod on to send Mitch Megginson clear through the middle.

The striker then attempted to lob the advancing Lennox from the edge of the area, but the howling gale helped carry the ball over the crossbar.

Montrose had the best of the chances in the latter stages, after Scott Ross had done well to intercept Webster’s dangerous cross from the right wing.

The rebound went straight to Terry Masson, but he blasted his shot from 10-yards over to ensure both sides at least got something for the effort they had put in to cope with the elements.

MONTROSE: Lennox, C Ballantyne, Steeves, Waddell, Quinn, Masson, Webster, CF Ballantyne (Lyons 86), Keatings (Johnston 66) Milne, Whatley.

Subs: Allan, Campbell, Brown, Antoniazzi, Fleming.

COVE RANGERS: McKenzie, Neill, Milne, Ross, Strachan, Megginson, Masson, McAllister (Adeyemo 80), Vigurs, Robertson (Yule 70), Fyvie (Leitch 80).

Subs: Scully, McIntosh, Anderson, Gourlay.

Referee: Grant Irvine.

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