Montrose enjoyed another productive season in League One as they finished fourth in the standings – well above where they should finish by rights.
They did not display the consistency or the defensive solidarity that they have in previous campaigns, but they were able to win key matches, doing just enough the whole time to remain in the playoff picture.
The first part of the season was the best for Montrose as they picked up regular victories over the league’s weaker sides. After the shutdown, they became very difficult to beat but were prone to drawing matches. Nevertheless, considering their resources, they coped well with the difficult situation that they faced.
When it cam to the crunch, they won a key fixture with Cove Rangers 1-0 at home to get into the playoffs, but despite beating Morton in the first leg were ultimately outclassed in the second after extra-time.
The renovation of Montrose’s squad continues to be impressive year on year. Russell McLean may have been a disappointment last season, but he was one of their star men this time around as he hit double figures in terms of goals. He led the line superbly and was a key figure. Indeed, it was surprising to see him eclipse Martin Rennie so completely in attack.
In the midfield and on the wings, they had plenty of quality, which underpinned their ability to be competitive when the fixture list grew busy in 2021. Graham Webster was the standout figure in terms of his durability and contribution, top scoring for his side with 12 goals in all competitions.
Montrose were also strong at the back, where they post several strong centre-backs, including Aidan Quinn and Sean Dillon. These players are augmented by high quality full-backs in the form of Andrew Steeves and Cammy Ballantyne, who chopped in with three goals apiece and were important figures.
Montrose should be quietly confident of performing to around this standard next season. With manager Stewart Petrie, they have constantly defied expectations.
