Formartyn United edged past Montrose 3-2 in a Group Stage-4 encounter of the Call Cup on Tuesday evening. The result keeps both sides in contention for the knockout phase, though the margin of victory tells only half the story. C. Jameison's 84th-minute strike proved decisive after a match that swung between the two sides more times than most would expect.
The opening period ended with Formartyn ahead thanks to a penalty from J. Wade at the 45-minute mark. It was a moment that shifted momentum, though neither side managed to create a single big chance before the break. By then, the pattern was already visible: possession without penetration, and a game being decided in moments rather than sustained pressure.
The second half unfolded as a series of responses. G. Abari levelled for Montrose in the 72nd minute, and R. Thomas restored Formartyn's lead just three minutes later. The match could have ended there, but A. Clelland found the net for Montrose in the 82nd minute, and it was only then that the game truly opened. Jameison's response came fast, and once again Formartyn held on.
The statistics paint a picture of a match where chances were scarce. Both sides registered six shots on target and six off target. Formartyn enjoyed 58 per cent possession and 72 attacks compared to Montrose's 45, yet neither team could convert their dominance into clear-cut opportunities. Big chances created stood at zero for both sides, which says something about the quality of the finishing rather than the creation.
Montrose arrived with better recent form, having won their last five matches including victories over East Fife and Cowdenbeath. Formartyn's record was more mixed, with defeats to Dundee United II and Buckie Thistle among their results. The Call Cup, as these competitions often do, put the standings out of the window. What mattered was who could handle the moment, and on this occasion, Formartyn's deeper bench made a difference in the final minutes.
