Stenhousemuir looked dead and buried at the interval after Kevin Bradley and John Baird had given Montrose what looked like an unassailable lead.

A brilliant brace in a three minute second half spell from Scott Dalziel, however, squared the match.

And had John Ovenstone's injury time header found the net, rather than inch past the post, the Warriors' transformation would have been complete.

As it turned out a draw was no disgrace – after an opening 45 minutes that boss John Coughlin described as "tortuous" – as it keeps the Ochilview outfit just two points off table toppers Annan.

"It was the proverbial game of two halves," Coughlin said. "I'm sure Montrose thought they had three points in the bag after the first period, but we made changes and all credit to the lads for fighting back."

Paul Tyrell was suspended following his two yellow cards the previous week and his presence in midfield was badly missed prior to both of the visitors' goals.

After 10 minutes former Clyde ace Bradley was allowed to advance to within 25 yards before unleashing a cracking drive that fizzed into Kieron Renton's top right corner.

And, 11 minutes later, the back four was again given no protection when Jamie Buchan found John Baird unmarked at the edge of the box for the ex-Warrior to drill low into the net.

Just before the break 'Muir looked to have been thrown a lifeline when referee Colin Brown pointed to the spot after Ovenstone was pulled back by Ross Gardiner in the box.

Yet, after consulting his stand side assistant – who only indicated offside by an inactive player after the ref had blown – he awarded Montrose a free-kick. It was a dreadful decision, but Coughlin had no complaints. "I didn't see the incident," he said. "I was busy working out what changes to make at the break after that display."

And changes he made, which duly turned the game around.
Iain Thomson and Alan Brazil were replaced by Andy Shirra and Steven Desmond, transforming the middle of the park to ensure a more cohesive unit on the restart.

Young Desmond was terrific, but Shirra's ball retention allowed the full backs to bomb forward and, for the first time, Dalziel received the service he thrives on.

With 66 minutes played the home side pulled one back.
Willie Lyle raced behind the Montrose rearguard wide on the right and crossed to the back stick for Dalziel to head home.

Three minutes later it was Chris McGroarty on the other side who showed tenacity to make the bye-line, and his peach of a delivery was met by the big fellow's forehead and the ball powered in under the bar.

Then, in the last piece of action, Desmond crossed and an unmarked Ovenstone seemed certain to score from six yards.

The defender will get his share over the season but, on this occasion, he headed wide with the goal gaping.

"When I saw John rise I expected the net to bulge," Coughlin added.

"It would have given us the points, but whether we would have deserved them is another matter."

The manager would have taken them without a blush no doubt, but his assertion before the start of the campaign that this league would go right to the wire, already looks to have a ring of truth about it.

STENHOUSEMUIR 2
Dalziel 66, 69

MONTROSE 2
Bradley 10, Baird 21
(HT 0-2)
Attendance: 352

Stenhousemuir: Renton 6, Lyle 6, McGroarty 6, Smith 7, Ovenstone 7, Motion 7, Thomson 3 (Shirra 46, 8), Ferguson 6, Dalziel 9, Brand 6, Brazil 3 (Desmond 46, 7)
Not used: Hampshire, Gibson, Bennett,
Booked: McGroarty 11, Thomson 32

Referee: Colin Brown