Montrose 2 Forfar Athletic 1

The Loons exited the Tunnocks Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup at the second round stage on Tuesday after a 2-1 defeat at Montrose.

Despite going ahead through Murray Mackintosh, Forfar conceded in either half as Lewis Milne and a Callum Tapping own goal gave the Gable Endies the win.

Jim Weir made a handful of changes to his side with Bain, Travis, Robertson, Mackintosh, Coupe and Aitken drafted in for Meechan, Docherty, Tapping, Irvine, Jackson and Hilson.

They were dealt a blow after less than ten minutes of the game when Darren Whyte was forced off with a hamstring injury, the defender replacing Mark Docherty.

Montrose had the better opportunities by the midway stage of the first half as Josh Skelly as well as former Loons Patrick Cregg and Lewis Milne forced saves from McCallum.

Forfar’s first notable chance came on the half-hour mark through Ross Forbes driving towards goal, only to see his shot blocked by the defence.

Five minutes later he was involved as the Loons took the lead when his corner was caught by Aaron Lennox who then remembered he had a late birthday present for Murray Mackintosh; dropping the ball for the midfielder to stab home.

The lead wasn’t to last long however and it was Milne who netted against his former club after being played in on goal just two minutes after going behind.

Jordan Kirkpatrick had a golden opportunity to put Forfar ahead again in the 55th minute when Connor Coupe’s shot was parried but he blazed the rebound over the bar.

He went closer eight minutes later when he curled past Lennox’s post and shortly after the visitors to Links Park felt they should have had a penalty; Forbes’ corner looked to have been handled by Iain Campbell but the claims were waved away.

With twenty minutes remaining, Montrose were the ones to push themselves in front when they broke down the left-wing; Blair Lyons’ cross was diverted past McCallum by the unfortunate Callum Tapping.

The Loons were now chasing the game but despite this, they were unable to create much with only Kirkpatrick, Forbes and Sean Burns able to get any shots away but were either off-target or saved by Lennox.

Full time came and meant the Loons had exited the Challenge Cup for the first time of asking three years in a row, all three fixtures coming away from home.

Montrose: Lennox, Ballantyne, Steeves, Allan, Watson (Callaghan 64), McLean (R. Campbell 72), Milne, I. Campbell, Cregg, Lyons, Skelly (Webster 64)

Subs not used: Dillon, Rennie, Fleming

Forfar Athletic: McCallum, Bain, Burns, Whyte (Docherty 9), Travis, Robertson, Coupe, Mackintosh (Tapping 62), Aitken (Hilson 62), Forbes, Kirkpatrick

Subs not used: Jackson, Irvine, Meechan, McGuff

Match report by Lee Smith