Montrose 2 - 2 Dunfermline: Steven Tweed and Paul Tosh defy age barrier to thwart Fifers

Published on Sunday 9 January 2011 15:34

Montrose manager Steven Tweed decided there was no substitute for experience for this tie and, following last week's 5-0 loss to neighbours Arbroath, picked himself and Paul Tosh.

The 37-year-old Tosh duly repaid his manager's faith by firing Montrose ahead in 26 minutes when he rifled in an angled drive after Nicky Smith had opened up the visiting defence.

And a shock looked on the cards until two Dunfermline goals in the final 16 minutes.

Substitute Pat Clarke blasted in a long drive that home goalkeeper Sandy Wood could not beat away and, with only nine minutes remaining, David Graham fired in a free kick that struck a post and fell to Andy Kirk, who forced the ball home from close range.

Tweed, himself aged 38, and Tosh, showed the youngsters how it was done when they combined in injury time when the one-time Hibs centre half headed down to the one-time Hibs striker to shoot home an equaliser.

The player/manager said: "Between us we have more than 40 years experience of playing the game and I am sure our experience helped."