EFL 2019: Montrose facing relegation from Premier Division

Montrose needs to find at least two wins in the remaining 11 games if it is to avoid relegation from the Eastern Football League’s top tier.

Montrose coach Peter Bastinac. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Two wins.

That’s what Montrose requires if it is to avoid relegation from the Eastern Football League’s top flight.

North Ringwood’s win over Doncaster means the winless Demons need to make up two games on the Saints and Sharks if they are to remain in Premier Division in 2020.

Montrose coach Peter Bastinac said there were positives to draw from Saturday’s 22-point defeat against Rowville.

The Demons trailed by 43 points at halftime but kicked seven goals to three in the second half as Rowville finished with a 12.16 (88) to 9.12 (66) win.

“The killer was I think we kicked nine behinds from set shots. All easy shots too,” Bastinac said.

“We’re getting better. Seven goals to three after halftime was a good result. We’ve just got to build on that.”

Tim Lanyon takes a mark for Montrose. Picture: Hamish Blair

Rowville jumped out to a 19-point lead by quarter-time and kept Montrose to two goals in the first half.

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The Demons could have been in striking distance at halftime but kicked 1.6 in the second term.

Bastinac said it should have been a different result, instead the Demons are 0-7 and at the bottom of the ladder.

“Just that first half and the scoreboard can get away from you really quick and it did,” he said.

“I think there were some real positives for us, even though we didn’t get the result. We’ll just keep building on that.”

Doncaster sits just one game and percentage ahead of Montrose, while North Ringwood is two games clear of relegation.

Montrose will meet North Ringwood this weekend at Quambee Reserve in what shapes as a must-win game for the Demons.

“We’ve got to find those wins and I’m confident we can get them if we just keep working. It will come,” Bastinac said.

“The second half was a really good result. Rowville is a top four team at the moment and to outscore them seven goals to three (in the second half) was a real positive.

“We know that if we continue to improve we’ll win games. We’re not throwing the towel in, that’s for sure.”

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