Montrose scores come-from-behind eight-point win over Knox to open its Eastern Football League season

MONTROSE scored a character-building eight-point win after overcoming a 19-point three-quarter time deficit against Knox to snap an 11-game losing streak.

Brendan Gardoll was among Montrose’s best players. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

MONTROSE scored a character-building eight-point win after overcoming a 19-point three-quarter time deficit against Knox on Saturday to snap an 11-game losing streak.

After leading by 20 points just before halftime, the Demons let Knox back into the contest as the Falcons kicked seven of the next eight goals at Argyle Way.

But Montrose held Knox two just two behinds in the final quarter to finish with a gutsy 11.13 (79) to 10.11 (71) victory.

After registering just three wins last year before waving goodbye to a host of senior players over the summer, Montrose coach Peter Bastinac implored his young side in the pre-season to step up and embrace the challenging of remaining in the top tier.

Matthew Missen kicked one goal for Montrose on Saturday. Picture: Andy Brownbill

On the Demons’ first showing, he would have been impressed by his side’s grit as they look to bank early wins to avoid being part of the relegation conversation.

With two sides set to be demoted from Division 1 as part of the competition restructure, victories early in the season will be at a premium for sides tipped to be in the lower echelon of the ladder.

“Little bit disappointed we couldn’t go on with the game, we got to 20 points in front and we just let them back in,” Bastinac said.

“That was disappointing but to fight back after three-quarter time, I think we were 19 points down, it was a great effort, great show of character to dig in and get the job done.”

It was Montrose’s first win since Round 7 last year, when the Demons defeated North Ringwood by seven points.

Bastinac said the result would fill his side with belief ahead of next weekend’s contest against premiership favourite Vermont.

“Third quarter they just started winning it around the footy and we didn’t take our chances,” he said.

“Warm day and I think both teams were really feeling it but I thought our players handled it really well in the last quarter, we were a bit more composed.”