Formartine United produced the upset of the round, beating SPFL opposition 3-2 in a five-goal thriller against Montrose at North Lodge Park. The Highland League side led, were pegged back, and then found a late winner to spark celebrations in Pitmedden and send a League One club out of the Scottish Bells Challenge Cup.

The match in brief

• Fixture: Formartine United vs Montrose
• Competition: Scottish Bells Challenge Cup
• Date: 23 September 2026
• Final score: Formartine United 3-2 Montrose
• Venue: North Lodge Park, Pitmedden

How a five-goal classic unfolded

Formartine began the game with no hint of inferiority. Pressing Montrose high and attacking directly down the flanks, they forced a series of early corners and took the lead when a driven cross was turned in at the second attempt after the goalkeeper had parried the initial effort. It was exactly the start the home crowd had hoped for, and for twenty minutes Montrose looked rattled.

The visitors, though, are an experienced League One outfit and gradually played their way back into the contest. A well-constructed move through the middle brought the equaliser, and at that point the tie appeared to be swinging in the direction of the higher-ranked side. Formartine, however, refused to fold, and restored their advantage with a superb strike from the edge of the box shortly before the interval.

Key moments

• Opening goal: Formartine's early pressure rewarded with a scrappy but deserved opener.
• Montrose equaliser: A patient passing move cut the home defence open.
• Second Formartine goal: A long-range effort that flew into the top corner.
• Montrose's second: A set-piece header that levelled the tie again and set up a tense finale.
• Late winner: Formartine's substitute latched onto a through ball and finished calmly to settle it.

Tactical story

Formartine's plan was built on energy and directness. They knew they could not out-pass a full-time League One side over ninety minutes, so they pressed aggressively, committed bodies forward on the counter, and made the most of set-piece situations. The intensity of their running in the final twenty minutes was the difference — Montrose looked leggy as the game wore on.

Montrose will feel they contributed to their own downfall. Twice they conceded within minutes of scoring themselves, failing to manage the momentum of the game, and their defensive line was repeatedly stretched by balls played in behind. Against a sharper, more ruthless opponent, that pattern is fatal in knockout football.

Standout performers

Formartine's goalkeeper made two crucial saves at 2-2 to keep the tie level, and the substitute who scored the winner will be remembered for a long time at North Lodge Park. The midfield captain drove the team forward relentlessly. For Montrose, the creative midfielder was at the heart of most of their best moments, and the striker who headed in the second goal was a constant physical threat.

What the result means

For Formartine United, this is the kind of night that defines a season. Beating a League One club in the Bells Challenge Cup delivers both a place in the next round and a surge of belief that can carry into league form. For Montrose, it is a disappointing early exit from a competition they would have viewed as a realistic route to silverware, and questions will be asked about their game management.