Montrose rang the changes in midfield from the side which started against Dundee four days previously. Keith Gibson and Jamie Buchan were the central midfield pairing, with ex-Clyde player, Kevin Bradley, playing on the right as a trialist.

The two trialists who figured against Dundee, Bobby Barr and Brian Clark, were on the bench, along with Davidson, Black, Stewart, Gardiner and Winton.

In a lively opening, two crosses from Jay Stein were dealt with by the St Johnstone defence, then a cross from trialist Bradley was also cleared.

Montrose took the lead with 14 minutes played. Full-back Irvine gave the ball straight to John Baird 35 yards out and the striker lofted it over the head of goalkeeper McLean and into the net.

Montrose continued to look good and a cross from Stein was gathered by the keeper as Hunter closed in.

St Johnstone began to take a grip of proceedings and in 33 minutes a Craig cross was headed out by McLeod and ex-Chelsea man Jody Morris shot wide.

Two minutes later, a Craig corner was headed on by Anderson and Jackson headed wide.

In 37 minutes, St Johnstone were awarded a penalty for a shirt-pull by David Worrell on Swankie. Jackson took the spot-kick and Mark Peat dived to save. The ball broke back to Jackson who was about to pick his spot only for Chris McLeod to slide in and make a saving tackle.

A minute later, a drive from Irvine was saved by Peat.

Two minutes from the break, Peat turned a Millar shot round the post. Following the corner, Morris shot over.

Montrose made a change at half-time when Gardiner replaced Thomson at left-back.

St Johnstone made all the running at the start of the second half. Millar shot wide, a Craig shot dipped just over, then Samuel shot wide from good position.

In 55 minutes, a fierce drive from Jackson was tipped over by Peat.

In 67 minutes, Montrose sent on Davidson and Black for Cumming and Stein. Buchan dropped back to central defence alongside McLeod.

St Johnstone equalised in 73 minutes with what can only be described as a freak goal. Polish left-back Topolski broke on the flank and his cross deflected off Worrell and spun into the net.

Montrose sent on Stewart for Baird in 83 minutes, then in 86 minutes, a McDonald volley from a Holmes knock-down was saved by Peat.

Two minutes from time, trialists Barr and Clark replaced trialist Bradley and Keith Gibson.

Montrose tried to steal a win and with 90 minutes on the watch, Roddy Hunter forced a save from McLean.

Montrose: Peat, Worrell, Thomson (Gardiner 45), McLeod, Cumming (Davidson 67), Buchan, Trialist (Trialist 88), Gibson (Trialist 88), Hunter, Baird (Stewart 83), Stein (Black 67).