Six of the best from Angus with Paul Sheerin

The Scottish League Cup begins this week and Derby fever will hit Angus where Arbroath play host to nearby neighbours Montrose.

Arbroath player/ boss Paul Sheerin has seen a few Derby games in his playing career that included stops at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ayr United, however the six all-Angus games he was part of in season 2010/11 are just as memorable as northern meetings with Ross County and southern clashes with Kilmarnock.

Sheerin was just a few months into his role at Gayfield when his side lost their first meeting 3-0 before suffering a Scottish Cup exit at the hands of the Links Park side in replay, however it was smiles all round as they won the next 3 games scoring 13 goals and conceding just 1.

The final meeting that season was more than memorable as Arbroath’s 4-1 success saw them secure their first ever trophy in front of their own fans as well as those of the Gable Endies.

Sheerin said: “At Inverness I played against Ross County when we were both in the Second Division and it is great to see how that game has grown in stature in recent years. When I was with Ayr I played against Kilmarnock in a CIS Cup tie in the season we reached the Final. I managed to get myself sent off but the boys held on to win on penalties.”

“Those games were always passionate affairs and meetings between Arbroath and Montrose are the same. It is not just the game that is a big as the week beforehand is huge as well. Players, fans and people associated with both clubs start getting excited in the days leading up to an Arbroath and Montrose game as local pride is at stake.”

“When you are first involved you perhaps do not expect the rivalry but winning this game allows the Chairman, the Board and the fans to walk with their chests out for a while. Getting the bragging rights over each other makes this Derby the same as the others I played in.”

Sheerin recalled the six meetings from 2010/11 starting with a day he would like to forget.

21.08.2010  THIRD DIVISION  -  MONTROSE  3-0  ARBROATH

This meeting was to prove a pivotal day in Sheerin’s fledgling career as a player/ manager as the now 38-year-old explained: “We took a right battering and were three down after half an hour. At half time I realised that I had to change how I was trying to do both playing and management as I was all over the place.”

“The way I work with my assistant Stewart Petrie changed after that day as I had to concentrate more on being a player when I am on the park as opposed to doing a whole lot of other tasks.”

Sheerin added: “I can look back at it now and see that it was a positive experience but when the Montrose players were singing, banging our dressing room door and laughing afterwards it was hard to take.”

23.10.2010 SCOTTISH CUP SECOND ROUND  -  MONTROSE  1-1  ARBROATH

The sides met in the Second Round of the Scottish Cup 2 months later at Links Park with Sheerin saying: “That finished 1-1 after Aaron Taylor-Sinclair scored for them and Steven Doris netted for us. Josh Falkingham was sent off midway through the second half and whilst we saw the game out he was suspended when we met the next Saturday in the replay.”

Sheerin added: “Just naming those 3 players tells you the quality that we both had for a Third Division game.”

30.10.2010 SCOTTISH CUP SECOND ROUND REPLAY  -  ARBROATH  2-3  MONTROSE (aet)

The wind that blows off the North Sea and adds an extra dimension to games at Gayfield was at full force 7 days later as Montrose inflicted a second defeat of the season on Arbroath.

Sheerin said: “It was absolutely blowing a gale that day and Montrose used it to their advantage in the first half. They were two up midway through the half and Ross McCord scored from just inside our half. It was a great strike although the wind played a part. We got back into things in the second half and got level with two headers from Alan Rattray.”

Montrose played a trump card with Sheerin adding: “They brought on a kid called Martin Boyle and his pace in extra time destroyed us. He scored the winner and it is no surprise he has ended up at Dundee as he is a really good player.”

“Losing hurt again, I can assure you. I also thought that the club may have just been thinking that appointing me was not turning out the way we had all hoped. Thankfully there was no panic just an increased desire to do better.”

13.11.2010 THIRD DIVISION  -  ARBROATH  4-0  MONTROSE

Sheerin experienced very different emotions when his side gained an element of revenge for their earlier defeats with a 4-0 Gayfield win.

Doris was the architect of the win with a hat-trick as he converted a first half penalty after being fouled by Sean Crighton and then heading in just after the hour mark before scoring from close range 4 minutes later.

Sheerin said: “That was a wonderful day and I could sense that the players had learned what this game means. They knew that winning against Montrose meant a lot to the club especially after two defeats and went out and did it.”

To put the icing on the cake Sheerin completed the scoring when he fired home from edge of the box for his first goal as a player/ manager and he said: “I enjoyed that win and I enjoyed that goal.”

02.01.2011 THIRD DIVISION  -  MONTROSE  0-5  ARBROATH

2011 was ushered in with fine style by Arbroath as they won convincingly at Links Park with Falkingham and Gavin Swankie hitting doubles and Doris making it five.

Sheerin joked: “The Montrose dressing room was a bit quieter after that game. It was a great win and we achieved it in front of a fair amount of travelling fans. I was a substitute that day but I remember Chris Hegarty getting sent off in the first half and Gordon Pope joining him in the second. It was a really good performance and brings it home to you that we had some fire power in our ranks that season.”

“Josh and Steven were terrific and the three of them together were sensational but Gavin Swankie was just that wee bit better at that time. He was terrific for us over the season.”

23.04.2011 THIRD DIVISION  -  ARBROATH  4-1  MONTROSE

The Red Lichties had climbed into top spot by the end of January and the club looked on to win their first ever trophy of any kind. Celebrations were dependent on results elsewhere, however a win against Montrose would have meant that Sheerin’s side could only be caught on goal difference.

The day turned out better than hoped as closest challengers Albion Rovers went down 2-1 to Queen’s Park and Arbroath recorded a third successive win over their neighbours to win the Third Division..

Sheerin said: “We could have won it the week before but we drew so actually I did not feel a great deal of pressure on us as there were still a few games to go. It was not as if it was make or break but of course the fans were excited as they could see us win our first ever trophy in 133 years, at home and against our local rivals.”

“We had over 2,000 fans in that day and it was an incredible atmosphere. We made a great start with Steven Doris scoring an early penalty and Josh scored just before half-time. I knew then we would win the game and was then looking for the Albion Rovers result to go in our favour.”

The second half saw Sheerin score and Adam Strachan hit a last minute fourth with the Gayfield boss saying: “I remember chipping their goalkeeper and then going a bit daft and running the length of the park to celebrate.”

Rovers lost at Hampden to have the champagne corks popping however on reflection Sheerin has noticed how far his club has moved on since that famous day.

The Gayfield boss said: “There is only two of that squad still at the club and I am one of them. That is quite a turnaround in two and a half years. Ross Chisholm is still an Arbroath player but he has been away and come back.”

“Looking at the Montrose line up they only have a couple of players still there and that also emphasises the changing nature of football squads.”

As for Saturday’s meeting Sheerin said: “It is a game that I have been looking forward to ever since the draw was made last month. I am sure everyone connected with both clubs feels the same way especially as we had a pre-season game organised and that got cancelled.”

“We may well be the favourites as we are at home and in the second Division but from the reports I have seen Montrose played well at Elgin last weekend before losing. It is a passionate Derby game and anything can happen.”