Third Division defences are quickly learning that Montrose striker Martin Boyle may look like he should still be playing at youth level however, if they switch off thinking they are safe from danger, they may well find out that the jet paced youngster has put the ball in the back of their net before they have switched back on again.
The 18-year-old has bagged eight goals so far this season and he is determined to copy former Links Park youngster Aaron Sinclair and perform so well for the Third Division side that he gets a crack at full-time football.
Boyle played most of his football as a youngster in Aberdeen, with Albion Boys Club as well as a lengthy spell with Lewis United where he was spotted by Montrose two and a half years ago. Within a few months, with the Gable Endies’ Under-17 Youth Division side Boyle was pitched into first team action by then boss Steven Tweed.
It was to be no ordinary debut either with Boyle explaining: “I made my first appearance as a 16-year-old against Hibs at Easter Road in a Fifth Round Scottish Cup tie. I got an inkling that I may be playing in the game at some stage at training on Tuesday and Thursday night when I was involved with the first team players.
“It was great as all my family were down to watch the game and I got on with a few minutes left. Hibs had a few star players at the time, including Derek Riordan, so it was a great experience in front of over 9,000 fans even though we got beaten 5-1. We did score the best goal of the game with Chris Hegarty hitting home an absolute peach to make it 3-1.”
The rest of the season saw Boyle continue to be on the bench until the final game of the season when he started against Elgin City although that day was slightly ruined as Montrose lost 5-2.
Boyle also made an impact for Scotland Schoolboys during that year as he played against the Republic of Ireland, Wales, Ireland and England in the Home Nations Cup. Boyle netted against the Auld Enemy in a game at Carlisle that was beamed across the world by Sky Sports with the hit-man saying, “It was great to score in such a high profile game and my goal was certainly the highlight as we lost 4-1 that night.”
The youngster’s first appearance of the next season for Montrose saw him score his first goal when he came off the bench with 20 minutes left to net within 60 seconds of his side’s 8-1 success over Clyde.
Clyde had been reduced to nine men before half an hour had been played in the game and the striker’s goal made it six nil to Montrose and it left him in a quandary as he said: “I did not know what to do about a celebration as I had never scored before and also the game was well won.”
Boyle’s next goal did however, bring wild celebrations from Montrose fans and players as it came four minutes from the end of extra-time in a Scottish Cup replay against local rivals Arbroath.
The strike sealed a 3-2 win for Tweed’s men after they had been two goals ahead before being pegged back. Boyle’s goal at Gayfield that day was a major indication that he is lightning quick as he outpaced his maroon shirted marker and rounded Arbroath goalkeeper Darren Hill to shoot into the empty net from a tight angle.
Boyle said: “That goal was a bit special for the fans and it was also a bit special for me as I had been denied one just a few minutes earlier when the referee’s assistant decided I was offside.”
Further goals came in another win against Clyde and then a success over East Stirlingshire however, Tweed left shortly after the 2-1 success over the Shire that Boyle netted in to concentrate on his financial services career.
The striker said: “I have to give Steven credit for giving me a chance in football. He never put any pressure on me in the first team and just told me to do what I had been doing with the Under-19s.
“I only started a couple of games when he played at the back but he would look out for me in games. We are still a young side but we are a bit more experienced now, with guys like Jamie Winter and Dougie Cameron playing and all the boys look out for each other.”
When Tweed left in March, his assistant Ray Farningham stepped up and Boyle’s development continued with the speedy striker saying: “Ray has been great with me as well and I am learning new stuff all the time. Everyone reckons I am fast and I know it is my biggest asset but the Manager is teaching me other parts of the game as well.
“He has been teaching me about my movement off the ball and how to hold the ball up. He has also had me playing wide so I am learning all the time.”
What Boyle has learnt has been put to good use as he explained: “This season has been brilliant for me as I am up to eight goals although I just wished we had won more games. I have not set myself a target for goals but it would be great to get a few more and hopefully, they will be winners for Montrose.”
One of Boyle’s counters came at the National Stadium against Queen’s Park and it had shades of his cup winning goal when he ran away from his marker and collected a Stephen McNally pass. He took the ball round Neil Parry in the home goal and kept as calm as an experienced goal-grabber to roll the ball home.
“It was a great feeling to score at Hampden,” said Boyle before adding, “It could only have been bettered if the stadium had been full of supporters.”
The youngster has also bagged doubles against Elgin City and Annan Athletic as well as finding the net against Alloa Athletic, Peterhead and Berwick Rangers to sit third top of the Third Division goalscoring charts behind Elgin’s Craig Gunn and Peterhead’s Rory McAllister.
Having seen former team-mate Sinclair move to Partick Thistle in the summer and attract a lot of attention from both sides of the border ever since, Boyle is keen to follow in his footsteps.
He said: “Aaron managed a get a great move to full-time football and he deserved it. I trained with Aberdeen when I was younger and played for Lewis United but it never really went anywhere. They are my local team and it would be great to end up full-time there but I would be quite happy to go full-time anywhere although I am in no hurry to leave Montrose as they have been great for me.
“They have looked after me really well and I am enjoying playing there. I work part-time in a parcel delivery company and I also study Sport and Fitness at College so I have plenty going on.”
It is Queen’s Park again this weekend for Montrose with Boyle saying: “They had an excellent 3-0 win over Clyde in midweek so this will be a tough game but we are certainly up for winning more games and hopefully, we will do that in this one.”
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