Starting XI: fon Williams, Lynch, Williams, Turnbull, Swailes, Assoumani, Tansey, Conlon, Donnelly, Poole, Rowe. Subs: Vincent, Griffin, Pilkington, Halls, Fisher, Ormson, Proctor.
New signing Jamie Proctor started life at Edgeley Park on the substitute's bench as Manager Paul Simpson made just one change for the visit of Wycombe Wanderers with fit again Robbie Williams replacing Andy Halls at left back.
The first real chance of the game goes the way of County as the referee brings play back to award a free kick for handball; Robbie Williams' free kick is deflected on to the post and out for a corner, with the resulting corner scrambled away with Assoumani waiting to pounce.
In the 12th minute Montrose shoots from 25 yards but fon Williams is well placed to take the ball well in both hands. Two minutes later both teams create a chance, as first County break down the right with Lynch to cross and Wanderers breaking straight down the other end for Ainsworth to cross with Rowe getting back to defend well.
Barry Conlon, with a great piece of skill turns his man and threads a ball through but just fails to find his strike partner Donnelly, Greg Tansey becomes the first player in the book as he fouls Ainsworth in the 27th minute.
County's best chance of the half comes after a great run and cross from Mark Lynch finds Danny Rowe at the left post but his volley just wide of the upright, Wycombe also just miss the chance to go ahead as Betsy heads wide from an Ainsworth cross, both sides are still looking for a goal as the game reaches the half way stage.
No changes for County as the second half begins with County looking good for an opening goal, with Conlon and Donnelly, their partnership getting better each game, creating openings for each other and their team mates. In the 50th minute Tansey wins a 50/50 in his own half and immediately releases Donnelly who races away from his man only for the keeper to make a great save to deny County a goal, from the loose ball Lynch puts in a cross which Donnelly just heads wide.
A couple of minutes later David Poole, having a good game on the right, plays in Donnelly down the right who whips in a cross for Conlon to chest down but again the chance is charged down. Tansey sends over a cross field ball for Poole to cross for Donnelly who's header is deflected wide.
Jamie Proctor makes his debut for the Hatters as he replaces Danny Rowe, who received a blow to his hip earlier, and moves straight out to the left wing, Kevin Betsy becomes the second name in the book for a foul on Paul Turnbull as the county midfield start to take control. From the resulting free kick Poole whips in a great cross that causes havoc in the box but unfortunately is again cleared to safety.
Robbie Williams comes off for treatment after appearing to jar his knee in a tackle, and with County down to ten men the visitors almost sneak into the lead as Betsy pokes a loose ball past the post.
In the 66th minute Poole comes very close to scoring the first League goal of the 2010/11 season at Edgeley Park as he stretches to reach a cross from the left, his volley is just inches over the bar with the keeper beaten, Proctor then makes a chance for himself but the keeper is once again equal to the threat.
Williams finally has to admit defeat to his knee problem and is replaced by Griffin and leaves the field to a warm ovation from the home supporters. Owain makes a smart save from a header from Ainsworth with Poole making the final clearance to the halfway line, shortly before being replaced by Danny Pilkington, who is straight into the action down the left with Proctor moving to the right.
In the 83rd minute a tremendous free kick from 25 yards by Tansey is brilliantly tipped over the bar by Nikki Bull in the Wanderers goal to stop the County midfielder opening the scoring, with Pilkington shooting just wide a couple of minutes later as County pushed forward looking to claim all three points. The final few minutes saw both teams pushing for a winner as an entertaining game was brought to a close by the final whistle with neither team finding the net.
Final Score 0 - 0 (Man of the Match Robbie Williams)
Attendance: 3837 (266 away fans)
