Aberdeen 1-2 Montrose Balmoral Stadium Scottish Cup Fourth Round Sunday 18th January, 2026
Aberdeen faced Montrose on Sunday afternoon in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, their first fixture of 2026.
Scott Booth made two changes to the side which ended 2025 in defeat to Rangers, with Anna Prawer replacing Katie Cox between the posts and Mya Christie making way for Toni Leigh Finnegan. 16 year old Mia Selbie was named on the bench, a first appearance in the matchday squad for the young forward.
Report
The Dons started excellently, and should’ve broken the deadlock within the opening 5 minutes. Prawer’s long ball from a goal kick sent Kerry Beattie racing towards the Montrose goal, entering the area before laying the ball into Eva Thomson to strike from inside the area, her effort well saved by Perry.
Another good opportunity came for Aberdeen 10 minutes later. After good work down the Montrose left the ball fell to Finnegan, who whipped her cross onto the head of Stewart, Hannah’s effort just trickling past Perry’s post.
The visitors thought they had taken the lead on the half hour mark, after Sophie Martin was slipped in behind and slotted past Prawer, the offside flag quickly halting the celebrations of Montrose fans and players.
Instead it was the Dons who would take the lead in incredible fashion. With 31 minutes on the clock, Abi Tobin stepped up to whip an inswinging corner into the box. Her dead ball was a defender’s worst nightmare, evading everyone in blue before finding the top corner of the Montrose net and firing the Dandies in front.
Moments later, Mclaren’s looping effort from 18 yards rippled the roof of the Aberdeen net.
37 minutes in and the Dons should’ve had their second. Fantastic work from Kerry Beattie down the Montrose left allowed the forward to evade the challenges of Robb and work her way into the box before laying the ball off to Stewart, her thunderous effort was brilliantly saved by Perry with the ‘keeper then recovering to catch Hannah’s second attempt.
Montrose finished the half strongly, stringing together a few quickfire opportunities from Taylor and Martin, their attempts coming close to finding the corners of Anna’s goal.
Yet it was Aberdeen who had the best opening before the half-time whistle. Abi Tobin’s looping freekick from 35 yards again caused issues in the Montrose area, this time falling to the feet of Jess Broadrick, the centre-half’s volley curling inches past the post.
A strong first half display from the Dons had them going into the break ahead, though Scott Booth’s side would be feeling a 1 goal advantage didn’t reflect their dominance throughout the contest.
Half-time – Aberdeen 1-0 Montrose
Centre back Georgia Carter was introduced for the visitors after the interval in a straight swap for Jade McLaren.
The hour mark was reached without any meaningful goalmouth action, both sides failing to fashion the sort of chances which littered the first half.
Captain Stewart provided the Dons’ first shooting opportunity of the second period as she set up Eva Thomson to volley from 20 yards out, the midfielder’s effort flying past Perry’s left post.
Prawer was forced into action for the first time in the 75’ minute. Francesca Ogilvie was robbed of possession in her own final third by Taylor, who lined up a strike from 25 yards out, Anna getting down well to push the effort behind for a corner.
With 76 minutes gone, the Dons were punished for failing to take their opportunities in the first half, as the visitors levelled. Ogilvie’s foul on the edge of the Aberdeen penalty area provided McDonald-Nguah a free kick, the forward seizing the opportunity and wrapping the ball into Prawer’s bottom corner.
Looking to snatch a winner, Scott Booth introduced Miller and Galloway in place of Stewart and Black.
It didn’t take long for the substitutes to make an impact, as Bridget Galloway nearly turned in a Toni Finnegan cross at the back post, heroic defending from Robb stopping a certain goal.
With 90 minutes on the clock and the contest looking set to enter extra-time, it was heartbreak for the Dons, as the visitors found what would be the winner.
After multiple failed attempts to clear their lines, Aberdeen eventually gave the ball to Taylor who, from 25 yards out, fired a shot which looped over the head of Prawer and into the Dons net, signalling bedlam for Montrose players and fans.
There would be no return to Hampden for the Dons this season, as Aberdeen bowed out of the Scottish Cup in agonising fashion, with Scott Booth’s team rueing the chances squandered in the first half.
Full-time: Aberdeen 1-2 Montrose
STATS
ABERDEEN: Prawer (GK), Broadrick, Black (Miller, 81’), Finnegan, Stewart (CP) (Galloway, 81’), Ogilvie, Finnie, Ilijoski, Thomson, Tobin, Beattie
SUBS: Cox (GK), Noble, Galloway, Daniel, Clarke, Miller, Christie, Carrol, Selbie
MONTROSE: Perry (GK), McLaren (Carter, 45’), Gover, Ross, Martin, McDonald-Nguah, Taylor, Brown (Guthrie, 65’), Cowper (CP), Robertson, Robb
SUBS: Murray, Carter, Guthrie, Innes
GOALS: Tobin 31’, McDonald-Nguah 76’, Taylor 90’.
