Nearly 10 years to the day that he helped Rangers pip Celtic to the SPL title on “Helicopter Sunday”, Marvin Andrews was key as Montrose held on to their place in League Two by beating another Rangers, this time from Brora.
The big centre-half was immense throughout the incredibly high-pressure game and also scored the vital second goal that drew the Gable Endies level on aggregate.
The deeply-religious former Trinidad and Tobago international admitted he prayed for help from above on the morning of the game, although unlike a decade ago, he was not wearing one of his famous “Believe” T-shirts.
He said: “It is next Friday, the 22nd which is the 10-year anniversary.
“And a week before, this has come and happened for me.
“I saw an interview with (former Rangers team-mate) Alex Rae in the papers where he is saying Marvin believed but that he didn’t believe.
“It was just so amazing and that is why I am still playing football at 39.
“You can’t just sit in the house. You can’t miss an opportunity like this. I am very happy to be part of it.
“I believed this morning, I prayed to God this morning and he delivered once again for me.
“I cannot thank God enough for what he has done for me and the entire Montrose club and fans.
“I didn’t have a Believe T-shirt this time as football has changed and you can’t do that sort of stuff anymore!
“So I left it in the house and just encouraged the guys to let them know that these sorts of opportunities only come along once in a lifetime.
“I am so happy to be part of this. When I came to Montrose Football Club, I was hoping to just help keep them in the league.
“But I never thought I would be part of this dramatic play-off . . . it’s just amazing.”
“Dramatic” is certainly the right word to describe this match.
The stakes were incredibly high for Montrose who went into the game trailing 1-0 after last week’s first leg in the Highlands.
If they failed to triumph on Saturday, then the Angus side would have been consigned to the Highland League next season with the very future of the club thrown into doubt.
Montrose took the lead in the 37th minute after Brora keeper Joe Malin saved a Ross Campbell shot but could only palm it towards Scott Johnston who gleefully rifled the ball home from eight yards.
However, just two minutes after the restart, Brora scored when Colin Maclean headed past Stuart McKenzie in the Montrose goal to put the Highlanders back ahead in the tie.
However, moments later, Brora skipper Steven Mackay, who had been booked in the first half, made a reckless, mistimed challenge on Graham Webster and was shown a second yellow followed by red by referee John McKendrick.
Montrose piled on the pressure against the 10 men but were becoming frustrated before Andrews came to the rescue in the 76th minute.
Andrew Steeves fired in a corner from the Montrose right and the big centre-half rose majestically to bullet a header past Malin from close range to draw the home side level on aggregate.
Just a minute later, Gable Endies skipper Garry Wood sent the home fans wild when he hit a wonder strike from more than 30 yards into the top corner of Malin’s net to give his side the lead in the tie.
That third goal knocked the stuffing out of Brora and the final whistle was greeted with unbridled joy among the home fans with hundreds racing onto the pitch. At one point, Andrews was even hoisted high by some supporters in front of the TV cameras.
The player admitted that before he scored, he had started to have doubts it just might not be Montrose’s day.
He said: “It was looking very difficult for us.
“It wasn’t the best of starts for us in the second half. We conceded a very cheap goal out of nothing to let them equalise.
“As a defender, I was really disappointed with the goal we lost and the manner in which we conceded it as well.
“That put us under pressure but then they got a man sent off.
“We were bombarding their goal and you are thinking it is going to be one of those games.
“Then a great corner came in and that changed everything.
“Everyone knows Marvin Andrews and when that ball is coming, I have been brought up to win it at all costs.
“That is my strong point and it is what I do as a defender.
“I have done it all of my career.
“This is why you play football. What happened today is why people support football because the game turned on its head in just two minutes.
“It was just amazing but I have to give great credit to Brora.
“They put a shift in and really showed that they wanted to get into the SPFL.”