MONTROSE ROSELEA v DUNDEE VIOLET

EAST REGION NORTH DIVISION

SAT APRIL 9^th 2011 

Roselea faced Dundee Violet at Broomfield Park on Saturday as the race for the North Division Title hots up. Following Roselea’s draw at Kirriemuir last Saturday, Downfield leapfrogged Roselea into top spot by a point with the Montrose team having a game in hand. Violet were six behind Roselea with the same games played and Dundee North End a further eight points behind with 3 games in hand. Roselea were still without midfielder Calum Rae who is still out with an injured ankle however Colin Kennedy recovered from injury to make the starting line up.  

Roselea: Mcleod, Colquhoun, Whyte, Mustard, Reoch, Urquhart, Kennedy, Fotheringham, Strachan, Collier & Watson. Subs: Aitken, Reid, Riach, Miller, David Craig, Hood & Brand.

On a crisp spring day the game kicked off with a chilly breeze cutting into the air. Violet had the first chance in 5 minutes when Sievewright latched onto a long ball and Mcleod had to be alert enough to close the angle and save at his feet. 

Roselea hit back and a wonderful piece of skill by Watson saw him swivel and strike a great shot from 30 yards the only part missing was the end result of the ball nestling in the top corner as it flew inches wide. Watson went close again in spectacular style in 13 minutes this time from a bicycle kick which was turned away by Stewart. 

Roselea had the ball in the net in 18 minutes however it was chalked off with Watson being in an offside position. 

Violet had the next move of note in 23 minutes. Milton broke on the right and cut back to Hood but he shot well wide from distance.  

The game was swinging from end to end and a minutes later Strachan broke on the left for Roselea sending a deep cross in which Collier attacked, Watson had a stab at it before it broke to Fotheringham who shot wide. 

Violet had a penalty claim in 25 minutes and then the ball broke out Lunan shot high and wide. 

Fotheringham was fouled 10 yards inside the Violet half in 34 minutes and Whytes quick free kick was well connected by Colquhoun but was too high to trouble Stewart. 

With Roselea looking the more likely side to score Violet took the lead on 40 minutes. Milton charged down the Roselea left hand side and his perfect cross was headed in off the far post by Ross LUNAN.

There was no further action and the referee concluded a disappointing half for Roselea after a good performance. 

Half Time: Roselea 0 Violet 1

Roselea started the second half with a view to getting back on terms and Watsons long range shot was not far off target on 47 minutes. 

Violet had a good move in 51 minutes which again saw Milton tear down the line but his team-mate could not make enough contact to direct the ball goalwards. Violet had a better chance in 55 minutes when Hood flicked on for Kadela to have a shot which Mcleod had to make sure he held with Lunan waiting to pounce. 

Roselea had another strike at goal in 64 minutes when Collier met a flick on but it was straight at Stewart who held well. 

Violet had a claim that the ball crossed the line a minute later when a dangerous corner was cleared off the line by Kennedy. 

In 65 minutes Hood replaced Strachan as Roselea looked for the spark to get back in the game. A square Kennedy free kick was again well met by Colquhoun in 68 minutes but was just wide although well struck. 

Aitken was sent on for Watson with 8 minutes to go. 

The last chance of the game came in the 83^rd minute for Violet when Kadela broke down the left and Jordan Reoch did well to get his foot to the ball in front of Lunan. There were three added minutes for Roselea to try and snatch a draw and also time for the third sub with Miller replacing the injured Whyte. 

Final Score: Montrose Roselea 0 Dundee Violet 1 

Referee: G Bowman 

Disappointment for Roselea who did not play badly however from an early stage it looked like the kind of match which would be settled by the first goal. The result drags Violet right back into the reckoning and with Downfield also losing by a single goal to North End the result is not the end of the world for Roselea’s Title hopes. North End also play Violet on Weds 20^th.  Roselea’s next game is another tough one away to Blairgowrie on Sat April 23^rd which Kicks Off at 2.30pm.  Match Sponsor Alan & Ann Reoch awarded Ross Colquhoun with his Man of the Match award.