MONTROSE ROSELEA V LINLITHGOW ROSE

SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP 3^RD ROUND

SAT NOV 22^ND 2014 

Roselea entertained Junior giants Linlithgow Rose in the 3^rd Round of the Scottish Junior Cup. The visitors arrived with a good run of form but Roselea themselves were also on a good run having been unbeaten in their last 5 games over 90 minutes. The 4 times winners of the cup were expected to win and progress to the 4^th Round. A crowd of around 450 congregated to watch the match. 

Roselea had a couple of injury problems with Liam Bailey, Morgan Smith and Scott McDowell all injured and were not fit to start. Andy Tringham was working. Broomfield Park despite the predicted wind was flat calm however the heavy overnight rain made conditions very heavy and greasy. 

Roselea: Mcleod. Findladter. R Taylor, Reoch, Whyte, Rae. Collier. Anderson, Cruickshank, Reid & Watson ; Subs: P Taylor. McDowell, Thomson, Smith & Bailey

Roselea took the lead within 30 seconds to show Linlithgow that they were not going to get things all their own way. Dale Reid prodded the ball forward to Calum WATSON and he in turn poked the ball into the net from 16 yards. 

Things were level in 3 minutes when Calum SMITH cut inside and drilled the ball past McLeod into the net from a tight angle.  It was an explosive start to the match and the crowd were expecting a goals fest. 

Roselea had a chance in 7 minutes when Rae sent Reid away however he elected to shoot early from 25 yards when he could have taken the ball in further.  

A minute later Linlithgow attacked and when Mcleod had to be quick to react and save at the feet of Maclennan. In 16 minutes Roselea had another chance when Watson was put through but this time keeper McKinven saved well from the Roselea striker. Roselea were having a good spell and did not seem to be intimidated by their opponents. Watson broke again on the right hand side but his cross intended for Cruickshank was intercepted by the keeper in 19 minutes. 

With 25 minutes on the clock Linlithgow were again thwarted by Mcleod with Strickland’s shot being turned behind by Mcleod for a corner. 

The half petered out with no other chances for both teams but it was still a pulsating cup tie with much still to come. 

Half Time: Montrose Roselea 1 Linlithgow Rose 1

There was a blow for Roselea when they conceded a goal 8 minutes into the second half. Tommy COYNE picked the ball up inside the penalty box and twisted & turned before shooting low into the corner with a slight deflection taking it past Mcleod. 

In 59 minutes Roselea then had a chance when a diagonal ball from Findlater was just missed by Watson sliding in. 

On the hour mark Mcleod had to beat a Smith drive out. 

The game boiled over in 66 minutes when Reid was clearly fouled by Nelson as he broke away. Whilst the referee was about to caution him Collier and McKillen clashed as they tussled for the ball with all three players picking up bookings. 

In 68 minutes Linlithgow had a double chance when a poor Mcleod punch saw the ball land to Nelson and whilst his first shot was blocked Mcleod had to hold the second effort which was a 20 yard drive. 

Roselea got back on level terms in the 71^st minute. A high hopeful ball from Ryan Taylor looked easy meat for keeper McKinven but when Watson challenged him in the air the ball broke to Dale REID who still had a lot of work to do but composed himself and tucked the ball into the corner of the net. 

Linlithgow were shocked and knew that they had to again take the match to the home side. They created a couple of chances however Roselea were in no mood to concede easily and some courageous defending saw them hold tight. 

Linlithgow did have another couple of chances from corners and O’Byrne blasted over from the penalty spot with a packed goalmouth in front of him. 

There were to be two more chances for both teams to clinch their 4^th Round spot in the closing minutes. First Watson had a great opportunity when he cut inside and sent a low shot away which McKinven did really well to save then Maclennan flashed a low drive right across the face of the Roselea goal with the ball going just past the post. That was the end and referee Steven Traynor blew for time and the sides would have to do it all again next week. 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 2 Linlithgow Rose 2

Roselea did themselves and the town proud by putting in a great performance and matched their opponents for the ninety minutes. It was a great match to watch and kept everyone in suspense right until the end. Such was the performance it was impossible for the Sponsors to agree on a Man of the Match so it was correctly awarded to the whole team. 

The sides will meet again at Prestonfield Park, Linlithgow on Sat Nov 29^th with a 1.45pm KO.Roselea are running a supporters bus which will be £10 per head to travel. Names to the Golf Inn with payment required up front- 01674 672047. The bus will leave from the Golf Inn at 9.45am. 

Roselea would like to thank the Montrose public for their support at this match and also the volunteers who helped with the gates and the shop. It was much appreciated and the club would not have been able to host such a match without this help.