MONTROSE ROSELEA v BANKS O DEE

GA CUP SEMI FINAL

SAT MAY 11^th 2013

 

Roselea took a break from the rigours of the Mcbookie.com North Division to face Aberdeen Superleague side Banks o Dee in the Semi Finals of the GA Cup. After being on the road to Portgordon and Stonehaven in the previous rounds, home advantage made Roselea favourites to go through against the side sitting fourth in the North Superleague. There was a healthy support in the ground for the game and Roselea had ex Banks o Dee player Billy Pirie in attendance as a guest of the club.

 

The only absentee for the home side was club captain Paul Whyte who was on holiday.

 

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, R Taylor, Reoch, Graham, Anderson, Rae, Collier, Cruickshank, Watson & Reid. Subs: Watt, Beedie, Riach, Ross & Craig

 

Roselea had the first opening in 5 minutes when a perfectly weighted chipped ball was chested down by Watson into the box but the alert Stark in the Dee goal came out and blocked with a 50/50 tackle. After treatment the goalkeeper managed to continue.

 

With ten minutes gone in what was an even opening spell Banks o Dee were looking at the diagonal ball to try and unlock the home defence. They also had an advantage with the Broomfield wind starting to gather pace.

 

Roselea press again in 11 minutes with Cruickshanks cross coming back out and Collier picks the ball up and goes on a strong only to be foiled by a good tackle from Allan.

 

In 15 minutes Banks o Dee keeper Stark was almost caught out by a Reid cross which almost sneaked into the top corner but he managed to palm the ball out to safety.

 

In 19 minutes Banks o Dee forced a couple of corners and after a scramble Cameron scooped the ball over the top.

 

In 21 minutes Dee were forced to make a change when goalkeeper Stark was replaced by Johnston after he failed to recover from his earlier clash with Calum Watson.

 

Banks o Dee had the best chance so far in 27 minutes when a through ball found Jack and left him free on Mcleod however the home keeper stood his ground and when the ball broke to McCall, Jordan Reoch managed to get back and put in a fine tackle to keep the score level.

 

Ritchie sent in a dangerous free kick for the visitors which Graham left not realising that there was danger behind him but Mcleod came out to take the ball.

 

Banks o Dee were holding the upperhand at this stage and after McCall held the ball up Rintoul went past him on the left and his shot from a narrow angle went inches wide.

 

Watson went close for Roselea in 41 minutes when he had a shot blocked from a Cruickshank cross at the far post.

 

Roselea have a massive let off just on the stroke of half time when a ball bounced over the home defence allowing Jack to be through on Mcleod however his first touch was not the best and the home keeper stood his ground before bringing off a great save.

 

Half Time Montrose Roselea 0 Banks o Dee 0

 

In 52 minutes a great clipped ball down the line by Paul Taylor found Watson in space on the right hand side and his cross was narrowly missed by Ryan Taylor with a Roselea appeal for a hand ball.

 

Four minutes later another Watson cross was narrowly missed by Reid and Allan cleared with his head.

 

Rae then had a great chance for Roselea in 62 minutes but his decision to cross was wrong and should have probably shot himself.

 

Roselea took the lead in 68 minutes when Collier won a corner after appearing to be held back by a defender in the box before winning a corner. Cruickshank sent in the corner and it was James COLLIER who got his head to the ball from close range to open the scoring.

 

Roselea doubled their lead 2 minutes later when a great curling free kick from Crucikshank was headed home by Calum WATSON.

 

Roselea appeared to be on easy street but that all changed in 76 minutes when Liversenge was brought down in the box by Reoch. After Reoch was booked SCAIFE sent an unstoppable penalty kick past Mcleod into the net.

 

In 77 minutes Roselea replaced Cruickshank with Danny Ross coming on.

 

In 80 minutes Jordan Reoch intercepted the ball just inside the opponents half and went on a strong run and just as he was about to shoot he was brought down however he was booked for a theatrical dive and as it was a second booking he had to leave the field.

 

With Banks o Dee hunting for an equaliser Reid was put through and after cutting inside defender Cameron put in a great tackle to keep them in the game.

In 88 minutes Watson then found himself clean through however Johnston in the Banks o Dee goal stuck out a leg to prevent him scoring.

 

There was a scare for Roselea in 89 minutes when Long got his head to a free kick but his looping header was wide of the target.

 

Right on time Roselea made it 3-1 when Danny ROSS finished well from 16 yards into the corner of the net.

 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 3 Banks o Dee 1

 

Although this was a deserved win for Roselea it was hard fought and had to be worked for. The team will now have the bonus of a final which will be played at Whitton Park, Broughty Athletic’s ground on May 25^th. The opponents will be the winner of the North End v Jeanfield tie. There will be a bus running from the Golf Inn please contact Kevin Young on 01674 672047 for details. Man of the Match for Roselea was goalkeeper Ross Mcleod who was the quieter of the keepers but did all that was asked of him. Billy Pirie presented his award to him on behalf of Sponsors MGFA.

 

Whilst Roselea were busy reaching the final of the Cup Kirrie Thistle were in league action and toppled Roselea from top spot. This Saturday Roselea get a chance to go back to the top when Kirrie Thistle are visitors to Broomfield Park in what could be a league decider. The match Kicks off at 2.30pm