OAKLEY UTD V MONTROSE ROSELEA

MCBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE

SAT AUGUST 16^TH 2014

 

Roselea travelled to Fife for their third Premier League match of the season to meet Oakley Utd who won both meetings between the sides last season. Hopes were high after the 2-2 draw with Broughty Athletic the previous week and the home side having lost both their opening fixtures. They did however travel without James Collier and Scott McDowell through injury but on the plus side Calum Watson returned from his two match suspension carried over from the 2013-14 Season.

 

Blairwood Park surface was in much better condition that the last visit in April however a Broomfield like wind was blowing right down the pitch.

 

Roselea: Mcleod, Rae, Whyte, Reoch, R Taylor, Mitchell, Anderson, Tringham, Cruickshank, Watson & Reid. Subs: Findlater, P Taylor, Bailey, Smith & Thomson

 

Roselea kicked off with the winds at their back but as per usual it would prove difficult to use that to their advantage with the ball likely to run away from the attackers. It was Roselea who tested the Oakley keeper when Watson struck a well hit low shot but Manderson saved well at the base of the post in 8 minutes.

 

After a couple of dangerous Oakley crosses tested Ross Mcleod it was Roselea who again went close. First Cruickshank almost picked out Watson before the ball was turned behind for a corner which Cruickshank took and sent in a great ball which eventually fell to Reid and he again tested Manderson with a shot from a narrow angle.

 

Oakley took the lead in 15 minutes with a well taken goal. Rae & Mitchell were not sure who was picking up and when the ball fell to GOLLAN 30 yards out he had only one thing on his mind and sent a great curling shot beyond Mcleod into the corner of the net.

 

In 20 minutes Watson again shot from 25 yards but it was at a good height for the keeper and he saved well again.

 

Roselea were not looking comfortable at the back with strikers Watt and McDonough not giving them time to settle on the ball.

 

In 32 minutes a great ball from Reid set Mitchell away down the right flank however his cross was too near to the keeper with Watson in a great position inside the 6 yard box.

 

Roselea were creating more chances but the vital spark was missing and with home keeper Manderson in no mood to conceded it was turning into a difficult afternoon for the visitors.

 

Just before half time Roselea had two great chances to level. Anderson took a long throw in which Whyte flicked on to Watson who had his back to goal and he flicked the ball goalwards with Manderson then pulling off a wonder save to thwart Roselea again. Then right on half time Cruickshank had a great opportunity when another Whyte flick on saw him free at the back post and his right footed shot went wide from very close in and a header might have produced a better outcome.

 

Half Time: Oakley Utd 1 Montrose Roselea 0

 

Mcleod had to make a good save from Coulter after good work by Watt in 53 minutes.

 

In 58 minutes Roselea fell further behind with a disappointing goal from a defensive point of view. A corner went right to the back post and Gollan headed back across the goalmouth unchallenged to the unmarked McDONOUGH who headed home from a yard out.

 

The game was almost over a couple of minutes later when the ball hit the post. Roselea thought they had cleared but Reoch’s clearance rebounded to Watt whose shot was deflected and spun against the post before Mcleod cleared.

 

The afternoon was becoming more and more frustrating for Roselea and thoughts turned to the fact that it wasn’t going to be their day. Watson was given offside when he looked like he had timed his run perfectly then Dale Reid connected with a Cruickshank corner from point blank range but the ball somehow went wide.

 

In 69 minutes Watt of Oakley had a great effort from the touchline which Mcleod had to tip over to safety.

 

In 71 minutes Reid frustrated again when he broke free but elected to shoot early from the edge of the box and his left footed strike was easily held by Manderson.

 

In 75 minutes Morgan Smith made his Roselea debut when he replaced Ross Mitchell. He almost had an instant impact when he put a Watson lay back just wide of the post.

 

Findlater then replaced Cruickshank in 85 minutes.

 

The day just seemed to be going from bad to worse for Roselea when Reid did eventually get the ball in the net but the referee was correct to penalise Watson for a barge in the run up to the goal. The referee further frustrated when he pulled back an advantage to award a free kick when Reid had again broken free. His final whistle was blown and was a welcome relief to the visitors who could have played all day and not scored.

 

Final Score: Oakley Utd 2 Montrose Roselea 0

 

This was a great opportunity for Roselea to take some points off of a team who look nothing like the Oakley teams of years gone by. Despite having the better of the play and chances a combination of poor finishing, good goalkeeping and bad marking made the difference between the sides. This was another tough lesson of Premier League football and shows that you can have no margin for errors at this level. The loss drops Roselea down to the bottom 3 with only Kinnoull who have lost their 3 games in a worse position.

 

Unbeaten St Andrews Utd are next up for Roselea at home on Sat August 23^rd with a 2.30pm KO.