Announcement
GLENROTHES V MONTROSE ROSELEA
MCBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE
SAT MAY 10TH 2014
Roselea travelled to the Warout Stadium in Glenrothes in their fifth last Premier League match of the season. They were looking for eight points to guarantee safety however a couple of wins might still be enough depending on other results. The team were buoyed by their Houdini act the previous Saturday when two late goals snatched a point from champions elect Penicuik Athletic.
Calum Watson was again sidelined by injury but Calum Rae came back into the squad and Paul Whyte returned having missed the previous week. Stuart Richardson missed out through work.
Roselea had beaten Glenrothes 2-0 at Montrose with goals from Calum Watson and Dale Reid however the Fife side were in a rich vein of form and had only been beaten once at home all season. The pitch was looking slightly damp from some heavy overnight rain and looked like it would sap the players energy.
Roselea: Mcleod, Rae, R Taylor, Thomson. Whyte, Ross, Collier, Anderson, Reoch, Cruickshank & Reid. Subs: P Taylor, C Taylor, Brand & Kerrigan.
In the opening stages there was a good appeal from Roselea from a handball outside the box by home keeper Kevin Smith but it was difficult for the referee to judge from the halfway line.
Martin then had a strike at the other end but Mcleod was well positioned to save.
Roselea were looking slack all over the pitch and it was not a surprise when they fell 1-0 behind in 18 minutes. Kinness got past Ryan Taylor to the bye-line and cut back for the unmarked SIMPSON to fire home from 15 yards despite the efforts of Mcleod.
In 24 minutes Thomson was caught at the wrong side of Martin who broke into the Roselea box but Mcleod did well to come out and block for a corner. A minute later right winger Napier cut inside and his shot was deflected behind for a corner.
Roselea attacked themselves in 25 minutes and Ross swung in a dangerous ball which Smith did well to save at the far post with Cruickshank lurking.
Roselea were coming into things after a sluggish start and Reoch show great determination to drive into the box from the wide right area but a great tackle from Pearson turned the ball behind for a corner.
Roselea had another chance on the half hour mark when Ross flicked a free kick on to Reid and again only a brilliant tackle again prevented a chance.
Glenrothes had another chance when the ball was squared to Napier but he shot wildly over. In 39 minutes the home side went two in front with a very soft goal from a Roselea perspective when Martin found himself in acres of space in the Roselea box and layed the ball of to Aidan ANDERSON who shot home easily from 12 yards.
Roselea were looking down and out having been on the end of a good first half performance from the home side but go an instant pick me up when COLLIER headed home an inswinging Cruickshank cross in the 40th minute.
Roselea almost finished the half on a low when Whyte conceded a free kick and when the ball came in only a great save from Mcleod to tip Pearsons header away kept them in it.
Half Time: Glenrothes 2 Montrose Roselea 1
Roselea started the second half a little bit slack and Ryan Taylor did well to redeem himself when he gifted the ball to Martin with a slack pass across his own 18 yard box and managed to get a good tackle in.
There was a let off for Roselea in 52 minutes when Martin found himself in space but somehow managed to screw the ball wide of the post with Mcleod looking stranded.
In 55 minutes Ross and Reid combined well for Roselea with the former having a good shot from the edge of the area which tested Smith as it bobbled up to him.
Roselea had a great chance in 58 minutes when Cruickshank sent in a great ball from the right hand side and although Ross connected well with his left foot the ball fell just wide of the post.
The game was in the balance and Martin drew Mcleod out of his goals and along the byeline before finding space to shoot from a narrow angle which Rae had to head off the line.
Reid had two similar chances in 69 and 71 minutes when his pace took him through but on both occasions he couldn’t finish with his second effort bringing out a great save and corner from Smith.
Roselea seemed to be looking the better and fitter side as the game entered its final stages. Collier broke on the right only to see his cross cut out by Grierson who looked a class act at the back for the homesters.
Roselea made a change in 81 minutes with Paul Taylor coming on for Thomson who had a great game.
There was a big claim for a handball when Whyte and Collier both challenged for a cross ball but with home keeper Smith smothering the referee did not see it the same way.
Roselea looked to have snatched another draw from the jaws of defeat when Whyte smashed a great header goalwards from a Reoch cross but home keeper Smith made a brilliant save and turned the ball behind from the top left corner.
Glenrothes sub Simpson was lucky not to see red with a very reckless two footed tackle which only warranted a yellow from the official.
Roselea had another couple of chances as they finished the stronger side fitness wise and a draw would have been a fair result.
Full Time: Glenrothes 2 Montrose Roselea 1
After a very stagnant first half where the formation seemed to suit Glenrothes more the second half was a totally different half with Roselea well on top. The damage had been done and there were a few close calls towards the end but Lady Luck had deserted Roselea. Elsewhere Dundee Violet and Kirrie Thistle had great wins at Bathgate and Kinnoull which turned things in Violets favour who are now 5 points ahead although Roselea have two games in hand. The sides will meet at Glenesk Park, Dundee on Weds May 14th with a 7pm KO. This match may be the decider of who stays up and who goes down. A draw may suit Violet better but there is still much to play for in the survival quest. On Sat 17th Roselea travel to bottom team Pumpherston and unfortunately there is no room on the club bus for supporters. KO is 2.30pm.
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