BROUGHTY ATH v MONTROSE ROSELEA

McBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE

SAT MARCH 1^st 2014

 

Roselea headed to Whitton Park, Dundee to face Broughty Athletic on a good run of form having taken Superleague side Carnoustie to penalties and then beaten North Superleague leaders Dyce.

 

Once again injuries and work made changes inevitable however there was a massive blow when 21 goal striker Calum Watson was announced as injured.

He joined Arron Thomson & Scott Riach on the bench. Stuart Richardson was available and took up a central defensive slotting with Jo Reoch pushing into midfield and James Collier taking the lone strikers role. Stewart Fletcher and Carlos Silva were unavailable and Craig Anderson started the first of a three game ban for his sending off at Dyce.

 

Whitton Park looked in good condition and expectations were for a close game against former Montrose FC player, Ian McKenna’s team. Broughty had spent big on their side with ex Montrose FC players Jamie Winter & Dougie Cameron and ex Dundee Utd star Jamie McCunnie in the starting line up. The sides met in August with Roselea losing a one goal half time lead to eventually go down 2-1.

 

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, R Taylor, Whyte, Richardson, Ross, Reoch, Rae, Cruickshank, Reid & Collier. Subs: Thomson, Riach, Watson, Brand & Kerrigan.

 

Broughty had two early chances when first of all Gary Fraser the ex Roselea man sprung the offside trap but Mcleod saved well with his feet from an angle about 12 yards out. A minute later Fraser crossed from the byeline and Richardson missed his clearance however Neave shot over the bar from close range.

 

In 4 minutes Roselea fought back and when the ball broke to Reoch 25 yards out his shot was well hit but off target.

 

Roselea were then awarded a free kick 30 yards out and when the ball was returned in by Cruickshank after it had hit the wall, Dale Reid was inches away from connecting as the ball zipped past him.

 

The next spell saw both sides struggling to pass the ball on a pitch which was deceptively bobbly despite looking sound enough on arrival.

 

It was not until the half hour mark that the next goalmouth action. Dougie Cameron crossed from the right hand side and his left footed cross was headed into the side netting by Neave at the far post. Broughty were looking more likely to score and Mcleod did well to save a long range O’Leary shot which took a deflection on the way in.

 

It was Broughty who took the lead in 33 minutes. Neave moved the ball inside to Jordan TIMMONS who struck a beautiful shot from fully 25 yards into the top corner leaving Mcleod with no chance.

 

Roselea endeavoured to get back into the game and despite some neat passing they could not break down a well drilled home defence.

 

Right on half time there was another injury blow for Roselea when Calum Rae had to be replaced by Riach.

 

Half Time: Broughty Athletic 1 Montrose Roselea 0

 

Roselea opened the second half looking a lot brighter having seemed to have been slightly nervous on the ball in the first half with much better passing and control. Cruickshank sent in an in swinging corner which Richardson got his head to but was off target.

 

In 50 minutes Roselea had their best chance so far when Collier flicked on to Reid and then Cruickshank had a low shot just past the post.

 

Another chance fell to the visitors in 53 minutes when a Danny Ross free kick flashed across the home sides 6 yard box and when it fell to Collier at the back post his shot cannoned off a Broughty defender.

 

Roselea were on top but it took two great saves from Ross Mcleod to keep them in it. Fraser evaded Richardson when a long ball caught him out and some brave goalkeeping saw Mcleod dive at the strikers feet to save then Fraser played a lovely reverse pass and Mcleod was again quick to save at the feet of Neave.

 

In 65 Minutes Reid tested Ross in the Broughty goal when he headed a Cruickshank cross and at first looked net bound but in the end it was an easy save for the keeper.

 

Roselea had an appeal for a penalty after a great surging run from Jo Reoch, Collier flicked the ball into his path and he kept his run going into the box and looked to flick the ball onto Cruickshank who was waiting to shoot, as he did so his touch looked clumsy however he was tripped afterwards but he was possibly deemed to have lost control of the ball.

 

Roselea were badly needing a goal to get them back into the game however it was Broughty who got the decisive second goal in 71 minutes to all but seal it from a very unlikely source. Jamie WINTER swung in a inswinging free kick which deceived Mcleod and went in off the back post.

 

The last 20 minutes saw Roselea battle to get back into the game and the only point of note was a trademark Winter long range effort which went over the bar.

 

Roselea made a late change with Thomson replacing Reid who was quite clearly showing the symptoms of having an abscess all week.

 

Full Time: Broughty Athletic 2 Montrose Roselea 0

 

Although the score was fair Roselea were still very much in the game until the second goal went in. Broughty were worthy of the three points however it could have been all different had they conceded. Roselea’s cause was not helped by the injury to Calum Watson and Craig Anderson’s suspension which meant several positional changes. The defeat leaves Roselea in second bottom place and still 5 points behind Dundee Violet who sit in the vital 4^th bottom place although they have two games in hand. Things do not get any easier this week with high flying Fauldhouse Utd visiting Broomfield Park for another McBookie.com Premier League game. Fauldhouse Utd won the reverse fixture 3-1 in Sept in what was a game of two halves, Kick Off is at 2.30pm

 

Roselea have sold out the Hospitality for the GA Cup ¼ Final at home to Hermes on March 29^th and only have 4 remaining home league fixtures to play.