Montrose Roselea

MONTROSE ROSELEA v DOWNFIELD JFC

EAST REGION NORTH DIVISION SAT OCT 23 

Roselea faced a tough top of the table clash with much improved Dundee Downfield. The Spiders sat 5 points behind Roselea so a win would have closed the gap on the home side whilst Roselea would be eying a win to create a gap. With the other early Title contenders also playing in tough games it was a great chance for either side to make headway and a tight game was expected. 

Injury victims Craig Watson and Colin Page remained as Roselea’s only unavailable players and it was also great to see Mark Fotheringham in attendance after his comeback from injury.

Roselea: Mcleod, Mustard, Whyte, Graham, Doug Craig, Urquhart, Rae, Reoch, Kennedy, Collier & Hood. Subs: David Craig, Miller, McKellar, Brand, Reid, Strachan & Riach 

On a very cold October day Roselea kicked off with a stiff wind at their backs. Downfield started with great intent and did not give Roselea any time on the ball in the early stages and that was to be a feature of an afternoon littered with free kicks and play being broken up. 

It was Roselea who were first to pose a threat on the Downfield goal. A typically swinging Craig free kick had Thain scrambling to the far post but he recover at the second attempt. A minute later Collier fed Reoch wide and his dangerous cross was turned behind for a corner. 

Downfield broke to the other end and Trent had a good run and shot which do not give Mcleod too many problems. 

In 8 minutes Kennedy put in a great cross for Roselea and Reoch got his head to the ball but it was just over the bar. Rae found himself an early booking for Roselea but there were equally bad tackles going in from both sides before this. 

Mcleod had to make an excellent save when Scott found himself one on one with the Roselea keeper and Mcleod stood up well to block the shot with his feet. The game was continually being broken up by bad tackles and free kicks and it was from one of these that saw Downfield take the lead.

A foul by Graham in 22 minutes saw a direct award from 25 yards out. TRENT stepped up and curled a brilliant free kick around the wall and after it hit the base of the post it hit the back of Mcleod and ended up in the net. 

A poor kick off from the home team landed Whyte in trouble and he also picked up a booking for a late challenge to compound Roselea’s woes. 

Roselea had a chance to equalise on 32 minutes when Hood and Collier linked well and after Collier spun of his defender he unleashed a 30 yard shot which was just off target. Hood was in the mood and in 34 minutes an excellent diagonal ball found Urquhart and despite him sending in an excellent early delivery there were no men in green to finish it off.

Shortly after Manager Brand replaced Urquhart with McKellar as he was not happy with the formation on show. 

Roselea had another chance to draw level when a Kennedy cross was headed back across goal to Graham and his header from 8 yards was just right for Thain to tip over the bar. 

Half Time: Roselea 1 Downfield 0 

The second half started on a more promising note for Roselea with them winning a number of early corners but Thain’s handling was excellent as he came and claimed cross after cross. 

Graham was next in the referees book for a tackle in 56 minutes. Play was still being broken up on a regular basis.

Roselea swapped Kennedy for Riach in a bid to get back in the game but it did not look like a goal was forthcoming as Downfield continued to hold firm.

It was not until the 72^nd minute that the half saw its first real action. Craig played a short corner to Hood and when Craig swung the ball in Riach got his head to it only for a defender to clear off the line with McKellars rebound being cleared when a goal looked certain. 

Roselea were now coming into the game and finally got the equaliser that their play merited in 83 minutes. Doug Craig popped up in the left hand side of the box and his cross found Lee HOOD at the far post and he shot first time from 8 yards with a great finish. 

Strachan came on for Craig in 86 minutes. 

Roselea pressed for a winner against an understandably deflated Downfield side and although they dominated for the last few minutes and stoppage time a winner might have been harsh o the visitors. 

Full Time: Roselea 1 Downfield 1 

Roselea as expected came up against a spirited Downfield side who came with a game a plan and were not short of hard work and also closed their opponents down at every opportunity. Over the piece a draw was a fair result and with Blairgowrie and Violet losing their matches the result was not as bad as first appeared. 

Roselea now take a break from League action with a 2^nd Round Emirates Junior Cup tie away to Cambuslang Rangers. The five times winner of the cup last won in it in 1974 but now play in a similar standard to Roselea so a close match is expected. The Roselea Club bus will leave the Golf Inn at 9.30am and the Supporters Bus will leave at 10.00am. Some seats may be available, please contact the Golf Inn on 672047, cost £7.50 per adult. 

Roselea will begin November (Scottish Cup replay allowing) with two tough away games to Dundee North End on Nov 6^th and Dundee Violet on Nov 13^th. Both these matches will have a massive bearing on Roselea’s season.