MONTROSE ROSELEA v OAKLEY UTD
McBOOKIE.COM EAST REGION PREMIER LEAGUE
SAT SEPT 28^th 

Roselea entertain Oakley Utd in their next Premier League match desperately needing three points to get their season going. They were boosted by the return of Stuart Richardson from injury and Paul Whyte who returned after a spell in Amateur football with Luthermuir. Jo Reoch & Stewart Fletcher miss out again due to injury and Calum Rae finished the second of his two game suspension.  

Oakley utd had made a good start to the season and boasted several players with Senior experience with some playing in the Premier League. Lee Dair played with Raith Rovers, Scott Walker St Mirren and Kevin Fotheringham has been at several teams including Ross County, St Johnstone, Arbroath and Forfar. 

Roselea: Mcleod, Riach, Whyte, Richardson, R Taylor, Duncan Reid, Collier,Anderson, Cruickshank, Dale Reid & Watson. Subs: Thomson, Rausch, Gammie & Brand. 

Roselea got off to the perfect start when they were awarded a penalty in just three minutes. Whyte won his header from a corner kick but the referee must have spotted an infringement on another player and pointed to the spot must to the frustration of the Oakley players. Dale REID took over penalty duties from Calum Watson and made no mistake putting the keeper the wrong way. 

Roselea had another chance in six minutes when Watson headed a throw in into the path of Dale Reid but this time his volley was way off target. In 12 minutes Watson had a chance of his own when his downward header from a Reid cross was well held by Burgess in the Oakley goal. 

Roselea had a let off in 17 minutes when a 25 yard low shot by Docherty hit the base of the post with Mcleod at full stretch but bounced wide to safety. 

It was Roselea’s turn to have a go from 25 yards when Watson was tripped by Hughes who received a booking. Collier dummied and Duncan Reid shot high and over the bar with his curling effort. 

Roselea were caught with a quick throw and Allan got the other side of Richardson before poking a shot which Mcleod tipped onto the bar and behind for a corner. In 23 minutes

Roselea were under pressure from a couple of Oakley headers before Collier sent Anderson away on a run and he in turn sent Watson away on the left however he shot from a tight angle and found the side netting. Roselea defended well on the half hour when Dairs shot was blocked by Collier in the box. 

Roselea had another half chance in 38 minutes when Andersons long throw was headed on by Collier with Calum Watson inches away from getting a vital touch. 

Mcleod had a great save a minute later when Dairs dipping cross was bravely held by the keeper with Allan almost getting on the end of it. Watson had another chance for Roselea on 40 minutes when Ryan Taylor dinked a ball to him on the corner of the box, he managed to get his shot away but could not direct it goalwards to give Burgess anything to think about. 

Roselea defended well with Whyte managing to intercept a Conners flick away for a corner however this led to Oakleys equalising goal in 43 minutes. Roselea cleared the corner but when the ball came back in the ball took a kind deflection to SCARBOROUGH and he shot home from close range. This was a cruel blow as they had defended very well for the whole half. There was almost further pain for the home side a minute later when Ryan Taylor got caught under the ball and couldn’t clear and only a point blank save from Mcleod prevented them going in a goal down at half time. 

Half Time: Montrose Roselea 1 Oakley Utd 1

In 48 minutes Whyte was booked for a tackle just outside the box in the centre of the Roselea goal for showing his studs. Dair hit a goalbound shot which struck the head of Richardson before going over. 

In 59 minutes Roselea had their first good chance of the half. Duncan Reid rolled a ball into Watson and when his first shot was blocked with his left he hit a great volley which was charged down by a great tackle from Wilson. 

Roselea got their noses in front in the 63 minutes with a great finish from Calum WATSON.  He combined well with Dale Reid who back heeled him in and past Walker and just when it looked like he had over run the ball he flicked it over the advancing Burgess and into the net from 12 yards. 

Roselea were sitting in and inviting Oakley to come forward. In 70 minutes another fine save from Mcleod was required to beat the ball from Scarborough and away to safety. Oakley did equalise in 73 minutes when Charlie SCARBOROUGH finished from a tight angle with the ball taking a slight deflection on its way in. 

Roselea were under the cosh a bit and Fotheringham wasted another chance for Oakley when he blasted over at a corner which Mcleod had missed. Roselea had a great chance to get back in front in 77 minutes when Reid pressurised Walker and the ball fell to Collier in the box but took an unfortunate bobble just before he hit it and the ball went wide.

A minute later a diagonal free kick from Anderson was headed back across goal by Whyte and keeper Burgess made a great save with Watson and Reid bearing down on him. 

Roselea were hit by the sucker punch as so often they have this season with a late goal taking the three points back to Fife. With Roselea attacking in 86 minutes the ball broke to the other end and after Mcleod had saved the first shot the excellent DOCHERTY followed up to score from 6 yards. There was to be no further action and referee Ferguson called an end to proceedings. 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 2 Oakley Utd 3

This was yet another tough lesson for Roselea having yet again led twice before succumbing to a very experienced Oakley side. There was a spell in the second half where the home side failed to retain possession and this was to prove costly. There were some excellent performances with the returning Whyte & Richardson in central defence and Mcleod in goals worthy of a mention. There is still plenty of time for Roselea to resurrect the season but are slowly beginning to look disjointed at the bottom.  

This week they face a tough trip to strong going Bathgate who are looking like one of the teams who will be in with a chance of the Title. There will be a bus running from the Golf Inn at 11am and supporters are welcome to travel.