LOCHEE HARP v MONTROSE ROSELEA

McBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION

SATURDAY SEPT 15^th 2012 

Roselea travelled to Beechwood Park, Lochee in search of three points to maintain their good start to the League. Ryan Taylor was a definite non starter with his knee injury being confirmed as a cartilage problem and will likely see him miss out for a couple of months. Graeme Allan was on Honeymoon and co Manager Doug Craig was also unavailable. Craig Anderson served the last of his three match suspension. This forced the Management team to hunt for some back up and they found an ideal loan signing by bringing in two ex players, Cove Rangers defender Eric Watson for two games and also Gavin Reid who played as a Trialist. It was a bright but breezy afternoon in Lochee but neither that nor the slightly long grass would have any affect on the game. 

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, Reid, Whyte, E Watson, Urquhart, Rae, Reoch, Cruickshank, Collier and C Watson. Subs: Fletcher, Riach, Milne, Ross & Kennedy.

Roselea had a couple of chances within the first few minutes first of all a Paul Taylor throw was flicked on to Watson by Collier and his shot was blocked for a corner. On 6 minutes Roselea had a big appeal for a penalty. Calum Watson got in behind the Harp rearguard and rounded the keeper out wide, his cutback was met by the incoming Rae who appeared to be fouled as he shot but the penalty was not given. Roselea did have the ball in the net on 7 minutes however when Reoch tapped home Colliers chip over the keeper he was in an offside position. 

There was little goalmouth action from then until the 23^rd minute and Harp went very close to opening the scoring. A great pass put Mullen behind the Roselea defence and a last gasp tackle by Watson saw the ball spin and hit off the outside of the Lea post with Mcleod beaten.  

Calum Watson had the next go in 29 minutes when he cut in and shot from 22 yards with his left foot and it was just wide of the upright. Collier is the next to have a chance for the away side when he found space in the box and struck a shot across the Harp goalmouth with Watson almost getting a touch at the far post but the ball agonisingly went out for a bye kick.

In 34 minutes Valentine of Harp struck a decent shot from 20 yards which Mcleod failed to hold at the first attempt but smothered as Mullen followed up with weak Harp appeals for a penalty

Roselea somehow couldn’t score when Cruickshank broke on the left and rolled the ball towards the penalty spot and the incoming Reoch, the ball broke under the challenge to Calum Watson at the edge of the box and his shot was well saved by the legs of Bell in the Harp goal.

With 5 minutes to half time the score remained level. Roselea had one final chance as the break beckoned when Whyte latched on to a free kick at the far post but the ball rose as he shot with the end result the ball nestling on top of the net. 

Half Time: Lochee Harp 0 Montrose Roselea 0

In 49 minutes there was a moment of danger for Roselea as Reid’s attempted headed passback fell short and Watson stepped in to clear high over his own bar. 

Roselea finally took the lead in 51 minutes and it was Eric WATSON who bundled the ball into the net. A great inswinging free kick from Cruickshank was headed against the Harp keeper and Watson was perfectly placed to backheel the ball over the line. 

Harp’s cause was not helped with the sending off of central defender McHugh in 56 minutes. Comments made to the referee after receiving a yellow card for man handling Calum Watson saw him receive a second yellow. 

Roselea had a couple of chances within a minute of the sending off. First Urquhart almost got his head to another dangerous Cruickshank inswinger and then Collier flicked on a Reid cross and it went just over with Bell scrambling across his line. Bell had to pull off a great save from a Calum Watson diving header which came from a Taylor cross as he turned it behind for a corner in 60 minutes.From the corner taken by Cruickshank,  Eric Watson should have done better with his header but was off target. In 70 minutes Reoch did well and got a rub of the green in the box and although his shot was firm and on target, Bell saved well. Urquhart then had a great shot go just over as Roselea seeked the second goal that would make the points almost safe.

Harp were threatening at times on the break and were making Roselea battle for the points. 

Roselea made their first change in 76 minutes with Cruickshank coming off and Stewart Fletcher taking his place. 

The breakthrough finally came for a relieved Roselea in 83 minutes. Rae won the ball on the half way line and drove forward pulling the Harp defence towards him then slipped the ball wide to Fletcher and his cutback finally fell to Calum WATSON who blasted home from 6 yards to make it 2-0. 

In 88 minutes Chris Milne replaced Rae for the visitors. 

Final Score: Lochee Harp 0 Montrose Roselea 2

 This was a hard fought win with the home side at times playing more football than the visitors however it was a patient Lea side who took their chances and secured the three points. Both Eric Watson and Gavin Reid did what was asked of them and put in assured performances. Watson did what he used to do so often in the past by scoring off a free kick and Reid was comfortable at left back using the ball well. The win keeps Roselea on top with a 100% record after 3 games with East Craigie and Forfar West End also on the same total.  

Roselea now take a break from League duty for a week and have a visit from Arniston Rangers in the East of Scotland Cup. The following week Coupar Angus are the next visitors to Broomfield Park in the League. Both matches kick off at 2.30pm