MONTROSE ROSELEA v BLAIRGOWRIE

MCBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION
SAT FEB 25^th 2012 

Roselea welcomed Blairgowrie to Broomfield Park for a League match which would be their third visit to Montrose having played in the League Cup and Scottish Cup at the same venue. A fourth match between the sides will also take place in the return League match at Blairgowrie. The away side held the upper hand in the previous games with a 1-1 draw in the League Cup encounter and won the Emirates Junior Cup tie 3-2. A win for the home side would see them go joint top of the League although they would have played two more games than leaders Violet. Roselea entered the match with the injured Calum Rae and Ross Colquhoun still out although both are making progress in their comebacks. Lee Hood and Jack Rodger were also missing being farmed out to Johnshaven and Brechin Vics to get some game time. Broomfield Park was looking good not having to endure the worst of winters and was flat although very dry. The flat calm conditions in the morning were replaced by the expected strong wind that only Broomfield can muster up. 

Roselea: McLeod, P Taylor, R Taylor, Whyte, Reoch, Urquhart, Anderson, Mustard, Webster, Collier & Aitken. Subs: Kennedy, Riach, Fletcher, Brand, Craig & Colquhoun.

Roselea were first to attack when Webster broke down the left hand side and his early cross found Collier who took a good touch however Pirie managed to do enough to make him scoop his shot high before keeper O’Brien punched away. 

In 12 minutes Blairgowrie get one of a number of free kicks awarded to them in the opening spell. Axworthy tries his luck from 25 yards wind assisted and Mcleod tips over to make sure. Axworthy almost got on the end of another free kick in 22 minutes but his overhead kick goes wide. 

In 24 minutes some good play from Roselea saw Ryan Taylor break on the left and he middled for Collier who took the ball in with his back to goal, O’Brien the keeper managed to get his hand round and pushed the ball out for throw in. A minute later Roselea have another chance when Collier and Aitken break on to a through ball from Urquhart. Collier prods the ball off the keeper and a defender cleared Aitkens follow up as Roselea hunted for the opener. 

Axworthy capitalised on a mistake by Paul Taylor and his blistering left foot drive went just wide of the Roselea goal. 

Roselea have another chance just before the half hour mark. Aitken does all expected of him as he flicked a Webster cross goalwards with only the wind preventing the ball crossing the line before it is hooked clear.  

Salisbury of Blairgowrie did well to control a long ball and his right footed touch takes the ball inside and along the 18 yard line however his left footed shot is covered by Mcleod as it drifted wide. 

Five minutes before the break Aitken has another chance for the home side. Webster sends in a great early cross which Aitken misses however he gets the break of the ball and gets a shot away which O’Brien saved at full length. 

As half time approached Blairgowrie could have been down to ten men when Pirie who had been booked earlier went in heavy on Anderson who had been booked earlier. Referee Graham surprisingly awarded a free kick to the away side. 

Half Time: Roselea 0 Blairgowrie 0

The first incident of the second half saw Blairgowrie have strong appeals for a penalty after Salisbury went down in the box under a strong tackle from Whyte. The referee awarded a corner. On the hour mark the ever dangerous Axworthy breaks on the right and sends in a dangerous ball which Reoch does well to clear behind for a corner. In 68 Axworthy has another low shot from the edge of the box which Mcleod turned behind for a corner. 

Roselea change things in 70 minutes with Fletcher going on for Aitken who had worked hard all day. Fletcher latched on to a good low cross from Paul Taylor but was well wide of the near post. 

Roselea took the lead in a very tight match on 77 mins with a great goal from James Collier. Kevin Webster fired a free kick into the wall but then flighted a delightful ball back into the box which COLLIER headed over the advancing Obrien and into the net. There were no appeals from the Blair players but the officials and supporters were incensed by the decision with some very vocal calls to the referee. 

McDonald of Blairgowrie was lucky to remain on the pitch after an off the ground two footed tackle which received a yellow card.

Things were starting to get tetchy and Anderson was then lucky not to get booked after he followed through on Pirie and led to a mass argument between opposing players. After things calmed down Salisbury of Blair received a second yellow and was sent off with 5 minutes remaining. 

Right on time Kevin Webster broke on the right and had a brilliant right footed shot swerve just wide of the goal and that brought the match to an end. 

Final Score: Montrose Roselea 1 Blairgowrie 0

Roselea will be happy to take the three points in what was an even and entertaining match played in testing conditions. Both teams tried to get the ball down and play football and Axworthy of the visitors was always a danger to the home defence. Craig Anderson and Sean Mustard had their best games for some time and bossed the midfield and James Collier was always a threat up top and took his tally to 15 goals for the season. The win takes Roselea top equal with leaders Violet who had slumped to their second defeat running in a cup match.

Roselea have now played two more games than Violet but with them still having to visit Montrose, Roselea will still be in the hunt. Another tough game is in prospect this week with a trip to Westview Park, Kirriemuir to play Kirrie Thistle. Kick Off is at 2.30pm