ARBROATH VICS v MONTROSE ROSELEA

McBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION

SAT MAY 4^th 2013

 

Roselea travelled to old foes Arbroath Vics in search of 3 vital points to maintain their Title challenge. Fresh from the previous weeks victory at Stonehaven in the GA Cup the squad was boosted by the return of Calum Rae and Danny Ross. There was also a surprise addition with Ewan Graham agreeing to return for the final games of the season. North Ends match with East Craigie was postponed so it gave Roselea a massive incentive to get points on the board and put pressure on their challengers.

 

Ogilvy Park was as per usual looking magnificent for the time of the year with their President Russell Ruxton taking great pride in his surface. Roselea had won the opposite league fixture at Broomfield Park in March however Vics beat the visitors 2-1 in the League Cup fixture at todays venue.

 

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, R Taylor, Whyte, Reoch, Anderson, Collier, Rae, Cruickshank, Watson & Reid. Subs: Ross, Riach, Beedie, Watt & Graham.

 

In an even opening Roselea who faced an increasing wind forced Vics back with a corner which they dealt with then Warren went on a mazy run but his end effort was low and weak so Mcleod was not troubled.

 

In six minutes Vics forced the first of several corners they would have in the first half but Whyte did well to clear.

 

Roselea thought they had opened the scoring in 8 minutes when Watson struck a great shot after coming in from the right but the ball struck the base of the post before coming out to safety. It was only a momentarily let off for the home side though as two minutes later Calum WATSON cut in and this time with a left foot shot guided the ball into the corner of the net to open the scoring.

 

This spurred Roselea into further action with Anderson getting on the end of a Cruickshank ball with his head but the wind playing a major factor in his weak attempt.

 

Anderson then turned provider when his cross was narrowly missed by Dale Reid as Roselea took the game to the Vics.

 

Vics had their first real chance in 20 minutes when Durno and Collier collided with referee Roncone deciding in the favour of the home side. Warren took a dangerous free kick which went around the wall and although Mcleod took two attempts to save he did a great job considering the force of the shot.

 

Vics were getting a foothold in the game and from one of the aforementioned corners they almost caught Mcleod out but he had claimed a push before knocking the ball out for another corner which when it came in there was a foul awarded for a challenge on the keeper.

 

On the half hour Vics had a great chance to equalise when Chris Simpson did what he used to do for Roselea so well and bustled the ball beyond Whyte before Mcleod saved well from his well struck effort.

 

In 40 minutes Vics had another chance as they started to take the upperhand in the midfield. A Warren cross was beaten out by Mcleod and Fotheringham blasted the ball against the underside of the bar before Reoch bravely cleared with his head.

 

There was another scramble in the Roselea box when a corner found Warren at the far post and his chip back in was eventually cleared by Rae.

 

Roselea were the happier side to hear the half time whistle but had defended well against a very tough wind.

 

Half Time: Arbroath Vics 0 Montrose Roselea 1

 

With 5 minutes of the second half gone Vics were on level terms. Stephen broke down the right and crossed into the Roselea box, MOWATT was allowed too much space in the area and headed home well from 12 yards out.

 

Roselea then had a chance to test Vics resolve against the wind from a corner and Collier couldn’t manage to get a shot away from a very tight angle before Vics cleared in 52 minutes.

 

Roselea had a great shooting opportunity in 55 minutes when Durno brought down Collier in a reversal of the first half incident. From a similar position Cruickshank hit a swerving shot around the wall and Hutchison had to be alert to beat the ball behind for a corner. The corner was taken short to Paul Taylor and clipped an excellent ball across the Vics goalmouth with no Roselea players on hand to finish.

 

In 60 minutes Roselea had a penalty claim in what was a major talking point of the game. Cruickshank picked the ball up in the area and played the ball past a lunging Vics player and went down. Referee Roncone paused for a second but played on. There was a second claim for Roselea two minutes later when Sturrock looking to have controlled a ball in the box with his hand however the match official was in no mood to see a 12 yard strike.

 

Roselea made two changes between the hour mark and 70 minutes as Graham came on for Cruickshank then Ross came back into the fold for Reid.

 

Collier put Vics keeper Hutchison under pressure from a Paul Taylor cross forcing a spill but could not get his foot to the loose ball to finish.

 

In 71 minutes Roselea went back in front after a long spell of pressure. A corner was cleared only as far as Anderson who hot a rasping half volley from 20 yards and COLLIER was in the right place to deflect the off target shot into the net and send the travelling Roselea support wild with delight.

 

Graham had a free kick palmed over the top by Hutchison in 76 minutes as Roselea searched for the vital third goal to secure the points.

 

In 78 minutes a whipped corner kick from Rae was flicked by the head of Reoch and looked net bound but slipped just wide.

 

Roselea looked to have secured the three points in 81 minutes with a superb goal by Calum WATSON. He picked the ball up 35 yards out and showed great strength before cutting inside and sending a great 25 yard shot low into Hutchison’s right hand corner.

 

There was one last chance for Roselea right on time when Collier spun in the box after Graham had driven a free kick into the wall however his shot was over the top.

 

Referee Mike Roncone called time and Roselea secured another valuable three points in their quest for the Title.

 

Full Time: Arbroath Vics 1 Montrose Roselea 3

 

This was a very hard three points to win and for a long time at 1-1 the game was in the balance. Roselea certainly had the upperhand in chances with the non penalty decision potentially being a pivotal point in proceedings. Calum Watson deserves special mention for an excellent display and also captain Paul Whyte who played just hours before departing for a Florida holiday.

 

The win sends Roselea back to the top of the table on goal difference with East Craigie being idle. Kirrie Thistle sit 1 point behind with a game in hand and North End five points back also with a game in hand. With two home matches remaining against Kirrie Thistle and Forfar Albion, Roselea know that two wins will secure the Title however anything less than maximum points does not even guarantee promotion!

 

Roselea take a break from League action this week and have a great opportunity to reach the GA Cup Final when Banks o Dee arrive for the Semi Final at Broomfield this Saturday. Roselea last reached the final of the competition in 2008 and will look to put home advantage to use. The match kicks off at 2.30pm.