Montrose Roselea

MONTROSE ROSELEA v DUNDEE VIOLET

McBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION

SAT APRIL 14^th 2012 

Roselea entertained champions elect Violet in their final game of the 2011-12 season. Roselea found themselves in a similar position to that of Rangers recently when only a win would prevent the visitors only requiring a point to seal the Title however with a far superior goal difference and two games remaining the mathematical calculations would not come into play.

This would also be Roselea’s earliest finish to a season for many years with a combination of an 11 team league, kind winter and early cup knock outs. Roselea continued with the side who had finished against East Craigie with Ross Colquhoun returning and only the injured Calum Rae and on loan players absent. 

On a sunny day the bitterly cold north wind was biting as it blew down Broomfield and came from an uncustomary direction. 

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

Violet are looking to make sure they clinch the Title and early on Pirie looks hungry as he forces a corner. Violet take the lead in 7 minutes with a well executed free kick. Urquhart is penalised for a hand ball and Sean ANDERSON stepped up to send a beautiful curling free kick from 25 yards over the wall and into the corner with Mcleod almost getting there. 

In 12 minutes Kevin Webster sent in a great free kick which Paul Whyte almost got a foot to at the far post. Two minutes later Fletcher sent Urquhart away on a Roselea break but he wanted an extra touch when he should have been looking to hit with the wind at his back and over ran the ball. I

In 16 minutes Thomson of Violet had a crude challenge on Collier from behind and avoided a yellow card. Webster floated in another curling ball which was misjudged by Stewart in the Violet goal and he had to tip behind for a corner.  

Violets Pirie went close with a header at the far post in 22 minutes just failing to reach the ball and it went wide. 

In 25 minutes Ryan Taylor was booked for dissent after another challenge on Collier went unpunished. Urquhart then gave away a foul and this time Mcleod held Andersons free kick but caused some panic when he dropped the ball before it was cleared by a Lea defender. 

Violet are still looking the sharper team with some good movement but Roselea are not out of it by any means. 

Urquhart plays a nice one two with Anderson and he drives forward in 36 minutes before shooting wide of the target when he should have been testing the keeper. Roselea were awarded a free kick in 40 minutes for yet another foul on Collier. Webster manages to negotiate the Violet wall in front of him but his shot lacks the punch needed to test Stewart more fully.

A minute later Roselea have their best chance of the half when Collier received the ball from Webster crossfield, springing the offside trap and Reynolds just managed to get a touch on the shot delfecting it just over the bar for a corner. 

Disaster for Roselea in 42 minutes when they conceded a second goal. The ever dangerous Pirie got to the bye-line and crossed to the middle of the goalmouth before a deflection took the ball onto the head of the brave McCONNACHIE who stuck his head where the boots were flying and made sure from close range. Just before the half time whistle Mcleod had to dive at the feet of Grant and the ball was diverted for a corner. 

Half Time: Roselea 0 Violet 1

The second half starts with little action however there were numerous tackles and booking for dissent as the referee struggled to control matters. Things did boil over in the 60^th minute but it was not due to a tussle between the teams. Paul Taylor who had previously been booked gave a away a foul on the touchline which was neither dangerous nor worthy of anything else than the foul it was. To the amazement of the player the referee showed him a second yellow card then paused for a moment and realised it was his second and showed him the red. James Collier, frustrated at the referee was then also shown a straight red card for dissent. This effectively ended the contest. 

The remainder of the match was broken up with almost every man in green shown a yellow card as their frustrations continued. 

Roselea made a double substitution in 65 minutes when Kennedy & Strachan replaced Webster and Ryan Taylor. Roselea make their final change in 76 minutes when Colquhoun replaced Craig Anderson.  

Fletcher wriggled his away along the bye-line twisting and turning before hitting a left foot shot which raised penalty claims from the Roselea players before a corner was awarded. 

In 78 minutes Roselea were awarded a puzzling indirect free kick inside the Violet box for what was thought to be dangerous play. With the ball on the penalty spot and the Violet players practically on the six yard box it took several attempts by the referee to get the kick to be taken. Eventually Kennedy managed to tap the ball to COLQUHOUN and he blasted home from 10 yards with the Violet players almost at the ball when he hit it.

Roselea continued to battle away with their 9 men but couldn’t break down the Violet. They did have the ball in the next right on time but the referee awarded a free kick for a push when Stewart ended up in the net with the ball. 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 1 Dundee Violet

Nobody could begrudge Violet their win on the day which allowed them to celebrate winning the Title they deserved however it was a day of frustration for the home team. From the off the referee had some strange decisions which infuriated. The sending off of Paul Taylor was very harsh and should have ended the game as a contest although the 9 men battled on bravely. Roselea will now have the longest break in many years and the young team and Management will have time to reflect on the season and see what they need to do to advance to a higher plain. They have done exceptionally well to compete to the end with a side which has been put together at a big cost and have bags of experience. 

Roselea would like to thank all their Sponsors over the season and hope to see them all back again in the future.