MONTROSE ROSELEA V DUNDEE NORTH END

MCBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION

SAT JAN 7^TH 2012

 

Roselea faced Dundee North End League match on Saturday and with both sides chasing leaders Dundee Violet a win was a must for both camps. North End sat 1 point behind Roselea who were in turn 4 points behind Violet. Roselea had injury problems in the lead up to the game with long term injury victim Calum Rae joined by Lee Hood and Paul Whyte who had picked up knocks in the friendly v Parkvale on Hogmany.

 

The Broomfield Park surface was freshened up in the morning after the impromptu visit of Peterhead who trained on the pitch on Thursday evening in preparation for their game with Celtic after their own facilities had been double booked. Sky and STV cameras filmed the session bringing the Lea some national exposure.

 

Roselea: McLeod, Colquhoun, Ryan Taylor, Mustard, Reoch, Urquhart, Kennedy, Anderson, Riach, Fletcher and Collier. Subs: Paul Taylor, Rodger, Aitken, Brand & Craig.

 

Disaster struck for Roselea in only 30 seconds when a defensive mixup allowed North End to attack and after Ryan Taylor cleared the initial shot the rebound was deflected into his own goal by Bob Urquhart.

 

Roselea came back well however two offiside decisions went against them. In 5 mins a Riach flick on was met by Collier however he was given offside and then 2 min later Urquhart had the ball in the net only to be given correctly offside.

 

In 12 min a good run down the left by Ryan Taylor saw him cross to Riach however Stewart got back and put the ball behind for a corner.

 

In 18 min North End and another chance when Muckersie corner fell to O'Neill who shot from 20 yards and was a couple of yards wide of the target.

 

On 20 min North end had their best chance after a couple 1-2s the ball broke to Hoy who had spectacular overhead kicked saved by McLeod just beside the post.

 

In 22 min Glennie of the away side was lucky to remain on the pitch after a very bad challenge on Mustard which only received a booking.

 

Just after the half hour mark Anderson went on the run and after a one-two with Urquhart he played the former in on the keeper who made a great save with his feet.

 

Roselea pressed as half-time approached and had a couple of chances just before the break. A Kennedy diagonal ball found after wide on the right and has excellent cutback was some behind for a corner.

Half time: Roselea 0 North End 0

 

Roselea started the second half strongly however it was North End who had the first chance in 48 min. On a breakaway Muckersie and Evans combined well and Muckersie had a shot which was deflected off Urquhart however McLeod saved comfortably.

 

On 50 min Roselea were unlucky not to level the scores. A well worked short corner saw Kennedy pick up the ball and shoot from 25 yards at an angle, keeper Fotheringham managed to tip the ball on to the bar and after it bounced on the line it was cleared. The ball went to the other end and if Mccomiskie had not tripped on the ball Roselea could have been in trouble.

 

North End then had a chance when Bolland had a shot from the edge of the box but it was deflected behind for a corner.

 

Roselea made a change on 65 min when Aitken replaced the injured Urquhart. The sub seemed to have an instant impact after Roselea drew level a minute later. Kennedy played a short corner to Taylor and his cross was flicked over their head of Fotheringham by FLETCHER.

 

Craig Anderson was full of running and yet another lung bursting run saw him draw the North End defence before slipping the ball to Scott Riach who saw his curling effort go over the top with troubling Fotheringham. Anderson then had a speculative shot from 35 yards and although the visiting keeper made it look easy it was a decent strike.

 

The game exploded in 80 minutes when a couple of fouls led to Gowans being red carded. Riach was booked for a challenge on Gowans and a minute later the North End player saw a straight red after a touch-line confrontation with Collier which the ref adjudged to be worth a sending off.

 

Roselea were spurred on by this and had a great chance to take the lead 2 minutes later. Collier linked up well with Fletcher and received a return pass before shooting low only for Fotheringham to block with his feet again, Aitken following up just failed to connect with the rebound.

 

Paul Taylor replaced Ross Colquhoun with 5 minutes left on the clock. Roselea pressed North End for the last few minutes but could not break them down to get the winner and North End also had some pressure on the break as the day drew to a close.

 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 1 Dundee North End 1

 

Perhaps a draw was a fair result considering the endeavour and effort from both teams who also played some great football however it was Roselea who had the upperhand in chances terms and Fotheringham in the away goal had a great game.

 

The win leaves both sides further adrift from leaders Violet who despite losing in a cup match at Fauldhouse would have liked the news from  Broomfield Park. Roselea are still four points behind Violet who now have 2 games in hand and it will take a massive failure from them to blow the League at this stage.

 

Match Sponsors, Brian Church and the Golf Inn both chose Craig Anderson as their man of the match.

 

Roselea take a break from League action and travel to Carnoustie to face them in the 2^nd Round of the GA Cup. Calum Watson will face his old side as he is currently on loan at Carnoustie from Cove Rangers. The match kicks off at 1.45pm and is played to a finish.