Montrose Roselea

BRECHIN VICS V MONTROSEROSELEA

EAST REGION NORTH DIVISION

SAT APRIL 2^nd 2011 

With the race for the North Division hotting up and no less than 8 of the 12 teams in with a realistic chance of winning it, Roselea travelled to Victoria Park to face local rivals Brechin Vics. Roselea sat one point behind current leaders Downfield with a game in hand. Roselea were light in numbers with Paul Whyte, James Collier, Ewan Graham & David Craig unavailable, Calum Rae as injured although he made the bench and Colin Page is still out long term injured. 

Roselea: Mcleod, Colquhoun, Doug Craig, Mustard, Reoch, Kennedy, Strachan, Fotheringham, Urquhart, Watson & Aitken. Subs: Reid, Miller, Riach, Hood & Rae 

 After a dismal morning the sun was out however Victoria Park was heavy underfoot although it had a good covering of grass. 

The opening five minutes were a bit sticky and it was Roselea who finally created something after 5 minutes. Strachan had an excellent tackle on Crowe before sending in a cross which was too close to Robbie in the Vics goal. Roles were reversed a minute later when this time Strachan lost out to Crowe who put in a dangerous cross which Mcnaughton should have done better with and headed wide with Mcleod caught out. 

Joe Aitken sent Ryan Strachan down the wing in ten minutes and his deep cross was met by Watson at the back post but the big striker could not hit the target. In 13 minutes Roselea had a free kick in a dangerous area after Urquhart was scythed down however Colquhoun blasted over. 

Roselea had a let off in 18 minutes when Fotheringham had to do his job on the post after a header from a corner was goalbound. He managed to fling himself at the ball and head clear in acrobatic fashion. 

Play was swinging from end to end and the first five minutes excepted Brechin Vics were putting in some very heavy challenges. Crowe of Vics picked up a booking. 

Brechin Vics were a threat and McNaughton set up Ross for a shot but he did not get enough power to trouble Mcleod in 32 minutes. 

Vics had a couple of chances just before half time with a Ross header and a penalty claim turned down after a challenge on the same player. Referee McIllvenny was not interested and correctly awarded a corner. 

Vics then had another couple of chances in stoppage time with Mcleod missing a corner claiming for a foul which was not given and Mcnaughton blasted over from close range. 

Half Time: Brechin Vics 0 Montrose Roselea 0 

Roselea started the half brightly with their Managers “words” of wisdom still ringing in their ears and Mustard just failed to get a good connection on a great Strachan cross. In 48 minutes Roselea got the all important first goal. A long ball from Reoch was flicked on by Watson and when Crowe missed the ball STRACHAN found himself in on goal and shot low and hard from 16 yards to give the visitors the lead. 

Vics came back into it and McNaughton shot into the near post then he had a close range header saved at the feet of Ross Mcleod. 

In 55 minutes Watson broke through for Roselea and although he held off the Vics defender on his tail he lost his footing as he shot and the ball went over the top of the goals. 

Roselea increased their lead in 60 minutes when Aitken outstripped the Vics defence and cut across the last defender who could only trip him as he entered the box and a penalty was awarded. Craig WATSON stepped up a coolly finished sending Robbie the wrong way from the kick. 

Urquhart went close in 68 minutes when he came out best in a hard tackle and his chip was cleared off the line by Easton. 

Brechin Vics had another half chance in 74 minutes when Mcnaughtons overhead kick went just wide of the post. Roselea made three subs as the game petered out with Hood on for Watson in 75, Reid replacing Strachan on 80 minutes and Riach on for Aitken in 85. 

Hood created a couple of chances in the closing minutes with some great footwork. He cut in and had a shot which Robbie saved then a minute later he set up Riach for a knock in but he stretched and the ball went high over the bar. 

Final Score: Brechin Vics 0 Montrose Roselea 2 

This was a very tough match for Roselea and it wasn’t until the goals came that the points looked safe. Up against a very robust Vics side they did show patience and it was a professional performance. With Dundee Violet and Downfield drawing 0-0 Roselea leapfrogged Downfield to top the table and have a game in hand. North End were getting beat 2-1 at Harp when the match was abandoned by the referee with 12 minutes remaining. The Region Management will have to decide the outcome of that match. North End remain 7 points behind Roselea with 2 games in hand.Roselea now head to Kirrie Thistle on Sat April 9^th for their 4^th away game on the trot. The remaining 6 games consist of three at home and three away.