MONTROSE ROSELEA v DOWNFIELD JFC

McBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION

SAT NOV 24^th 2012. 

Roselea faced Downfield in the latest McBookie.com North Division match. Roselea trailed Downfield by three points but carried a two game advantage over the Dundee side. After the fine win over Maryhill in the Scottish Cup the Roselea squad was boosted by the return of Calum Rae & James Collier both from hamstring injuries. On the negative side Craig Anderson was serving the first of a two game suspension and Colin Kennedy had departed for Ghana on work. Broomfield Park was in excellent condition on a damp day and had recovered from the early morning frost. 

Roselea: Mcleod, Allan, R Taylor, Whyte, Reoch, Riach, Ross, Rae, Cruickshank, Watson & Collier. Subs: Reid, Milne, P Taylor, Brand & Craig

Roselea started brightly and forced a corner in the first minute however Thain in the Downfield goal came and held confidently 

Downfield then came into things and looked sharp with their passing. They too forced a couple of early corners but again Mcleod in the home goal dealt with them as he should. 

Roselea had a great chance to take the lead when a great crossfield ball from Riach found Cruickshank at the far his post and his great volley looked to be goalbound before it hit his own player Collier who deflected the ball past the post. 

Cruickshank was giving Downfield great difficulty on the left hand side and there was an appeal for a penalty when another cross was blocked for a corner.  

Ralph Henderson of Downfield could have been the first booking of the game in the 12^th minute when he went in heavy on Watson from behind.

Watson and Deuchars of Downfield then clashed off the ball with Deuchars appealing that he had been tripped off the ball when he ended up on the turf. 

Calum Rae did well to get back and block a shot from Scott and the ball fell behind for a corner. 

Half Time: Roselea 0 Downfield 0

Early in the second half Watson flicked the ball wide to Riach who headed for the byeline before cutting the ball back to Watson who got on the end of the cross and scooped over the bar. Roselea started the second half well and it just seemed as if it wasn’t going to be Calum Watsons day. Scott Riach chipped a perfect ball into his chest which he took down and just couldn’t get enough on his shot to trouble Thain in the Downfield goal. 

Downfield won a free kick 25 yards out and it was clear that Ferrie was going to have a right blast at it. Fortunately for Roselea the ball went wide with Mcleod showing anger at his wall for not following his instructions. 

Bremner then had a great strike for Downfield from 30 yards his only downfall was that it was right down the middle however Mcleod had to make sure he held with Scott following up. 

Roselea made a change in 73 when Dale Reid replaced Riach as they tried to take the game more to Downfield 

Some great play by Michael Cruickshank saw him cut the ball back to Watson and his curling shot was well saved by Thain. 

Roselea’s afternoon was going to go from bizarre to obscene from the 80^th minute onwards.  

Downfield broke and Scott raced for a ball with Mcleod on the corner of the 18 yard box, Reoch nipped in to clear the danger and with him in possession of the ball near the corner flag with nobody near him Mcleods momentum saw him collide with Scott. The referee pointed to the spot and awarded a penalty. Ferrie stepped up and blasted the ball about chest high right down the middle and somehow Mcleod, who had already started to dive managed to get his hand to the ball and beat it out for a corner. 

There was more woe for Ferrie as he had another chance from the corner but scooped over. 

Ryan Taylor combined with Cruickshank and sent in a dangerous cross which Thain did well to flick away from the in rushing Collier. Calum Rae was next to have a shot saved by visiting keeper Thain when he connected well with a Taylor cutback as he arrived in the box.  

Roselea were sure they had opened the scoring in the 85^th minute when Paul Whyte bulleted a header into the net. At first the referee appeared to award a goal however after a pause he seemed to change his mind and awarded a free kick for handball. In the resulting confusion Calum Rae was red carded for comments made to an opposition player. 

The script had been written and it was no surprise when Downfield scored what proved to be the winner in the 87^th minute and it was a goal worthy of winning any game. Scott REYNOLDS picked up a lose ball at the edge of the box and cut inside before curling a great shot over Mcleod and into the corner of the net. 

There was still time for ten man Roselea to create two more chances and it was Calum Watson who again got on the end of them but still couldn’t for a draw with Thain again thwarting him. 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 0 Downfield 1

 This was a painful defeat for Roselea who missed a handful of chances however nothing can be taken away from Downfield who had good spells of possession especially in the second half and the winning goal was a delightful finish. The big turning point came with the disallowed goal and red card followed by the cruel goal minutes later.  

Roselea travel to Forfar Albion on Sat December 1^st and will try and pick themselves up from this painful defeat. The match at Guthrie Park kicks off at 1.45pm