Montrose Roselea

EAST REGION NORTH DIVISION

MONTROSE ROSELEA v DUNDEE NORTH END

SAT JAN 15th 2011

After 7 weeks without a match Roselea pulled out the stops to play a rearranged home fixture with Dundee North End following the postponment of their match at Coupar Angus on Wednesday. Broomfield Park was in great condition although wet but the threat of more rain loomed as the match kicked off.North End who had played the same amount of games as Roselea sat 9 points behind at the start of the match so it was a must win game for them.

Roselea lined up with Ewan Graham out injured and Craig Watson who is transfer listed. Both players featured in Roselea's last match at Violet on November 20th with Watson bagging a double that day. Johnny Mitchell who had played much of season 2009/10 returned to the fold and committed himself to the club and was a suprise inclusion in the starting line up. The enforced break also allowed James Collier to regain his fitness following injury.

Roselea: McLeod, Miller, Doug Craig, Reoch, Whyte, Rae, Urquhart, David Craig, Reid, Collier & Mitchell. Subs: Aitken, Strachan, Fotheringham, Riach, Hood, Kennedy & Mustard.

Roselea faced an ever strenthening wind in the first half and the rain was coming and going.

North End were first to break and Percy went close after he made a well timed run to beat the Roselea defence but shot narrowly wide across the face of the goal.

In 7 minutes Roselea saw action at the other end with Johnny Mitchells header going just wide from a Doug Craig cross.

North End were having the Lions share of the possesion but with the strong wind at their backs many of their passes were running through.

It was Roselea who had the next chance and following good link up play between Craig and Reid the latter sent in a looping cross which landed at the feet of Whyte but he could not direct his shot on target from 8 yards.

A minute later North End broke through Percy who crossed however Reoch cleared only as far as Glennie and Mcleod had a wonderful save to tip the ball over for a corner with the ball heading in to the left hand corner of the net.

The game was swinging from end to end and Collier won a free kick right on the edge of the North End box with a clever swivel which almost won him a penalty. Doug Craig sent over a free kick and Urquhart headed just over the top.

North End were just shading the first half and Reoch had to turn a dangerous Percy cross behind for one of three corners on the trot for the visitors.In 43 minutes North End had a great chance to break the deadlock when they broke following a Roselea corner. Glennie went wide and found Percy who checked inside and only a brilliant save from Mcleod stopped him scoring.

Half Time: Roselea 0 North End 0

The North End forwards were giving Roselea all sorts of problems and Mcomiskie raced clear of the home defence with Mcleod doing well again to turn his chip away with Whyte sweeping up to fully clear.

Just as North End were getting on top Roselea won a penalty in 55 minutes when Mitchell was brought down after rounding Kelly. Matt Miller with a great record in shoot outs stepped up and sent his penalty into the corner only for Kelly to guess correctly and save at full stretch.

In 60 minutes Strachan was introduced for Roselea replacing Reid.

North End right back Thomson had a rasping 35 yard left foot drive saved by Mcleod who held well with Percy waiting to pounce.

North End broke the deadlock in 68 minutes. Smalls well struck corner kick only needed guided into the net by GLENNIE at the front post.

Roselea made further changes with Hood and Aitken replacing David Craig and Mitchell as they tried to get back into the game. North End were sweeping up everything thrown at them and looked solid whilst Roselea lacked ideas. 

With 5 minutes stoppage time on the clock, lightnening quick sub KELLY took on the Roselea defence and finished calmly after rounding Mcleod to seal a fine victory.

 Final Score: Roselea 0 Dundee North End 2

Roselea will be gutted that they lost a great opportunity to extend their lead in the North Division whilst also losing their unbeaten record at the same time. It was a classic bad day at the office with not much coming for them whilst coming up against an excellent young North End side who were hungry.

The win pulls North End back into the chasing back now lying 6 points behind Roselea having played the same amount of games.

 Roselea will need to write this loss off and get back to basics in their next matches.