Montrose Roselea

MONTROSE ROSELEA v BLAIRGOWRIE

JFCMCBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION

SAT NOV 10^TH 2012 

Roselea entertained old foes Blairgowrie desperate to put a 3 League game losing run behind them. This was the clubs third clash of the year with Roselea having won the League Cup and reverse League fixtures at Davie Park. In the back of the Roselea minds the Blair side had knocked them out of the Scottish Cup a year ago at Montrose. 

Roselea welcomed Ryan Taylor back into the squad from injury following his successful comeback game v Johnshaven on the Monday night. Michael Cruickshank dropped out the side due to injury. There were a few positional changes with Scott Riach, Colin Kennedy and Danny Ross coming into the starting line up, replacing Robert Urquhart, Paul Taylor and Craig Anderson as the home side tried freshen things up. 

Roselea: Mcleod, Allan, Whyte, Reoch, R Taylor, Riach, Rae, Ross, Kennedy, Collier & Watson. Subs: Anderson, Urquhart, Milne, P Taylor & Cruickshank.

On a typical crisp November day the match kicked off on a flat surface, little wind and a very low sun making things difficult for the home keeper in the first half. 

From the off it was clear that Blairgowrie had arrived with their intentions of playing the offside trap with the referee having to make three calls within the first 5 mins with two looking correct and one perhaps not.  

Roselea did break the offside trap in 9 mins when Watson sprung wide left and squared to Collier who rounded the keeper however it took him wide and made a cross ball difficult with Obrien equal to the challenge holding his cross well. 

Collier again broke the offside trap in 15 minutes however the ball did not break kindly for him as it bounced over his head and behind him and although Rae followed up the ball broke clear for a relieved Blairgowrie. 

Blairgowrie then forced a series of three corners which were cleared first by Whyte heading then Mcleod punched twice away. 

Roselea had a great chance to take the lead in 31 minutes when Collier again beat the offside trap and found himself clear however a heavy touch took the ball into the path of Obrien who saved well before Watson squared only to find a Blair defender the only person in the box.  

Blair broke form a corner and only a “good” booking for Riach took the pressure off the home defence. Blairgowrie had a penalty appeal turned down in 33 minutes when French chased a ball in the box but it would have been a surprising and harsh award if given. 

James Collier pulled a hamstring and had to be replaced by Craig Anderson on 40 minutes. The half continued in much the same vein with the home side continually frustrated by tight offside calls which could have gone either way and near on impossible for an official without Assistants. 

Half Time: Montrose Roselea 0 Blairgowrie 0

Danny Ross was starting to give Blair some problems after his move to a more forward position and won a free kick in 48 minutes.

The ball was tapped to the side and Ryan Taylors cross come shot had to be tipped over by Obrien.  

In 55 minutes Anderson went on a run and brought out another block from Obrien and then from the corner by Kennedy,

Ross headed just over as he adjusted himself well to get the header in. 

Roselea made another change with Cruickshank coming on for Kennedy in 63 minutes. Crucikshank was straight into the action and sent in a dangerous corner which Blair struggled to clear before it was to Anderson at the edge of the box and his low shot was easily held. 

Blairgowrie broke down the right with Murison in 65 minutes and his cross was met by McDonald at the far post but his shot lacked enough power to trouble Mcleod. 

Roselea were looking likelier to score and it eventually came for them in the 69^th minute. Some good play in midfield from Cruickshank saw him slip Anderson away and he rounded the keeper before crossing to Ross to head goalwards and only after Obrien made a remarkable save RAE followed up to score from a tight angle. 

Anderson should have scored himself following a great run through the Blairgowrie defence in 75 mins. He picked the ball up 25 yards out and dribbled round 2 defenders before over running the ball to Obrien who spilled it back to the midfielder who missed an open goal possibly surprised he even got the chance. 

Roselea were well on top and Watson almost got his head to a Cruickshank free kick in 77 minutes. Another great ball from Cruickshank then found Riach who had a great touch before being foiled by a good tackle. 

Blairgowrie were not finished and in 86 minutes they tested Roselea’s resolve twice in a minute. Murison took of down the right before cutting in and with Roselea closing down the cut back he shot from a narrow angle forcing Mcleod to turn the ball behind for a corner. The corner came in and Hood got a free header with the ball going wide with Mcleod confident that it was off target.  

There was still time for 2 red cards as the game drew to a close. Watson was unlucky to pick up a second booking for a foul and after he retaliated Sheed was shown a straight red for his part in the proceedings. 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 1 Blairgowrie 0

Although this was a well deserved victory for Roselea, Blairgowrie made them work hard for it in yet another tight game. The relief at getting a long overdue win was evident at the final whistle despite the result never being in doubt. The changes to line up worked and there were some great displays including Man of the Match Craig Anderson’s second half display. Wins for Kirrie Thistle at North End, Arbroath Vics draw with East Craigie and Forfar West End winning at Lochee Harp meant things as still very tight at the top. Match Sponsors were Ian Edwards, Daniel Begg and MGFA. 

This week Roselea revert to Emirates Scottish Junior Cup action with the visit of Maryhill to Broomfield Park. The Glasgow side sit top of the Central Division Two and play in the same League as Royal Albert who Roselea defeated in the 2^nd Round. The match Kicks Off at 1.45pm