Montrose Roselea

BATHGATE THISTLE v MONTROSE ROSELEA MCBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE SAT AUG 30TH 2014 Roselea travelled across the Forth Bridge for the first time this season as they headed to Creamery Park to face Bathgate Thistle. This was the scene of the hardest to take defeat in 2013 when Roselea led 2-1 with six minutes remaining only to lose two late goals. Roselea travelled without a host of players with Calum Watson, Aaron Thomson, Calum Rae, Andrew Tringham and James Collier all unavailable for a variety of reasons. This meant that youth would get a chance with Kyle Findlater and Morgan Smith joining the other summer recruit Ross Mitchell in the starting line up. Matt Keogh helped boost the squad number as a Trialist and took a place on the bench. Scott McDowell & Paul Taylor returned from injury with McDowell starting and Taylor on the bench. Creamery Park was looking in excellent condition and the weather was pleasurable. Roselea: Mcleod, Findlater, R Taylor, Reoch, Whyte, Mitchell, Anderson, Smith, McDowell, Cruickshank & Reid. Subs: P Taylor, Bailey, Keogh, Craig & Brand. Bathgate picked up two bookings in the early stages with firstly Gilbert booked for a late tackle on Cruickshank and then Brady was booked for a hand ball after he slipped and Dale Reid was going to break through. In 12 minutes a ball was played from Findlater into the path of Dale Reid and his touch guided the ball into the Bathgate keepers arms which was very unlucky. In 14 minutes Michael Cruickshank broke up the left hand side and his cross found Ross Mitchell in space arriving at the far side of the box and although he was right to take the shot on first time his shot soared over the bar. On the half hour mark there was a penalty claim for Roselea when Reid crossed from the left and with the referee being on the blind side of the defender he probably called it correct. Roselea were having the better of the chances and Cruickshank had a chance to shoot with his right but played the ball across to Mitchell who couldn’t get his shot away. There was a dangerous break from Bathgate in 40 minutes when Jack put in a great low cross which which Mcleod held well. In 41 minutes Roselea had a great moved which saw full-back Findlater almost open the scoring with a low left footed shot but on loan Motherwell keeper Long held well. Half Time: Montrose Roselea 0 Bathgate Thistle 0 Bathgate were awarded a free kick in 48 minutes when Smith fouled at the edge of the box. The free kick was hit into the Roselea wall and the ball broke to Dale Reid who had a fine solo run with his finish just off target from 25 yards. In 54 minutes Mcleod had a great save from Murphy then Cruickshank of Roselea ran the length of the park before picking out Anderson at the edge of the box and his volley went very close before dipping over the stanchion. Bathgate took the lead in 58 minutes very much against the run of play. A cross came in and MURPHY hit a low shot on the half volley that keeper Mcleod would not like to see again as it squirmed under his body. Roselea almost got back on level terms in 63 minutes when Dale Reid had a point blank header somehow saved by keeper Long when if it had been anywhere else in the goal it would have went in. When the ball broke to McDowell he hit a smacking shot which seemed to find the hands of the defender but the referee indicated it was in self protection and in the line of the body. In 70 minutes Easton of Bathgate gave away an indirect free kick when he slid in and passed back to the keeper. When the ball was played into the path of Paul WHYTE he made no mistake by blasting the ball into the corner of the net from 8 yards out. Roselea lost a sickening goal just two minutes later when a dangerous corner was headed by Ryan Taylor onto the back of the head of Kyle FINDLATER for an own goal. In 71 minutes Roselea made a change when Liam Bailey replaced Morgan Smith who had a great first game for the club. Roselea had a chance in 76 minutes when Paul Whyte chested a long throw in and got a great volley in with only a great save from Long preventing a goal. Roselea’s perseverance finally paid off in the 81st minute when Mitchell’s shot was handballed and Michael CRUICKSHANK converted the penalty sending Long the wrong way. Roselea had their tails up but wasted a great opportunity in 84 minutes when Reid broke away and in a similar position to the week before elected to cut inside the defender to get on to his favoured right foot but the defender got to the ball. Typically of Roselea’s Premier League season so far there was a vicious twist in the tail just as they looked like they would go on to win. A break on the right hand side saw Bathgate cross and WALES was under the ball and lashed a high shot into the net to break the travelling hearts. Full Time: Bathgate Thistle 3 Montrose Roselea 2 This was a typical hard to take result for Roselea in the early part of the season and a mirror of the score in 2013 with the same cruel finish for the boys in green. The balance of the team was perfect and some great performamces should be congratulated for the youngsters coming in, Kyle Findlater, Morgan Smith, Ross Mitchell and Liam Bailey who all make the future of Junior football in Montrose bright. As the hosts admitted they were worthy of a point and will accumulate points as the season progresses. It was a relieved Bathgate who cheered when the final whistle went and like the previous games they knew they had stole the points. Roselea take a break from League business on Sat Sept 6th when Dalkeith visit Broomfield Park for an East of Scotland 1st Round tie. Kick Off is 2.30pm