Montrose Roselea

MONTROSE ROSELEA v EAST CRAIGIE

McBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION

SAT APRIL 7^th 2012

Roselea faced the first of two final games with the only target a win to keep the Title race going however it was inevitable that Violet would still win the one promotion slot. A draw would mean that Violet would be 3 points ahead and with 2 games in hand and a far superior goal difference they would be certainties for the crown.  

On a perfect day for football Roselea had injury victims Calum Rae & Ross Colquhoun missing. Ross Mcleod was unavailable and was deputised by the reliable Ronnie Massie. Scott Riach had joined Merpro joining Jack Rodger and Lee Hood were also on loan to Brechin Vics and Johnshaven. 

Roselea: Massie, P Taylor, R Taylor, Whyte, Reoch, Urquhart, Anderson, Mustard, Webster, Collier, Fletcher. Subs Aitken, Strachan, Kennedy, Brand & Craig.

Roselea made a great start and almost scored within a minute. Fletcher was cruelly chopped down in the corner and Websters great low ball in was just missed by Collier and the slightest touch would have sent it into the net before the ball was turned behind for a corner. In 5 minutes Collier picked the ball up midway inside the Craigie half and went on a run beating two players and was brutally brought down as he played a one-two with Fletcher. Anderson escaped a booking and Websters free kick went just over the bar. 

In 7 minutes Ryan Taylor is caught late by McDonald just in front of the home dugout and this again goes unpunished much to the dismay of the home support. Unfortunately this set the tone for the game. 

Paul Whyte got himself mixed up in 9 minutes and almost let in Connor Adam however he managed to get a touch on the ball back to Massie who cleared the danger. Craigie were a much improved side from previous seasons with some good players on show and it was not surprise when they created a chance for themselves in 13 minutes. A long diagonal ball from Allan found Mcdonald on the right hand side and his lay off was struck well by Gray but Massie held the central shot with ease. 

Kevin Webster had a great turn inside in 19 minutes from a Taylor throw and sent in another dipping cross which Collier almost connected with at the near post forcing a corner. Ryan Taylor collected the short corner and had a great shot from the corner of the 18 yard box which Logie had to tip over. 

Mustard picked up a harsh booking in 23 minutes for a trip on the edge of his own area considering what had gone unpunished earlier. The free kick was well saved by Massie again. 

Roselea were out of luck again in 27 minutes when Collier headed against the post from a far post cross from Webster and the rebound came off Urquhart and fell to Logie in the Craigie goal. Two minutes later Roselea had yet another chance when Taylor threw to Collier who swivelled and sent Webster on his way to the byeline, he tried to cut back to Fletcher who was in space at the far post but Scrimergour intercepted for a corner. 

Roselea despite their pressure and chances headed in one down at half time. Ronnie Massie was booked for dissent after being incensed that play was allowed to continue after a Craigie player had headed the ball on the byeline clearly in an offside before Whyte cleared a certain goal for a corner. The corner broke to MCFARLANE at the edge of the box and his shot took a cruel deflection to beat Massie in the home goal. 

Half Time: Montrose Roselea 0 East Craigie 0

Roselea had the first chance of the second half in 53 minutes and it was the woodwork that again prevented the home team equalising. This time Urquhart struck a shot from 14 yards against the bar. 

In 62 minutes Small misjudged a header allowing Urquhart to get the ball across to Collier and he just couldn’t make room to get a clean shot in and his deflected effort was mopped up by Logie. 

Roselea were awarded a penalty in 66 minutes as Mustard was felled by two Craigie players as he went for a header. As the kick was about to be taken Chalmers was spoken to by the referee for contesting the decision but not shown a yellow card. Webster stepped up and had his strike saved by Logie.  

In 70 minutes Kennedy replaced Ryan Taylor as Roselea went more attacking as they searched for an equaliser. This came a minute later when a long throw by Anderson was flicked on by Collier and when Fletchers left foot shot appeared to have been held by Logie, WEBSTER pounced on the loose ball from close range to equalise. 

A minute later Roselea had a great chance to go ahead when Fletcher broke well and played the ball across to Collier who had his near post turned behind by Logie. 

In 82 minutes Charlie Adams of Liverpool's brother Connor was shown a red card as he retaliated to a shirt pull by Reoch. Things were getting out of hand as the referee struggled to get a hold of the game. 

10 man Craigie took the lead in 87 minutes courtesy of a penalty. Whyte obstructed Chalmers when it looked like Reoch had intercepted the danger and awarded a free kick which then struck the hand of Mustard. Substitute NORRIE made Roselea sorry when he converted the spot kick. 

Just when it looked like Roselea would finish on a downer they got a deserved equaliser 3 minutes into stoppage time. FLETCHER netted his 17^th goal of the season from close range to give the home side a share of the spoils. 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 2 East Craigie 2