Montrose Roselea

DOWNFIELD v MONTROSE ROSELEA

McBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION

SAT APRIL 20^TH 2013

 

Roselea travelled to Downfield Park to face the Spiders who were the last team to beat them in the League some nine games back in December. That match hurt as the winner came right at the end and just minutes after Paul Whyte had a perfectly good goal chopped off in controversial circumstances. Roselea were sitting top but with co leaders East Craigie expected to win at Forfar Albion and all other chasers expecting to win the pressure was on to get a result. To add to the tension Downfield really needed a win to keep their own chances alive as they were 6 points behind with only four games to play.

 

Roselea made one change with the returning Watson taking his place ahead of Michael Cruickshank who dropped down to the bench with Collier slotting back into midfield.

 

Downfield Park was looking good considering a charity match had taken place the previous Sunday in a mudbath but their Groundsman had done some excellent work by rolling it to get it back in good condition for the match.

 

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, R Taylor, Reoch, Whyte, Ross, Rae, Collier, Anderson, Watson & Reid. Subs: Watt, Beedie & Riach.

 

Roselea should have taken the lead in just two minutes when Reid narrowly headed an Anderson cross just wide of the post.

 

The visitors did open the scoring just two minutes later with a well taken goal. Ryan Taylor swung in a great free kick from 30 yards and Paul Whyte headed back across goal in customary style and James COLLIER flicked the ball over the head of home keeper Gary Thain.

 

Roselea continued to dominate and Thain had to save with his feet when Watson burrowed along the bye-line before shooting low at the near post in 10 minutes. Anderson then had a snap shot from around 30 yards and although well hit it didn’t threaten Thain as it flashed past the post.

 

Watson then found himself on the bye line again in 14 minutes and when his cutback was intercepted Roselea claimed the ball was passed back to Thain however the referee indicated it was accidental.

 

Reid was next to threaten for Roselea in 18 minutes and as he rounded the keeper he seemed to be brought down but managed to stay on his feet but could not beat the defender on the line from a tight angle.

 

James Collier was fortunate not to receive a yellow card for an over the top tackle on 21 minutes and escaped with a warning from referee Maskell.

 

It was all Roselea who were playing with the wind at their backs and after Collier shielded the ball from a throw in Reid cut the ball back with Watson just failing to get to the ball before Cameron cleared for a corner. Watson caught Cameron however the referee did not spot it and Cameron took no further part in the game after limping off.

 

Roselea had a let off when referee Maskell did not award a penalty for what looked like a clear trip on Scott by Whyte on the half hour mark.

 

A minute later it was Roselea’s turn for a penalty appeal when Rae skipped past a couple of players before being brought down however no decision was given.

 

Downfield created their best two chances of the half in 38 minutes. First Mcleod spilled a cross and Scott blasted the ball against the visiting keeper then Hagan scooped over from close range following a corner.

 

Downfield broke from a corner and Hagan should have done better when Mcleod who had raced from his goal was caught in no mans land however he elected to square to Payne and Anderson worked well to get back and intercepted.

 

Half Time: Downfield 0 Roselea 1

 

Roselea opened the second half looking for the valuable second goal they would possibly need to consolidate the game. Reid was brought down 25 yards out and took the kick himself and although he struck his shot well he found the back of a Downfield defender who cleared.

 

Neither side created much at the start of the second period with only a deflected shot from Reid and a long range Payne effort from both sides counting as opportunities.

 

In 55 minutes the ball broke to Calum Watson in the box after Paul Taylor had sent it back in and he found himself in on goal however Thain pulled off a great save to turn the ball behind for a corner.

 

Deuchars of Downfield received a booking for a late tackle on Reid who had pushed the ball past him down the line in 61 minutes. Watson then had a shot blocked by the hands of Thain as Roselea searched for the second goal to give themselves some breathing space.

 

Downfield had another penalty claim turned down in 66 minutes when Payne rounded Mcleod and claimed to have been brought down.

 

In 75 minutes Deuchars of Downfield received a second yellow card for an off the ball incident and was first to test the showers.

 

The game was getting a bit tetchy and Reoch and Hagan were shown yellow cards in 83 minutes with Hagan being the perpetrator after the ball had been cleared. Much to Roselea’s annoyance the game was restarted with a drop ball inside the Roselea box and after Anderson cleared Bremner struck a great shot from 25 yards out and the ball struck the base of the post before being cleared to safety.

 

Reid was harshly given offside as he raced in on goal with only his pace costing him by making him look like he was offside.

 

The ten men of Downfield battled away in search of a point and they had two near things at the death as the ball fizzed across the Roselea box with no takers.

 

Final Score: Downfield 0 Montrose Roselea 1

 

A tight match was predicted and that was what it turned out to be however if Roselea had taken their chances it could have been secured by half time. It was a very disciplined performance from the team and it takes their unbeaten run to ten games.

 

With all the other promotion hopefuls who were in action winning their games this was a massive result. With three games remaining the fate of the team is very much in their own hands however there will be difficult games at Arbroath Vics and at home to Kirrie Thistle and Forfar Albion.

 

This Saturday Roselea travel to Glenury Park Stonehaven for a GA Cup quarter final tie which kicks off at 2.30pm. This will be a welcome break from League duty and a chance to progress in the cup they won in 2007.