Montrose Roselea

MONTROSE ROSELEA V DUNDEE VIOLET

MCBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE

SAT MAY 2ND 2015

Roselea entertained Violet in their final home game of the 2014-15 season. With both teams almost assured their place in next seasons Premier League it could have taken and end of season feel to it. Roselea beat Violet 3-2 in Dundee to avenge a penalty shoot out defeat at home in the GA Cup so a tight match was in prospect.

Calum Watson was available but would start a two game suspension after the match due to racking up bookings and Ralph Brand & Steve Kerrigan had almost a full squad to pick from minus the long term injured Scott McDowell. Jo Reoch returned to the bench after missing out at Tayport due to a bug. Steven Greig dropped to the bench with Dale Reid replacing him and Morgan Smith started for Craig Anderson who had picked up a strain.

Despite some rain in the last week Broomfield Park was rock solid and was fiery but the Groundstaff had at least made it look like a pitch.

Roselea: Mcleod, Findlater, R Taylor, Thomson, Whyte, Rae, Collier, Smith, Cruickshank, Reid & Watson. Subs: Mitchell, Greig, Campbell, Tringham

Violet started the stronger of the two teams and McConnachie sent in a dangerous corner in 4 minutes which Mcleod missed but he was fouled and Smith cleared off the line in any case.

Violet went close in 8 minutes and McConnachie broke up the left but Mcleod was up to the task and turned his shot away for a corner.

In 10 minutes Rae went close for Roselea with a volley from range which went just wide then Watson had a good chance when the ball bounced in the box but he snatched his shot high and wide.

Roselea were coming into things and a good move in 19 minutes saw the next chance of the game fall to James Collier. A good move up the left saw Taylor send the ball to Watson who headed the ball inside to Collier and although the ball was sitting nicely he was off balance and screwed his effort wide.

Morgan Smith also had a shot from 25 yards which again did not find the target.

In 33 minutes Roselea almost took the lead with a fortuitous effort from Kyle Findlater. He threw in a cross from midway inside the Violet half and the ball struck the corner of the post and bar before going behind.

Roselea had a warning in 35 minutes when Mair capitalised on a mistake but a great save from Mcleod prevented a goal and Thomson cleared with Wilson closing in to score from the rebound.

The warning wasn’t heeded and Violet took the lead with a simple goal a minute later. With Roselea attacking a corner the ball was cleared leaving MAIR one on one with Mcleod and despite the keeper making a great save he had time to compose himself and draw the ball back onto his left foot and stroked the ball into the corner from 16 yards out.

Violet had one last chance as the half drew to a close but Wilson’s effort was straight at Mcleod who saved well.

Half Time Montrose Roselea 0 Dundee Violet 1

Roselea made an immediate change into the second half with Ross Mitchell replacing the injured Kyle Findlater.

In 62 minutes Morgan Smith had a great volley go just wide of the post.

Roselea then replaced Reid with Greig in 63 minutes.

There were a few late tackles coming in from Violet which had fouls awarded but somehow no yellow cards were shown. In both incidents it was the Violet players who required treatment which seemed to be a time wasting ploy.

Sub Greig did well to get wide and his low cross flashed across the Violet goalmouth and Cruickshank picked the ball up wide of the back post and appeared to be clipped as cut the ball back from the byeline.

Roselea made their final change in 75 minutes with Andrew Tringham coming on for Michael Cruickshank.

There was a great chance for Roselea in 78 minutes when a shot was deflected into the path of Collier and when his miss hit shot fell to Watson he blasted the ball against keeper Thain who managed to help the ball over the bar.

With Roselea pushing for an equaliser Violet did have a break away and they did in 81 minutes but poor finishing from McConnachie cost them the two goal cushion that would have sealed the match. Roselea pressed with Greig looking like the biggest threat but Violet continued their time wasting tactics and saw the win out and take the three points back to Dundee.

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 0 Dundee Violet 0

This game looked like it was going to be tight from the off and it also looked like whoever scored the first goal would be the likely winner. For a team who also looked secure there was desperation about the Violet performance which spoiled the game as a spectacle. With results elsewhere going against Roselea they now slip down to 8th in the Table.

With three away games to go it would be nice to get a couple of wins to finish as high as possible in the Table to show something for all the hard work they have put in over the season.

Roselea travel to Glenrothes on Sat May 9th with the home side deep in the mire and looking very likely to be relegated if their form continues. Roselea will be running a bus and supporters are welcome to travel but please contact a Committee member. The bus will leave the Golf Inn at 11.30am and will return from Glenrothes at approx 5.30pm.