Montrose Roselea

MONTROSE ROSELEA V BLAIRGOWRIE

GA CUP 2^nd ROUND

SAT DEC 21^st 2013  

Roselea faced old foes Blairgowrie in the GA Cup with an away tie to Dyce awaiting the winners in the last 16. Blairgowrie were sitting 5^th in the North Division and a tough match was expected. Mark Brash was cup tied and acted as stand in Manager for a side without the suspended Gordon Pirie. Roselea were without the injured pair Danny Ross and Aaron Thomson and goalkeeper Ross Mcleod is away for 6 weeks in Australia so veteran goalkeeping coach Ronnie Massie stood in. Stewart Fletcher was unavailable. It was a changing day with sun and rain intermittent with quite a strong wind however it was nothing like the week before. The surface was greasy but would add to the cup tie feel. 

Roselea: Massie, Paul Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Whyte, Richardson, Rae, Collier, Reoch, Cruickshank, Dale Reid & Watson. Subs: Duncan Reid, Riach, Rausch, Brand & Kerrigan.

Blairgowrie pressed Roselea in the first couple of attacks but it was the home side who made a dream start with a goal from Calum WATSON. James Collier played a defence splitting ball through the middle and despite two players looking offside Watson timed his run from deep and placed the ball past the advancing O’brien. 

Roselea doubled their lead in 9 minutes when dangerman WATSON again struck. Dale Reid played a clever reverse pass to Watson and he took the ball inside his marker before curling a great shot into the top corner from 18 yards out. 

Roselea had a let off in the 12^th minute when Murison sent in a deep free kick and Rae left the ball to go out but French almost got a touch as it headed out of play. Blairgowrie forced a couple of corners which Massie had to punch clear then Ryan Taylor made a great run up the left hand side of the pitch before cutting in and forcing O’brien to save his low shot with a couple of team mates perhaps better placed in the middle. 

On the 20^th minute a brilliant cross from Watson which curved away from the keeper was met by the head of Dale Reid but his header lacked direction. Dale Reid went closer in the 25^th minute when his deflected shot hit the inside of the post before running along the line to safety. Roselea need a vital third goal to keep the tie safe. 

Blairgowrie were still in the game and had a good spell just as it looked like Roselea were on top and Axworthy pulled out a great save from Massie with the ball eventually squirming out for a corner. The corner came in and after Massie punched clear Simpson saw his shot get deflected over the top. Ryan Taylor received the first booking of the game for a late tackle which was probably down to the conditions and Axworthy sent in a great free kick from 30 yards out which Massie again matched with a great save. 

Half Time: Montrose Roselea 2 Blairgowrie 0

Roselea had the first chance of the second half when Rae made his way to the byeline and crossed, when the defender missed the ball it ended up at the feet of Watson and with a hatrick awaiting O’brien pulled off a great save. 

In 57 minutes Paul Taylor sent in a deep cross which Watson and Whyte both slid for with the effect of putting O’brien off and the ball just missed the target when in skidded up. Roselea made the tie safe with a great strike from Jordan REOCH from 25 yards out. Cruickshank ran at the defence before slipping the ball to Reoch and his foot cut across the ball and swerved into the top corner rattling the stanchion. 

There was another Broomfield flare up in the 64^th minute when Menzies took Cruickshank down as he chased him back and as they both fell to the ground he appeared to kick out at his opponent. Once again several players charged in and made things difficult for the referee. Once he calmed the situation down he showed a red card to Blairgowrie’s Nicoll and a yellow card to Reoch. The initial culprit Menzies did not receive any punishment. 

A minute later Whyte appeared to be pushed as he attempted to head a free kick goalwards but as he stayed on his feet the referee perhaps didn’t see the full picture of what had happened. 

Roselea made a double change in 70 minutes with Rae and Dale Reid being replaced by Rausch and Duncan Reid. Collier sent a free kick in which Obrien dealt with easily then at the other end with Murison breaking away Stuart Richardson made a brilliant tackle as he slid in and took the ball away. 

Roselea made another change in 78 minutes with Riach replacing Paul Taylor. 

Roselea made it 4-0 in 82 minutes when Watson flicked the ball on to Duncan REID and his pace took him away from Hay before sliding the ball past O’brien with a calm finish. 

Roselea clean sheet looked in danger when the ball broke to Hay but he screwed his shot wide in 85 minutes. There were more chances for Roselea when first Collier worked his way into the box before O’brien saved with his feet then Watsons attempt from the rebound was blocked to Richardson who then shot over the bar. 

Final Score: Montrose Roselea 4 Blairgowrie 0

This was a comfortable win which was set up by the two early goals from Watson however it did require the third goal to secure the passage into the 3^rd Round. Watson was showing the same form he has all season and it was just a pity he couldn’t get his third as a reward for his performance. Roselea will now travel to Dyce on February 22^nd to face the North Superleague leaders in the last 16. 

Roselea now face a trio of League matches which will map their destiny in the Premier League with trips to Pumpherston (Dec 28^th), Dundee Violet (Jan 4^th) and Kirrie Thistle at home on January 11^th. Please note that the kick off time for these three matches has been changed to 1.30pm. There is a bus running to Pumpherston which will leave the Golf Inn at 10.00am, supporters are welcome.