BLAIRGOWRIE JFC v MONTROSE ROSELEA

McBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISON

SAT MARCH 31^st 2012 

Roselea were back in League action with a McBookie.com North Division match at Davie Park, Blairgowrie and notoriously difficult place to go to. Following last weeks defeat at Lochee Harp Roselea badly needed a win to keep leaders Violet from clinching the title as they had a trip to bottom placed Coupar Angus with three points almost certain. Roselea trailed Violet by 4 points and also played a game extra. James Collier made a return to the starting line up and Colin Kennedy, Ross Colquhoun and Calum Rae were all unavailable. 

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

On a very sunny day the pitch like most pitches was very dry and bumpy and was going to impact on the game.  Roselea made a promising start when Collier linked well with Webster who swung in a dangerous cross, the ball was cleared wide left to Ryan Taylor who couldn’t direct his shot on target. 

Four minutes later Collier sprung Blairs offside trap and bore down on goal coming in from the right hand side but his shot was just off target. 

The hard pitch contributed to McDonald of Blairgowrie being subbed in 10 minutes with Sidowra replacing him then Hart also received treatment after falling awkwardly on the hard surface. 

On 14 minutes Anderson flicked a header on to Webster who in turn flicked the ball over a defender into the path of Fletcher who had made a good run however his early shot was straight at Obrien. 

A minute later Axworthy took advantage of a slip by Paul Taylor however the ball bobbled as he was about to shoot and although the spinning ball fell to Hart he could not get a shot in before Reoch tackled well. 

Roselea had a couple of chances on 22 minutes. Urquhart got to the byeline and his far post ball was hit early with claims for a penalty the ball broke to Fletcher but he snatched at his shot and pulled it well wide of the goal. 

Roselea got caught on the break in 33 minutes as Axworthy used his pace to bore down on goal but Mcleod was quick off the mark and dived bravely at his feet to gather. 

Five minutes before the interval Mcleod had to save a Pirie header when he connected well with a free kick and Roseleas custodian pushed the ball away at the base of the post. 

Half Time: Blairgowrie 0 Montrose Roselea 0

3 minutes after the break a Paul Taylor corner was headed downwards by Whyte at the far post and the ball struck Obriens leg before going behind for a corner. 

Roselea took the lead in the 50th minute with an excellent goal which involved 4 players. Anderson was calm and played a ball back to Paul Taylor who sent Urquhart down the line and Stewart FLETCHER volleyed home from 12 yards with a well controlled finish. 

This was the break Roselea were looking for however they nearly let it slip just a minute later when Hood was allowed to get a shot in after the ball fell to him from a clearance and he shot wide. Blairgowrie did draw level in 53 minutes when HART found himself in plenty of room and his powerful shot from a tight angle seemed to go through the hands of the normally reliable Mcleod and into the net. 

Paul Whyte picked up a booking in 63 minutes having been spoken to referee for dissent just minutes earlier. 

Roselea had a massive let off when Axworthy of the home side hit tremendous volley which thundered off the underside of the bar before bouncing on the line and out in 66 minutes. 

Roselea took the lead again after some great footwork from Kevin WEBSTER. He picked the ball up from a corner clearance and beat two men before switching the ball onto his left and shooting home from 15 yards. 

In 75 minutes Collier should have made it three when he dive headed a Webster cross and the ball went over the top when he should have been hitting target. 

Roselea replaced Fletcher and Paul Taylor with Strachan and Aitken. In 83 minutes Aitken fizzed the ball across the face of the Blairgowrie goalmouth but nobody was in place to take advantage. 

Strachan almost got in on the scoring act when he beat two men before shooting just wide with a right footed shot from 18 yards. Blairgowrie had one last chance to snatch a draw in the final minute. Obrien knocked a free kick in from the half way line and Pirie headed the ball on only for Mcleod to clutch the ball which was top corner bound, 

Final Score: Blairgowrie JFC 1 Montrose Roselea 2