PENICUIK ATHLETIC v MONTROSE ROSELEA

McBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE
SAT AUG 31^st 2013 

Roselea made their first of seven trips they will have over the Forth this season as they visited Penicuik Athletic in their 5^th League match of the season. The clubs first met in Roselea’s first venture into this level back in 2006 and have met several times since. With Roselea still pointless after 4 games the pressure was beginning to build on getting results. Penicuik meanwhile were one of the hot favourites for promotion and despite losing their first game 3-1 at home to Kirrie Thistle had own their last three and sat in second place. Roselea welcomed back Dale Reid and Stuart Richardson however Michael Cruickshanks was unavailable and Jordan Reoch picked up a bad knock at the end of the Broughty Athletic match and had to miss out. 

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, R Taylor, Collier, Richardson, Fletcher, Anderson, Rae, Brand, Reid & Watson. Subs: Gammie, Rausch & Thomson.

On a fine sunny day and a decent Penicuik Park surface Roselea kicked off up the slope. After a couple of early skirmishes Roselea took the lead against their fancied opponents in only two minutes. Anderson under pressure on the right touchline cleared long and Calum WATSON outran the Penicuik rearguard and chipped the advancing Bejaoui from 14 yards to open the scoring.  

Penicuik had a chance when Barr got his toe to a lose ball but his shot went straight to Mcleod who saved well. Fletcher then went close for Roselea with a right footed shot which went just wide of the post. 

The home side drew level in 12 minutes when Barr got to the byeline and although it looked like the ball had struck his hand he crossed low and PATTERSON was in the centre to score from close range. 

Watson had another chance in 14 minutes when he flicked the ball over his shoulder before shooting a yard over then Lister had a snapshot for Penicuik which went narrowly wide. 

Calum Rae picked up the games first booking in 20 minutes when he was booked for dissent. 

The homeside upped the ante in the 25^th minute when they went ahead. Both Collier and Richardson had attempts to clear at the corner of the box before the ball was popped back into the box and McPARTLAND drilled a low shot across Mcleod and into the corner of the net from 10 yards. 

Roselea had an instant chance to get back on level terms when Calum Watson was put in and rounded the keeper before composing himself to shoot into the empty net from the angle but somehow hit the near post before a scramble which saw the ball cleared. 

Richardson had to make a risky tackle in 29 minutes as McCallum broke clear and only great timing prevented a goal. Roselea had another brilliant chance to get back level on the half hour mark when Watson put Reid through but with only the keeper to beat he managed to drag his shot wide of the post. Roselea then had a run of chances which they squandered. Watson had a run at the keeper but the huge Penicuik number one stood his ground this time and blocked well. Reid then missed a chance at the far post when he looked set to score but the keeper blocked and then he was set away on another one on one but again missed the target.  

Half Time: Penicuik Ath 2 Montrose Roselea 1 

Roselea came out for the start of the second half with the intention of getting back into the game and hoping they wouldn’t rue the missed chanced at the back end of the second half. 

Knight went to the byeline in 46 minutes and Richardson had to clear the danger. In 50 minutes the game drifted away from Roselea when Penicuik scored a third.

Ross made his way along the byeline and cut back for KNIGHT to score from 10 yards with a great finish. 

Watson found his way into the referees book for retaliation however his anger had come from the fact that he had been fouled three times seconds before and all escaped the referees attention. 

Patterson had a low shot which Mcleod had to turn round the post for a corner. At the other end Brand robbed Lister 30 yards out and elected to chip with the ball just going over the bar. 

In 59 minutes Brand had a loud appeal for a penalty after appearing to be held back as he cut along the byeline with the referee perhaps being uninterested due to his theatrical fall although there did seem to be heavy contact. 

Mcleod had a great save from McCallum in 64 minutes to keep Roselea in touch as he palmed a blistering shot over the bar. Rausch replaced Fletcher for Roselea in 67 minutes and Gammie replaced Brand in 77 minutes. Brand again had a penalty claim as he appeared to pushed in the box but again no decision was given.

Sub Harris had another effort for Penicuik but again Mcleod was in no mood to be beaten. The game petered out with Roselea not having enough in the tank having put so much into the first half with only the substitution of Thomson for Reid as the clock ran down. 

Full Time: Penicuik Athletic 3 Montrose Roselea 1

On reflection this is a game where Roselea will once again rue missed chances with a barrage missed in the first half. The game followed the same pattern as all the other four with Roselea taking the lead then missing chances when behind. Penicuik have been the best side they have faced so far and will surely be amongst the pack chasing one of the two automatic promotion places. Results elsewhere meant that Roselea are still bottom as the only side with no points but still not disjointed from the pack. 

This week Roselea have another Premier League at home to Dundee Violet. They will need to start picking up points especially at home. Kick Off is at 2.30pm