KIRRIE THISTLE v MONTROSE ROSELEA

McBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION

SAT MARCH 2^nd 2013

 

Roselea travelled to Westview Park Kirriemuir in a rich vein of form having beaten Superleague Lochee Utd and Forfar West End in the previous two matches. Kirrie Thistle were themselves in form having also beaten West End 4-0 the previous week and sit nicely in the table six points ahead of Roselea with two games in hand.

 

Roselea travelled minus flu victims Paul Taylor & Calum Rae with Graeme Allan unavailable. Danny Ross was moved into the right back slot.

 

Roselea: Mcleod, Ross, Ryan Taylor, Reoch, Whyte, Anderson, Collier, Beedie, Cruickshank, Reid & Watson. Subs: Watt, Riach, Brand & Craig.

 

Kirrie kicked off on a damp but firm pitch which had seen two previous postponements in recent weeks. They had the first exchange in 4 mins when they had a snapshot at the edge of the box and the ball dipped dangerously over Mcleods crossbar for a corner. The corner was played to the edge of the box and Farquharson was not picked up and smacked a great low shot which was blocked by a Roselea player on the line.

 

Kirrie were looking livelier up front and they had a very valid appeal for a penalty in 18 mins when Mcleod and Sievewright collided in the box. Referee Banks paused for a second and then awarded a corner for the home side.

 

Roselea were coming into matters and Ross drove from the box before releasing Anderson down the right and his cross was just missed by the despairing Watson who slid in at the back post in 21 mins.

 

Once again Sievewright broke away for Kirrie and as he advanced into the box Reoch somehow got back and made a great tackle to avert the danger.

 

In 32 mins Roselea then had a great opportunity when Taylor received a quick throw in and picked out Reid in the box but the young striker headed over from a good position.

 

It was a very even opening period and Watson was next to try for Roselea when he curled a shot that went just wide of the upright and the ball had taken a deflection for a corner in 32 mins.

 

As the half drew to a close Beedie then had a shot from the edge of the box and was just wide having been harried by the Kirrie defence as he shot.

 

Half Time Kirrie 0 Roselea 0

 

Roselea opened strongly in the second period and Beedie went on a mazy run in the box beating two players but perhaps should have shot earlier as he was eventually crowded out.

Kirrie Thistle took the lead in 55 minutes with an excellent strike from the edge of the box following a corner. John FARQUHARSON who is renowned for his shooting ability hit the ball down the middle but the sheer power beat Mcleod from 22 yards out.

 

It was all square in 60 minutes when Roselea drew level. A Cruickshank corner was flicked on by Collier and Paul WHYTE was well placed to poke the ball home at the far post through a ruck of bodies.

 

Roselea made a change in 63 minutes when Marcus Watt replaced David Beedie.

 

The match was littered with yellow cards and in a two minute spell Smith & Cooney of Kirrie and Watson of Roselea were shown cards.

 

Roselea were looking more up for the match after their goal and Reid almost connected with a low Ross shot which was well off target.

 

Roselea forced a corner when Watson broke on the right and crossed forcing Scott to head behind when under pressure. Collier flicked the ball on to Reoch and he layed the ball back to Cruickshank who shot over.

 

Kirrie went back in front courtesy of a penalty in 70 minutes. Sievewright was giving Roselea problems down the right side and he forced Mcleod to foul him in the box. Surprisingly he only received a yellow for the incident however SIEVEWRIGHT made sure from the spot to make it 2-1.

 

Roselea took little time to get back on level terms when WATSON lashed home a loose ball in the box from 16 yards in 73 minutes.

 

Roselea made another change with Riach replacing Cruickshank in 75 minutes.

 

Watt had a great first time side footed shot from a Kirrie clearance go just wide in 78 minutes,

 

Roselea took the lead for the first time in 83 minutes. Anderson was showing great stamina down the line and he crossed for COLLIER to lob over the keeper with Reid following up to make sure.

 

Kirrie upped their game and Whyte had to head behind for a corner after Mcleod had come and missed the ball. Then a long ball caught out Taylor and Sievewright shot low to the near post with only a slight touch from Mcleod prevented a goal in 85 minutes.

 

Russell then had a free kick for Kirrie just go wide of Mcleods post who was scrambling to get over to the ball.

 

Just when Roselea thought they had done enough to secure the 3 points Kirrie scored a deserved equaliser at the death. Again a long diagonal ball found SIEVEWRIGHT and he cut in from the right before drilling a low shot across Mcleod and into the net for a dramatic equaliser in 87 minutes.

 

Final Score: Kirrie Thistle 3 Montrose Roselea 3

 

This was one of these games where a draw felt like a defeat and will suit the home team more than the visitors. Roselea did well to fight back from being behind twice and showed a lot of character to take the lead. There were some great displays with Whyte and Reoch commanding at the back and Marcus Watt did well when he came on. The draw leaves Kirrie Thistle 6 points ahead of Roselea with 2 games in hand. With 9 games left for Roselea this was one of the last tough away games however they will need to pick up maximum points from most of their remaining games. League leaders North End won 4-1 at Lochee Harp and are now 9 points ahead of Roselea who have two games in hand over them.

 

This week Roselea make the long trip to Portgordon in the 3^rd Round of the GA Cup and will also travel on the 16^th to Brechin Vics in a crucial derby match at Victoria Park in the League.