MONTROSE ROSELEA v JEANFIELD SWIFTS

McBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE

SAT DEC 14^th 2013 

On a day that was predicted to have high gales the weather forecasters got it spot on and Broomfield did not disappoint with terrible conditions worsened by second half rain. Jeanfield arrived at Montrose full of confidence having beaten the home side twice in cup competitions the previous season however it was a much changed side marshalled by new Manager Gavin Price which took to the field.  

Roselea welcomed back Stuart Richardson to the squad and James Collier returned from his vacation however neither were deemed ready to start. Jo Reoch, Stewart Fletcher and Scott Riach also made a return with Reoch slotting back into the midfield. 

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, R Taylor, Cruickshank, Whyte, Anderson, Rae, Duncan Reid, Reoch, Watson & Dale Reid. Subs: Richardson, Fletcher, Riach, Gammie & Collier.

Jeanfield elected to shoot with the strong winds at their back however Roselea nearly shocked them in the first minute when Watson put Dale Reid through and his low shot was well blocked by Bruce with his feet. 

The early exchanges were even with both teams forcing corners but not testing the keepers. This all changed in the 11^th minute when an error from Ross Mcleod led to the opening goal. He dropped the ball outside his area with a view to kicking low into the wind instead of from hand and HOLDEN gambled by shutting down the kick. The ball spun high in the air and he managed to get onto the end of it before composing himself and stroking home from 8 yards despite some spirited pressure from Mcleod and Taylor. 

Roselea battled away in the testing conditions and managed to win a couple of corners but were giving away too many fouls in the wide areas.

In 25 minutes Mackie sent in a dangerous free kick which Reoch did well to clear.  

In 27 minutes Jeanfield doubled their lead with a well taken goal. MACKIE took a corner on the right hand side and when the ball came back to him via the opposite side of the park he cut in and sent an unstoppable left footed strike past Mcleod and into the top corner. 

Paul Taylor was booked for persistent fouling and again Mackie sent in a great ball which was missed by all except Mcleod who made a great last minute save and turned the ball behind. In 35 minutes was dummied at the near post by Swifts Holden and the ball then popped back to him only for Mcleod to block, Gordon then had his shot cleared off the line before Holden blasted over under pressure as the Roselea goal somehow stayed intact. 

There was a feeling that one goal from Roselea could turn the game on its head and Dale Reid did well to cut back from the byeline but the ball was intercepted by Muirhead with Watson waiting to pounce. There was one last chance for battling Roselea when Cruickshank drove forward and found Watson who cut along the 18 yard box before shotting against a Jeanfield defender and although the deflection took the ball in the opposite direction of Bruce it also took the sting out and aided by the wind Bruce recovered to save well. 

Half Time: Montrose Roselea 0 Jeanfield Swifts 2

Roselea came out with the wind at their backs and intent on getting back into the match and almost did so in the first minute of the second half. Cruickshank sent in a great ball and Watson did so well to get on the end with a sliding shot but Bruce was equal and covered for a corner. 

Roselea made a change with Richardson replacing Paul Taylor. 

Craig Anderson had a great early volley in the 55^th minute which seemed to be looking to strike the post but Bruce made sure with a great save to turn behind. Duncan Reid took the inswinging corner and this time with Bruce clutching at air the post came to his rescue. 

In 60 minutes Jeanfield created one of the few chances they had in the second half with a chance created from nothing. Roselea allowed Jeanfield an easy throw in which was then knocked up the line to Holden who bore down on Mcleod from the angle but in a similar situation to the chance in the first minute of the game Mcleod stood up well and blocked. 

In 64 minutes a great tackle from Watson on Muirhead saw him advance and almost found Dale Reid at the far post. 

In 66 minutes with Roselea pounding the Jeanfield goal Anderson hit a tremendous volley which bounced just in front of Bruce who did superbly well to hold at the second attempt. Duncan Reid then got a shot away which took a deflection but yet again Bruce sent the ball behind for a corner. When Reids corner came in Whyte got on the end of it but could not direct his header under the bar. 

Roselea made a further change with Fletcher going on for Duncan Reid. 

The game had been played in good spirit but things boiled over in 80 minutes. Mackie of Jeanfield for no apparent reason lunged into a tackle on Reoch and the inevitable melee ensued. There were several guilty parties in the aftermath and after correctly despatching Mackie for the initial foul the ref also showed Craig Anderson a straight red for his part in the incident and that was thought to be harsh. 

Collier replaced Dale Reid as Roselea looked to scrape back into the game. 

Roselea battled away as the light threatened to make viewing hard and there were several more chances with either Bruce saving or in the case of Whytes final chance the conditions playing havoc with a header he would normally hit the back of the net with. The referee called time on a frustrating day for Roselea as darkness won the final battle. 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 0 Jeanfield Swifts 2