ROYAL ALBERT v MONTROSE ROSELEA

EMIRATES SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP 2^nd ROUND

SAT 27^th OCTOBER 2012 

Roselea travelled to Larkhall to face Royal Albert in the Scottish Junior Cup. The home side share Gasworks Park with Larkhall Thistle after becoming homeless 4 years ago. After the water logging which forced the postponement of the previous weeks tie the dry weather ensured it would be playable even though an overnight frost did carry some concerns.  

Roselea were again without the unavailable Stewart Fletcher however there was a welcome boost when Calum Watson returned to the squad having completed a training session on the Wednesday. This left Ryan Taylor as the only other absentee. It was an emotional day for Colin Kennedy as it was his last match before leaving to work in Africa for up to a year. He took his place on the bench. 

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, Whyte, Reoch, Craig, Urquhart, Rae, Anderson, Cruickshank, Ross & Collier. Subs: Allan, Milne, Riach, Kennedy & Brand.

There was a healthy crowd inside Gasworks Park as Roselea lost the toss and faced a low sun in the first half. There was action at both ends within the first minute when first Danny Ross had a snapshot well saved by the Albert keeper then at the other end a shot was deflected for a corner. The corner came in an Albert’s number 7 had a free header inside the six yard box but luckily for Roselea he was off target with his effort. 

Calum Rae was unlucky to be booked for a tackle in 8 minutes with the referee deeming he had gone with his feet off the ground but both players were equally commited. 

Royal Albert had another effort in 12 minutes as they looked to be the more eager side in the opening stages of the tie. Alberts number 11 had a volley from 30 yards which went wide and Mcleod appeared to have it covered. 

Roselea hit the post in 15 minutes when Paul Whyte headed a Cruickshank corner back across the face of the goal and Urquhart headed against the post before the ball was scrambled away. 

Cruickhank then had a similar volley to the earlier one and again he was off target. 

James Collier followed Rae into the referees book in 22 minutes when he was also harshly adjudged to have gone in heavy as both players slid for the ball. 

Albert were dominating the game at this stage and were winning all the battles with Roselea looking like they were toiling after their journey. Albert almost worked a rehearsed free kick which was played around the wall and only a Paul Whyte intervention avoided a goal. 

In 24 minutes Taylor broke down the right and Ross sent in a cross which cleared everyone before Cruickshank picked the ball up wide and sent in a dangerous low cross but Collier was offside. Collier also got on the end of a Danny Ross cross but the home keeper held safely.

Roselea were starting to show some signs of coming into the game. The pattern of play continued with Albert being more dominant in the tackle with Roselea still struggling to get any pattern to their play. Albert took a deserved lead from the penalty spot in 37 minutes. Paul Taylor found himself on the wrong side of the winger and his desperate lunge resulted in a penalty being awarded. STRANG stepped up and struck a well hit kick into the net with Mcleod very close to getting his body in the way.   

Half Time: Royal Albert 1 Montrose Roselea 0 

Roselea came out of the traps flying in the second half and scored within a minute of the restart. Cruickshank played a short corner to Urquhart and his cross was headed home by RAE who was unmarked in the box. 

Roselea had another chance a minute later when Urquhart linked well with Collier and found himself with a shooting opportunity however an excellent tackle saw the ball go out for a corner. 

Albert went on the offensive and a long throw caused problems in the Lea box with Paul Taylor blocking well and when the ball fell to an Albert player at the edge of the box his curling effort flew just wide. 

Collier had a chance to put Roselea in front on 48 minutes when he headed over another Whyte head across the face of the goal. 

Roselea took the lead in 57 minutes and it was courtesy of a howler from the home keeper who dallied on a passback and put his full back in trouble. Hitman James COLLIER intercepted the pass inside the box and finished well with a low shot into the corner of the net. 

Roselea only held the lead for two minutes as they conceded to a sloppy goal. A mix up in defence saw McGILL find himself in space and he slotted past the advancing Mcleod. 

The game swung again in the 61^st minute with a great goal. ANDERSON timed his run to perfection and beat the offside trap before advancing a sliding a low shot under the home keeper. 

There was a chance at both ends in the 70^th minute when Whyte had a stab at the ball after it broke at a corner then Albert’s sub should have done better when he broke into the box.

Roselea were still needing another goal to seal the tie. Roselea made a couple of changes in 73 minutes with Watson replacing Ross and Milne replacing Rae. 

Roselea made sure that they would be in the 3rd Round with an excellent goal in the 77^th minute. Urquhart broke down the right hand side and sent in the perfect cross for ace Hitman COLLIER to claim his second with a diving header. 

Watson was eager to get into the match and almost scored when he got on the end of a Craig free kick into the box however he was just off target with his looping header in the 80^th minute. 

Roselea made their final change in 84 minutes when Riach replaced double scorer Collier. 

Cruickshank had one last chance for Roselea two minutes from time when a great ball from Riach put him in but his well hit shot from an angle hit the side netting. 

FULL TIME: Royal Albert 2 Montrose Roselea 4

Any result when travelling to the West coast is a good one and this was a story of two halves. Roselea struggled with the tempo the home side set in the first half and went in deservedly one goal down. It was a different display in the second half with more energy shown as the home sides lack of recent action started to show. There were some great displays in the Roselea team with Rae, Anderson and Collier worthy of a special mention. Roselea are now into the 3^rd Round of the cup and ties are played on November 17^th however the draw is not taking place until Tuesday 6^th. 

Roselea now travel to Dundee North End in the League on Saturday November 3^rd with a 2.00pm Kick Off. Roselea have spaces available for Hospitality for their home game with Blairgowrie on Nov 10th. Please contact Roy Gill 07908763219.