FORFAR WEST END v MONTROSE ROSELEA

McBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION
SAT OCT 6^th 2012 

Roselea travelled to Strathmore Park, Forfar to meet old acquaintances West End for the first time in 3 years following the 1-year abeyance of the Forfar side last season. The clubs have had many ding dong encounters over the years and this was expected to be the same with both sides having taken maximum points from their opening League games. Roselea travelled with a host of problems on the personnel front. Out was the injured Ryan Taylor with Danny Ross, Jo Reoch, Michael Cruickshank and Stewart Fletcher missing for a variety of reasons. On the plus side Ross Mcleod returned between the sticks. On a glorious October day both teams took to the pitch anticipating a good match in front of a healthy crowd.  

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

Roselea started well and forced a couple of early corners that West End did not deal with very well however they survived the early onslaught and took the lead in the 3^rd minute. The keeper threw the ball to their left back and his long ball was picked up by COX who drove on and slid the ball under the advancing Mcleod. 

There was a further blow for Roselea when Calum Watson had to leave the field after a heavy challenge from Garrick on 7 minutes. He was duly replaced by Chris Milne.

Roselea had another couple of chances and again it was corners that were giving West End trouble. Whyte went close with a header in 10 minutes then on 15 minutes Rae played a short ball to Riach who sent in a dangerous cross that Allan just failed to get a touch on. 

Roselea had a let off in 20 minutes when this time Mcleod failed to connect fully with a punch on a corner and although Black headed goalwards a foul had already been called. West Ends centre half was lucky not to be carded for a bad foul on Collier in 24 minutes. 

Roselea had a let off on the half hour mark when Scott knocked home from close range after the ball was struck across the goalmouth but was correctly given offside. 

In 37 minutes a flighted Kennedy free kick was knocked down by Anderson and Rae shot just over the bar. Two minutes later another Kennedy free kick was headed towards the corner of the net but the home keeper saved well. On 42 minutes Anderson tried a cross field pass but found a man in blue, Garrick drifted forward and headed just over with Roselea failing to track back. 

Half Time: Forfar West End 1 Montrose Roselea 0

Roselea had yet another chance from a set piece 5 minutes into the second half when another great ball from Kennedy was headed back across goal by Collier and Whyte was agonisingly close to getting the smallest of touches that would have sent the ball into the net. 

Roselea fell further behind in the 58^th minute. Roselea claimed offside against Darren SCOTT who checked inside and fired the ball against Allan who could do little to prevent the ball hitting his hand and the ball seemed to be off target. Scott tucked the penalty away to the keepers right hand side with Mcleods despairing dive a valiant effort to save. 

Roselea plugged away Collier came close again hitting a shot on the spin which was blocked on the line. Roselea Player Manager Ralph Brand replaced Riach with 20 minutes remaining and was soon involved by challenging the keeper who dropped the ball at the feet of Collier who again saw his shot cleared off the line. 

Roselea finally got the goal their play deserved although it came very late. Brand flicked on a ball played into the box and Paul WHYTE finished well from close range. Roselea threw everything forward and as so often happens the ball broke to SCOTT just over the half way line and he took off driving into the box and capped a great win for the home side. 

Full Time: Forfar West End 3 Montrose Roselea 1

Referee: Mike Roncone 

This was a sore one for Roselea to take with an already depleted squad the loss of Calum Watson early on in the game made things harder. The home side were well organised however Roselea matched them all over the park. Perhaps the added experience of Garrick and Tinley in midfield was the main difference between the teams. Roselea will now need to regroup before the equally tough game at East Craigie on Sat Oct 13^th . Hopefully the squad will be boosted with the return of some of the missing players.