MONTROSE ROSELEA V GLENROTHES

MCBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE

SAT OCT 18^TH 2014 

With the third way point of the season looming Roselea went into matchday of the McBookie.com East Premier League facing an early six pointer against visitors Glenrothes. The visitors had started the season well but a run of poor results saw them sucked into the bottom quarter of the League sitting with 11 points from 9 games whilst Roselea sat on 10 points from the same amount of games. 

Roselea welcomed back Morgan Smith from holiday, Andy Tringham & Michael Cruickshank from work however Calum Watson & Kyle Findlater were absent whilst  Liam Bailey missed out through injury.

Roselea had beaten the Glens at home last season by 2-0 and were hoping for a similar result again. After the severe overnight rain Broomfield Park as normal soaked it up and there was a strengthening South East wind which was going to have an impact on proceedings. 

Roselea: Mcleod, Rae, Whyte, Reoch, R Taylor, Mitchell, Anderson, McDowell, Cruickshank, Reid & Collier. Subs: Smith, Thomson, Tringham, Brand & Kerrigan.

There was a good advantage played by the referee on the corner of the box and he was able to bring it back after Collier had been fouled in 4 minutes.  Cruickshank sent in a great free kick which used the wind for whip and two Roselea players almost made contact before Gay collected. 

In 5 minutes Martin of Glens had the ball in the net but he was correctly adjudged offside after Moffat had poked the ball forward from a tackle. 

With 12 minutes gone Glenrothes had their first real chance when Martin cut the ball back to the penalty spot but Scarborough scooped the ball over the bar. Glenrothes had a series of corners with the wind at their back and from one Mcleod had to tip it behind before he had to tip the next on to the bar before the ball was cleared. 

In 21 minutes a long clearance from a corner almost saw Cruickshank in but the alert keeper Gay managed to make the 50-50 ball his and cleared. Cruickshank did get a chance a minute later however his shot was blocked as was Collier’s follow up effort which was blocked for a corner. Anderson sent in the corner and after McDowell’s header fell to Collier at the far post he lashed the ball across the face of the goal and Ryan TAYLOR was on hand at the far post to bundle the ball home to give Roselea the lead. 

Very quickly at the other end Scarborough found too much room in the Roselea box before an excellent McDowell tackle averted the danger. 

In 26 minutes Glenrothes equalised with a goal created by Roselea mistakes. First Ryan Taylor let the ball go under his foot at the half way line to give away a throw in, then Scarborough was given to too much time too turn and switch play before Rae miscontrolled allowing WALLACE to break through and he had a cool finish past Mcleod from 20 yards to pull the visitors level. 

In 30 minutes Mitchell showed a good turn of pace and took on his opponent before whipping in a great cross which had to be cleared then he closed down in the middle of the park before releasing Cruickshank for a cross which Gay was well positioned to hold. Paul Whyte gave away a foul some 30 yards out in 36 minutes and it was evident that Jackson was lining up a strike. Mcleod was behind his first effort and did superbly well to block two more attempts before turning the ball behind in the scramble. 

Roselea regained the lead in the 41^st minute. Cruickshank sent in a low cross which fell to Dale REID at the far post but he could not direct the ball on target and when it came back to Cruickshank he sent in a head height ball which Reid directed into the corner of the net with a beautiful header. 

Half Time: Montrose Roselea 2 Glenrothes 1

Roselea came out with the wind at their backs but it is never easy attacking with the emphasis on getting the ball wide or to feet.

Glenrothes gave themselves a shot in the arm when they equalised after looking dangerous in the opening minutes of the second period. Jo Reoch found himself isolated with the ever dangerous John Martin who twisted and turned him before chipping over Mcleod to find the arriving WALLACE for his second of the game with Roselea claiming for offside. The goal came in 53 minutes. 

In 57 minutes Roselea had a chance when Collier had a free kick opportunity from 25 yards but his shot found the end of the wall and went behind for a corner. Collier then had a gilt edged chance when a Mcleod by kick went all the way through to him but he shot from 20 yards with his left foot and Gay saved with his feet.

 In 61 minutes Roselea were again unlucky not to go ahead when a Rae cross was headed onto the bar by Collier. Anderson then had a snap volley from a poor Gay kick out go just wide. 

Scarborough of Glenrothes had previously been booked along with Rae of Roselea was shown a second yellow for dissent but claimed he had been shouting to a team mate. Referee Soutar was not so convinced and he was shown a red card in 68 minutes. 

Tringham replaced Mitchell for Roselea in 70 minutes. 

The game swung dramatically in the 73 minute and not thanks to a great save from McLeod. Martin had been giving Roselea’s defence a hard time all afternoon and once again broke free looking certain to score until a great intervention from Mcleod who blocked at his feet. When the ball swung to the other end Dale REID volleyed home a great finish to put Roselea back in front. 

In 88 minutes Grierson of Glenrothes was the second player to walk and can have no complaints after he brought Reid down who had turned him on the half way line and as it was a “goal scoring opportunity” he had to walk. 

Collier should have made it four for Roselea when he side footed a Cruickshank cutback onto the bar on time. In stoppage time there were a couple of nervy moments for Roselea who should have been on easy street against 9 men but they held themselves together for a great win.  

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 3 Glenrothes 2

This was a great win for Roselea however it should have been easier considering the pressure and chances they had. Glenrothes were always a danger however with the experienced Martin and Scarborough a handful for any defence. The win brings Roselea to within a point of the four clubs above them however in a very open League they are also only 9 points off top spot! Roselea now sit 4 points better off at the same stage last season but know that much work lies ahead to match the escapade of the previous campaign. 

Next Saturday Roselea are at home to Irvine Vics in the 2^nd Round of the Scottish Cup in a match that kicks off at 2.30pm. In the evening the club will host their 6^th Ladies Dinner in the Links Hotel with over 100 guests attending to hear speakers Keara Murphy and Patrice.