MONTROSE ROSELEA v ABERDEEN EAST END

SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP

SAT NOV 23^rd 2013 

Roselea faced Aberdeen East End at Broomfield Park in the 3^rd Round of the Junior Cup. The sides last met in 1999 when Roselea went on to beat their opponents after a draw in Aberdeen and then reached the quarter finals. 

Roselea still had selection problems with James Collier on Holiday, Calum Rae injured and Danny Ross suspended however on the plus side Paul Taylor, Connor Gammie & Michael Cruickshank returned from holiday and in a surprise inclusion Jo Reoch started the game in midfield. 

The overnight frost had all but departed Broomfield and the game kicked off in perfect conditions albeit the low winter sun would affect the visiting keeper in the second half. 

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

Roselea kicked off facing into an ever lowering sun and in three minutes they almost lost the services of Ryan Taylor after he fell to a late tackle from Ryan Smith. He managed to continue after treatment and Smith somehow escaped a booking. 

Roselea unexpectedly fell behind to a well taken goal in 5 minutes. Despite having chances to clear the ball eventually fell FRASER who shot home from 12 yards to give East End a dream start. 

Roselea battled back and in 9 minutes Watson chested the ball from a throw in into the path of Reoch but he couldn’t direct his shot on target. 

There was a let off for Roselea in 12 minutes when Fraser again wriggled away from Thomson in the box and only a great save from Mcleod allowed Roselea to stay just one behind. 

There was another chance for Roselea to equalise when Watson pulled down a free kick in the box and swivelled before shooting into the hands of a well placed McGraw in the East End goal. Roselea had two good chances to score again on 23 minutes with the best coming as Watson rounded the keeper but Coyle got back to tackle and put the ball behind for a corner. 

Roselea’s endeavour finally paid off in 25 minutes when Reoch won a tackle in midfield which set Fletcher away and he played a lovely weighted ball into the path of WATSON who rifled home from 20 yards at the angle. 

In 29 minutes the plucky East End side were in no mood to stand down and when REID was allowed too much space on Roselea’s left hand side he picked out the top corner with a great strike from 25 yards. Coyle of East End was lucky to escape with a booking in 34 minutes when he pulled the breaking Fletcher to the ground as he broke away. 

As the half drew to a close there were three more bookings for East End as they tried to frustrate a very rattled Roselea side. 

Half Time: Montrose Roselea 1 Aberdeen East End 2

East End set themselves up against a very nasty low sun with the keeper McGraw definitely needing his cap to keep the sun at bay.

Roselea made a change with Dale Reid replacing Fletcher and shortly afterwards Richardson replaced Thomson. 

It was a positive Roselea side who came out and Whyte started the half by playing a great ball in behind Nacef to find Cruickshank who drove to the byeline however his cutback was put behind for a corner. 

Roselea got back on level terms in the 52^nd minutes. A long ball caught out the East End defence and Mctavish tried to head back his keeper it was music to Calum Watsons ears as he blocked the keepers clearance, Scott RIACH took advantage to volley home from 8 yards. 

In 60 minutes Roselea were looking lively and Watsons cross was heading towards the head of Dale Reid but McTavish managed to get a touch and clear the ball from danger. 

East End were reduced to ten men in 70 minutes when Danny Thomson was shown a second yellow for a foul and headed for an early bath. 

Duncan Reid replaced Riach in 75 minutes and almost made an impact with a great run but couldn’t get the ball into a position to strike with his favoured left foot. Paul Whyte picked up Roselea’s second booking of the day with a late tackle on Fraser with Mcleod saving comfortably from the free kick. 

Roselea had one last chance against the ten men with Watson’s cross being headed towards the corner of the net but McGraw pulled off a great save to take the tie to a replay. 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 2 Aberdeen East End 2