MONTROSE ROSELEA v ARBROATH VICS
MCBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION
SAT MARCH 23^rd 2013

 

Roselea continued their push for promotion with a home game against Arbroath Vics. These games have been very tight over the years and with a trip due to go back to Arbroath this was a crucial match with only 8 games remaining in the League. Roselea started the day three points behind their Angus rivals but also had a game in hand.

 

James Collier was on holiday and Ryan Taylor recovered from his injury the previous week against Brechin Vics to give the Broomfield men an unchanged starting line up for the third week running. Vics had recent signing Paul Tosh the ex Dundee, Hibs and Darlington player in their squad. There had been some doubt about the game in the morning with Arbroath’s fixture at Gayfield being postponed however the decision was made that the game should be played despite the harsh conditions.

 

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, R Taylor, Reoch, Whyte, Ross, Anderson, Rae, Cruickshank, Reid & Watson. Subs: Riach, Watt, Beedie, Kennedy & Craig

 

Despite the conditions Roselea made a dream start with a goal inside 10 seconds. Ross struck a shot from 20 yards which Hutcheson looked like he had covered however the ball deflected off defender Steve FLORENCE and went into the opposite corner of the net.

 

After the bad start Vics settled down and forced two corners and at one of them former Roselea player Watson should have scored after getting space for a header in 7 minutes.

 

In 20 minutes Vics had another couple of chances to get back into the game with another ex Roselea man Fotheringham pulling out a good save from Mcleod at his near post then wasted another chance to shoot and elected to try and cut the ball back however the ball was intercepted.

 

Disaster struck for the visitors with a double blow in 26 minutes when Watson broke down the right and middled to Dale Reid who went between the keeper and centre half Durno before being brought down. After a slight delay referee Fordyce then awarded a penalty kick and sent keeper Hutcheson off. Fotheringham took over in goal and could do little to stop WATSON’S penalty hitting the back of the net.

 

Simpson had a long range effort for Vics on the half hour mark and despite starting well off target the wind made it less than comfy for Mcleod.

 

Calum Watson was brought down by Durno, 25 yards out on 34 minutes and after Ross fired the free kick into the wall his second effort went just over the bar.

 

Roselea missed a great chance for a third goal in 42 minutes that would have put wounded ten man Vics out of the game. Rae sent in a great free kick and Ross had his far post shot parried out by the stand in keeper, Watson back heeled and again the ball came back to Whyte who did not have time to compose himself and his first time shot went agonisingly wide of the post.

 

Half Time: Roselea 2 Arbroath Vics 0

 

Roselea opened well and were awarded a free kick when Watson was tackled from behind on the edge of the 18 yard box. This time Reid took the free kick and somehow Fotheringham tipped the ball over with the ball heading for the top corner of the net.

 

It was Arbroath Vics turn for a free kick and Tosh hit a great low ball from 30 yards and Mcleod id well to turn the ball around the base of his post for a corner in 52 minutes.

 

Vics were down but not out and desperate to get into the game Mcleish was next to try his luck from 25 yards out and his curling effort went just by the post in 56 minutes.

 

Watson had a yet another free kick for Roselea on 60 minutes and when his low *** was parried out by the stand in keeper Anderson should have done better from the follow up on the 6 yard line.

 

Simpson of Vics found himself with a shooting opportunity in 64 minutes and his shot was deflected high and made life uncomfortable for Mcleod who had to tip the ball over for a corner.

 

Vics were having the upper hand despite having the ten men but Roselea were in no mood to hand any advantage back to the Arbroath side. They finally got their passing sorted out and Paul Taylor was involved in a passing move which ended with Watson shooting just over in 75 minutes.

 

Vics had a penalty appeal themselves in 78 minutes when a far post cross saw Taylor and Cowan challenge for the ball with the away side claiming a foul on their player but this fell on deaf ears with the match officials.

 

In the closing stages of the game neither side looked like changing the score with Craig Watson trying a very spectacular effort from 35 yards out which would have been difficult enough to come off despite the conditions.

 

Final Score: Montrose Roselea 2 Arbroath Vics 0

 

The decision to play the game paid off for the home side and they were aided by two favourable breaks with the deflected goal and penalty combined with the sending off of the keeper. Despite not adding to their tally they also didn’t look like losing a goal. The win pulls Roselea up to fourth place, level on 29 points with Vics having played one game less. This also leaves them 3 points behind leaders North End having played the same number of games. North End were due to play Roselea this Saturday March 30^th but in a fixture shuffle to accommodate the outstanding GA Cup ties Roselea now play Lochee Harp at home with a 2.30pm KO meaning those attending the Rangers game at Links Park can see both.

 

Man of the Match Craig Anderson was selected by Match Sponsors Les Davidson & Friends.