OAKLEY UTD v MONTROSE ROSELEA
McBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE
SAT APRIL 26TH 2014 KO 2.30pm

Roselea headed to Blairwood Park in Fife to face Oakley Utd, yet another team who fought back to turn around a Roselea lead earlier in the season. Roselea travelled without Stuart Richardson, Craig Taylor & Arron Thomson and James Collier served the last match of his 3 game suspension. Calum Rae and Calum Watson were both out injured meaning the only outfield subs were Ralph Brand and Steve Kerrigan. Roselea pulled in ex Montrose FC Manager Steven Tweed as a Trialist. The 41 year old ex Hibs, Dundee, Duisburg and Scotland B cap had not played since 2011 when he turned out for Broughty Athletic.

 

Oakley were sitting 2^nd in the Premier League with an outside chance of making one of the two automatic promotion places having played more games than those around them and only two games to play. Roselea were sitting 5^th bottom and need around 6 points from their last 7 games to secure Premier league status.

 

Blairwood Park was very bumpy and although the overnight rain had helped it the players were going to have a tough afternoon keeping the ball under control.

 

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, R Taylor, Whyte. Tweed, Riach, Anderson, Ross, Reoch, Cruickshank & Reid. Subs: Brand, Kerrigan & Gray.

 

Oakley had two early shots with Mcleod having to be alert and he did well under pressure to hold on both occasions within the first five minutes.

 

Roselea were under pressure at the start and Fraser crossed for danger man Scarborough who headed wide.

 

In 15 minutes Whyte had a great block in the box as Scarborough was about to shoot as he threw himself into the tackle.

 

Roselea were starting to come into the game and some good pressing of the ball saw them create their first chance in 19 minutes. Danny Ross played Dale Reid in down the right and after he had twisted and turned in the box his shot was blocked behind for a corner. Cruickshank took the corner but he could not clear the man at the front post who headed the ball as far as Danny Ross and his shot went wide with keeper Burgess confident it was off target.

 

In 25 minutes Reid lost possession on the half way line and allowed Allan to tear down the wing and his cross almost deceived Mcleod as it just cleared the far post.

 

In 29 minutes Kevin Fotheringham sent in a dangerous free kick which nobody took control of and a slight touch from an Oakley player saw the ball just sneak past the post.

 

There were limited chances at either end following this Scarborough looking offside but his toe poke slipped wide of the post again.

 

Half Time: Oakley Utd 0 Montrose Roselea 0

 

There was an early let off in the second half when Whyte missed the ball allowing Scarborough in but Mcleod blocked and then also claimed the loose ball as well.

 

There was a second let off for Roselea in 50 minutes when Oakley right back Conners cut inside then blasted over the bar with his right foot when he should have hit the target.

 

In 53 minutes danger man Scarborough broke away despite looking offside and Tweed had to take a booking for bringing him down right on the edge of the area. Fotheringham lined up to take the kick but Fraser struck a great ball which luckily came off the wall with it looking netbound.

 

In 60 minutes Roselea had a great chance when Reids pace took him away from Walker and he cut the ball into the path of Riach who shot early and dragged the ball wide of the post.

 

Oakley then had a chance in 61 minutes when a cross came in and Scarborough scooped over from 3 yards out with claims for a corner with the ref awarding Roselea a bye kick. Substitute Lee Dair then curled in a shot which might have been going wide but Mcleod made sure with a great tip round the post for a corner.

 

Roselea then had a great chance in 70 minutes when Paul Taylor flighted a ball through to Dale Reid who held off a challenge from Scott Walker and from 12 yards he blasted the ball high towards the net but somehow the ball hit home keeper Burgess’s elbow and over the top for a corner. Whyte then struck a volley from the edge of the box but it was easily dealt with by Burgess.

 

Roselea had defended well with Tweeds experience helping greatly however all the hard work was undone in 73 minutes when a lapse saw Bratchie cross for the man who looked most likely to score Charlie SCARBOROUGH and he headed home from close range with a good header.

 

Reid then had a similar chance to his first one when he shot from a tighter angle and yet again Burgess blocked well.

 

Roselea made a change in 80 minutes when Brand replaced Paul Taylor who had picked up a knock.

 

Oakley saw out the match to the end with no further chances for either side.

 

Final Score: Oakley Utd 1 Montrose Roselea 0

 

This defeat ends Roselea’s five match unbeaten run however they probably deserved a draw from the match. The difference between sides was probably the goal scorer Scarborough who looked a threat any time he got on the ball. Roselea as ever worked hard throughout the game and a special thanks goes out to Steven Tweed for appearing at short notice and he had a great game using all his experience to pull him through.

 

Results elsewhere meant Roselea kept pace with the bottom pack with Kirrie Thistle, Pumperston and Livingston Utd all losing however Kirkcaldy won 2-0 at Violet which means they now have a 9 point advantage over Roselea who have 6 games in hand. Roselea face a tough task at home to Penicuik who are one of the sides who look most likely to win the Title. Kick Off at Broomfield Park is at 2.30pm. Roselea’s upcoming fixtures are Sat May 10^th Glenrothes (A), Weds May 14^th Dundee Violet (A) and Sat May 17^th Pumpherston (A).