Montrose Roselea

LIVINGSTON UTD v MONTROSE ROSELEA

MCBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE

SAT MARCH 22^ND 2014

 

Roselea made the long trip to Station Park Livingston to face Livingston Utd. The sides met in the first game of the season with Livingston coming from behind to win 3-2. Roselea were desperate for points as the sides were level on points but the home side had two games in hand so from a Roselea perspective it was the proverbial 6 pointer. To make matters worse they travelled without the injured Craig Anderson and Stuart Richardson whilst Danny Ross was unavailable. Calum Watson was on the bench but not 100% fit. There was a surprise start for Colin Kennedy who was back from Ghana for a 2 week break from work and Craig Taylor was again listed as a Trialist.

 

Station Park was being rolled as the Roselea team bus arrived and it was a damp surface which looked like it would cut up as the match progressed. A chilly Broomfield like wind swept down the pitch.

 

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, R Taylor, Whyte, Cruickshank, Riach, Rae, Reoch, Kennedy, Reid & Collier. Subs: Thomson, C Taylor, Watson, Brand & Kerrigan.

 

Roselea kicked off with the breeze at their backs and soon created an early chance. Collier was fouled on the right hand side about twenty five yards out and Paul Taylor sent in a great ball which Whyte headed narrowly wide in 3 minutes.

 

Livingston were guilty of committing four or five fouls in the next five minutes and it was going to cost them badly. Kennedy sent a free kick wide to the unmarked Cruickshank and his cross was met by a powerful WHYTE header to put the visitors one up.

 

Calum Rae then had a speculative volley from 35 yards when he did well to follow up a ball to the strikers but home keeper Dolan was well positioned to hold.

 

Roselea had a great chance to double their lead in 14 minutes. Colliers perseverance paid off as he picked up a loose ball in the box before side stepping the keeper and just as he looked to have done everything right his left footed shot from 8 yards came off the post.

 

Roselea did double their lead on 18 minutes. Livingston cleared a corner only for Rae to pick out Whyte who was still in an advanced position on the right hand side and he in turn squared for REID to score from close range.

 

Roselea came under a spell of pressure with the home side desperately trying to get back into the game. Big striker Forbes broke into the box with Mcleod saving well then Paul & Ryan Taylor both threw themselves at rebound efforts to block.

 

On the half hour mark Livingston had a chance when Thomson hit a disputed free kick in low at Mcleod however he saved well with no tolerance for spills.

 

In 37 minutes Forbes had a double chance when Mcleod saved his first shot from the edge of the box but got a second chance which the keeper did well to recover and turn into the side netting.

 

Dale Reid was then sent away down the left side by Ryan Taylor with him having Collier in support but a great tackle from Thomson prevented another Roselea chance.

 

Just on half time there was one final chance for a buoyant Roselea when Collier played a square ball to Rae who shot just over from 18 yards.

 

Half Time: Livingston Utd 0 Montrose Roselea 2

 

Livingston were out very early for the second period and looked like they were up to get back in the game. There was an early scare for Roselea when a long throw found Forbes who connected with his own header up into the air and Mcleod seemed to get a slight touch to put it behind for a corner.

 

Play was swinging from end to end but the next chance fell to Roselea in 55 minutes. Reid broke up the right hand side and a great run from Kennedy saw him in but he elected to cut the ball across goal when he perhaps should have shot and Livingston cleared.

 

Roselea had a double chance in 63 minutes when Collier squared to Reoch but his shot was blocked then the ball broke to Rae who had a curling shot go just over.

 

In 69 minutes Roselea made a surprise substitution with Calum Watson entering the play for Paul Taylor.

 

There was a strange moment in 70 minutes when referee Mackinnon took a forward roll on the ground to make the point that a Roselea player had dived for a free kick.

 

Roselea were not laughing a couple of minutes later when Paul Whyte was caught out by a long ball and pulled down sub Crawford and was red carded. It could be argued that Ryan Taylor was getting back to cover.

 

In 75 minutes Livingston created their first real chance when the ball broke to winger Russell at the far post but an excellent save from Mcleod who had saw the danger and bravely saved at his feet to prevent any signs of a comeback.

 

Roselea were weathering the storm as they looked to hold onto their lead with the memory of having lost several leads earlier in the season but there was a determination showing from them. A short corner almost caught Roselea out and Baxter was able to blast a shot at the near post which Mcleod helped over for a corner in 79 minutes.

 

In 85 minutes Rae went on a great bursting run down the right and his cross was headed just wide by Watson who had looked lively after coming on.

 

WATSON was not to be outdone however and he claimed his own and Roselea’s third goal right on time. Home keeper Dolan will not want to be reminded that he completely missed a clearance and Watson pounced on the chance and scored from 25 yards out with his left foot into the empty net.

 

This settled Roselea’s nerves and they comfortably saw out the 3 minutes of added time against a very deflated home side.

 

Full Time: Livingston Utd 0 Montrose Roselea 3

 

This was a classic example of a team working their socks of to get a result, which is something they have done all season without getting the just rewards at times. Despite the sending off they did not panic and held out well limiting the home side to few chances. The win lifts Roselea out of the bottom four for the first time this season with Kirrie Thistle going down to Penicuik and Violet drawing with Fauldhouse. Somehow it is their first points on the road this season and will give the team confidence that they can pick up other wins in their remaining 6 away matches.

 

This Saturday Roselea meet Aberdeen side Hermes in the quarter final of the GA Cup at Broomfield Park with a 2.30pm KO. The winners of the tie will be at home to either Luncarty or Islavale in the Semi Final. Paul Whyte will be available as his red card does not carry a suspension.