Montrose Roselea

MONTROSE ROSELEA vs FORFAR WEST END DJ LAING LEAGUE CUP SECTION 4 23/10/2004 Roselea were at home to Forfar West End in a must win match in the DJ Laing Cup Section 4. With North End leading the section and due to visit Roselea next week, this was an excellent chance for Roselea to get their noses in front. Roselea were also looking to avenge a five goal hammering in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. Missing from the squad were Paul Masson (offshore) and Graham Walger, Hayden Smith, Michael Ross and Chris Simpson are still on the injury list. James McKellar returned to the squad from holiday and Kevin Crawford had recovered from his illness. Roselea lined up in a 4-4-2 formation: Ross Mcleod, Matt Miller, Paul Whyte Paul Ross, Chris Masson, James McKellar, Eric Watson, David Craig and Scott Findlater, Colin Page and Duncan Croall. The bench consisted of Kevin Crawford, Kevin Smith, Dean Milne, Martin Christie and John Wands. On a very calm day for Broomfield, Roselea kicked off with very strong sun at their backs and had the first attack with Eric Watson heading wide from a Colin Page corner in 5 minutes. The match took a while to settle into any pattern and the next piece of action came in 25 minutes with Godfrey of West End trying his luck from 25 yards and his shot went narrowly past the post with Mcleod in control. In 36 minutes a Scott Findlater cross was headed narrowly wide by Croall. Scott Findlater then created a chance for himself after some neat dribbling and his left footed effort went narrowly wide with the keeper beaten. Half Time Roselea 0 Forfar West End 0 Roselea then had the best chance to break the deadlock. A Colin Page cross was met by a combination of Eric Watson and keeper Vanderyll, the ball broke to Watson but he could not direct his shot into the open goal from 6 yards. Ross Mcleod was then called into action on two occasions. Firstly he had to come for a long cross and punched clear and the he brialliantly blocked a Longmuir effort when he was one on one. The game was livening up and West End should have really taken the lead when a long diagonal ball found Longmuir, whose pass put Godfrey in and he missed sitter from 5 yards. In 67 minutes Roselea replaced Duncan Croall with Kevin Crawford. The substitution almost paid off instantly as Eric Watson who was moved forward found himself clear of the West End defence only to over-run the ball into the advancing keeper. Roselea finally opened the scoring after a fine piece of play. Colin Page sent Findlater away on the left, his low cross was met by Eric Watson and the keeper and the loose ball was poked home by Kevin Crawford. In 80 minutes James Mckellar was substituted for Martin Christie. Findlater almost increased the lead in 84 minutes when his snap shot was excellently saved by ex Dundee & Brechin keeper Vanderyll. Martin Christie found himself through on goal in a carbon copy of the week before and his left foot shot went narrowly wide. West End put three up front during the last 10 minutes but found the Roselea defence in a stubborn mood. Final Roselea 1 Forfar West End 0 Match Sponsors: Colin Mitchell, Kenny Milne, Rick Wales and Scott Mcneal presented Ross Mcleod with his Man of the Match award. The young keeper had a great game with his save from Longmuir coming at a crucial stage of the match Roselea had to dig really deep to win this match and the second half performance justified the win. Like a few recent matches which have been tight, the difference was the fact that they never conceded a goal. That is now five matches at Broomfield with no goals against and this does give a platform to build on. The win has put Roselea in front by one point and with second placed North End due to visit Broomfield Park this week a win will put pressure on North End although they do have 2 matches in hand. It is likely that Roselea will need a hand from other teams to qualify. Roselea have Broughty to play away in their final game whilst North End have Coupar Angus and Broughty away and Kirrie at home in addition to next weeks match. Other Results In DJ Laing Cup Kirrie 3 Broughty 2