MONTROSE ROSELEA v BATHGATE THISTLE

MCBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE

SAT APRIL 18^TH 2015 

Roselea welcomed Bathgate Thistle to Broomfield Park for an East Premier League match. The visitors won the reverse fixture 3-2 in late August and it was a late winner which netted them the three points. Although at the wrong end of the table they arrived with a decent run of form having beaten Dundee Violet the previous Saturday and drew with Edinburgh Utd midweek. Roselea were on a six game run without a win although they had drawn three of these but were looking for a win to put them on the road to Premier League safety. They welcomed back Calum Rae from suspension and although Michael Cruickshank was also free of suspension he was working. Ross Mitchell was still injured and Ryan Taylor was on holiday. 

Although temperatures were high inland a slight sea haar made it feel very much chillier. Although the pitch was looking great in reality the lack for rain meant it was brick hard and not conducive to playing pretty football. 

Roselea: Mcleod, Reoch, Whyte, Thomson, Findlater, Rae, Anderson, Collier, Campbell, Watson & Reid. Subs: Tringham, Smith, Greig & Kerrigan.

Roselea opened brightly with Reid tearing away up the right hand side and his cross intended for the head of Watson was turned behind for a corner. When the corner was cleared Thomson was caught the wrong side of Murphy but did well to get back and block the ball. 

In 5 minutes Craig Anderson played a wonderful diagonal ball to Watson and he took his man on and shot narrowly wide once he had cut in from the left. 

In 8 minutes the visiting keeper Adamson vouched that the conditions were testing when he completely missed the ball as he attempted to clear a pass back. From Anderson’s corner, Collier just failed to get a flick on at the near post and Whyte just failed to connect with the awkwardly bouncing ball at the far post. 

Roselea were bossing the play at this stage and were unlucky not to go ahead in 10 minutes. Campbell sent in a great cross which Collier flicked on and the ball looked to be heading for the net but hit the post and rebounded into Adamson’s arms. 

Although Roselea were on top they needed a goal to show for their domination but it wasn’t coming despite decent efforts from Campbell and Whyte. 

Roselea finally took the lead that they deserved in 35 minutes. Reid flicked a ball on and Calum WATSON in typical determined fashion manged to poke the ball home despite his heavy second touch and it looked like the keeper didn’t fancy it. 

Watson had another chance five minutes later when his first shot was blocked then with a good sight of goal he managed to shoot straight at Adamson when anywhere else might have resulted in a goal. 

Bathgate had a big let off in 44 minutes when Reid broke clear and was clattered by Young with the keeper in close proximity as well. Young was booked and Campbell took the free kick but Adamson saved the low strike easily. 

In stoppage time there was one last chance for Roselea when a wonderful crossed ball was met by the knee of Watson who must have seen the ball late and he could not steer the ball into the net. 

Half Time: Montrose Roselea 1 Bathgate Thistle 0

Roselea did not waste any time increasing their lead with a second goal coming a minute into the second period. Rae played a lovely ball round the full back and when his cross came back to him WATSON conned the keeper by looking like he was going to cross but whipped a great left footed curler past him and into the net. 

In 49 minutes Watson and Reid combined well to set up Campbell who arrived at the back post and despite trying to place the ball in the corner it slipped agonisingly wide of the post. 

Roselea increased their lead on the hour mark from the penalty spot. Reid broke into the box and as he rounded Adamson he was brought down. WATSON was give the opportunity of a hatrick and duly obliged by despatching the kick into the net sending the keeper the wrong way.  

Reid was out of luck in 65 minutes when he smacked a 20 yard shot off the bar.  

Roselea made a double change in 68 minutes with Findlater and hatrick man Watson being replaced by Tringham and Greig. Reid then missed a gilt edged chance when he nutmegged the last man but managed to screw his shot wide of the target in 70 minutes. 

In 72 minutes Morgan Smith replaced Calum Rae. 

In 78 minutes Bathgate gave themselves a life line when they pulled back a goal. Reoch was harshly punished for a foul on the edge of the box and duly booked for dissent. JACONELLI took the free kick and shot past the wall into the corner of the net from 20 yards out. 

Bathgate were reduced to ten men in the 80^th minute. Greig was through on goal but brought down just outside the box and defender McCormack was almost inside the changing rooms when the red card was shown. Reid took the free kick but seemed to strike the ball into the ground.  

Reid was determined to get on the scoresheet but despite two good on target shots it wasn’t to be his day. This was confirmed in the 88^th minute when he sclaffed a Campbell cross and the ball fell to Morgan SMITH who scored from close range to complete the scoring for the day. 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 4 Bathgate Thistle 1

After a long run without a win there was a real togetherness about this display. Roselea looked assured at the back with the midfield working very hard to close the Bathgate middle men. Calum Watson and Dale Reid were always dangerous and the biggest surprise was how long it took to break the deadlock. The win keeps Roselea in 5^th spot and they still have an outside chance of making the third place which would be a play off against the second bottom side in the Superleague.  

On Saturday April 25^th Roselea are at home to Forfar West End in the league. West End are third bottom and will be very desperate to pick some points up. In a very tight League they can still end up a point behind Roselea if they win all their four games in hand. Kick Off at Broomfield Park is 2.30pm