Montrose Roselea

Armadale Thistle 1-1 Montrose Roselea

Roselea made the long journey south of the Forth to be greeted with blizzard like conditions at Volunteer Park.

After some deliberation between the official and management of both teams the game was started in the hope conditions would improve as the game went on. 

It took twenty minutes for the game to really come to life with both sets of players struggling in the opening stages to get a hold of the game in such horrid weather.

Roselea had the first chance of the game after 21 minutes when a corner fell to Mowatt on the edge of the box but his shot was blocked. 

It was the start of some real sustained pressure from the away outfit up until half time. Campbell played in a great ball across the 6 yard box but no one was on hand to finish. 

Watson looked for strike partner Duff with a low cross which the keeper fumbled and although Duff managed to create a chance to shoot the home keeper recovered well to push it round the post.

 After 29 minutes Milne, getting his first start since rejoining the club, found Duff but his shot was blocked.

Roselea were finding route one was moat effective and as Anderson played a long ball over the top a defender slipped and Watson latched on to a long ball but once again the home keeper was out quick to thwart the big striker.

Watson was pushing and pushing for a goal but after a Campbell cross found him he just couldn't quite direct the ball towards the target.

Watson squirmed his best chance of the game just on the stroke of half time. Duff played him in but as he homed in on goal he sliced his shot wide.

Half Time

Roselea had put in some great crosses in the first half which were inches away from their target and it was the same to the start of the second half. Mowatt tried to find Campbell at the back post but he just failed to connect.

Roselea came closed to breaking the deadlock after 52 minutes.  Watson played in Duff who tried to dink the ball over the keeper but the keeper made a great save. The ball fell to Mowatt who slid in but a defender got back brilliantly to block the shot and watch it trickle wide.

52 Scott slides in euan who tries to dink keeper but keeper saves brilliant, ball come to Mowatt who slides in but the defender managed to get enough on it to see the ball trickle wide 

It was time for an inspired moment from the management team of Simpson and Craig when they decided on a double change with Cruickshank and Greig replaced Campbell and Duff. Within 20 seconds of the restart CRUICKSHANK picked up the ball skinned two players played a one two with Watson and calmly slotted home into the near corner. 0-1

Greig nearly doubled the lead a few minutes later when Cruickshank found him but his shot was brilliantly tipped on to the post by the home keeper.

It took Armadale till the 72nd minute to create their first real chance of the match. A corner found a player in space but his header was well held by McLeod. 

Roselea had chances they would later regret and Milne had a good strike from the edge of the box well saved. 

In the 87th minute Armadale had a header that the home crowd thought was in only to realise it had hit the side netting.

Roselea were dealt the cruelest of blows in the last minute of the game. Weir collected the ball 25 yards out and was allowed to turn. He unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner to send the home team into raptures.

A disappointing end to a match that Roselea should have been well out of sight. But on the whole, a very encouraging performance and a good point picked up away from home. 

Team McLeod. Reoch. Rae. Whyte. Collier. Milne. Mowatt. Anderson. Duff(Greig). Watson. Campbell(Cruickshank)

FORFAR WEST END V MONTROSE ROSELEA

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SAT FEB 6^TH 2016

Roselea finally got 2016 up and running with a trip to Strathmore Park Forfar to face West End. There were several casualties due to the weather with many surrounding games off so it was great credit to the West End Groundstaff to get the game played. They had pumped off water which was lying from midweek and the pump was still running during the game. The pitch was heavy but in good condition for both sides.

Calum Watson missed out for Roselea having picked up a two game suspension from their last game which was a win over Kennoway in mid December. Euan Duff recovered from an injury sustained in a friendly against Carnosutie and took up a place in the starting line up. Roselea also welcomed Ross Mitchell back from his leg break but there was no place on the bench for him or Aaron Thomson. Jordan Reoch took up the right back slot following his move back from Montrose FC.

Roselea: Mcleod, Reoch, Sturrock, Whyte, Collier, Mowatt, Rae, Anderson, Campbell, Duff & S Watson. Subs: Cruickshank, Smith, Milne, Dalgarno & Greig.

In 3 minutes a handball by West End player manager Daryl Mckenzie gave Roselea a chance from a free kick 25 yards out. Campbell curled the ball around wall and just wide but not enough to cause Burns in the West End goal to worry.

Euan Duff latched on to bad pass back 8 mins and he shot low when through on Burns but the big keeper saved with his feet. Hart managed to create room in the box and his shot is tipped over by an alert Mcleod.

Disaster struck for Roselea in 19 mins with a double blow. Ramsay got in behind the Roselea back line and despite Mcleod getting a touch the ball Ramsay shot and Collier saved on the line with his hands. This left referee Soutar no choice but to send him off and award a penalty. Once collier was dismissed Hart struck his kick off the post and when the rebound hit his foot played was stopped for a foul to Roselea.

In 34 minutes Hart headed a Fullerton cross just over as West End looked to press their numbers superiority home.

Roselea continued to frustrate and limited West End’s chances. Sturrock banged into Ramsays back with a clumsy challenge giving West End a shooting opportunity however Hart shoots over from the 25 yard free kick.

There was an edginess creeping into the home side with their support growing more and more anxious with the lack of breakthrough. Roselea were also breaking well and looked more likely to score.

Scott Watson went close from 30 yards with a great effort which deceived Burns and with him scrambling to his far post and was very happy to see it drop wide.

Half time 0-0

Roselea made a half time change with Chris Milne replacing Euan Duff as they shuffled their formation to cope better with a man less.

There were two early chances for Roselea in first five minutes of 2nd half. Whyte met a corner and somehow the ball stayed out of the goal before being cleared off the line then Mowatt rounded the keeper and hit the post from a very tight angle.

Reynolds then found himself clear for West End in a mirror of Duffs early chance and he had the same result finding Mcleod hard to beat as he saved with his feet.

On the hour mark Mowatt almost caught west end out with a free kick which Burns tipped over. From the corner Watson beat Burns to the ball with claims for a foul and the ball was cleared off the line.

Cruickshank replaced Campbell as Roselea looked to freshen things up again.

In 72 mins a great chance for the home side when the ball was layed back to Ramsay and Mcleod did well to push the ball over from a powerful shot.

Morgan Smith then replaced Craig Anderson in 82 minutes.

West End went close on a couple of occasions with Mcleod saving well at his near post then Ramsay smacked the ball off the bar with a great strike at the end of a good passing move.

The sides were evened up in 84 minutes when Godfrey was shown a second yellow card after he took offence to a Rae tackle.

Roselea took the lead in the 85^th minute. Mowatt drove in to the West End box going past two players before being felled by McKenzie and ref Soutar had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. MOWATT kept very composed and drove the ball into the corner of the net.

Roselea were in dreamland and eying up a very valuable three points but that was to be shattered with a goal from West End with just two minutes remaining. RAMSAY picked the ball up a hit a great strike from 30 yards and although Mcleod seemed to have it covered the ball moved in the air allowing it to slip under a distraught Mcleod and into the net. This led to massive celebrations from the home side who rescued a point.

Full Time: Forfar West End 1 Montrose Roselea 1

Taking the surface into account this was a really enjoyable game to watch and probably to play in. Roselea coped well with the loss of James Collier and looked really compact whilst also threatening on the break. The team kept their shape well and the fitness levels looked good on a strength sapping pitch. It may be viewed as a point gained in the circumstances however with five minutes to go that may have changed the viewpoint with three points looking to be heading to Montrose. The point keeps Roselea in tenth place however most teams have games in hand so more work will be required to maintain Premier League survival. Displays like that will go a long way and it was something to build on.

Roselea are on their travels next week again with a trip to Armadale Thistle with a 2.15pm KO. The Roselea bus will depart the Golf Inn at 10.45am and pick up in Arbroath at 11.05pm, supporters are welcome to travel free of charge.

MONTROSE ROSELEA V KENNOWAY STAR HEARTS

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SAT 19^TH DEC 2015

 

Roselea faced opponents Kennoway Star Hearts for only the second time in history and were desperate for a home win to make any chances of Premier League survival possible. This was made more difficult with several players out through injury although that meant that a few players who had not featured lately got their chance to shine. With things so tight Roselea were appreciative to have local Merpro players Euan Duff and Chris Milne as Trialists alongside the Management team of Chris Simpson and Gary Munn who were also named on the bench

Roselea: Mcleod, Dalgarno, Sturrock, Whyte, Collier, Mowatt, Anderson, Smith, Campbell, Duff & C Watson. Subs: S Watson, Cruickshank, Simpson, Munn & Milne

After a very quiet opening the lively trialist Duff shoots just wide in 5 mins with keeper Paterson having to make sure of the ball going wide.

In 26 mins a good cross by Kennoway sees James Collier do well to stop Wilson getting a free header after he was favourite to win the ball.

It was 1-0 in  33 minutes to Kennoway. The ball was played down the left then squared and BAND nets at back post with several Roselea players in attendance.

Brodie Gray then goes close with a volley as the visitors looked the livelier team on the counter attack

Roselea won a free kick however free kick specialist Mowatt only managed to smack the ball against a tight Kennoway wall in 40 miniutes.

HT : Montrose Roselea 0 Kennoway Star Hearts 1

Liam Craig of Kennoway shoots over in 50 mins with a very good strike from the edge of the box which he should perhaps have done better with.

Roselea made a change when Chris Milne replaced Morgan Smith

There was a half chance for Roselea in 55 mins when a cross comes to Watson but fails to chest it down after he found himself in space at the far post.

Roselea were reduced to 10 men when Calum Watson was shown a red card for retaliation making the home sides chances even harder.

Somehow this seemed to spark Roselea into life after looking very flat for the first 70minutes.

Roselea made another change when Scott Watson was put on and he almost made an instant impact with a looping header in 75 minutes. They then put on Cruickshank for Campbell.

With the game looking well out of Roselea’s reach the game changed in 78 minutes. Craig Anderson shoots from 25 yards keeper parries out to MOWATT who follows up to score

Roselea were now on top and there was only going to be one winner from then on. Cruickshank sent in a free kick which Whyte flicked on and James COLLIER showed great awareness to score at the back post to send Roselea into raptures.

There was to be a final chance for the lively Scott Watson when he latched on to a Craig Anderson clearance but flicked the ball over the bar when the keeper had sold himself.

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 2 Kennoway Star Hearts 1

Even the most loyal of Roselea fans would not have seen this win coming with little impact from the players for the first 70 minutes. The substitutions made a massive difference though and the game totally changed after that. Roselea looked a different and more confident side and once the first goal went in there was only going to be one winner.

The win takes Roselea out of the bottom four and was a win that perhaps had not happened might have meant no return for the home side. Roselea would like to thank Merpro FC for the loan of two players for the game when their game was called off.

Roselea will now take the benefit of two weeks off due to the Christmas/ New Year break and with no fixtures announced they will have to wait and see when they start back in January

Montrose Roselea 2-4 Jeanfield Swifts

Roselea welcomed undefeated Swifts to Broomfield high on confidence after a morale boosting victory last week.

The home team made the worst possible start though when they lost possession in an attacking position and Swifts counter attacked well and drew a foul in the box by Collier. Tony Holt made no mistake with the penalty to put the away team one up.

Roselea were dealt a blow mid way through the first half when Cruickshank had to be replaced after picking up an injury. Taylor being his replacement.

Greig made a good surging run up the park after half an hour but couldn't generate any real purchase with his shot as it trickled wide of the post.

Free kick specialist Holt stepped up to take a set piece 25 yards out. He couldn't have placed it any better as it crashed off the underside of the bar and bounced over the line.

Half time

Roselea got a goal back after 60 minutes when Calum Watson's feet were taken as he tried to shoot. He stepped up himself to take the penalty and sent it right into the corner off the post.

Roselea replaced Scott Watson and Rae with Mowatt and Smith.

Roselea's hopes were dashed just a few minutes later though as the referee awarded another penalty for the away team, appearing to be the softest of all three awarded on the day. Holt completed his hat trick to ensure Swifts restored their two goal cushion.

The decision seemed to damage a lot of the home teams motivation and the match was effectively over when an away player had a shot that was deflected off Whyte and sent McLeod the wrong way.

Roselea brought some respectability back to the scoreline as a long ball by Sturrock found Mowatt who showed great athleticism to get a touch to poke it over keeper and into goal.

Roselea face Kennoway Star Hearts next week at home with a 1:30pm kick off. A win could potentially take them into the top half so your support would be most welcome! Hospitality is available also please get in touch with Roy Gill or any committee member to book. The package is ideal for a works Christmas day out should you be keen on something a little different!

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HADDINGTON ATHLETIC V MONTROSE ROSELEA

05/12/2015

 

There was an unexpected surprise when Roselea’s match at Haddington went ahead despite all other Lothian matches being put off in the morning. The match referee passed the surface playable however with rain and 50mph winds expected it was then down to the home team to make the decision to let the visitors travel. With the Forth Road closure Roselea had already taken the decision to travel via Stirling with an added half hour but they knew that they would not be affected by any Bridge tail backs which were evident on Friday.

 

Roselea included new signing Scott Watson and Craig Anderson retuned after a spell of injury to boost the team

 

Roselea: McLeod, Dalgarno, Sturrock, Whyte, Collier, Rae, Greig, Anderson, Calum Watson, Scott Watson, Cruickshank.  Subs: Campbell, Smith, Thomson, Mowatt, Taylor

 

As it turned out the wind was never in the 50 mph bracket and Desmond failed to produce anything nearly as a bad as an average Broomfield Saturday. The pitch was also very playable however it was sure to cut up and nobody would envy the Haddington Groundsmans job after the game.

 

In The first 15 minutes the hosts looked like the better side and their first chance came when Draper put in a good cross to the back post but McLeod judged the flight of the ball and held it well.

 

Roselea then had a half chance when a Greig cross headed by C.Watson was easily held by Amos in the Haddington goal.

 

Draper then put in another cross in and Devlin eventually laid it back to Wright and his low shot went straight into the arms of McLeod when he should have done better.

 

Greig then played a good through ball into the path of Cruickshank who forced a good save from Amos.

 

 in the 43rd minute Roselea  had a free kick just outside the box. This was crossed in by Greig and SCOTT WATSON rose well head home for his first goal for the club.

 

A minute later Roselea then almost doubled their lead when a low Anderson cross was almost turned in by Greig with Amos scrambling to smother the ball on the line.

 

HT Haddington Ath 0 Montrose Roselea 1

 

 

in the 47th minute Sturrock put the ball in the box from the left back area and the ball rolled through the legs of Forbes and CALUM WATSON smashed it past the keeper.

 

In the 58th minute Haddington pulled one back when Sproule put in a good ball from a corner and FORBES headed past McLeod.

 

Roselea almost added a third when a knock on from Calum Watson put Scott Watson through on goal but his effort just went over the bar.

 

Roselea made a double substitution in 73 minutes with Morgan Smith & Liam Campbell replacing Craig Anderson & Michael Cruickshank.

 

Roselea made a final change with Mowatt replacing Calum Watson who had worked himself into the quagmire

 

Haddington had a few half chances after this but Roselea defended their lead well and in the 89th minute Greig put a good ball from a free-kick to the back post and SCOTT WATSON headed home again to put the game to bed.

 

FT Haddington Ath 1 Montrose Roselea 3

 

Sometimes in football teams go all out to get a game played and it backfires. In this case Haddington Ath had the carrot of taking top place in the League. With the pitch playable they took the decision to allow Roselea to travel and despite all other matches in the Lothians being postponed due to ground conditions as well as wind there were teams like Broxburn with an all weather surface who also postponed. Despite all that Roselea arrived and were met with a playable surface and winds which were far less volatile than expected which meant that the gamble paid off but only temporary. Why the fixture was set in the first place is puzzling to say the least making the second longest journey in East Junior football at this time of the season.

 

The unexpected win takes Roselea off second bottom place and propelled them into the heady heights of 11^th however many sides have games in hand over Roselea.

 

The well deserved victory should give Roselea heart now that they can start to build on todays result. The team have not been playing badly in most games but a lack of taking chances have frustrated and cost them. New striker Scott Watson looks a very welcome addition to the squad and will hopefully make a big impact on the second half of the season.

 

Roselea now face Jeanfield Swifts at home in their next fixture at Broomfield Park. The visitors are unbeaten in the League and it will be a similar challenge to the week before however the more confident Roselea squad will be up for it.

 

Kick off at Broomfield Park v Jeanfield Swifts will be at 1.30pm