MCBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE

Montrose Roselea v Haddington Athletic

Sat August 8^th 2015

 

Roselea hosted newly promoted Harrington Athletic, who are many peoples tip for the title, in a thoroughly entertaining opening fixture of the season.

Manager Chris Simpson took his place in the dugout for the first time. Players Whyte, Findlater, Mitchell, Taylor, Findlater and Rae were unavailable for the home team so Craig Anderson dropped back from midfield into right back. Competitive debut starts were given to Craig Sturrock at left back, and Grant Mowatt started in centre midfield after an impressive second half showing there in a pre season friendly on Tuesday. There were two Trialists named on the bench.

 

Roselea: Mcleod, Anderson, Sturrock, Thomson, Collier, Cruckshank, McDowell, Mowatt, Campbell, Greig & Watson. Subs: Smith, Dalgarno, Bailey & Taylor

 

It didn't take long before Roselea created their first chance of the match. Watson laid the ball of to Campbell and he curled his shot back off the crossbar. Just a few minutes later Watson latched on to a poor back pass from an away defender. The striker's shot was tame and well saved but Cruickshank gathered the rebound and crossed deep into WATSON who atoned for his previous miss by volleying low into the far bottom corner to give the 'Lea the perfect start.

 

Campbell was causing all sorts of problems down the left and after collecting a ball from Sturrock he drilled in a superb low cross which Greig was unfortunate not to get on the end of.

 

Haddington had made what will be their longest journey of the season and gave Roselea a reminder that they were looking to take as much as they could back down the road with them. Daniel Noon looked to be in on goal and a slight bit of fortune when the ball broke, but keeper Mcleod was sharp off his line to thwart the attacker.

 

In the 17th minute Noon tried his luck from the edge of the box but pulled his shot wide. Sproule, was first to react though and his strike looked certain to equalise for the away team but Mcleod pulled off a superb diving save to maintain Roseleas lead.

 

Scott Wright had another chance for Haddington when he found himself on the edge of the box. He skilfully beat a Roselea defender to create a chance to shoot but his shot was off target.

 

Both teams were struggling to keep hold of the ball for any significant time as could be expected in the opening fixture of the season but Roselea extended their lead with arguably the best move of the match after 38 minutes. Manager Simpson had just switched Campbell to right wing in a tactical switch and it pulled off for him immediately. After a decent amount of ball possession from the home team, play was switched over to the right hand side. CAMPBELL beat the offside trap and his first touch was brilliant as he played himself in on goal. As the keeper came out he showed great composure to slot the ball into the corner of the net to give Roselea a two goal lead for half time.

 

Half Time: Montrose Roselea 2 Haddington Athletic 0

 

Haddington Athletic made two changes at half time. Paterson and Sinclair coming on for Draper and Noon.

 

On 49 minutes Cruickshank crossed to Watson who's first time hit was saved well at the front post by Amos.

 

Roselea were left to rue a missed opportunity to effectively kill off the game after 50 minutes. A pass back by centre half Noble was read by Watson who intercepted. The striker unselfishly squared the ball to Mowatt who was then dispossessed by a tackle deemed legal by the referee. Mowatt quickly got up and recovered the ball and laid it off to Greig but his shot was then blocked.

 

Haddington appeared to be tiring a little at this stage and reverted to a more direct approach. A long ball played from Inglis at the back caught out Thomson and Campbell and found Sinclair but he shot wide when in on goal.

 

Roselea did not heed the warning and a couple minutes later the long ball again caused the home team problems. Devlin gathered the ball and laid it off to PATERSON who ran in on goal and fired low into the near post. 2-1

 

With 20 minutes to go Roselea had a chance to regain their two goal cushion when Campbell crossed for Watson but his header was well saved by away keeper Amos.

 

Roselea were dealt a cruel blow after 72 minutes. Fairnie was clever in the box and drew a foul from a Roselea defender in the box. DEVLIN stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake sending it into the bottom right hand corner.

 

Roselea made a couple of changes late in the game with Bailey and Smith replacing Campbell and Greig.

 

The home team had a small chance to get the three points right at the death. Watson put pressure on the keeper and his kick found Smith, who tried to find the empty net from 25 yards out but blasted way over.

 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 2 Haddington Athletic 2

 

Roselea will feel disappointed to only come away with a draw in the end, but a lot of positives must be taken from the performance in which Scott McDowell was awarded the Man of the Match by Match Sponsor Jim Hughes and Friends.

Roselea are at home again on Weds August 12^th when Dundee Violet come to Broomfield Park for the second League match of the season. Kick Off is at 7.00pm.

Arniston Rangers 2-0 Montrose Roselea

Roselea suffered their first taste of defeat since before the summer break after a disappointing performance against an impressive Midlothian team.

After a nightmare journey involving two traffic jams kick off was delayed by 45 minutes. Preparation wasn't brilliant for the away team when they were given five minutes to warm up and their first half performance was reflected in this.

Roselea did have the first chance of the match when Campbell crossed to Greig who's effort looped over the keeper and unfortunately the crossbar too.

Arniston began to create chances as the game went on and a Leslie cross found the menacing Kateleza but his free header was wide of the post.

Anderson had a half chance after half an hour when the ball fell to him outside of the box but his half volley was well over the ball.

Arniston were pressing the Roselea back four well and forced them into a bad pass back by an away defender. Fortunately keeper McLeod was alert and positioned well to come out to make a great tackle on McFadden who had looked to profit from the error.

Arniston took a deserved lead after 37 minutes. McFadden beat the offside trap and shot low. McLeod could only parry the shot out to KATELEZA who was on hand to slot home.

Half Time Arniston Rangers 1 Montrose Roselea 0

Collier and Rae took early knocks in the second half and were replaced by Smith and Thomson after 50 minutes

With 20 minutes left a Cruickshank corner found the head of Sturrock but his effort was straight at the keeper.

Bailey replaced Watson after 82 minutes.

Arniston made sure of the points with five minutes to go when PENNYCUICK beat the offside trap and finished well.

Full Time- Arniston Rangers 2 Montrose Roselea 0

A disappointing performance and result for the 'Lea after making such a positive start to the season. But they will have the opportunity to bounce straight back when they face Lochee United on Wednesday

EDINBURGH UTD v MONTROSE ROSELEA

McBOOKIE.COM EAST PREMIER LEAGUE
SAT MAY 30^th 2015

 

Roselea travelled to Paties Road Edinburgh to face Edinburgh Utd in the last game of the 30 match Premier League. Already safe from relegation, Roselea did have an incentive of knowing that a win would possibly secure an upper half finish in the Table.

 

Callum Rae was on his Stag weekend and was joined by Calum Watson & Michael Cruickshank in Budapest. Kyle Findlater missed out through work and  Liam Bailey came in as a Trialist with Johnshaven having completed their season.

 

It was a lovely sunny day in the leafy part of Edinburgh and although the pitch was hard it was at least flat.

 

Roselea: Mcleod, Reoch, R Taylor, Whyte, Thomson, Mitchell, Anderson, Tringham, Campbell, Reid & Collier. Subs: Smith, Bailey, Greig & McDowell.

 

Roselea had the first chance in 5 minutes when Reoch sent in a diagonal ball which fell to the feet of Collier and he shot tamely into the hands of the keeper but was victim of a shirt pull. There was another chance for Roselea in 8 minutes when another diagonal ball from Campbell fell to Reid but he wanted another touch and missed the chance to shoot.

 

Roselea won a penalty in 10 minutes when Ross Mitchell was brought down just inside the penalty area after skinning his man. Dale REID blasted the ball high into the net for his 25^th goal of the season.

 

Edinburgh Utd drew level with a very soft goal in 17 minutes. A corner came in and HUNTER prodded in from a yard out.

 

In 25 minutes Mitchell went close for Roselea with a lob after picking up a cross field pass from Anderson and cutting inside his man this time.

 

Roselea escaped after a goalmouth scramble which saw Thomson blocking a shot and then clearing in 28 minutes.

 

Roselea made it 2-1 in 32 minutes. Liam Campbell sent in a low free kick taken on the bye line and with no protection at the front post Paul WHYTE got the last touch to send the ball into the net.

 

In 34 minutes Roselea were awarded a free kick when Hendrie had a kick out off the ball, one of four bookings for the home side in the first half. Thomson sent in a long high ball and home keeper had to palm the ball onto the bar and over for a corner.

 

In 43 minutes good work between Collier and Reid saw the latter break away but he was brought down 20 yards out. Collier took the kick but found the wall and Tringham’s rebound effort sailed high over the bar.

 

Half Time Edinburgh Utd 1 Montrose Roselea 2

 

Two minutes into the second half Roselea were awarded a free kick after Anderson was winded. Campbell sent in a dangerous free kick which Collier headed just over the bar.

 

In 50 minutes Anderson sent Mitchell & Collier free on the right but they both seemed to leave the ball to each other and in the end Collier’s cross was just missed by Reid.

 

In 53 minutes Mitchell was again sent away and with Reid asking for the ball on the penalty spot in space his cross went high and across the goalmouth with Campbell arriving at the back but he could not direct his shot on goal.

 

There was a heated moment in 59 minutes when Tringham of Roselea and Lothian of the home side squared up to Andrew Tringham. Lothian pushed his head into Tringhams face and the Roselea player merely stood his ground, meanwhile away from this the referee’s attention was distracted by a skirmish between James Collier and Miller of the home side. After booking both players he returned to book Tringham with Lothian escaping any referee action.

 

This forced Roselea to make a change with Bailey coming on for Tringham in 60 minutes.

 

Roselea were on top up to this stage and as expected the home side started to get more physical. They equalised in 63 minutes when a great ball played behind Taylor was picked up by CAIRNEY and he slotted under Mcleod to make it 2-2.

 

Roselea made another change in 72 minutes with Stephen Greig replacing Ryan Taylor who had picked up a knock.

 

In 75 minutes Ross Mitchell picked up a loose ball and broke away at the half way line. Hume brought him down and with not much intent on going for the ball a loud crack went out as he went to the ground. In the ensuing melee Hume was sent off for lashing out and surprisingly not for the tackle. After receiving attention Mitchell was carried from the pitch and discovered later that he had broken his Tibia on his right leg.

 

Morgan Smith replaced Mitchell and the remaining 15 minutes were played out in a daze with football not being foremost in most minds.

 

Full Time: Edinburgh Utd 2 Montrose Roselea 2

 

As previously witnessed in the two other games Edinburgh Utd adopted a very intimidating nature to the game and it was no surprise how the game turned out. The draw somewhat flattered the home side but yet again Roselea showed a lack of conviction when the chances came along. The result leaves Roselea 9^th in the table but with 2 games in hand Edinburgh Utd are likely to move ahead. It has been a successful season for the team having retained their places in the Premier League for the third year running, a first for the club. They also topped the Table at one point and had a fantastic nine game winning run. In the Scottish Cup they almost took a massive scalp of Linlithgow Rose who forced a replay and four players under 18 started the season and have featured regularly.

 

The club would like to wish Ross Mitchell a speedy recovery after breaking a bone in his leg during the game.