MONTROSE ROSELEA v KINOULL

EAST PREMIER LEAGUE

SAT 20^TH DECEMBER 2014 

Roselea entertained Kinnoull who after a bit of turmoil in the summer had to rebuild their squad with a lot of youngsters coming in to replace an experienced squad. As a result the Perth side have struggled all season and arrived with 2 draws from their 16 games. Roselea meanwhile were on a run of 5 straight wins however their was a felling that complacency might creep in.  Roselea had a couple of changes forced upon them with Kyle Findlater & Paul Taylor injured and Andrew Tringham unavailable. Steven Greig the ex Luthermuir player took a place on the bench as a Trialist. A very low sun faced Roselea as they kicked off on a wonderfull prepared surface. 

Roselea: Mcleod, Rae, Whyte, Reoch, R Taylor, Mitchell. Anderson, Collier, Cruickshank, Reid & Watson. Subs: Mitchell, Thomson, Smith, Findlater & Greig.

Roselea had a penalty claim in the first 3 minutes when Cruickshank was bundled down in the box. Rae was then wiped out with a late tackle which escaped a booking before Cruickshank whipped in a great free kick which keeper Hannan saved well. Rae was duly replaced by Findlater. 

In 20 mins an Anderson corner was headed just over by Watson. Roselea were well on top but the danger was that the visitors might sneak a goal and they almost did so in 25 minutes. Gill struck a great 25 yard shot which Mcloed had to smother at the second attempt.  

Roselea took the lead in 27 minutes when A Craig Anderson was headed onto the bar by Calum Watson and then James COLLIER headed home the rebound with a downward header. Dale Reid then hit fly with a 35 yard shot which didn’t move much but the visiting keeper was glad to see it go just over the bar. Taylor then had a low drive deflected and away to safety from a similar distance. 

Half Time: Montrose Roselea 1 Kinnoull 0

Kinnoull started the second half the better side and after a penalty claim and then a goalmouth scramble which resulted in a corner. When the corner came in Mark SMITH was left unmarked to head home from close range in 52 minutes. 

Roselea went back in front in 57 mins and it was down to a mistake by Kinnoull to create it. Anderson put the ball through to Reid who in turnn slipped the ball into the path of WATSON who slid a low ball home from 12 yards. 

It was 3-1 to the home side in 58 minutes when after a couple of scrambles inside the Kinnoull box REID smashed home with a  couple of Kinnoull defenders messing up their attempted clearances. 

Cruickshank should have made it 4 in 63 minues but elected to take a touch before smacking against the stantion. Roselea has more chances before the end but a comibination of some good saves from visiting keeper Hannan who was in great form and some poor finishing kept the score down. 

Full Time: Montrose Roselea 3 Kinnoull 1

 This was a well deserved but hard win for Roselea against a stubborn Kinnoull team who put up a good fight for the 90 minutes. Roselea had to grind out the result and 2 goals in 3 minutes settled the nerves. This makes it six wins out of six in the League and hoists Roselea up to 6^th  place after a bad start to the campaign. 

Roselea now have a Festive break which seems them idle until Jan 10^th when they travel to Dundee Violet at Glenesk Park.