MONTROSE ROSELEA v BLAIRGOWRIE
MCBOOKIE.COM MIDLANDS LEAGUE
SAT 17TH AUGUST 2024

Roselea entertained Blairgowrie at Links Park in their third McBookie.com League match. After two narrow defeats in the League followed by a hurtful 5-0 midweek defeat at East Craigie a win was much needed to lift confidence. Blairgowrie had started with a win over Forfar West End but had also lost their last two games and were also in the mood for a morale boosting win as well.

Roselea: Simpson, Ferries, Davidson, McDonald, Gribben, Martin, Bradford, Bailey, Stewart, Duff & Calder. Subs:Sandeman, Griggs, Salmon, Masson, Fairfield, Whyte & Tweed

It was Blair who opened the chances count when Heenan had a pop shot from 20 yards that Simpson safely guided past his post in 7 minutes.
In 10 minutes Harry Watson had a shot from the corner of the box for Blairgowrie and Simpson held with ease.
Roselea took the lead in 11 minutes. Bailey sent in a great free kick and Duffs diving header came back off the bar and Aulay MARTIN followed up to score with a close in header.
In 16 minutes Martin broke away down the right and then cut in and had his shot blocked.
Martin was looking lively and his pace took him in on goal and his low shot was parried away by Smith in the Blairgowrie goal in 19 minutes.
In 23 minutes Harry Watson found himself in space but his shot was too weak to trouble Simpson
On the half hour brother Robbie Watson had a great shot that Simpson turned round his post for a corner.
Roseleas lead was under threat in 33 minutes when a treble block from a corner kept the goal intact. A mixture of Simpson and Gribben managed to block a few Blair shots following a corner.
Salmon replaced the injured Ferries
Blairgowrie were having a good spell of pressure and they equalised with a well worked free kick in 37 minutes. The ball was passed near to the penalty spot and HEENAN finished the move with a well struck low shot.
A minute later things were to get worse for Roselea when they lost a second goal. Harry Watsons cross looked to have been take easily by Simpson however he fumbled the ball as he caught it and it came back off Gribben to hand AXWORTHY the easiest of chances for Blair to take the lead

HT Montrose Roselea 1 Blairgowrie 2

Roselea came out looking a bit more fired up and a great switch of play from Stewart put Martin in but his lob over the advancing keeper was off target in 48 minutes
Roselea did equalise in the 49th minute. Referee Duncan pulled an advantage back and Bailey sent in a low free kick which SALMON poked home with a great finish
Two minutes later Martin thought he had put Roselea in front when Duffs pass out him in and he smacked a great shot off the bar but keeper Smith did get a hand to it for a great save.
Blairgowrie passed up a great chance to take the lead again in 59 minutes when a ball put Axwporthy in and he lobbed the ball wide without even looking up to see where he was.
In 63 minutes Martin had another great run this time coming in from the right and across the box and looked like he was away to score with his left when Lowe got back and made a great tackle to turn the ball behind for a corner
Roselea got their noses in front in 65 minutes and it was after a great lung bursting run from Duff earned them a penalty. He took on Beedie for pace and made his way into the box getting into a great position to shoot but the referee adjudged that he had been brought down although the contact seemed to be minimum. MARTIN bravely stepped up to take the penalty having had one saved the previous week at the same end and this time put the ball in the corner with pace despite Smith guessing correctly.
In 70 minutes Bailey sent Martin away with a great pass and Smith had to make a great block with his feet to prevent a goal.
In 78 minutes Axworthy had a chance to redeem his earlier miss but was thwarted by Simpson to save with his feet and make amends for his earlier mistake.
Griggs replaced Stewart in 83 minutes and almost made an impact when Martin out him away on the left and his attempted cross went out off the edge of the post.
Simpson had to make another couple of saves as Roselea held out for a confidence boosting win.

FT Montrose Roselea 3 Blairgowrie 2

This was a much needed win and a real confidence booster for the squad. If the result had gone the wrong way would have been disaster for confidence. Zak Simpson made amends for his mistake and had a string of great saves to protect the three points. Roselea will be on their travels next Saturday when they visit Strathmore Park to face Forfar West End with a 2.30pm KO

Montrose Roselea

Links Park Stadium

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