Montrose Roselea can't make up ground on Hermes

After a terrific start to the New Year with a 6-0 away win at Deveronside, Roselea were looking to continue that when Hermes visited Links Park for a McBookie.com North Superleague Match. The sides had met twice previously both in Aberdeen with Hermes trouncing Roselea 8-1 in the League when perhaps Roselea were covid hit but the away team avenged that with a penlaties win after a 4-4 draw in the North Region Cup in late October. Two places but 9 points separated the sides with Hermes in 4th and Roselea in 6th but Roselea had the advantage of a game in hand but a win would be required to have any chance of catching them. Roselea boasted a squad of 19 for probably the first time this season meaning that the returning Fraser Jamieson could not get a place on the bench. Gregor Tweed, Callum Rae & Jordan Harrison were the only absentees from the squad

A minutes silence was held for Tom Ewen the Banks of Dee Secretary who sadly passed away last week, a man who gave so much to his club and Junior football in general.

Roselea: McCormack, Stephen, Soutar, Reoch, E Watson, Greig, Bailey, Beedie, Thomson, C Watson & Garnham. Subs: Gill., McDonald, Alberts, Robertson, Mitchell, Taylor & Davidson.

The match kicked off in perfect conditions for a January day with no wind or rain and although cold it was a great day for football.

Both teams had early chances when Barbour of the visitors just didn’t get the break of the ball when it broke in the box then C Watson cut in and his shot was wide of the target for Roselea.

C Watson had an excellent slide tackle to win the ball and when he got up Thomson played it to him and he brought out a great save from Simpson in the Hermes goal who turned the ball behind for a corner.

The next 10 minute saw Hermes well on top and they forced a few corners as they dominated the midfield

McCormack was called into action in the space of 5 minutes when he saved well from Mckenzie then Inness.

Possibly against the run of play Roselea took the lead in 28 minutes. Roselea were awarded a free kick on the right hand side after some great footwork from Garnham which saw him pass there players before being brought down. Thomson sent in an inswinging free kick which SOUTAR strongly headed into the net to give the homesters the lead.

McCormack was again called into action in 31 minutes when he turned a Dawson shot over the bar from the angle. Unfortunately the Roselea lead was short lived and when the corner was beaten away a deflected shot came back in and BARBOUR backheeled the ball home.

Roselea thought they had gone back in front in 39 minutes when Thomson sent in a great low free kick which Simpson beat out and Stephen laid the ball back to a Roselea player who struck home but and offside had already been given.

There was to be one more piece of action before the break and again McCormack did his job when he beat a Barbour shot over the bar when he broke on the right hand side.

HT Montrose Roselea 1 Hermes 1

After a great first half of football the second half commenced and Roselea thought that they had

taken the lead but an offised flag chalked off Calum Watsons finish in 48

Gibbon worked his way down the right and sent in a dangerous ball that the Roselea defence were happy to see slide across the face of the goal and out for a bye kick in 59 minutes

Hermes won a free kick in a dangerous position on the hour mark but Tait threatened Union Row more than the goal.

Roselea made a change in 65 with Taylor replacing Reoch who was feeling the effects of his back on his comeback.

Roselea had a great chance in 70 minutes when E Watson headed a free kick back across goal then Garnham laid the ball back to Soutar whose goalbound shot was blocked.

Roselea sent on a second sub with Alberts sent on for Garnham in 75.

The sub had a great chance in 80 minutes when a Roselea corner came all the way to the back post and he elected to take a chance rather than a first time shot and he sent the ball over the bar.

Both teams had spells of pressure where long throws and corners were the order of the day and Craig of Hermes had a great curling shot which went just wide of the upright.

The game ended and both teams had chances to take the three points although a draw was fair overall

FT Montrose Roselea 1 Hermes 1

This was a hugely entertaining match played in a good yet competitive spirit with perhaps the visiting Dugout getting a little excitable at times which was unnecessary as the match officials controlled the game well. Hermes are a top quality side which is not unexpected considering their League position and at times they did control the game however it was a dogged Roselea who turned up and both teams could claim they had enough to win the match.

Roselea should take a lot from this game and although winning the League is not in their aims they should have confidence that they can do well in the 4 cup competitions that they are left in as they have competed well with most of the top teams. Shout out goes to Kade McCormack who had a great game and was unfortunately beaten by a scrappy goal at close range and the two front men Calum Watson and Sam Garnham who caused the visitors problems all day.

Next Saturday Jan 22nd Roselea are at Links Park again when they entertain Hall Russell Utd again in the North Superleague with a 1.30pm KO​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​