Montrose Roselea lose out in entertaining encounter

Roselea made the trip just north of Aberdeen to the Meadows at Ellon for this North Region Superleague match.

Roselea fell behind with just five minutes on the clock.

A long clearance from the keeper was not dealt with by the defence and Tremaine was through. McCormack pulled off a great save only for the striker to follow up and stroke home.

Thomson then had a shot for Ellon which McCormack managed to tip round the post for another corner.

Roselea had their first taste of the goals in the 23rd minute when Davidson played Garnham in and he hit a strong shot on the turn however Gibson in the home goal saved well and turned the ball over the top for a corner.

The home side were to go two up a minute later and again it was indecisiveness in the Roselea defence that created the opportunity. Morris was allowed space to drive into the box and square for MORRICE to blast into the top corner from close range. Roselea if they didn’t know it were well up against it.

Roselea were looking for a lifeline and they got a break in the 40th minute. Garnham had been creating havoc for the Ellon defence with two players picking up bookings for fouls on him and was again fouled as he broke into the box. He then appeared to trip Mcintosh in the box but a penalty was awarded. Latterly we understand it was for a handball offence. Calum WATSON was not caring either way and duly slotted the penalty home under high pressure.

HT Ellon Utd 2 Montrose Roselea 1

The penalty had rejuvenated Roselea and with the conditions perhaps more in their favour in the second half there were hopes that they could turn this around.

It was however Ellon who again struck first and McCormack had again to be alert to turn over a fierce effort from Shand.

Garnham went on a great run from his own 18 yard box and two attempts to scythe him down failed

before he was eventually brought down at the other 18 yard box. Shand received a yellow for his part however his colleague seemed to be forgotten about. Roselea could not take advantage of the free kick with a packed Ellon box dealing with the situation.

Roselea were however piling on the pressure and it seemed inevitable that an equaliser would come. Beedie smacked the ball off the cross bar following a long throw in 63 minutes.

The visitors did eventually equalise and it was well deserved considering the pressure that they had. Beedie swung in a corner and STEPHEN met it with a powerful header in 68 minutes.

Beedie had a good chance in 72 minutes but the ball didn’t fall for him and his shot was blocked.

At the other end the dangerous Morrice had the perfect opportunity to seal the three points when a ball was cut back and he scooped his shot over the bar.

Roselea then had a chance to grab the three points when after another scramble in the box and the ball seemed to hit Watson when it was going in and Ellon then cleared.

Ellon snatched the three points with a goal in the 82nd minute. Morrice twisted and turned before laying back to SHAND who hit a perfect shot with the outside of his right foot that McCormack could not do anything about.

Roselea made a change by replacing Bailey with another striker in the form of Alberts however there were to be no further chances and Ellon saw the game out.

Roselea will need to pick themselves up as they head for the third last League game which are all away as they head to Banchory St Ternan on Sat 12th with a 2.00pm KO. The following Friday night March 18th Roselea are in Mcleman Cup duty at Links Park v Hermes with a 7.45pm KO