Never-Say Die Gowfers Claw Back Two-Goal Deficit For Win

Montrose Roselea 3 Carnoustie Panmure 4

Taking a break from league business on Saturday afternoon, Carnoustie Panmure travelled up the coast to Broomfield Park to face Montrose Roselea in the first round of the as yet unsponsored 'Currie' Cup.

From the kick-off, Roselea launched the ball into the Carnoustie box. Bollan tried to play it away, but was challenged by Craig, who went down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot with just 34 seconds on the watch. STRACHAN took the kick and fired the ball into the back of the net, sending McCafferty the wrong way.

In three minutes, Carnoustie fell further behind after McCafferty attempted to kick clear from a Cook passback, but missed the ball completely. Before the 'keeper had time to recover, ANDERSON nipped in to knock the ball into the empty net for Roselea's second, giving the Gowfers their worst ever start to a game.

Steele tried to get Carnoustie going with a good run down the left, which won a corner off Maiden. Miller's attempt to head the ball clear from Steele's flag kick fell to Collier, who fired it back in, but sent the ball wide of McLeod's right hand post.

In 11 minutes, a Scott free kick found Smith, who fired the ball across the face of the home goal, but the inrushing Collier just failed to get a touch and it went out behind for a goal kick. As the Gowfers continued to press, Stephen took a pass from Muhsin and sent the ball forward to Kelly, but his shot was weak and went straight to McLeod.

In 22 minutes, Carnoustie at last pulled a goal back when KELLY took a pass from wide on the right and, wheeling round inside his marker, smashed a great shot past McLeod from all of 25 yards.

The Gowfers joy was almost short-lived, however, as just a minute later Roselea came close to restoring their two-goal advantage. Anderson cut inside Scott and fired off a shot, but McCafferty was able to make the stop.

In the homesters next attack, Rae tried a long range shot, but sent the ball high over the top.

Carnoustie began to push forward once more and in 35 minutes Muhsin also tried his luck from distance after taking a pass from Conway, but McLeod had no trouble making the save.

Three minutes later, however, the Gowfers' mounting pressure was rewarded with a deserved equaliser. A Conway corner from the right was dropped by McLeod and in the ensuing goalmouth scramble, COOK stabbed the ball over the line.

Roselea got the game restarted, but immediately lost possession and from a Collier cross, Steele head-flicked the ball goalwards, only to see McLeod bring off a fine save.

Right on the half-time whistle, Carnoustie won a throw-in out on the left almost at the corner flag. Conway launched the ball right into the goalmouth, but Croall got up to head the ball away and the scores remained level at the interval.

Half Time : Montrose Roselea 2 Carnoustie Panmure 2

Carnoustie started the second period on the attack and with barely a minute played had a good chance to go in front. Collier collected the ball with his back to goal, turned and fired off a shot, but pulled it just wide of McLeod's right-hand post.

Two minutes later, the Gowfers had another chance to go ahead when Cook fed Kelly, but he sent his shot narrowly over the top.

Conway then played a good ball through to Kelly and continued his run to take the return pass, but his shot lacked power and McLeod had no trouble making the save.

Shortly afterwards, Muhsin picked up a loose ball in midfield, strode forward and tried a shot, which he put just wide of McLeod's right-hand post.

Carnoustie should have had a penalty when Cook took the ball almost to the bye-line and cut inside into the box where he was pushed by Strachan. The referee did award a foul to the Gowfers, but outside the box when the offence was clearly inside the line.

Conway sent the free kick right into the goalmouth from where it was played partially clear. The ball fell to Muhsin, but he shot wide of McLeod's right-hand post.

In 70 minutes, the Gowfers made a double substitution, Abbot and Cumming, replacing, Smith and Steele.

Abbot was quickly in the thick of the action, linking with Conway, who tried a shot, but McLeod took it easily.

From the keeper's clearance, Whyte sent the ball long to Croall, who looked to be offside, but was allowed to run and have a shot, which Stephen managed to deflect behind for a fruitless corner.

Back at the other end, Collier took a pass from Kelly and fired off a shot, but the ball went narrowly over the top.

Before McLeod could take the goal kick, Roselea made their first change with Watson going on for Anderson.

In 75 minutes, Carnoustie notched an all important third counter. Scott took a free kick wide on the left, which Cook knocked back across the face of the goal to KELLY, who back-heeled the ball over the line from close-in.

Roselea made a second substitution in 79 minutes, Mustard making way for Johnston.

In 83 minutes, Strachan and Scott both required treatment after a midfield clash. Strachan was able to continue, but Scott, who was shown the yellow card for the fiul, was eventually replaced by Narey.

While the Gowfers were temporarily down to 10 men, Rae's free kick hit the defensive wall, which took the pace off the ball and McCafferty was able to take it easily.

In 86 minutes, an Abbot cross into the home goalmouth was laid-off by Muhsin to COLLIER, who hammered the ball past McLeod from five yards to give the Gowfers a valuable two-goal cushion.

With time running out, Roselea won a free kick when Rae was fouled by Bollan. Muhsin wasn't with where Strachan placed the ball and moved it back a couple of yards, earning himself a caution for "delaying the restart of play". When Strachan eventually took the kick, he sent it high and over the top.

In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Roselea won a corner on the left. It was taken short to CHRISTIE, whose cross into the crowded goalmouth appeared to take a bobble off the firm surface and crossed the line without anyone else getting a touch.

As soon as the game restarted from the centre, the referee brought the tie to a close and the Gowfers could celebrate a win that hardly seemed likely given the start they had made.

Line-Ups:

Montrose Roselea : McLeod, Maiden, Whyte, Anderson (Watson 73), Miller, Croall, Christie, Strachan, Mustard (Johnston 79), Rae, Craig.
Substitutes Not Used : Longmuir, Simpson, Massie (gk)

Carnoustie Panmure : McCfferty, Cook, Scott (Narey 83), Bollan, Stephen, Muhsin, Smith (Abbot 70), Conway, Kelly, Collier, Steele (Cumming 70 ).
Substitutes Not Used : Hendry, Whyte (gk)

Referee : N.Brand, Forfar

Match report courtesy of Guide and Gazette newspaper (12/10/2007)