Roselea, still hunting their first win in the league were hampered by injuries to David Craig and Colin Page. Ross Mcleod and Mark Fotheringham were unavailable and Steve Kerrigan and new signing Lee Hood were both suspended.
On the plus side t
he return of Ryan Strachan and a shock return for Calum Watson boosted the numbers. Deputy keeper Ronnie Massie came in to the starting line up.
The opening stages were quite level and it wasn't until the 9th minute before the first chance fell to St Andrews. As Roselea claimed for a free kick inside the St Andrews half, a long ball caught out Miller and Farquharson should have done better than hit the side netting.
Roselea retaliated a minute later and Kennedy cross was just missed as it fizzed along the home side's line.
Roselea then had a penalty claim when Watson and Raeside tangled whilst going for a long Graham free kick but referee McGeachie was not having it. A Craig free kick was punched out by keeper Davidson to Kennedy and his low drive was held by the home keeper.
McGuigan tested Massie at the other in end in 16 minutes and he had to tip an angled drive onto the top of the bar and over for a corner.
Farquharson sent in a dangerous corner and McGuigan got his head to it but the Roselea rearguard managed to clear the loose ball.
Roselea took the lead in 18 minutes. Kennedy laid the ball back into the path of Sean Mustard who swept the ball home with a low left foot shot.
In 24 minutes Roselea doubled their lead with a well worked goal.
Miller and Reoch worked a throw in near the corner and Reoch crossed for Calum Watson to score from close range after an attempted clearance from Raeside.
St Andrews hit back in 28 minutes another dangerous Farquharson corner was punched out by Massie and Sutherland hit high over the Roselea goal.
Sutherland then had another low drive well held by Massie who was commanding in the goal for the visitors.
40 minutes in and Roselea had a great chance to stretch their lead. Mitchell had a great run along the byeline and cut the ball back to Mustard who could not keep the ball on target with with the goal gaping.
Calum Watson was unlucky to find himself in the referees book when his hand hit the ball whilst defending a free kick. The referee deemed him to be less than 10 yards away.
Roselea thought they had snatched the all important third goal in 57 minutes when Doug Craig won a header which eluded Raeside and found Watson who bore down on goal before shooting narrowly past.
St Andrews then had a glorious chance to get back in the game in 63 minutes when their right back ran 50 yards before slipping Sutherland in. Massie saved his first shot and Craig cleared the ball off the line before Massie made a second save from McGuigan to prevent a certain goal.
Roselea had another big let off in 67 minutes. Miller fouled Farquharson on the edge of the box and the referee awarded a free kick which may have been a penalty. Muisin found himself with a free header at the back post and somehow managed to head wide.
With St Andrews pressing they were leaving gaps at the back and it was no surprise when Watson managed to find room to score the decisive third for Roselea in 73 minutes.
Mitchell did some sterling work on the right hand side and fed Watson and with St Andrews claiming for offside he cut in and finished well from 10 yards.
St Andrews were not finished and in 85 minutes Evans finally finished from close range after Massie had saved a Raeside shot. St Andrews also hit the bar with Roselea knowing that a second goal would cause heart flutters for the travelling support.
Roselea made three late substitutions with Riach, Brand and Fraser replacing Mitchell, Watson and Rae as the clock ran down.
This win was well deserved and some revenge for the unjust home reversal earlier in the season. At last Roselea seemed to get the breaks at the right time and took their chances when they fell. The whole team worked hard as a unit with Massie in the goals, the young centre midfield duo of Rae and Mustard and the front two all deserving an extra mention. Hopefully this win will give the team the confidence to launch a second half of the season survival bid.
Roselea now have a great chance to enhance that bid with a home league match v Kinnoull on Saturday which kicks off at 1.45pm. Following the match the sixth Annual Sportsman's Dinner will be held in the Links Hotel with a 7pm start.
Roselea: Massie, Miller, Doug Craig, Whyte, Graham, Kennedy, Mustard, Rae, Reoch, Mitchell, Watson. Subs Brand, Riach, Fraser, Strachan.
