Managers Brand and Craig were having a selection nightmare with no fewer than 10 players unavailable for a variety of reasons. Paul Whyte passed a late fitness test and the subs included Connor Brown, recalled from Merpro and Jo Aitken son of Rosel
ea's record scorer Steve Aitken.
Roselea started brightly and had two chances in the first five minutes. First Lee Hood crossed and Riach just failed to connect then Hood headed just wide from a great Strachan cross.
In 20 minutes Roselea had another chance when Rae sent in a dangerous swerving corner and Whyte just failed to connect.
Roselea had a big let off in 40 minutes when Forster broke free although looking well offside before dragging his shot just wide of the target. A minute later Ross Mcleod had to make a "Gordon Banks" type save from a Forster header and managed to turn the ball round for a corner kick.
Arniston had the wind in the second half and Whyte had to make a sliding block to stop a McNaughton shot.
Another Arniston free kick caused Roselea problems but Forster just failed to connect at the back post.
In 50 minutes Strachan broke away for Roselea from inside his own half before freeing Riach on the left and his cross was headed narrowly wide by Hood at the near post.
In 62 minutes Reoch went on a searching run on the right and managed to cut the ball back into the path of Hood who failed to connect.
Miller almost cost Roselea in the 63rd minute when his back header was intercepted by Howitt but Mcleod did well again by saving at his feet. Forster then tried his luck from 30 yards seeing Mcleod off his line but fortunately the home keeper saved at the top of his jump.
Good work from Rae in the middle of the park saw him send Strachan away and his cross was laid into the path of Riach by Reoch but again the finish was off target.
In 82 minutes Aitken replaced Strachan for the home side.
The match fizzled out with neither side having any more chances and the draw was a fair result.
A clean sheet and no bookings was probably the most positive thing Roselea can take out of the game. To be fair it was a decent match taking the conditions into account with both teams intent on getting the ball down and passing.
St Andrew's draw at Kinnoull means that Roselea can only match the current points totals of Balirgowrie and Penicuik who both sit on 19 points. These sides have 4 and 3 games respectively remaining to Roselea's one so the inevitable will happen.
Roselea now have one remaining fixture at home to promotion chasing Tayport on Saturday May 1 and hospitality will be available. Roselea were due to play Rosyth in the Redwood Cup but this looks likely not to proceed due to the fixture backlog facing many of the teams involved.
Roselea: Mcleod, Mustard, Whyte, Miller, Doug Craig, Riach, Rae, Kennedy, Strachan, Hood, Riach. Subs: Brand, Aitken, Brown, Massie.
