Steve Kerrigan made a welcome return to the fold following his suspension, replacing the injured Kennedy, Matt Miller replaced Sean Mustard and new signing Matt Smith filled the goalkeepers jersey on the bench. Ralph Brand joined David Craig and
Colin Page on the injured list.
Roselea made a positive start on a damp but flat pitch when Reoch sent in a testing cross which home keeper Wood held well.
Disaster struck Roselea in only three minutes when Fotheringham jarred his knee in a tackle and had to be replaced by Mustard.
Roselea collapsed, shedding an amazing three goals in a five minute spell. In 10 minutes Roselea dealt well with a couple of crosses however the ball broke to Mauchline at the edge of the box and he volleyed home with great control.
A minute later Roselea were further behind this time Mcleod saved well but Lee Johnstone danced round the Roselea keeper before tapping home.
The third goal came in the 15th minute from the penalty spot. Once again Johnstone found himself with too much space before being brought down by Mcleod. Luckily for Mcleod the player was going wide of the goal and he received only a yellow card. The big striker despatched the penalty high into the net giving Mcleod no chance.
Roselea gave themselves a lifeline in the 28th minute when Johnny Mitchell won a penalty after a great ball from Reoch. Up stepped Ewan Graham to wrong foot the keeper with a great penalty.
The game was threatening to boil over with neither side giving way in tackles. Kerrigan was fortunate not to get carded after a two footed lunge after he failed to make contact with ball or man.
Kerrigan was a constant threat in the air and he picked Roselea up with a great header from a Doug Craig free kick from close range.
Roselea's comeback was almost completed in 42 minutes when keeper Wood came for a long ball that he was never taking and Watson just couldn't get turned to slot the ball into the empty net.
Roselea had their best move of the second half with Mitchell and Watson combining well before the latter sent in a great cross which McCulloch did well to steer away from the inrushing Reoch.
The game boiled over in the 55th minute after earlier signs that it might. Connelly of the home side slid in heavily on Mustard catching him high up on his body and referee Paul Reid had no hesitation in showing the player a red card.
Roselea took immediate advantage of the numbers and Mitchell won a second penalty in similar circumstances to the first one. Graham again made no mistake from the spot to level the match at 3-3.
Mitchell cut in from the left for Roselea in 72 minutes and his shot was just wide of the right hand post as both teams hunted for the decisive goal. Reoch then hit a 25 yard shot that moved in the air wrong footing Wood who did really well to turn the ball round the post.
Roselea thought they had snatched the clincher ten minutes from the end. Hood sent Mitchell away on the right and his cut back was met sweetly by Watson however the ball struck the crossbar with Wood possibly getting a slight touch.
After a disastrous start Roselea clawed their way back into the game and deserved their point however as always it was hard to play against ten men. Roselea could not manage to make the extra man count and press the home side back and in fact Armadale were posing an equal threat at the other end.
The point does not help Roselea's fight to remain in the Premier League with matches quickly running out. They will need to win at least four of their last five matches to have any chance of beating the drop. The next match is on Saturday March 20 at Ballingry Rovers who have been faltering in their own target of promotion. Kick Off is at 2.30pm and a bus will be running leaving at 11.15am. Names to Golf Inn 01674 672047 as demand is expected to be high.
Roselea: Mcleod, Miller, Doug Craig, Graham, Whyte, Rae, Kerrigan. Fotheringham, Reoch, Watson, Mitchell. Subs: Riach, Hood, Mustard, Strachan, Smith.
