The "Berrypickers" were in some eyes one of the weaker sides in the league having scrambled to safety last season with a "Houdini" style escape from relegation. They arrived at Broomfield Park with a firm nine points in the bag to the three of thei
r hosts.
On a crisp, cold but calm day the only problem was again the low sun that Roselea faced for the second home game running and it was likely to disappear for the second half.
With Jonny Mitchell still unavailable Roselea kept the same starting line up from the previous week against Tayport.
Roselea were first to show and a Graham cross was headed goalbound by Kerrigan but O'Brien was not really troubled. David Craig then had a 25 yard goal bound shot deflected away.
In 3 minutes the away side had a loud appeal for a penalty turned down when Ireland was tackled on the edge of the box.
Blairgowrie took the lead in the 12th minute when Mcleod failed to gather a Cruickshank shot and Duncan pounced to score.
Roselea were denied a penalty in 20 minutes after a Craig cross was nodded by Graham in the direction of Kerrigan who appeared to be held back.
In 23 minutes Roselea should have drawn level when Kerrigan beat the offiside trap, rounded the keeper and cut the ball back along the goal line but somehow Robertson managed to beat Fotheringham in the scramble and hooked the ball round the post.
Roselea had a massive let off in 25 minutes when Craig was short with his back pass and Duncan should have done better with only Mcleod to beat.
Mcleod saved Roselea a couple of minutes later when a corner was headed down at the far post and he dived on the ball in a crowded goal mouth with Blair claiming it had crossed the line.
Miller was caught dallying on the ball when he should have cleared his lines and Cruickshank was in with a chance but again Mcleod saved well.
The inevitable second goal came in very controversial circumstances in the 42nd minute. Duncan broke away looking yards offside and although Mcleod had a great save to deflect his shot onto the bar, the ball broke to Neave at the edge of the box and he struck a great shot into the net.
Worse was to follow for the Lea when Blairgowrie made it 3-0 right on half time. Axworthy skinned Graham before sending over a great low cross for Cruickshank to knock home from close range.
Both teams emerged in the second half a man light following a brawl in the changing room hallway. The referee who appeared on the scene after matters had been calmed down, saw fit to dismiss Kerrigan of Roselea and a Blairgowrie player.
Roselea should have scored in the first minute of the second half when a Kennedy corner was headed by Whyte to Ewan Graham and somehow he managed to miss from close range.
Another Kennedy corner was headed goalwards by Fraser and there were very strong claims for a penalty after Ferguson handled on the line. It was just not going to be for Roselea.
Roselea were playing more open in an attempt to get back into the game and gaps were likely to appear. Duncan managed to break the offiside trap and his shot went narrowly past the post with Mcleod beaten.
Scott Riach replaced David Craig for the home side. Reoch went on a great run and Fotheringham had the ball in the net but the ball had just gone out of play.
Blairgowrie went closer in the 65th minute when Axworthy again sprung the Roselea offside trap and was unlucky to see his shot hit the outside of the post.
Blair increased their lead to four in the 75th minute when Brash headed in a Christison free kick at the far post.
Riach headed a Whyte cross narrowly wide in the 81st minute.
Right on time Roselea's day of misery was complete when Fotheringham who had an excellent game was caught on the ball by Brash and he sent Cruickshank away to finish in style to cap a great day for the Berrypickers.
A bad day all round for Roselea with defensive frailties being shown up to the full. No luck in front of goal, a shocking decision for the second goal and the tunnel incident summed up the story of the season for the club.
Now at the halfway stage of the season it will take something like eight wins out of eleven for Roselea to have a realistic chance of beating the drop. The players and management will have to keep their heads up and not give up the fight in the second half of the season.
Roselea will head to Rosyth for a Redwood Cup 1st Round tie on Saturday Dec 19th KO 1.30pm before going into a two week festive break. They will return on January 7 with hopefully recharged batteries and spirit.
Roselea: Mcleod, Miller, Whyte, Mustard, Graham, Fotheringham, Reoch, David Craig, Fraser, Kerrigan, Kennedy. Subs: Brand, Riach,Doug Craig.
