Match: Dyce v Montrose Roselea
Date: 14/08/2021
Venue: Ian Mair Park, Dyce
Competition: North Superleague
Entry Fee: £5
Travel: £60.40
Miles completed today: 320
Total miles remaining: 42762
I’ve been promising a long haul trip for a while. Dyce are the 9th club I’ve visited and the miles I’ve racked up here are more than the other 9 trips combined!
This was a trip into the North Juniors – completely unchartered territory. In all honesty, I’m not even sure I’d even been to Aberdeen before.
A 3 hour train from Glasgow to Aberdeen then a further 10 minutes to Dyce isn’t a difficult trip but it is an early start. I got home 13 hours after I left and there are 47 trips in the pyramid that are further away, a taste of things to come.
Preview
Dyce last 5 (League)
WLWD
Montrose Roselea last 5 (League)
LLDWL
Odds:
Dyce 4/9
Draw 5/1
Montrose Roselea 11/4
Dyce had only played 4 league games and sat on 7 points. Their only loss so far had come against Culter who are one of the stronger sides in the league.
Montrose had 8 points from 7. Their league form had been up and down but their last league outing was a 3-0 win over the only team to defeat Dyce so far.
The Ground
Ian Mair Park wasn’t hard to find but could be described as ‘out the way’ as it lies outwith the residential area of Dyce. The pavilion has character – I love how it looks! It holds the kitchen, dressing rooms and spectator toilets along with a small sheltered area for supporters. The rest of the pitch is railed as many junior pitches are.
The club officials all dress formally for the occasion in shirt and tie and some even had sharp looking Dyce blazers.
Admission was a very decent £5 and not only do Dyce offer a programme they give you it for free!
The Game
There was a crowd of between 40-50 here to take in this game. I have to admit that this wasn’t one of the better games I’d been to in terms of excitement. Dyce tried to utilise their wingers as much as possible whilst Montrose aimed for the ball in behind.
Both defences were on good form and dealt with almost everything thrown at them.
In the 39th minute a quick and crisp 1-2 put Sam Robertson through on goal and he slid the ball past the keeper for the opener.
Dyce always seemed to have an element of control to the game but at no point looked like running away with it either.
In the second half Montrose looked a better side and missed their best chance of the game after playing a quick, short corner and with the home defence caught off guard a free header from the resulting cross flew over the bar from close range.
Whilst the sides took it in turns to attack, again the defenders were doing a good job to deal with the dangers well.
Dyce did have the ball in the net after Glen Donald scored an excellent header but the play was stopped for a foul on the defender.
Towards the end of the game Montrose pushed for an equaliser but it wasn’t to be.
There weren’t many clear cut chances and Dyce took the 3 points.
Full time: Dyce Juniors 1-0 Montrose Roselea
MOTM
I’ll pick a MOTM each game I attend. This isn’t the official MOTM, just who I feel was the standout player.
This is probably my toughest call yet. There were a number of good performances without anybody really standing out. I was most impressed with Dyce’s Ian Leith in the middle of the park. Leith played deeper of the two central midfielders and was very comfortable in possession despite being pressed with high intensity. I was impressed by his awareness on and off the ball and filled in at the back any time a hooped defender drove forward.
Afterthoughts
I enjoyed my first experience up north. Dyce as a place is a quiet residential part of Aberdeen most famous for it’s airport.
The club are probably one of the smaller sides I’ve seen in terms of stature but they hold their own in the Superleague and they battled well for the 3 points.
There is potentially a Highland League spot up for grabs if one of these clubs are ambitious enough to take it. I believe Dyce will be inside the top 4 come the end of the season.
Montrose will be hoping for an upturn in form however they are currently in 8th place and I think they’ll have more chance of moving up than down on that showing.
I got to see another hard fought home victory and in a game as tight as this it’s all about who can take their chances.
If you’re coming up here for a visit make sure you get some chips from Sea Salt + Sole before you head home.
GroundhopScot 