Breadalbane tasted league defeat for the first time this season in the cruellest of circumstances at the South Inch. After a two month winter hiatus a return to action at league favourites Roselea may have been a daunting prospect, particularly with a side shorn of a number of regulars.

Manager Robertson re-jigged his team for the top of the table clash. Jacobs filled in for suspended top scorer Price while Lee Veitch dropped back to help nullify a free scoring home attack. The energy of Smith and da Silva was preferred on the flanks and Chucky Carr moved inside to support Jacobs up front.

Despite the long lay-off, Breadalbane worked hard to match their opponents in a competitive first half that saw few clear cut chances – with the notable exception of a Jacobs’ volley that was expertly turned over by home keeper Arnott. Roselea used the open spaces to good effect to play some tidy football, but the blues did well to restrict the Perth side’s opportunities, with skipper Veitch in particularly resolute form.

Roselea’s set pieces had proved their most dangerous weapon, but it was a free kick at the other end that broke the deadlock. Chucky Carr’s left foot has been the undoing of several teams this season and the youngster stepped up to the mark once again in the 40th minute. His low free kick from 25 yards zipped into the bottom corner and was met with an almost apologetic celebration from the winger, who has already reached double figures in his first season at amateur level.

Breadalbane then set about proving true the old adage that teams are at their most vulnerable after scoring. Within 30 seconds of the restart Roselea had opened up the Aberfeldy defence to level the game going into the break.

An evenly contested second half saw an engrossing encounter remain locked – the best chance falling to Scrymgeor who was denied by Menzies when clean through on goal.

Then, mid-way through the half, the course of the game changed. A match which had been keenly contested in a spirit befitting the league’s top two teams came to an abrupt halt as Scott McBride committed himself to a tackle with Roselea striker McLaren. The home player’s challenge was, at best, clumsy, and he was promptly given his marching orders. This will have proved little comfort to the stricken McBride, however, whose subsequent leg break will see him out of action for some time. Hopefully the youngster’s hitherto promising career can still be resurrected.

A substantial delay followed before the remainder of the match could be played out. Despite having the advantage of the extra man, Breadalbane only managed to carve out one clear opportunity. Substitute Cromb opened up the home defence with a through ball to Carr which was returned into the box to the unmarked Jacobs. Arnott again stood up well to the big man’s firmly hit shot, however, to ensure parity. Seconds later, at the other end, it was Menzies’ turn for heroics, clawing out a point blank header.

Breadalbane’s relative inactivity over the last two months had clearly caught up with them as tired legs began to surrender possession to their opponents, but it looked like a draw had been earned. Then, with the game in its dying seconds, the referee, almost as an afterthought, awarded Roselea a free kick on the edge of the box. Another well taken dead ball caused panic at the far post and in the jumble of bodies, Smith’s header crawled agonisingly over the line to give the league leaders all three points with virtually the last touch of the game.

It proved a cruel end to a cruel day for Breadalbane who had probably worked hard enough for a share of the spoils but went home minus the points and, sadly, minus a player. We all wish Bridey a speedy recovery and a return to his accustomed position at the Fountain Bar.

Breadalbane:
Menzies, Thomas, McAdam, Veitch, Smith, McBride (Cromb), Klatschak, Laing, da Silva Carr, Jacobs

Subs (not used): MacDougall, C Price, D Robertson