Banchory Boy Beats Banchory

Grill League Cup Semi Final - Saturday 15 October 2005 Banchory St Ternan 0 v Culter 1 (at Milton Park, Crathes) Half Time: 0 -1.      Culter Scorer: Neil McRitchie (5 minutes) (Neil is from Banchory!)

Banchory St Ternan: Ewen, Whitfield, Gillies, Gall, Hulse, Wilson, S Robertson, Mathieson, Cole, Courage, Gill; Subs: Moir, R Smith, Keith, Munro, Watson

Culter: Pirie, Collie, Rattray, Calder, Scott, Craik, Mon^-ison, Shand, McRitchie, C Robertson, Farmer; Subs: Ord, Glass, B Smith, Allan, Sim.

On a dull but fortunately dry day our local derby took place for what proved to be a close encounter. Banchory St Ternan produced an interesting fact filled Match Programme for this Semi Final tie.

In the opening minute McRitchie lofted the ball into the Banchory goalmouth to give Farmer a great chance but he mis-hit. Next minute Calder's cross was headed out of the danger area by Hulse. A 4th minute Shand cross was headed past by Morrison. Next minute, however, Collie swung the ball over to McRitchie who went past `keeper Ewen and hit home the opening, and what proved to be only goal of the game. A C Robertson Culter try was fisted out by Ewen in 8 minutes. Next minute a long range S Robertson St Teman long range shot went over.    Next minute a Mathieson free kick was tipped over the bar by Pirie. In 11 minutes a mis-hit Pirie clearance gave the Banchory boys an unexpected but what proved fruitless chance.

In the 20 minute Pirie raced out to dive and gather the ball as Courage raced in.     Two minutes later a strong McRitchie drive went narrowly past. A minute later Gillies missed a great chance by shooting wide. On the half hour mark Morrison was injured but resumed after attention. A 33^rd minute Gill corner was headed past by Cole. Right afterwards Courage went down hurt but also resumed after treatment. Mathieson was booked following a 37"' minute foul. In 41 minutes Pirie dived to turn a Courage shot past the bottom of the post. In injury time a Morrison comer was headed past by McRitchie.       Half Time: 0 -1.

At the restart Banchory St Teman brought on substitute R Smith. In the opening seconds Craik went down injured and R Smith's strong drive went narrowly over.Gall headed the ball over Pirie towards the empty net in 51 minutes but Rattray came to Culter's rescue by heading clear off the goal-line. Immediately afterwards there was controversy when Rattray brought down Gillies in the box and the Referee awarded a penalty but after much protestation he consulted his Assistant Referee whose flag had gone up before the incident and to Culter's relief he changed his decision to offsides!! St Ternan's S Robertson was booked at this stage apparently for dissent.  B Smith was fielded for Farmer after 58 minutes had been played. McRitchie slipped the ball towards Shand in 61 minutes but Ewen dived at his feet to save. Next minute in an immediate repeat performance a long range Scott clearance found Shand and Ewen again dived at his feet to stop him but was injured in the process. After a lengthy delay when the unfortunate `keeper received medical attention he went off and was replaced by Gillies.      Munro came on as a substitute in 67 minutes. Whitfield had a chance in the 74th minute but shot narrowly past the bottom of the post. At this stage Ord replaced Shand. Culter came close in 78 minutes when a C Robertson cross was headed past by Rattray. Moir was fielded for St Teman's S Robertson in the 79^th minute. Culter's 80^th  minute raid saw an Ord cross hooked against the bar by Craik. Two minutes afterwards Craik was replaced by Glass.          An 83rd minute B Smith long range drive went narrowly over, then at the other end a Mathiesorr try was tipped over by Pirie. Cuiter's B Smith was booked in 86 minutes and within a minute Banchory St Ternan's R Smith was also booked. Banchory came close in 88 minutes when Pirie brought off a fine diving save to block a Gill shot and Rattray was there to clear the loose ball. In 89 minutes Banchory's R Smith was sent off for yet another foul. In the last minute of normal time a Morrison header went just wide. The game ran over five minutes into injury time and Culter were glad to hear the final whistle. First Division Banchory St Ternan had put up a great show against their Super League opponents Culter and understandably felt very disappointed at the outcome. Culter now meet Formartine United in the Final at Heathryfold on Sunday 20 Nov 2005.- Kick Off 1 p.m.

Banchory St Ternan FC Half Time Raffle (drawn by Albert!): Bottle Whisky - Patrick Koo, Culter.

After Match £20 "Choose Your Team" Competition - Steve Davidson, Culter.

Next Week's Fixture - Saturday 22 October 2005 - 2nd Round Dugout Inter Regional Cup

Forfar West End v Culter (at Strathmore Park, Forfar) Kick Off 2.15 p.m. - played to a finish - penalty shoot out after 90 minutes if required.

Our special bus will depart from Crombie Park Pavilion, Culter, at 11.30 a.m. and collect the Aberdeen contingent at The Palm Court Hotel, Seafield Road, Aberdeen at 11.45 a.m. The bus will depart from Forfar at approximately 5.30 p.m. for the return journey to Culter via Aberdeen. Fares to be £3 for Adults and £1.50 for Senior Citizens/Children.

Culter FC 100 Club.    Organiser Frank Watt advises that the 2^nd  draw of the 100 Club will be held in The Culter Mills Social Club on Saturday 29 October 2005 after the Longside game.

Forthcoming Fixtures - Soccer World Super League

Saturday 29 October 2005 - Culter v Longside (at Crombie Park, Culter) Referee: Alex Lovie. Saturday 5 November 2005 - Glentanar v Culter (at Woodside Sports Complex, Aberdeen).

Bulletin Produced by Albert J. Moir Tel. 01224 732006
Match Reporter Ian "Kip" McKenzie