Shandy is the New Year Toast

Culter stayed clear at the top of the Super League with a polished performance against `Hive who never gave up the chase but had no answer to the dynamic duo of Shand and Stewart, the new SAS. Former `Hive player Shand gave his all and was justly rewarded with a hat trick leaving the Prodigal Postie, Neil McRitchie, on the bench.

Hive started busily enough and Christie was forced into conceding a corner in the first few minutes. The visitors had a great chance soon after when Fleming laid the ball back to Steele and his rising shot was acrobatically tipped over for a corner by Pirie. Moments later Shand was bundled down in the box but the referee waved play on before Craik whipped in a great ball which Stubbs did well to take low down. Culter were beginning to show a bit of class by now but Pirie almost undid it when he waltzed out of his charge and sent the ball to Robertson but his first time effort trundled harmlessly back into the keepers arms. At the other end Shand spun away from his marker in the box but his parting effort was deflected behind for a corner. The opener came when the fast improving Sim broke up a 'Hive attack and his tong ball saw Stewart race clear of the pedestrian Collie before centring to SHAND who tapped the ball home from close range. This seemed to waken up the Coasters and they continued to probe for an opening but they found Scott, Christie and Rattray in uncompromising form. `Hive did force a couple of corners but from the best of these Collie headed well wide. The Deesiders doubled their advantage close to the interval and this time Shand turned provider when he knocked the ball. back to STEWART_lurking just outside the area and the Drumoak_. Dart whistled an unstoppable grounder past the flailing Stubbs.

Culter continued where they left off and a Scott effort from a Stewart free kick went narrowly past. The visitors were reduced to ten men shortly after when Robertson was sent packing for a needless off the ball kick at Stewart. The game looked over as a contest in the 64'^h minute when Sim fed Smith and the midfield stalwart picked out Stewart with a great - ball and once again^- his pinpoint cross was met by SHAND who gleefully thumped the ball home. Farmer then replaced Craik for the home side and Glass came on for Rattray. With the game apparently won .Culter were given a fright when a speculative long range shot from CAMPBELL took a wicked bounce just in front of Pirie and the ball popped over the keeper and nestled in the back of the net. Culter upped the ante once again when Ogboke came on for Stewart but it was Shand who missed a sitter from a superb Glass cross when he contrived to sky the ball with the goal at his mercy. Ogboke almost got his name on the score sheet when Sim sent him clear but the big striker shot wide from decent position. With a few minutes remaining Culter sealed all three points when Smith sent Ogboke racing clear and unselfishly he squared the ball to SHAND who claimed his hat trick with a cool finish.

Culter: Pirie, Sim, Rattray, Calder, Scott, Smith, Morrison, Shand, Stewart, Christie, Craik. Subs: Farmer, Ogboke, Glass, Thain, McRitchie

Referee: R. Cobb

Match Day Prize Winners:- 07/01/06       ; Half Time Raffle Bottle of Glenmorangie Whisky - Keith Louden, Stonehaven F.C. (Donated by Brian Mutch) Bottle of Wine - John Murphy, Aberdeen (who is thanked for donating same back to Culter F.C.) Six Cans Tennent's Lager- Ian Paul, Banchory

Choose Your Team Scratch Card - £20 winner  John Oqston, Aberdeen

Scoring Statistics.         In 24 games played Culter have won 19, drawn none and lost 5 games, scoring 83 and conceding 32 goals in the process.

Scorers are: - M Shand 17, P Stewart 10, McRitchie 9, M Rattray 7, D Ord 6, C Ogboke 5, D Calder 4, R Cameron 4, K Christie 3, G Farmer 3, D Glass 3, C Robertson 3, C Collie 2, C Craik 2, K Scott 2, A Sim 1, B Smith and Opponent 1.

Happy New Year to all our Readers and Supporters

Forthcoming Fixtures

Saturday 14 January 2006 - First Round Acorn Heating Cup.      

Referee: Morag Pirie, Dyce.

Culter v Stonehaven (at Crombie Park, Culter) KO 1.45 pm - played to a finish (straight to penalties if level at 90 mins).

Saturday 21 January 2006 -Soccer World Superleague

Fraserburgh United v Culter (at College Park, Fraserburgh) Kick Off 2.15 pm.

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

Saturday 28 January 2006 - Second Round Rollstud Regional Cup

Culter v East End (at Crombie Park, Culter) KO 2.00 pm - played to a finish (straight to penalties if level at 90 mins).

Saturday 4 February 2006 - Third Round Dugout Inter Regional Cup

Culter v Wilson's XI (at Crombie Park, Culter) Kick Off 2.00 pm - played to a finish.

Committee Convenes.  A Committee Meeting of Culter Football Club will be held in Crombie Park Pavilion, Culter, on Tuesday 10 January 2006 commencing at 7.00 pm.

Local Letdown.    Our application for the use of the Peterculter Sports Centre for indoor training on either Mondays or Thursdays for the winter period from January to March 2006 has again been unsuccessful.

Striker's Short Stay.  Our prolific goalscorer Neil McRitchie left in November to spend a year travelling in Australia. Things didn't work our for Neil, however, and we were surprised when he returned home in late December after just over a month in Australia. Welcome back Neil.

John's Junior Journeys. Culter F.C. had a visit on Saturday from John Docherty, from Glasgow, who is in the process of visiting all the grounds and collecting pennants from ALL Junior Football Clubs in Scotland. His tally thus far is 169 and he has 7 to go. He will also accompanv us to the Fraserburgh game where he hopes to collect number 170.

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