Culter Look Bankers

Soccer World Superleague - Sunnybank 1 Culter 2 H-T 0-0 Scorers: Sunnybank, McGuigan 89. Culter, McRitchie 58, Ord 87

Culter continue to lead the pack at the top of the Super League with a deserved yet hard fought win away to Sunnybank at Heathryfold. The Champions had to wait until well into the second period before getting on the score sheet and had to survive a later scare when the home side scored in the dying seconds but the Deesiders held firm to record a most important victory.

Culter started impressively enough when Craik skipped free but his cross to McRitchie was headed away. At the other end Crombie got away a weak shot which Pirie dealt with easily. At this stage things were pretty even until McRitchie fed Sim on the right but his cross was well handled by Mclntosh in the `Bank charge. Culter were dealt a 'blow in the 15<sup>th</sup> minute when Craik had to be helped from the field with a bad ankle injury and he was replaced by Farmer. Three minutes later the `Bank goal had a narrow escape when a Morrison cross went pinging about the goal mouth before being howked clear by Garioch. Culter were beginning  to take charge without really threatening until Sim sent McRitchie waddling free and he controlled the ball before letting in Shand who was only denied by a great tackle from Pirie. The action was confined to the middle of the park for the rest of the period in what looked to be a tactical battle.

At the start of the second period `Bank pushed Culter back deep into their own terrain but they gradually came out of their Buckie and it wasn't long before a rasper from Smith flew just over the `Bank bar with Mclntosh flailing at the cold air. Culter took the lead in dramatic fashion when Sim looked to have been cornered wide on the right but he somehow got in a cross and McRitchie showed real predatory instinct by rifling the ball home from deep inside the enemy area. Soon after the visitors pushed on Ord and Ogboke at the expense of Sim and McRitchie as they held onto their slenderest of leads and it was Ogboke who helped Culter double their advantage when he collected a Morrison pass before pushing the ball wide to Farmer who in turn delivered a perfect pass for the incoming Ord who thumped the ball home from close range with obvious glee. Bank got a late consolation with a few minutes remaining when McGuigan scored from the edge of the area to set a nervy finish for the champs but the experienced defence held firm.

Culter: Pirie, Sim, Rattray, Thain, Scott, Smith, Morrison, Shand, MCRitchie, Craik, Calder. Subs:' Ogboke, Presslie, Farmer, Glass, Ord

 Results From Saturday 15th April SuperLeague

Sunnybank 1 Culter 2

Glentanar 2 FC Stoneywood 1

Hermes 1 Ellon 0 S

tonehaven 2 Wilson's X1 4

Culter's Remaining League Games (7 to play) Formartine Away, Turriff Home, Parkvale Home, Wilson's XI Away, Banks O'Dee Away, Fraserburgh United Home, F.C Stoneywood Home

Next Week's Fixture - Saturday 22 April 2006 - Soccer World Superleague

Culter v Parkvale (at Crombie Park, Culter) Kick Off 2.30 pm.

Forthcoming Fixture - Monday 24 April 2006 - Soccer World Superleague

Wilson's XI v Culter (at Keith Park, Aberdeen) Kick Off 7.00 pm.

Cup Competition  The draw for the Semi Finals of the Acorn Heating Cup is updated as follows:­Culter v Formartine United (at Crombie Park, Culter)

Turriff United v Parkvale (at The Haughs, Turriff)

Scoring Statistics.         In 36 games played Culter have won 28, drawn none and lost 8 games, scoring 104 and conceding 44 goals in the process. Scorers are: - M Shand 22, C Ogboke 13, N McRitchie 12, P Stewart 10, M Rattray 9, D Ord 7. D Calder 4, R Cameron 4, K Christie 3, C Craik 3, G Farmer 3, D Glass 3, C Robertson 3, K Scott 3, C Collie 2, A Sim 1, B Smith 1 and Opponent 1.

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