Stonehaven Setback

Soccer World Super League: Culter 0 v Stonehaven 2 (at Crombie Park, Culter). Half Time: 0 - 1. Stonehaven Scorers: Foy (2 minutes) and Burnett (90 minutes)

It was a lovely spring-like day - the sun shone but unfortunately Culter failed to do likewise. Evening Express Reporter Richard Easton was there to cover the match - his headline in Friday's paper read "League favourites Culter won't stumble on Stoney ground" - but we did! In Kip's absence Gus kept up his good work as our Match Reporter.

Stonehaven went ahead in only the 2nd minute. Pirie saved Petrie's drive only for the ball to land at the feet of FOY who scored from close range. Culter replied with a Sim cross that was just missed by Craik. Then a deep Craib cross had the Stonehaven defence scrambling the ball away with Shand ready to pounce. Craib then tried his luck but his long-range effort flew high over the bar. A timely tackle by Barbour stopped Shand from closing in and from the resultant corner Smith headed past. Sim then tried his luck from 25 yards but his effort was deflected over by Clark.  In 32 minutes a dangerous Foy run ended with his cross being cleared by Sim only to fall to Petrie whose first time shot went well wide of the post.   Campbell was first in the referee's book before good play by Stewart ended with a lay off to Smith whose 20 yard shot went inches past the post. Morrison replaced the injured Cowell in 40 minutes. Petrie fed M Fyfe whose blistering shot was tipped behind for a corner by Pirie.    From the corner Petrie shot high and wide.           Half Time: 0 -1.

Culter had most of the possession in the second half but it was Stonehaven who came closest to scoring and only a great point blank save by Pirie denied Burnett from extending the away team's lead. In 65 minutes Whyte replaced Craib as Culter pressed for a goal. Burnett was then booked for a late tackle on Smith. From a corner Whyte found Stewart who went past three defenders but was crowded out and next Morrison picked out Whyte whose header found Shand in the box but again the away defence stood firm. Ord replaced Sim as Culter searched for the equaliser and from a Whyte corner Stewart just failed to connect from 6 yards out and then Stewart then saw his 10 yard drive cleared off the line_ In a rare Stonehaven attack Rattray did well to cut out a Glass cross and at the other end a great ball from Ord found Shand, his shot beat the keeper but was easily cleared by Clark. Stonehaven doubled their lead in the 90th minute. Fleming fed the ball into the path of BURNETT who drove the ball home from inside the box to make the three points safe for the away team. Campbell just headed wide in injury time for what would have been a consolation goal.

Culter: Pirie, Cowell, Rattray, Calder, Campbell, Smith, Sim, Craik, Stewart, Shand, Craib. Substitutes: Morrison, Ord, Whyte, Knox,

Stonehaven: Smith, D Fyfe, Glass, Clark, Barbour, Adam, Robertson, Taylor, Foy, Petrie, M Fyfe. Substitutes: Burnett, Carmichael, Rennie, Fleming, Cruickshank.

Referee: S McKenzie, Assistant Referees: B Spence, W Duncan.

Match Reporter: Gus Johnstone

Weekly Lottery.          Numbers Reduction: Since there were no winners again, the numbers available for selection will be reduced by one for the next draw, i.e. 1 to 17 for Lottery dated Saturday 24 February 2007.

Prize Increase:          In addition our prize goes up by £100 to £2800.

Match Day Prize Winners - Saturday 17 February 2007. Half Time Raffle - Bottle Whisky (donated by George Sorbie) - Kenny Henderson,  Westhill; Bottle Wine - Doug Grant, Culter; 6 Cans Tennent's Lager - Bob Murray, Stonehaven (All Prize Winners - Kenny, Doug and Bob are thanked for donating their prizes back for our next Match Raffle).  

After Match £20 "Choose Your Team" Competition - Alex Irvine,  Culter.

Next Week's Fixture - Soccer World Super League - Saturday 24 Februarv 2007

i Culter v Hermes (at Crombie Park, Culter)          Kick Off 2.30 pm.      Ref: G Duncan.

30 Years Ago.           On Saturday 26 February 1977 Culter beat Cove Rangers 5 - 0 at Crombie Park in an  Amateur League Division 1 game. Culter brought league leaders Cove Rangers down to earth with a splendid victory in this vital league match (Culter were second in the table).        Team Manager Alex Irvine was delighted with Culter's display. Crombie Park took a battering and ended up a sea of mud.  Our team was:-          ,

I MacDonald; D Strath, R Beattie; G Galashan (Captain), P George, G Gauld; R Smith, P Longmoor, P Robertson, G Scott, A Watt. Substitutes: R Gibson and R Buchan.

The Referee was R Esson, Ellon, and our scorers were Graham Scott (3), Ronnie Smith and Peter George.