Hermes Humped

Soccer World Super League Culter 4 Hermes 1 H-T 2-0 Scorers: Culter Stewart 24, Campbell 34, Shand 55, 71. Hermes: Massie 57

Culter got their title aspirations back on track with a comprehensive yet strangely nervous win over Hermes at a wet and miserable Crombie Park.

The visitors started brightly and Andy Campbell was relieved to send the ball out for a throw in with Edmond lurking before Martin Shand had the first real opportunity of the game when he brought out a good save from Sweeney in the Hermes goal. Duncan Ord then fed Dave Calder but Sweeney was on hand to thwart the danger. Culter were pushing at every opportunity and Paul Morrison was unlucky to see his shot hit the side netting from a clever Bruce Smith pass. Hermes gradually came back into it and Martin Pirie had to react swiftly to a McKribben deep cross but it was the Deesiders who took the lead when Andy Sim meandered down the right before releasing Peter Stewart who rounded the keeper before coolly slotting home. With half an hour gone Murray Rattray headed wide from a Stewart corner as Culter looked for a killer second and it came a few minutes later when a Stewart corner was neatly flicked on by Ord to Andy Campbell who buried the ball from close range. Culter spurned a couple of decent chances before the break when first Sim shot straight at the keeper from decent position and Ord miskicked when through on goal.

Hermes came out in determined fashion and struck the post in the opening attack but Culter looked to be on easy street with 10 minutes of the half gone when Ord set up Martin Shand who delightedly stuck the ball home from inside the area. Just a couple of minutes later Hermes looked to be back in it when the impressive Neil Massie stepped inside and curled a beauty past the despairing Pirie from fully 30 yards. Hermes then sent on Yeats and Christie for Courage and G. Campbell as they pushed for a second that would bring them back into the game. That crucial goal almost came courtesy of Edmond soon after when he headed narrowly wide with the Culter defence looking at themselves. The game was over as a contest when a delightful Ord pass was rammed into the back of the net by Martin Shand midway through the second period. Morrison then went sallying down the right before setting up Shand but his powerful header rebounded off the post and away to safety. Culter then sent on a gaggle of subs including the prodigal Neil McRitchie but it was Greg Whyte who almost added a fifth with a cute lob which brought out a remarkable save from Sweeney.

Culter: Pirie, Sim, Rattray, Smith, Campbell, Calder, Morrison, Ord, Shand, Christie, Stewart. Subs: Craib, Whyte, Craik, Farmer, McRitchie.

Hermes: Sweeney, Massie, McKribben, Campbell, Freeland, Dawson, Courage, Smith, Edmond, Djahansous, Stott.

Subs: Innes, Yeats, Christie, Gilles, Chalmers.

Referee: G. Duncan. Assistant Referees: R Inkster and J Gover.

 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 16 for Lottery dated Saturday 3 March 2007.

Prize Increase:          In addition our prize goes up by £100 to £2900.

Match Day Prize Winners - Saturday 24 February 2007.           Half Time Raffle - Bottle Whisky (donated by ' George Sorbie) -Chris Collie, Portlethen (Chris is thanked for donating his prize back for our next Match Raffle); Bottle Wine - Mike Mackay, Kingswells; 6 Cans Tennent's Lager - Ticket Number 59 unclaimed. ; After Match £20 "Choose Your Team" Competition - Ian Laird,  Culter.

Next Week's Fixture - Soccer World Super League - Saturday 3 March 2007

Formartine United v Culter (at North Lodge Park, Pitmedden)   Kick Off 2.30 pm.

Committee Convenes.         A Committee Meeting of Culter Football Club will be held in Crombie Park Pavilion, Culter, on Tuesday 6 March 2007 commencing at 7.00 p.m.

Scoring Statistics.     In 32 games played Culter have won 19 games, drawn seven and lost six, scoring 84 and conceding 36 goals in the process. Scorers are_ Shand 18, Stewart 12, McRitchie 9, Rattray 9, Calder 6, Mountford 6, Campbell 5, Farmer 5, Christie 3, Morrison 3, Ord 3, Craib 2, Craik 1, Sim 1 and Opponent 1.