Penalties Pleasure

ATR Group Cup 1S Round - Culter 2 Islavale 2 Culter won 4-3 on Penalties in a sudden death shoot out Scorers: Culter, Greg Whyte 7, Peter Stewart 73. `Vale George Cowie 2, Richard Shanks 8

 The Deesiders left it late to claim the tie against a stuffy `Vale side with skipper Murray Rattray scorh the all important sudden death decider after the game was level following the first five spot kicks.

The match started at a cracking pace and `Vale almost went ahead straight from the kick off but Georc, Cowie missed a glorious opportunity when he breenged the ball wide when clean through. The same play made up for his earlier gaff when he ferreted through on goal to open the scoring in the 2nd minute. Moments later Culter almost got the leveller when a Greg Whyte dig went narrowly wide. The equaliser did however come soon after when Greg Whyte got on the end of a Paul Morrison corner to head home at the back post. Barely a minute later Vale were back in front when an innocuous looking attempt by Richard Shanks somehow bounced under the diving Martin Pirie and nestled in the back of the pokie. This stung Culter in action and the recalled Chris Mountford had a decent attempt saved by Jamie Barclay in the `Vale goal, Murray Rattray then went on a surging run before letting in Peter Stewart but his try was well saved by Jamie Barclay. With a new formation in midfield due to injury Culter were finding it difficult to get any rhythm going but Gordon Farmer did manage to win a couple of corners which came to nothing as the home side huffed and puffed. With half time rapidly approaching Greg Whyte provided an excellent ball for Peter Stewart but the Drumoak Dart fired the ball wide from deep inside the area.

The early exchanges in the second period produced little in the way of entertaining football but Culter decided to make a change with top gun Martin Shand coming on for Chris Mountford but it was Dave Calder who headed wide from a great Greg Whyte throw in. The Deesiders were totally dominating the game now but were struggling to find the target until a cute Peter Stewart chip fooled Jamie Barclay but the ball drifted agonisingly over the cross bar. Culter then sent on Colin Craik and Duncan Ord for Gordon Farmer and Paul Morrison in an attempt to get back into the game and they did just that when Peter Stewart jigged into the box and produced the classiest finish imaginable with his inch perfect shot which left the 'Vale keeper, clutching at fresh air. With the referee looking at his watch and penalties looming Duncan Ord had a half chance with a header from a Peter Stewart cross but his flashing attempt hit the side netting before Peter Stewart should have put the game beyond the visitors but he shot inches wide from a Greg Whyte free kick.

Culter: Pirie, Sim, Rattray, Calder, Campbell, Craib, Morrison, Stewart, Mountford, Whyte, Farmer. Sub Craik, Shand, Ord, Knox.

Referee: P. Cheyne. Assistant Referees: W Gerrie and C Spence.

Penalty  Shoot Out Stats.

Match Day Prize Winners - Saturday 24 March 2007.     Half Time Raffle:- Bottle Whisky (donated by Frank Milne) -  Sandy McCombie, Islavale FC; Bottle Wine - Steven Henderson; 6 Cans Tennent's Lager - Ian Milroy, Milltimber.     

After Match £20 "Choose Your Team" Competition:- Gary Wood.

Forthcoming Fixtures - Soccer World Super League - Kick Offs 2.30 p.m. Saturday 31 March 2007 - Hillhead v Culter (at Hillhead of Seaton, Aberdeen).          Referee: B Braidwood.         

Saturday 7 April 2007 - Longside v Culter (at Davidson Park, Longside) - Special Bus details to be advised later.

Saturday 14 April 2007 - Culter v Formartine United (at Crombie Park, Culter)

Former Footballers Featured.         In the Green Final pages of the Evening Express on Tuesday 20 March 2007 Culter had an excellent double page spread covering the full match report of our game against Banks o' Dee by Richard Easton plus I four action photographs from the game followed by photos/after match comments of the Team Managers.            In addition three former Culter FC players were featured in different articles - Manager Kevin Thomson leaving Parkvale, Donny Adam moving from Ellon United to Sunnybank and Derek Craigie scoring two goals for Sunnybank then missing a penalty in injury  time in their 5 - 1 win over Longside.     The Culter FC game was also prominently featured in this week's Deeside Piper with Kip's Match Report enhanced with four fine match photos.         i

"Scottish" Sponsors.            It has been announced that the new Sponsors of the Scottish Junior Cup will be the express coach company Scottish Citylink and the Cup will be the "Citylink Scottish Cup".

Cup Competition. The 1/4  Final draw of the ATR Group Cup has resulted: Culter v Formartine Utd (at Crombie Park)  

Moll's Milestone.        Congratulations go to Moll Hunter on the occasion of her 100th Birthday on Wednesday 21 March 2007.        There are 3 survivors of the well known Culter family, the Williams, - Moll, Agnes (92) and Bob (87). Moll's daughter reported in the Press that Moll was a lifelong fan of Culter Football Club.         Moll's late husband Jim was a star Culter player of his era in and around 1933 and later became Culter FC's Secretary.           Bob was a highly rated Culter FC scorer whilst    Agnes's late husband Norman Davidson was a resolute defender.     Moll was pictured and featured in The Press & Journal, Evening Express and Deeside Piper on Friday 23 March 2007.