Vale Vanquished

Soccer World Super League Culter 5 Islavale 1 H-T 3-0

Scorers: Culter. Martin Shand 14, 24. Peter Stewart 44. Duncan Ord 63. Paul Morrison 85 Islavale. Willie Cruickshank 89.

Culter maintained their fine run of form and completely destroyed their Keith opponents and now Deesiders are just one point behind leaders Sunnybank with two games in hand. Depending on results the reigning champions could take the title for a fourth consecutive time if they beat strugglers Glentanar at Crombie on Friday and Sunnybank fail to win against Banks O'Dee in their final league game.

Culter started off with a bang with Gordon Farmer thrashing in a whipping cross which Chris Mountford steered over with his head. Mountford then had a decent opportunity moments later but he bleezed the ball wide of the post. Against the run of play `Vale had a corner which Colin Craik met and pushed away to Farmer but the Huntly Harrier could not get behind the visitors' defence. With just 14 minutes gone Culter went in front in exuberant style when Martin Shand turned in the box scythed a drive past the despairing Neil Nicol and into the back of the bag. It was all Culter now but in a rare break away Rick Shanks tried his luck but the ball stotted wide. The Champs were breaking forward at every opportunity with in particular the tenacious Andy Sim involved in the action down the right and it was the dinky defender who went on a sparkling run before setting up Shand who blasted the ball home from close range as `Vale began to wilt. Peter Stewart then set up Craik but on this occasion Nicol pulled off a save of the highest calibre. With half time approaching Culter began to showboat with Stewart in particular tormenting the beleaguered `Vale rearguard. It was no surprise that Culter went in at half time three up and this time Stewart did the damage with a fine attempt from a Farmer corner.

Duncan Ord replaced Shand at the start of the second period and Chris Hardie came on for `Vale but it was Mountford who nearly increased the lead when his cute lob almost beat Nicol in the visitors' goal. With 63 minutes on the clock Culter added to their tally when a rasper from Mountford was blocked by Bruce Milne but Ord was on hand to follow up and steer the ball over the line. Moments later Mountford was replaced by Paul Morrison as Culter tried to conserve some players for the crucial run in but once again it was Stewart who was a thorn in the `Vale side as he set up Farmer but on this occasion his parting shot flashed wide. Culter then sent on Steve Rintoul for captain Murray Rattray but it was `Vale who got a chance when Ian Jaffrey found himself in decent position but he shot wide. The Deesiders went nap in the 85th minute when Stewart created a good opening for Morrison and the sub pinged a super strike into the back of the net from the edge of the area. In the dying moments 'Vale got a consolation when Willie Cruickshank sent in a speculative shot which deceived the underworked Pirie and ended up over the line.

Exciting stuff from a flying Culter side.

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

Islavale: Nicol, MacKay, Green, Mathieson, Milne, Lyon, Cruickshank, Shanks, Shand, Jaffrey, Clark. Subs: Davidson, Hardie, Alan McPherson, Arron McPherson.

Referee: K Milne. Assistant Referees: K Henderson and J Wiseman.

Match Sponsors: International Tubular Services

Match Day Prize Winners -Saturday 21 April 2007.         Half Time Raffle:- Bottle Whisky (donated by Steven Davidson, Culter) - Ally Reid;     Bottle Wine - Robin Mennie; 6 Cans Tennent's Lager - Graham Gammack, "The Whim", Main Road, Lumphanan (who is thanked for donating them for our next Match Raffle).           After Match £20 "Choose Your Team" Competition Winner-Allan Stewart,  Culter.

Forthcoming Final Fixtures

Cup Competition - Semi Final ATR Group Cup

Saturday 12 May 2007 - Sunnybank v Culter.        Kick Off 2.15 p.m. - played to a finish - straight to penalties if level at 90 minutes. Date for the Final is Friday 25 May 2007.

Soccer World Super League

Friday 4 May 2007 - Culter v Glentanar (at Crombie Park, Culter). Referee: B Braidwood. Kick Off 7.15 p.m. Tuesday 8 May 2007 - Formartine United v Culter (at North Lodge Park, Pitmedden).           Kick Off 7.15 p.m. Saturday 19 May 2007 - Turriff United v Culter (at The Haughs, Turriff).            Kick Off 2.30 p.m.

Committee Convenes.         A Meeting of Culter Football Club will be held on Tuesday 1 May 2007 in Crombie Park Pavilion, Culter, commencing at 7.00 p.m. This Meeting had been due to take place on Tuesday 8 May 2007 but in view of our Evening Fixture against Formartine United that night it has been brought forward by one week.

Scoring Statistics.     In 40 games played Culter have won 26 games, drawn seven and lost seven, scoring 106 and conceding 43 goals in the process. Scorers are: Shand 26, Stewart 14, Rattray 11, Mountford 10, McRitchie 9, Calder 6, Campbell 6, Farmer 5, Morrison 4, Christie 3, Craib 3, Ord 3, Craik 2, Opponents 2, Sim 1 and Smith 1

Draw Date.    Our next Lottery Draw will take place on Saturday 5 May 2007 in Culter Mills Social Club at 4.00 p.m.