Culter's Super Troopers & Penalty  Pain

Soccer World Super League: Formartine United 0 Culter 1 H-T 0-0 Scorer: Chris Mountford 63 ATR Group Cup Semi Final: Sunnybank 1 Culter 1 H-T 0-0 (Sunnybank won 4-3 on penalties) Scores: Sunnybank; Steve Rintoul 55 (o.g.) Culter: Kevin Christie 72

Culter clinched their fourth successive Super League Title on the trot with a narrow  victory, over Formartine United at North Lodge Park on Tuesday 8th May. The victory sees the Deesiders leapfrog rivals Sunnybank with one league game remaining whilst the Aberdonians hav completed their programme. Manager Bobby Gray was delighted with the outcome of the league programme in a season that has seen hi squad decimated by injuries and retirements.

The game started at a whirlwind pace with both teams determined to put up a good show in front of the large crowd and it was Peter Stewart of the visitors who set up Martin Shand in the second minute but Dave Christie pulled off a good save to deny Culter's top marksman. A few minutes late Shand was through on goal from a delicate Andy Sim pass but he was adjudged to have strayed offside. At the other end Matt McLeod tested Marti Pirie in the Culter goal but he saved comfortably before a super cross by Andy Sim just eluded the onrushing Gordon Farmer. United were the awarded a free kick which Murray Rattray headed out of the danger area but only as far as McLeod but his long range effort flew high and mighty Stewart then sprung free but only a desperate tackle from Steve Jaffrey denied the Drumoak Dart. In a game of high endeavour Culter seemed to bi edging it and were unlucky not to go in front when a Farmer corner was head flicked towards the target by Stewart but the ball skyted wide. Stewart then provided the ammunition for Andy Campbell but Christie held his diving header. Former Culter favourite, Roddy Cameron tried to get his name on the score sheet with a decent header but Danny Craib was on hand to steer the ball away to safety. Culter then went on a period of sustained pressure with Farmer prominent but every time he broke free his crosses failed to find a colleague. Near the end of the first half United came back into it but the Culter rearguard dealt with each move with little effort.

Culter came racing out of the blocks in the second half and gained a puckle of corners in quick succession and from one of them Kevin Christie had a blistering effort blocked as it whistled towards the net. Christie then set up Farmer and his dangerous cross was howked behind for a corner b, Jaffrey as Culter turned the screw. Colin Craik, who was controlling the middle of the park, then produced a great win before attempting to set Farmer free but the ball ran out of play down the slope. Stewart then set up Shand but his shot was saved by the increasingly busy Christie in the United goal Stewart then tried his luck with a curling chip but the ball drifted well over before Shand went one on one with the goalie who saved bravely at the striker's feet. In a rare break Mike Beattie broke free for United and his parting shot screamed just over. The vital goal came in the 18th minute of the half when Craik fed Shand who set up Stewart who in turn squared to Chris Mountford and the in form hit man made no mistake with a clinical strike from deep inside the area. Almost immediately Dave Calder came on for Stewart but it was Pirie who kept the visitors' noses in front when he saved ~ good Ross Forsyth effort with his foot. A few minutes later Scott Taylor tried a long ranger but Pirie wasn't troubled. Cutter almost doubled their advantage soon after when a Farmer cross was met by Mountford but his classy effort  effort cannoned off the face of the bar and behind for a goal kick Culter continued to push at every opportunity as United looked like a spent force and the Deesiders brought on Steve Rintoul for Shand and it was the sub who set up Rattray but his powerful header went agonisingly wide of the target. !n the dying minutes Duncan Ord came on for Mountford to slow down the game but the final whistle blew and Culter were once again the Champions.

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

Culter were dumped out of the ATR Group Cup Semi Final in a dramatic penalty shoot out after the sides drew 1-1 after 90 minutes. Th4 match itself was littered with stoppages but the penalty decider itself was wrapped up in controversy when Martin Pirie saved Stew Campbell's effort but the kick was ordered to be retaken and the sub blasted his second attempt over the bar. The ironic part of it was that Andy Campbell, brother of Steve, struck the bar with his attempt to send 'Bank into the final.

Culter came out with all guns blazing and should have gone ahead in the  7th minute when a Gordon Farmer cross was met by Murray Rattray but when it perhaps looked easier to score he hit the face of the bar and the ball rebounded to safety. Peter Stewart then caused a little consternation in the home defence when he sent in a vicious grounder which Andy Mclntosh did well to save low down. With 20 minutes gone Steve Watson of 'Bank was badly injured and had to be replaced by former Culter stalwart Donny Adam but it was another former Culter man, Derek Craigie who got the home side's first shot on target but Martin Pirie saved easily. The normally reliable Dave Calder gave the ball away on the half way line and Dave Greig sped forward before releasing a powerful shot which whistled just over. As half time approached `Bank gradually got themselves back into the game but exhibited little in the way of penetration but there was a flurry of bookings as play became bogged down in the middle of the park.

Cutter pushed from the off and a fierce Kevin Christie shot was bravely blocked by Martin Cooper but Chris Mountford was on hand to follow up by Mclntosh did well to save. With ten minutes of the second half played 'Bank were reduced to ten men when Keith Crombie was shown a second yellow for deliberate hand ball in the middle of the park. This did not seem to phase 'Bank and they went ahead in bizarre fashion when a seeming innocuous free kick was pushed out by Pirie onto the shin of Steve Rintoul and the ball bounced over the line to open the scoring. The reverse galvanised Culter into action and for long periods the home side were pinned back in their own half and Culter had strong claims for a penalty turned down when a Calder cross appeared to be handled in the area by a 'Bank defender. Moments later Andy Sim stung the hands of Mclntosh as Culter piled on the pressure before Rattray sent in a telling ball, which Stewart headed wide with the goal at his mercy. The same player made amends soon after when he produced a great free kick and Kevin Christie rose above the towering 'Bank defence to knock a great header past Mclntosh and into the back of the net. 'Bank then came out of their Buckie for a short spell and had a couple of chances but Fraser spumed the best of these when h headed wide from good position before subs Duncan Ord and Martin Shand combined to set up the latter but he blasted wide when clean through on goal. Then came the lottery of penalties with Fraser, Adam, Greig and Craigie finding the target for the home side and Calder, Rintoul and Ord doing the business for Culter

Sunnybank: Mclntosh, Thomson, Wilson, Cooper, Watson, Crombie, Greig, McAllister, Craigie, C. Steel, Fraser. Subs: Adam, Campbell, W. Steel Henry, Pirie.

Culter: Pirie, Sim, Rattray, Calder, Campbell, Craik, Rintoul, Stewart, Mountford, Christie, Farmer, Subs: Shand, Ord, Knox, Craib, Cowell Referee: S. McKenzie.            Assistant Referees: B Spence and C Veitch.

Forthcoming Final Fixture- Soccer World Super League

Saturday 19 May 2007 - Turriff United v Culter (at The Haughs, Turriff).            Kick Off 2.30 p.m.     Our Special Bus will depart from Crombie Park Pavilion, Culter at 11.45 a.m. and collect the Aberdeen contingent at The Seafield Club, Seafield Road, Aberdeen at 12 noon.   The bus will depart from Turriff at approximately 5.30 p.m. for the return journey to Culter via Aberdeen.  Fares to be £3 for Adults and £1.50 for Senior Citizens/Children.

Scoring Statistics.     In 43 games played Culter have won 28 games, drawn seven and lost eight, scoring 111 and conceding 44 goals in the process. Scorers are: Shand 26, Stewart 15, Mountford 12, Rattray 11, McRitchie 9, Calder 6, Campbell 6, Christie 5, Farmer 5, Morrison 4, Craib 3, Ord 3, Craik 2, Opponents 2, Sim 1 and Smith 1.

Last Lottery.   The last draw prior to the close season break will be Tickets dated Saturday 26 May 2007. The Lottery will resume at the start of next season.           This draw will be held in Culter Mills Social Club at 1.00 p.m. with the early time due to the Culter Gala taking place that day.

Radical Revamp.      It was announced last October that the biggest ever revamp of the Scottish Cup would see the winners of the North Region Super League gain automatic entry.  The change, understood to be "99% certain", has to be ratified at the SFA annual general meeting in June 2007.    The new road to Hampden will consist of 36 clubs in round one - Highland League, Qualifying Cup South and four Junior Clubs, namely the winners of the North/West/East Super Leagues and Scottish Junior Cup. This is a big bonus for Culter FC for next season.