Lads Licked & Broch Blasted

Wednesday 1 St August Grill League Cup Section D. Culter 2 Lads Club 0 H-T 0-0 Saturday 4th August Grill League Cup Section D. Fraserburgh United 0 Culter 5 H-T 0-2

Culter came out on top in the season's opener with a hard fought win against a young Lads Club sid; Culter gave competitive debuts to recent signings John Brown and Graham Cadger who came on as second half sub. The Crombie Park surface was a testimony to the hard work that Groundsmen Geordi Aitken and Gordon Laing have put in during the close season.

Lads club came out of the traps a bit sharper than the home side with Leslie having a couple of good chance before Culter could get settled. A few minutes later Reid had another great chance but he blasted wide from good position. With 20 minutes on the clock Culter got their first chance when Peter Stewart crossed for Martin Shand whose header was well saved by Barclay, the Lads custodian. Culter were now beginning to get their act together but Steve Rintoul blasted well over from the edge of the area. The best chance of the game came just before half time Peter Stewart crossed for Gordon Farmer who headed down to Martin Shand but his effort was blocked by; lunging Walker.

With the second period barely 5 minutes old Culter got their noses in front when Martin Shand was howked down in the area and John Brown stepped up to lash the ball behind keeper Barclay for the perfect penalty. For much o the second half the play was confined to midfield but Culter looked the most likely to add to their tally and the second did eventually come from a John Brown corner and captain courageous Murray Rattray rose like i phoenix to thump a header into the back of the net. Lads did mount a late flurry which forced Martin Pirie into ~ decent save but he was delighted to keep a clean sheet.

Culter: Pirie, Cowell, Rattray, Craik, Campbell, Craib, Brown, Rintoul, Stewart, Shand, Farmer. Subs: z.adyGi, Sin, McCali, MvurItFurd, Smith.

` Referee: M. Kerrigan

Culter had a whale of a time at Fraserburgh on Saturday the 0 August when they went nap against , hapless Broch side. New recruits Graham Cadger and Phil McCall both managed to get their names on the score sheet.

The Deesiders had all the early pressure with Gordon Farmer prominent on the left and the winger had a stinging shot flash wide. With 10 minutes on the clock Graham Cadger had a great header acrobatically saved by Callum McRobb in the Broch goal. The Culter loons went one up in the 15th minute when Steve Rintoul went on a mazy run before picking out Gordon Farmer who helped the ball on to Graham Cadger who gleefully knocked the ball home. A few minutes later John Brown picked up Martin Shand from a free kick and his blistering attempt crashed off the bar but skipper Murray Rattray was on hand to fire the ball into the pokie. The bar came to the rescue for the beleaguered Brochers soon after and this time it was Peter Stewart who rattled the woodwork when it looke4 easier to score. Towards the end of the first period Gordon Farmer went on a typically meandering run before setting up Martin Shand but the Portlethen Poacher miscued and the ball slipped wide.

At the beginning of the second half United had a strong claim for a penalty turned down but Culter raced to the other end and Gordon Farmer produced an exquisite chip to put the Deesiders on easy street. Not long after Murray Rattray got his second when he chested down a Gordon Farmer corner and thrashed the ball home wit! his right foot, although keeper Martin Pirie thought it might have been an own goal. Both teams then engaged a series of subs and it was Culter sub Phil McCall who produced number five with a wonderful near post take from, Steve Rintoul corner.

Culter: Pirie, Sim, Rattray, Cowell, Rintoul, Craik, Stewart, Brown, Cadger, Shand, Farmer. Subs: Mountford, Robertson, Smith, McCall, Knox.

Referee: S. McKenzie

Bulletin Produced by Albert J. Moir Tel. 01224 732006 Match Reporter Ian "Kip" McKenzie

Crombie Park Culter Pavilion Telephone 735727 Match Ball Sponsor Season 2006107 Aberdein Considine 8 Cory MacKay, 69 Kirk Brae, Cults 2) Alice Hay, 53 Malcolm Road, Culter 3) Angus Morrison, 111 North Deeside Road, Culter

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 23 for lottery dated 11 August 2007.

Prize Increase - In addition our prize goes up by £100 to £2200.

Match Evening Prize Winners - Wednesday 1 August 2007.      Bottle Whisky (donated by Steven Davidson, Culter) - Peter Hines,  Culter; Bottle Wine - Gordon Kerr; 6 Cans Tennent's Lager - Eric Leslie.

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

Next Week's Fixtures - Grill League Cup Section D

Tuesday 7 August 2007 - Culter v East End (at Crombie Park, Culter) KO 7.15 pm. Referee: G Beaton.

Sat 11 Aug 2007 - Formartine Utd v Culter (at North Lodge Park Pitmedden) KO 2.30 pm. Ref: G Duncan.

Scoring Statistics.     In the opening two games Culter have won both matches scoring 7 goals and conceding none in the process.      Scorers: Murray Rattray 3, John Brown 1, Graham Cadger 1, Phil McCall 1 and Gordon Farmer 1.      Three of our new players already on the target and Captain Murray Rattray leading the way!