Parkvale Perfect Start             Cruden Bay Crushed

Tuesday 21St August, Rainbow International Super League Parkvale 2 Culter 4 H-T 1-4 Scorers: Parkvale: Ally McLeod 43, Jim Christie, 47. Culter: Murray Rattray 10, Peter Stewart 20, 37. Gordon Farmer 31 Saturday 25th August. Grill League Cup Section D Culter 8 Cruden Bay 0 H-T 2-0 Scorers: Chris Mountford 12, 71, 74. John Brown (pen) 19. Martin Shand 48, 64, 68. Bruce Smith 63.

Tuesday 21st August 2007

Culter started the defence of their Super League title with what should have been a convincing win against Parkvale a Findon. With Martin Pirie away on business Scott Knox deputised between the sticks. The Deesiders wer(emagnificent in the first half but lost their way in the second period, however still ended up as comfortable winners. The writing looked on the wall for `Vale in the opening minutes as Culter pummelled the beleaguered home rearguard witf `keeper Dave Butler stretched several times. The opener came in just 10 minutes when a John Brown corner was beautifully controlled on his chest by Murray Rattray who then rammed the ball home from close range. Moments later last week's hero Chris Mountford had a golden opportunity to double the score but his effort was blocked by Mike Fraser. 'Vale were finding it difficult to get going and suffered a further setback when Peter Stewart latched on to a Murray Rattray cross and buried the ball behind the `keeper. Andy Campbell then tried to get in on the act with distinguished chip but Dave Butler recovered tc make a fine save. With half an hour gone `Vale looked as if they were going to capitulate when Murray Rattray found Petei Stewart and the Drumoak Dart chipped a beautiful shot over the keeper only for it to rebound off the post but Gordon Farmer was on hand to slot the rebound home. Not soon after Gordon Farmer provide the ammunition for Peter Stewart and the speedy attacker made no mistake to put Culter four ahead. Just before half time `Vale got one back when Scott Craig sent in a speculative cross but Ally McLeod sent in a fantastic header which easily beat Scott Knox.

The second half was barely a minute and a half old when Jim Christie went on a run from the half way line and the Culter defence parted like the Red Sea and the burly attacker slid the ball past Scott Knox to bring the homesters back into the game. Both teams made changes in the second half as the play stuttered and stotted and Martin Shand, who can't buy a goal at the moment, should have put Culter back on easy street but he contrived to shoot straight at the `keeper when clean through. Both teams huffed and puffed to bring more goals but the score remained at 2-4.

Parkvale: Butler, Walton, Rezin, Fuller, Fraser, Craig, J Smith, J Stewart, McLeod, Birnie. Subs: Mclntosh, M Stewart, Watt, McCauslin.

Culter: Knox, Cowell, Rattray, Craib, Campbell, Craik, Brown, P. Stewart, Mountford, 8. Smith, Farmer. Subs: Cadger, Shand, McCall, Robertson, Thow.           Referee: D. Watt

Saturday 25th August 2007

Culter cruised unto the quarter finals of the Grill League Cup with an emphatic victory over a bemused Cruden Bay. The visitors were on the back foot from the start and the home side took only 12 minutes to get the opener when a Gordon Farmer cross was swept home by Chris Mountford. A few minutes later debutant Adam Wilson contrived to head wide as Bay began to wilt. With 16 minutes gone a flowing move involving Bruce Smith and Martin Shand saw Chris Mountford shool centimetres wide. The second was not long in coming when Alex Bruce felled Chris Mountford in the box and John Brown stepped up to send the perfect spot kick past Greg Simpson. The Deesiders kept piling on the pressure but missed a series o1 marvellous opportunities to put the game beyond Bay.

At the start of the second period a John Brown flighted ball found Martin Shand who opened his tally for the season. It was getting embarrassing for Bay who had yet to get a strike on target and they went further behind when John Brown let in Bruce Smith who finished clinically. Soon after Kevin Christie came on for Bruce Smith and the sub almost got his name on the score sheet with a beezer of a shot which flew just wide. Culter went nap a while later when a superb Chris Mountford ball was picked up by Martin Shand who buried the ball behind the hapless Bay custodian. The half dozen came along minutes later when Phil McCall picked out Martin Shand for his hat trick. Culter couldn't stop scoring and this time it came when Murray Rattray, wicked left foot shot breenged off Chris Mountford and into the net. Late in the half Phil McCall sent in a great ball foi Chris Mountford who also claimed a hat trick.

Culter: Knox, Cowell, Rattray, Wilson, Campbell, Craik, Brown, Shand, Mountford, Smith, Farmer. Subs: McCall, Robertson Christie, Thow.

Cruden Bay: Simpson, Bruce, J. Duff, L. Raper, Gall, C. Duff, Irvine, M. Raper, Cruickshank, Lennox, Craig. Subs: Pirie, Elrick Hamilton, Ogilvie.          Referee: K Henderson.

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 20 for lottery dated 1 September 2007. Prize Increase - In addition our prize goes up by £100 to £2500.

Match Day Prize Winners - Saturday 25 August 2007.    Half Time Raffle: Bottle Whisky - David Cossar, Culter; Bottle Wine - Dave Thomson, Milltimber (Dave is thanked for donating his prize back to Culter FC for our next Match Raffle); 6 Cans Tennent's Lager - Ally Gray, Banchory. After Match £20 "Choose Your Team" Competition: Grant Horne,  Culter.

Next Week's Fixture - Rainbow International Super League

Saturday 1 Sept 2007 - Culter v Turriff United (at Crombie Park, Culter) Kick Off 2.30 pm. Ref: M McNab Match Sponsor: Gordon Nicoll, Dutch Mill Hotel, 7 Queen's Road, Aberdeen.

Scoring Statistics.     In 8 games played Culter have won 6, drawn 1 and lost 1, scoring 27 goals and conceding 6 in the process. Scorers: Chris Mountford 8, Murray Rattray 6, Martin Shand 3, John Brown 2, Gordon Farmer 2, Peter Stewart 2, Graham Cadger 1, Phil McCall 1, Bruce Smith 1 and Opponent 1.

Committee Convenes. A Committee Meeting of Culter Football Club will be held in Crombie Park Pavilion on Tuesday 4 September 2007 commencing at 7.00 p.m.

Playing Pool. We welcome back former player Donny Adam and his fellow Sunnybank team-mate Adam Wilson to strengthen our playing pool.        Adam made his impr~ssive debut yesterday whilst Donny was side-lined due to injury.