Hawick Hammered

Royals' Albliterated in Culter's 1st Ever Scottish Cup Tie Scottish Cup 1St Round Culter 7 Hawick Royal Albert 0 H-T 4-0 Scorers: Alan Campbell (o.g.) 7, Chris Mountford 25, 32, 67. Peter Stewart 27, Martin Shand 82, 84.

Culter were in seventh heaven for their FIRST ever Scottish Football Association Cup tie. The Borderers had no answer to the Deesiders barrage of fire power as Culter dominated from start to finish and indeed had the luxury of missing a penalty late in the game. A huge crow( at Crombie Park was augmented by a posse of hacks from local and national press and even Sky Sports had a camera at the game sited on the roof of our shelter.

The home side came out a band of Whirling Dervishes with Chris Mountford blootering past the post in the 1St minute. Peter Stewart, who was in beguiling form all afternoon, then set up John Brown bu his cross went behind for a corner and from the resultant flag kick by Gordon Farmer Captain Cool Murray Rattray headed behind as Hawick rocked. Moments later Gordon Farmer went on a searing run but Chris Mountford headed wide from deep inside box. In the seventh minute Chris Mountford was not to be denied when his blistering shot from a Peter Stewart pass was turned into his own net by Alan Campbell. With Donny Adam and Steve Rintoul dominating the middle of the excellently manicured playing surface the visitors were beginning to reel and should have gone further behind it the 12th minute when Peter Stewart bamboozled the Hawick rearguard before setting up Gordon Farmer but the Huntly Harrier contrived to miss an absolute sitter. Hawick then had a half chance from Luke Cooper cross but Steve Noble's header was crap. With 25 minutes on the clock the Hawick defence was spilt open by a wonderful Gordon Farmer ball which saw John Brown in acre: of space and he delivered the perfect ball for Chris Mountford to tap in from close range. With th( visitors stunned they went further behind when Steve Rintoul picked out Peter Stewart and the Drumoak Dart sped away from his marker before sending the partisan crowd wild with an absolute brammer of a chip from well outside the area which sailed over keeper Scott Dowie and into the pokie. It was all over bar the shouting a few minutes later when Chris Mountford went on a solo run and his clinical strike flew past the hapless `keeper and into the net. Culter continued to dominate but could not add to their tally at half time.

With the second period barely moments old Chris Mountford almost got his trick but a fantastic double save denied him. Peter Stewart was next to try his luck and this time it was the woodwork that came to the rescue before Culter sent on Graham Gadger for John Brown. The nap hand came a few minutes later when Andy Campbell set up Chris Mountford and this time the young hitman made no mistake to put Culter on easy street. Culter then took the fit aff the pedal for a while but Chris Mountford was replaced by Martin Shand and this seemed to put new vim into the home side and it was Martin Shand who got number six from a great Gordon Farmer ball. Martin Sham added his second a few minutes later as Hawick capitulated and he should have got his own he trick but he tickled the ball wide from the penalty spot. Great Day, Great Result. Bring on Round Two.     Phone calls and e-mails of congratulations came flooding in.

Culter: Pirie, Cowell, Rattray, Wilson, Campbell, Adam, Brown, Stewart, Mountford, Rintoul, Farmer. Substitutes: Cadger, Shand, Sim, McCall, Riches.

Hawick: Dowie, Hogg, Campbell, Turnbull, M. Cooper, Noble, Inglis, S. Clark, Stavert, Shiel, L. Cooper 'Substitutes: Adams, M. Clark, Fiddes, Fry, Walker.

Referee: A Mather.   Assistant Referees: D Forbes and C Spence.

Match Day Prize Winners - Saturday 29 September 2007.         Half Time Raffle:- Bottle Whisky (donated by Gordon Laing, Culter) - unclaimed; Bottle Whisky - Gerry McCormack, Culter; Bottle Wine - [an Alexander, Culter Bowling Club; Bottle Wine - Mr Minty, Culter; 6 Cans Tennent's Lager - Bobby Thomson, c/o Seafield Club, Aberdeen; 6 Cans Tennent's Lager - Charlie Reynolds, c/o Seafield Club, Aberdeen (Gerry, Ian, Bobby and Charlie are all thanked for donating their prizes back for our next Match Raffle.

 After Match £20 "Choose Your Team" Competitions - Heather Ironside, Culter and Bob, Hawick Royal Albert FC.

Next Week's Fixture -Saturday 6 October 2007 - Scottish Junior Cup - First Round Culter v Vale of Leven (at Crombie Park, Culter).         Kick Off 3:00 p.m.

Vale of Leven have a long and proud history.    The club won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1953 and won the "Evening Times" League Championship in 1947 and 1970.  The old senior club Vale of Leven team won the Scottish Cup three times.  The current squad play in the Stagecoach Central District Second Division.

Committee Convenes. A Committee Meeting of the Culter Football Club will be held on Tuesday 2 October 2007 in , Crombie Park Pavilion commencing at 7.00 p.m.

September Sadness.     Yet more September sadness came with the news that May Stuart had passed away on Tuesday.  May was the daughter of the legendary Culter FC character Peter J Stuart.  May's relatives in the Davidson family are devoted Culter FC members, her brother-in-law Jack and niece Margaret are Honorary Vice Presidents whilst nephew Stuart has been our Team Scout for many years.  Our condolences go to May's sister Pat and all her family on their sad loss.

BB Blow.        We were bitterly disappointed when the local Boys' Brigade trailer containing their marquee was stolenfrom Crombie Park overnight on Tuesday 25 September 2007.   It had been delivered that morning on loan to us intended for use yesterday.  Our padlock on the gate was cut and the clamp on the trailer was removed for the thieves to make their getaway.  The police are investigating this most unfortunate theft.