Vale Victory

Saturday 27 October 2007 - 2"d Round Scottish Cup: Culter 2 v Vale of Leithen 1 (at Crombie Park, Culter) Half Time: 1 - 0.  

 Scorers: Culter - Gordon Farmer (32 minutes) and Graham Cadger (86 minutes), Vale of Leithen - Somerville (73 minutes). Attendance: 365.

After a damp morning the sun shone to greet visitors Vale of Leithen but it dulled down again for the match.   The match, however, was anything but dull! Once again we had a large crowd and the tie was covered by the Sky Sports cameraman, reporters and photographers from Northsound, the Evening Express, Sunday Mail and The Sun.

Culter attacked from the kick off.with Mountford's header from Campbell's cross easily saved by Wilson. Farmer then saw no takers for his cross as it flashed past the post. Vale did counter attack with Montgomery trying his luck from distance but his effort drifted past the post. The Vale `keeper then did well to save at the feet of Campbell at the back post and then watched a Wilson header fly over. He could, however, do nothing to stop the home side taking the lead in the 32nd minute.     Pirie's long clearance was picked up by Cadger, who in turn played an inch perfect pass to FARMER who ran in on goal before driving the ball past Wilson from 18 yards. Vale tried to respond and Brown cleared a Forsyth cross with a diving header for a corner then Wilson blocked a Ray Fleming effort after good play by Montgomery and Shortreed. Culter ended the half the stronger with Craik's surging run and shot being tipped over before an Adam long range effort flew high and wide.   Half Time: 1 - 0.

Vale full back Edge was left with space and his 15 yard shot was kicked off the line by Rattray before Pirie a produced a great save to deny Shortreed as the away team searched for an equaliser. Sim then fed in Cadger who tried his luck with a delightful lob that bounced back off the bar and away to safety. In the 71st minute Vale had claims for a penalty waved away as Smith's shot flew into a ruck of home defenders.     Vale were only denied an equaliser for a couple of minutes when a Sanders long pass was picked up by SOMERVILLE and the substitute slipped the ball under the diving Pirie. The home side then thought they had taken the lead again when Farmer had the ball in the net from close range but the linesman had his flag up for offside as Gordon danced a jig of delight at the corner flag. More drama unfolded when with five minutes left Sanders was red carded for a second bookable offence. The player had barely reached the dressing room when Campbell picked up Brown's cross at the back post, he turned the `keeper before seeing his lob bounce back off the crossbar into the path of the inrushing CADGER who blasted the ball into the net from close range. Culter played down the clock with only Stewart trying a shot from 30 yards that Wilson easily saved. The home team and supporters were ecstatic at the final whistle and Culter can now look forward to Monday's draw for the 3rd round.

Culter: Pirie, Sim, Rattray, Wilson, Campbell, Adam, Brown, Cadger, Mountford, Craik, Farmer. Substitutes: Riches, Stewart, Smith, Craib, McCall,

Vale of Leithen: Wilson, Ron Fleming, Edge, Sanders, Forsyth, Ross McManus, Smith, Ray

Fleming, Montgomery, Shortreed, Ryan McManus, Substitutes: Shearlaw, Mackale, Somerville, Alexander, Graham.

Referee: S Crichton. Assistant Referees: R Cobb and A Lovie. Match Reporter: Gus Johnstone

Draw Date.    The 3`d Round 8cottish Cup draw will take place on Monday afternoon at Hampden Park. Line up for 3'd

Round played on Saturday, 24 November, 2007.         32 clubs (16 ties):

16 second round winners. Ten clubs in the Scottish Football League Division 2: Airdrie United, Alloa Athletic, Ayr United, Berwick Rangers, Brechin City, Cowdenbeath, Peterhead, Queen's Park, Raith Rovers, Ross County.

Four clubs in positions 5-8 in Scottish Football League Division 1 last season: Clyde, Livingston, Partick Thistle, Queen of the South. Two clubs promoted from Division 2 last season: Greenock Morton, Stirling Albion.

Global Greetings. Before and after yesterday's second "Scottish" success we had good wishes prior to the game and congratulations soon after the game from far and near.        Messages ranged from Shetland to New Zealand and also came from Cyprus, Spain and the Middle East.

Match Day Prize Winners - Sat 27 October 2007.          Half Time Raffle:- Bottle 15 year old The Glendronach Whisky (donated by Frank Milne , Aberdeen) - remarkably won by donor Frank who is thanked for donating it back again!; Bottle Champagne (donated by Graeme L Wight, The Ploughman, Culter) - Gary Cruickshank; Bottle Wine - Alan Forbes, Dunecht; Bottle Wine - Unclaimed; 6 Cans Lager - Larry Barclay, Bridge of Don (Larry is thanked for donating them back for our next Match Raffle); 6 Cans Lager - Unclaimed.

After Match 3 x £20 "Choose Your Team" Competitions:- Jim Reid; Larry Barclay, Bridge of Don and Mike Reid, Aberdeen (Jim and Larry are thanked for donating their prizes back to Culter FC Funds).

Men of the Match. At the Culter Mills Sports and Recreation Club after the match our Team Secretary Kenny Henderson presented Bottles of Grouse Whisky to the selected "Men of the Match" - the chosen players were Campbell Forsyth of Vale of Leithen and Colin Craik of Culter.         The respective Club Presidents also made speeches and Doug Jamieson presented Vale of Leithen with an engraved Shield to mark the special occasion.

Next Week's Fixture - Saturday 3 November 2007 - 3`d Round Scottish Junior Cup

Culter v Nairn St Ninian (at Crombie Park, Culter)        Kick Off 2.00 p.m.    Referee: S McKenzie, Peterhead.

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

`Ruby Wedding.       Congratulations go to our Club President Douglas A Jamieson and his wife Val who celebrate their Ruby wedding today.           After their action packed day at Crombie Park yesterday we hope they can relax and enjoy their special anniversary which has the bonus of an extra hour thanks to the clock change and the sun is shining.

Scoring Statistics.    In 18 games played Culter have won 15, drawn 2 and lost 1, scoring 58 goals and conceding 14 in the process.        Scorers: Chris Mountford 19, Murray Rattray 8, Martin Shand 7, Gordon Farmer 6, John Brown 5, Peter Stewart 5, Opponents 3, Graham Cadger 2, Donny Adam 1, Phil McCall 1 and Bruce Smith 1.