Hillhead Humped

Norsco Regional Cup Preliminary Round: Hillhead 0 v Culter 9 (at Hillhead of Seaton, Aberdeen) Half Time: 0 - 2. Culter Scorers: Martin Shand (37, 72, 84 and 88 mins), Chris Mountford (19, 58 and 70 mins), John Brown (48 mins) and Graham Cadger (86 mins)

Culter enjoyed a comfortable win to progress into the 1st round of the Norsco Regional Cup on a day when Martin Pirie won't be throwing his kit into the washing basket. Culter have enjoyed a goal feast in the opening two games of 2008, mauling Maud 7 -1 on 5 January and now hammering Hillhead by an unexpected 9 - 0 margin yesterday.

Culter showed their intentions when Brown's 20 yard effort was deflected just past for a corner in the 1 st minute. Mountford then hammered a shot off the crossbar just before Shand latched onto a great Campbell pass only to dwell on the ball and Noble cleared the danger. Allan then made a last gasp tackle to deny Brown as he weaved his way in the box. Mountford was next to try his luck from distance only for his shot to scrape the post. McBain had his shot saved by Farquhar and the ball fell into the path of Brown whose net bound shot was kicked off the line for a corner. Hamilton's corner was flicked on by Shand to Chris MOUNTFORD who netted from inside the 6-yard box in the 19`h minute. Shand then blasted high and wide before he closed down the `home keeper, who duffed the ball to Mountford 25 yards out only for the striker to see his volley go inches past the post. Farquhar brilliantly tipped a Brown piledriver round the post before Sim forced him into a double save. The home `keeper could only watch as Rattray's free kick whistled over the crossbar. Culter's pressure finally paid off when Martin SHAND rammed Brown's inch perfect cross home in 37 minutes. Half Time: 0 - 2

Hamilton played a great first time pass to John BROWN who then waltzed past two defenders before slotting the ball past Farquhar three minutes into the second half. Pyper tried his luck with a 20-yard free kick as Hillhead continued to struggle to get near the Culter goalmouth. Craik shot over and then Brown's shot was tipped over again by the home 'keeper. Another goal was never far off and it was Shand who beat the offside trap before he fed in Chris MOUNTFORD who netted at his second attempt in 58 minutes. Farquhar then just managed to hold onto Cadger's lob before Pirie came as close to a save as he was going to make when he easily caught Pyper's free kick. Cadger headed on Pirie's long clearance in the 70th minute for Chris MOUNTFORD to hammer home his hat-trick. Two minutes later Rintoul crossed for Rattray who squared it to Martin SHAND to head home from close range. Sim then whipped in a great cross for Shand whose header rebounded off the crossbar.    Martin SHAND deflected Brown's well-driven free kick past the bewildered Farquhar in 84 minutes. After great football by Sim, Morrison and Shand it left Graham CADGER with an 86in minute tap in before Martin SHAND completed the scoring in the second last minute heading home Brown's cross.

Hillhead: Farquhar, Cruickshank, Noble, Masson, Allan, Courage, MacKenzie, Pyper, Stewart, Morrice, Morrison. Substitutes: Adams, Tough, Stuart, Campbell, Murray.

Culter: Pirie, Sim, Rattray, Wilson, Campbell, Craik. Brown, Mountford, Shand, McBain, Hamilton. Substitutes: Farmer, Rintoul, Cadger, Craib, Robertson.

Referee: Martin Johnston.

In the absence of incapacitated Kip McKenzie our Match Reporter was Gus Johnstone.

 Weekly Lottery - Numbers Reduction. The numbers available for selection will be reduced by one for the next draw i.e. 1 to 17 for Lottery dated Saturday 26 January 2008.

Forthcoming Fixtures

Sat 26 Jan 2008 - Rainbow International Superleague: Culter v Sunnybank (at Crombie Park, Culter) Kick Off 2.00 p.m.    Referee: G Cheyne.

Saturday 2 February 2008 - North/Tayside GA Engineering Cup 3rd Round: Maud v Culter (at Pleasure Park, Maud) Kick Off 2.00 p.m. - played to a finish.

Our special bus will depart from. Crornbie Park Pavilion at 11.15 a.m. and collect the Aberdeen contingent at The Seafield Club at 11.30 a.m.   The bus will depart from Maud at approximately 5.30 p.m. for the return journey to Culter via Aberdeen.    Fares will be £3 for Adults and £1.50 for Senior Citizens and Children.

Bulletin Break.          In view of the absence of Kip and me on Sunday 27 January 2008 there will be no Weekly Bulletin published that day.  Gus Johnstone will kindly be Match Reporter and will send his Report to the Deeside Piper along with our Lottery details.

Committee Convenes.        A Meeting of Culter Football Club will be held in Crombie Park Pavilion, Culter, on Tuesday 5 February 2008 commencing at 7.00 p.m.