Ellon Executed

Culter came from behind to snatch all three points in a game which was marred by a wintry wind which made playing conditions a little farcical. The Deesiders gave a debut to new defender Martin Cooper recently signed from Sunnybank. The big man made a steady start to his Culter career and will improve once he gets games under his belt. As to the game Ellon shot themselves in the foot with `keeper Andy Reid sent for an early shower after hurling a torrent of abuse at Referee R. Riddoch following a controversial penalty award.

The theme was set early on with both teams struggling to keep the ball in play in the howling gale but the impressive Grant Noble tested Carson Riches in the Culter goal but he held the ball at the second attempt. Bruce Smith then tried a deep cross but Andy Reid gathered the ball with ease. With the wind favouring the home side Murray Rattray had to look lively to thrash the ball behind for a corner with Derek Craigie lurking. United went ahead in the 12th minute when a long ball caught Culter sleeping and Grant Noble nicked in to steer the ball behind Carson Riches for a simple goal. Minutes later Derek Craigie ambled clear but his dink from the edge of the area breezed just over. Culter did manage to penetrate the Ellon rearguard when John Brown provided a cross for Bruce Smith but his header just shaved the bar. The Champions were getting to grips with the conditions and a Colin Craik cross cum shot was well held by the Ellon `keeper. At the other end a long Steve King free kick found Derek Craigie's napper but his attempt was woefully wide. The game blustered towards half time with little of note to report until a Martin Shand go was held by Andy Reid.

Culter replaced Ryan Pressley at the start of the second period with Gordon Farmer as they set up a more attacking line up and it almost paid dividends right away when a cross was spilled by the Ellon 'keeper but John Chalmers was on hand to blooter the ball away to safety. John Brown tried his luck from distance but his fizzing drive whistled wide of target. The same player tried his luck again soon after but this time the `keeper made a decent save. The away side almost got a deserved equaliser when Martin Cooper produced a booming volley but it dirled off the crossbar and away to safety. With 17 minutes of the half gone a long clearance was chased down by Martin Shand but he was hauled to the ground by the `keeper and the ref pointed immediately to the spot. An enormous melee erupted following the decision with a horde of Ellon players surrounding the whistler but once the dust had settled Andy Campbell stepped up to bury the ball behind the disgruntled custodian. The Ellon 'keeper then threw his rattle out of the pram out and left the referee without a name and so was instantly dismissed. Derek Craigie pulled on the keeper's jersey and he had to deal with a number of dangerous corners and crosses Chris "Teddy" Mountford then replaced Andy Campbell as Culter went looking for the winner but at times Ellon looked to have the numerical superiority. With the minutes ticking away Donnie Adam burst into the box and rifled a shot goalwards which stotted off the stand in `keeper and Peter Stewart darted in to poke the ball into the empty net. Ellon were not put off by the reversal and Grant Noble missed a couple of decent chances as Culter caught a dose of the jitters. Graham Cadger came on for Peter Stewart and he almost made an immediate impact when his clever footwork let in Chris MountFord but his parting shot was weak and Derek Craigie held the ball easily. With 90 minutes well over the horizon good interplay by John Brown and Graham Gadger almost produced number three but 2-1 was good enough for all 3 points.

Ellon United: Reid, Clark, King, Chalmers, Slater, Tritton, Fletcher, Ellis, Craigie, Noble, Brook. Substitutes: McNamara, MCDonald, Gunn, White, Thomson

Culter: Riches, Pressley, Rattray, Campbell, Cooper, Adam, Craik, Smith, Brown, Shand, Stewart Substitutes: Farmer, Mountford, Cadger, Craib, McBain

Referee: R. Riddoch

Forthcoming Fixtures

Saturday 8 March 2008 - GA Engineering Inter Regional Cup Quarter Final Culter v Arbroath Sporting Club (at Crombie Park, Culter) Referee: K Stewart Kick off 2.15 p.m. - played to a finish - straight to penalties if level at 90 minutes.

Saturday 15 March 2008 - Rainbow International Superleague

Culter v Formartine United (at Crombie Park, Culter) Kick Off 2.30 p.m.

 Saturday 22 March 2008 - Norsco Regional Cup Second Round

Islavale v Culter (at Simpson Park, Keith) Kick Off 2.15 p.m. - played to a finish - straight to penalties if level at 90 ; minutes.           Special bus details to be published later.

Tuesday 25 March 2008 - Rainbow International Superleague Hillhead v Culter (at Hillhead Centre, Aberdeen) Kick Off 7.30 p.m.

Committee Convenes.        A Committee Meeting of Culter Football Club will be held on Tuesday 4 March 2008 in i Crombie Park Pavilion, Culter, commencing at 7.00 p.m.

Cults Crombie Cup Clash. Cults Academy will play Holyrood Secondary School (Glasgow) in the Quarter Finals of the Senior Schools Scottish Cup at Crombie Park, Culter on Thursday 6 March 2008 Kick Off 2.00 p.m.            Referee Willie Young. Holyrood is the largest Secondary School in Europe with over 2000 pupils.  They have won various Scottish Cups at different age levels.   A famous football former pupil is Eric Black. It promises to be an exciting Cup Tie with several Culter boys featuring in the Cults Academy team.