Dyce Draw &

Ellon Exterminated

The Deesiders season is surely petering out following a draw against Dyce at Crombie Park on Tuesday 6th May. To be fair to Culter they worked their socks off following the unfortunate dismissal of ‘keeper Scott Knox with only half an hour gone.

The early exchanges were fairly even until Adam Wilson was felled on the edge of the area and from the free kick Murray Rattray blasted the ball straight at Dyce keeper Tony Buckley. With 10 minutes gone Dyce survived a huge penalty shout from the Cutter team but referee M Kerrigan waved play on. A few minutes later Chris Mountford tried his luck against his old team but his try was well held by the Dyce keeper The visitors put together their first meaningful attack in the 20th minute when Greg Davidson sent in a good cross for Keith McHattie but Scot Knox somehow managed to turn the header over the bar and behind for a corner. At the other end George McBain set up Chris Mountford but his header crept over the bar before John Brown tested Tony Buckley with a long distance lob but the keeper recovered to send the bat behind for a corner. With 30 minutes on the clock Culter’s diminishing title ambitions took a sever blow when Scott Knox hesitated coming for a long ball and collided with Kevin Neish just outside the area.

 Although it was obviously a foul to the astonishment of all the Cutter ‘keeper was sent for an early shower despite two Culter players being behind the ball when the incident occurred. Once the dust had settled skipper Murray Rattray donned the gloves and stepped into the breach. Despite being down to ten men the Deesiders still held the upper hand as hall time approached and Dyce escaped when several attempts by Cutter were blocked in the box.

At the start of the second period Gordon Farmer came on for George McBain but it was Dyce who took the lead when Kevin Neish, in an apparently offside position, lobbed the advancing Murray Rattray and the ball nestled in the back of the net. Despite the reversal Cutter put everything into searching for an equaliser and it nearly came when Chris Mountford headed desperately wide from a John Brown free kick. Peter Stewart then replaced the hard working Martin Shand as Cutter tried to prize open a packed Dyce defence. Peter Stewart had a halt chance following a good Gordon Farmer run but managed to squeeze the ball wide. With 8 minutes left Cutter were thrown a lifeline when Peter Stewart went down in the area and Andy Campbell stepped up to sent a perfect penalty into the net. With the clock ticking Martin Cooper went on a lung bursting run and he found Peter Stewart but the sub couldn’t find a way past Tony Buckley.

Culter Knox, Wilson, Rattray, Cooper, Campbell, Craik, Brown, Mountford, Shand, Smith, McBain. Subs: Stewart, Adam, Farmer, Craib, Pressley.

Referee: M. Kerrigan. Assistant Referees: M Johnston and D Donohoe.

Saturday 10th May 2008: Rainbow International Super League
It all looks a little too late for Culter despite a comprehensive win against Ellon United. The Deesiders dominated proceedings apart from a spelt in the second half when they took a dose of the jitters to allow Ellon a wee sniff at grabbing something.

The home side started with their tails up with John Brown finding the recalled Peter Stewart but his parting shot was easily gathered by Rich Bowman in the Elton goal. Martin Pine, gratefully back in the side following a lengthy injury, comfortably gathered an Ellon corner before Chris Mountford tested Rich Bowman with a shot and Gordon Farmer followed up but his finish was nothing to behold. With half an hour gone Andy Campbell picked out Donnie Adam but the vertically challenge midfielder could only fire wildly over. The Deesiders continued to keep the visitors on the back foot and eventually took a deserved lead from an unexpected source. Gordon Farmer skinned his marker and found Bruce Smith in the box and the veteran found the target with the cutest of lobs from a difficult position in the 43rd minute.

Cutter made a blistering start to second period and were two up with 47 minutes on the clock when Adam Wilson combined with John Brown who eventually found Chris Mountford and the top scorer gleefully buried the ball behind the unguarded ‘keeper. Barely three minutes later Cutter, playing stuff reminiscent of their early season form, made it three. Gordon Farmer, John Brown and Peter Stewart all combined to set up Chris Mountford and he made it 33 for the season with a clinical finish from deep in the area. Culter looked as if they would go on to score a barrowload now and were unlucky not to find the target soon after when Andy Campbell found John Brown but his attempt skittered past the post. A few minutes later Murray Rattray almost got his name on the score sheet when he met a John Brown free kick but he forced the ‘keeper into decent save. With the game apparently won Cutter sent on Ryan Pressley for Bruce Smith and before the home side could settle into their new formation Elton got one back in the 65th minute. With the Culter defence half asleep a long ball found Jim Ellis free on the right and he picked out Derek Craigie who had the easiest of finishes. This seemed to spur on the visitors with Gary McNamara having two great chances to take Ellon right back into it. His first was an attempted lob which skied over whilst his second from fantastic position went light years past the post. in an effort to put the game beyond the visitors Culter replaced Chris Mountford and Gordon Farmer with Martin Shand and Steve Rintoul and it was to pay dividends as the latter went on a mazy run into the box before crashing a shot towards the net but the ‘keeper did well to save, however he was powerless as the sub followed and buried the ball into the net in the minute. There was still a chance to add a fifth near the end but Martin Shand’s effort trundled just wide from a John Brown pass.

Culter: Pine, Wilson, Rattray, Cooper, Campbell, Adam, Brown, Stewart, Mountford, Smith, Farmer. Subs: Shand, Cadger, Rintoul, Pressley, Craib.

Referee: G. Beaton. Assistant Referees: C. Spence and B. Braidwood.

Match Day Prize Winners — Tuesday 6 May 2008. Half Time Raffle;- Bottle Grouse Whisky (donated by Craig Watson,  Aberdeen) — Stan Stephen, Cutter; Bottle Wine — George
McBain; 6 Cans Tennent’s Lager — Graham Shand, Portlethen. Saturday 10 May 2008. Half Time Raffle:- Bottle Dalmore Malt Whisky (donated by Norman Mackay, Aberdeen) — Jack Davidson,  Culter (Jack is thanked for donating his prize back for our next Match Raffle); Bottle Wine — Norman Clark, Ellon; 6 Cans Tennent’s Lager — Jim Anderson, Ellon.

After Match £20 “Choose Your Team” Competition:- Chris Collie, Portlethen.

Forthcoming Final Fixtures— Rainbow International Superleague

• 
  Tuesday 13 May 2008 Formartine United v Culter (at North Lodge Park, Pitmedden) Ref: R Cobb. Kick Off 7.15 p.m.
• 
  Saturday 17 May 2008 Culter v Longside (at Crombie Park, Cutter) Referee: C Veitch. Kick Off 2.30 p.m.
• 
  Tuesday 20 May 2008 Hillhead v Culter (at Hillhead Centre, Aberdeen) Kick Off 7.15 p.m.
• 
  Thursday 22 May 2008 Culter v Stonehaven (at Crombie Park, Culter) Kick Off 7.15 p.m.
• 
  Saturday 24 May 2008 Maud v Culter (at Pleasure Park, Maud) Kick Off 2.30 p.m. Special Bus details to follow.
• 
  Wednesday 28 May 2008 Cutter v Banks o’ Dee (at Crombie Park, Culter) Kick Off 7.15 p.m.

Scoring Statistics. In 47 games played Culter have won 30, drawn 6 and lost 11, scoring 134 goals and conceding 58 in the process. Scorers: Chris Mountford 33, Martin Shand 26, John Brown 11, Murray Rattray 11, Peter Stewart 9,
Graham Cadger 8, Gordon Farmer 8, Andy Campbell 6, Opponents 4, George McBain 3, Adam Wilson 3, Andy Sim 2,
Bruce Smith 3, Donny Adam 1, Mark Hamilton 1, Phil McCall 1, Michael Ord 1, Ryan Pressley 1, Steven Robertson 1,
Steve Rintoul 1.
Last Lottery. Our last Lottery for the current season will be Tickets dated Saturday 31 May 2008. In view of the Culter Gala that day the draw will take place in Cutter Mills Social Club on Sunday 1 June at 1 .00 pm.