Disappointing Draw

Longside Loused

Culter’s slim title hopes ended with this disappointing draw at Pitmedden. Formartine now need to win their last game against Sunnybank at Heathryfold next Tuesday to retain Super League status.

Cutter fell behind in only the 4th minute. Stuart SHINNIE dinked a well-placed free kick over the wall and into the top corner to give the home team a shock lead. Stewart did well to make space in the box but he dragged his shot wide of the target. Smith then neatly flicked on Brown’s corner but there were no takers and the home defence were happy to hoof the ball to safety. Pirie had a close escape in the 24th minute when he spilled Brown’s cross but Steven Craib knocked the ball wide from close range. Wilson played a great ball to Campbell whose driven cross was deflected by McGuiness but Home saved with his feet at the near post. A Cooper
mistake let in Brown for the home team but Pine was well off his line to avert the danger. With half time looming Craik’s run into the box ended with a blistering drive that Home brilliantly palmed to safety. Half Time: 1 — 0

Stewart hit the bar with a cross and then Mountford danced his way into the box only to see Home easily save his daisy cutter. Craib produced a poor pass back to Home who was happy to see his miskick clearance cannon off Mountford for a throw in. Rattray made a great tackle to deny Shinnie a shot a goal and then was again on hand to head away Young’s dangerous cross. From the resultant corner Forsyth blasted the ball past the upright. Pine had a lucky escape late on when he failed to control a pass back by Cooper and was robbed of the ball by Shinñne only to see the forward stumble as he chased after the ball. McBain’s corner found Shand in space but the sub totally missed the ball from 6 yards out. Culter at last drew level in the 88th minute when Andy CAMPBELL jumped high above the home defence to head home a Rintoul corner. This set up a storming finish and Home did well to punch the ball off the
head of Shand in injury time but Culter couldn’t produce the all-important winner.

Formartine Utd: Home, Graffin, McGuiness, Culter, Sievwright, Craib, Forsyth, Craib, Young, Shinnie, Brown. Substitutes: Burrows, Brebner, Cheyne, MacLeod
Cutter: Pine, Wilson, Rattray, Campbell, Cooper, Adam, Brown, Stewart, Mountlord, Smith, Craik. Substitutes: Shand, McBain, Rintoul. Cadger, Craib

Referee: R.Cobb. Assistant Referees: A Lovie, D Donohoe. Match Reporter: Gus Johnstone

Saturday 17th1 May 2008- Rainbow International Superleaque: Cutter 2 Longside 0 H-T 1-0 (at Crombie Park, Cutter)

Culters’ last Saturday home game of the season was a low key affair with both sides evidently content to play out the ninet minutes without putting too much into it.

It all started so brightly when Chris Mountford found space in the box following a Steve Rintoul free kick and he did the honoums b sending a powerful header past the stranded Lee Simpson in the Longside goal in the l minute. The Culter marksman then sent in good ball for Martin Shand but his header was easily saved by the Longside ‘keeper. It was all Cutter at this stage with Steve Rintoi. supplying Murray Rattray but his lob landed on the roof of the net. With 15 minutes gone Chris Mountford had a terrific strike smac the bar as the visitors wilted but the Deesiders began to lose patience as Longside came gradually back into it and they almo equalised near half time when a Wayne Buchan attempt took a wicked deflection but Martin Pine was alert enough to deal with tb danger. A few moments later Martin Shand had a chance to put the homstens two up but his header from a Steve Rintoul cross fizzed wide.

At the start of the second half Culter were lucky to escape when a Mike Bruce pilednver rattled off the bar and away to safety. At th other end a hard Murray Rattray shot was blocked near the line before George McBain had a decent effort saved by Lee Simpsor The visitors almost got on level terms in the minute when Murray Rattray and Martin Pine got in a kafuffle but despite being clea through Ross Cardno managed to shoot past. Culter then sent on Peter Stewart for Martin Shand and the replacement set up earlier sub Gordon Farmer who sent the ball in for Bruce Smith but the veteran could only head wide. Soon after Ryan Pressley replace Martin Cooper but the game was dying a death until with 3 minutes to go Lewis Brown of Longside made a basic error in the box an Peter Stewart capitalised by drilling an untidy shot under the ‘keeper and into the net to end the scoring and the drab affair.

Culter: Pine, Wilson, Craib, Cooper, Rattray, Rintoul, McBain, Mountford, Shand, Smith, Craik. Substitutes: Adam, Farmer, Stewart, Pressley, Cadger.
Longside: Simpson, Wistey, Brown, Beddie, Robertson, Wheeler, W Buchan, Bruce, Cardno, Murray, Biskup. Substitutes: Gibson, C Buchan, Davidson, Park.

Referee: C. Veitch. Assistant Referees: W Duncan and C Spence. Match Reporter: Ian “Kip” McKenzie

Match Day Prize Winners — Saturday 17 May 2008. Half Time Raffle:- Bottle Glenlivet 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky (donated by Larry Barclay,  Bridge of Don) — Andy Smith, Longside; Bottle Wine — Willie Middleton, Culter; 6 Cans McEwan’s Export — Gordon Craib.

 After Match £20 “Choose Your Team” Competitions:-
Scott Knox,  Portlethen and Shona Paterson, Culter

Forthcoming Final Fixtures— Rainbow International Superleague

• 
  Tuesday 20 May 2008 Hillhead v Cutter (at Hilihead Centre, Aberdeen) Referee: S Mckenzie. Kick Off 7.15 p.m.
• 
  Thursday 22 May 2008 Cutter v Stonehaven (at Crombie Park, Cutter) Kick Off 7.15 p.m.
• 
  Saturday 24 May 2008 Maud v Cutter (at Pleasure Park, Maud) Kick Off 2.30 p.m. Our Special Bus will depart from Crombie Park Pavilion at 11.30 a.m. and collect the Aberdeen contingent at The Seafield Club, Seafield Road, Aberdeen at 11.45 a.m. Bus will depart from Maud at approximately 5.30 p.m. for the return journey to Cutter via Aberdeen. Fares to be £3 for Adults and £1.50 for Senior Citizens and Children.
• Wednesday 28 May 2008 Culter v Banks o’ Dee (at Crombie Park, Culter) Kick Off 7.15 p.m.

Scoring Statistics. In 49 games played Cutter have won 31, drawn 7, lost 11, scoring 137 goals and conceding 59. Scorers: Chris Mountford 34, Martin Shand 26, John Brown 11, Murray Rattray 11, Peter Stewart 10 Graham Cadger 8, Gordon Farmer 8, Andy Campbell 7, Opponents 4, George McBain 3, Bruce Smith 3, Adam Wilson 3, Andy Sim 2, 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 Cutter Gala that day the draw will take place in Cutter Mills Social Club on Sunday 1 June at 1.00 pm.

Race Night/ Season End Social/Annual Awards. Our Race Night/Season End Social/Annual Awards will take place in The Seafield Club on Friday 20 June 2008. Voting sheets for the Annual Awards are now on issue to all Committee Members and Players for return to me on or before Friday 20 June 2008 please.