My unbiased Report

With a resounding defeat behind us from the last time we played Culter in January, we wanted to at least perform more like what we know we can and overall the lads succeeded but at the end of the day it was another defeat.

We started off brightly enough, even after only 4 minutes a long ball from right to left found Zander on the edge of the box and his first time volley went narrowly over. However a sign of how Culter can punish you showed only 4 minutes later when a simple ball in from the right at waist height was met by one of their forwards with a stooping header in front of our defence and the ball flew past Paul and into the net. A minute later we had a great chance to equalise when Gav put is a corner into their 6 yard box but nobody had read it and it bounced away. After 17 minutes Ush put another great ball diagonally across to the right into space but it was just too much in front of Neil or he was into the box with a chance. Culter nearly scored again ion the 22nd minute when the ball was played in hard and low from the right along the 6 yard line, Paul got his finger tips to it bit it came out to their forwards but a great last ditch tackle from Razor cleared the danger when it looked like they'd score. After 25 minutes a massive kick from Paul in goal bounced on the edge of their box and although Zander managed to get a toe to it it wasn't enough to take it past the keeper. Just on the half hour Gav collected the ball 20 yards out and let fly but it was well over. He got a better chance a couple of minutes later when he smashed a free kick from 25 yards and as it flew across goal we thought it was in but it passed the post by centimeters (or inches if you're old like me!). Gibby also had an overhead effort outside the box well held by their keeper. After 35 minutes Zander got the ball wide, cut inside and had a shot but it went over as well. Then as usual a sucker punch with us on the attack the move broke down on the edge of their box, it was quickly played up to one of their runners, he passed the ball into the box where it was cut across and finished off at the far post. 0 - 2 only 10 seconds after we were in their box, that typified the differences between us on the day.

After 5 minutes of the 2nd half Neil played the ball in but the danger was cleared, then 2 minutes later a great through ball from Razor to Ush on the left in their box left him clear, his low shot on target was well saved by Carson in their goal. On 13 minutes Zander got another half chance when the ball broke on the edge of their box but again the shot was over. After 20 minutes the game was over when another clinical bit of finishing from a ball in from the left was buried at the near post. On 22 minute Zander put a ball across the box but it was just behind Willox and the chance was cleared. The way Culter could turn nothing into a chance was highlighted on 30 minutes when they got a soft free kick about 25 yards out, while we were getting ready and not standing over the ball while the wall was sorted, they saw the chance and hit an unstoppable shot across Paul and into the net. We had a couple  more half chance when firstly Gibby knocked the ball down to Willox but his shot went well over and finally another ball thru from Ush found Zander but the ball went across and wide. Graham Pirie tried a couple of surging runs down the right into their box but nothing came of them.

So a lesson in how to finish was well and truly given today, nothing at all in the general play, just the way they put the ball into the old onion bag was superior to us today.

We're at home to Turriff next week in our first league game since the beginning of January and a game we really want to win, like most of them !

 

 

Grahams Report

MAUD CRASH OUT IN INTER REGIONAL CUP
Maud started brightly and in the 5th minute a shot from A Davidson tested Riches in goals. Slack play from Maud's defence allowed a cross in from the right and straight on to the head of the unmarked Shand who made no mistake from close range. Maud came back and good play down the right is wasted when a poor cross into the box is too far in front of the strikers. Good man marking by Rae prevented a quickly taken free kick by Culter being converted. Culter had the best of the next few minutes and only scrambled defending kept the score the same. A quickly launched ball upfield from Leask saw A Davidson get his studs on to but not enough to deflect past Riches in goal. Ist yellow of the game fell to Presslie of Culter for a rash challenge on A Davidson who required some treatment. Maud won a free kick about 23 yards out. Launched in by Middleton it flew past the wall and shaved past the wrong side of the post. A Davidson again was unlucky as he sent his shot over the bar. Ushers cries for a soft penalty were ignored by the ref as he was alleged to have been taken down by the defender. Slack play causing Maud to be unable to hold up the ball up front immediately brought them under pressure just before half time. Breaking up Maud's attack, Culter launched the ball upfield to be latched onto by Shand who buried it into the back of the net.
Maud made a slow start to the second half but finally woke up as Usher was unlucky with a thundering shot which was parried out by the keeper. Culter were unlucky not to extend their lead when a crossed in ball was headed past the post by the unmarked Craib. Again A Davidson found himself inside Cutler's box but the final touch sent the ball over the bar. Maud's first yellow went to Middleton who brought down Campbell who was breaking down the left wing. Again Farmer came charging down the left wing, working his way into the box area. Crossing the ball in front of the goal, an easy opportunity for Cadger to finish off the move for Culter's third in the 64th minute. Culter were unlucky not to add to their tally when a crossed ball to the far post was missed by the incoming Shand. A great piece of defending by Arthur denied Culter a chance well inside the box area. Winning a free kick from about 35 yards out, taken quickly and short onto Wilson of Culter who thundered in a shot straight into the back of the net for goal number four. A 50/50 tackle by Stephen strangely saw him being issued a yellow. Maud were battling to the end and a long ball upfield to Willox who could only shoot over the bar. As Maud missed a couple of chances as the clock ticked down, the game saw Culter run out winners and progress to the next round leaving Maud counting the cost of all their missed opportunities. Next week Maud are back on league duty at home against Turriff with a 2.30pm kick off.