North Section Superleague

A few of the guys were back from holidays and injury but there were still a few missing so the team changed to suit.

With a good win here last season we knew we had the players to win this game but unfortunately the lads didn’t look like they believed it when they kicked off. Culter seemed to attack at will and we looked like we were giving them far too much time on the ball and for the first 10 minutes it was all one way. We did start to claw our way back in but then yet another bad decision by the officials after 14 minutes (this seems to be a recurrring theme) when the linesman gave a penalty to Culter when the offence was obviously outside the box, the standard of referees and linesmen really are becoming an issue.Needless to say they took full advantage and scored from the penalty. On 18 minutes we were off to sleepy land when they broke into the box on the right, theball was crossed low and should really have been buried into out net, however it was cleared out but came straight back with a fierce shot that Puds did excellently to save, it went back to them and it then came back off the post, a lucky escape.  We then had a chance up the other end when a high ball into their box was challenged with the keeper by Zander, the ball came back out to Stevie Whyte who’s shot was finally saved. On 25 minutes a ball into the box by John Willox was crossed by Stevie but it was hacked clear for a corner, for that corner Richards header was saved under the bar. On 37 minutes Dane got into the box on the right and hit a rasper of a shot which the keeper could only parry out however nobody was following up for the tap in. Then a sucker punch just on half time when a simple ball down the middle was lifted over Puds as he was coming out to put them 2 - 0 up at half time.

After 5 minutes John Willox was replaced by Shaun due to a groin injury and within 5 minutes he had scored. A ball inside the left back, Shaun ran onto it and hit it across the keeper to score our first goal to pull it back to  1 - 2.  Their No 7 was starting to cause problems when he ran at us, we seemed to be scared to tackle and Puds had to make another good save when he broke through just after our goal to keep the score as it was. However lax defending a minute later restored Culters 2 goal advantage when they won a throw in and seemd to get through the defence with ease, crossing the ball  low to the far post where they scored their 3rd. Taht seemd to knock the stuffing out of the lads and it took another 15 minutes to get another chance when we thought Shuan had scored but the linesman flagged that it was offside. Shauns running and challenging for everything was causing them real headaches, On 42 minutes Jason won the ball well just inside their box, moved forward and threaded the ball through to Dane but his shot went over. Right at the death, we got our 2nd when Shaun won the ball again and  it went right to Dane whos shot over the keeper wen it at the far post. It was far too late to get an equaliser though and it was disappointing when the final whistle went a minute or so later.

With a little more self believe and maybe more effort (from some of you!) we could have got a result here but its all ifs, buts and maybes.

Next week home to Dyce, hopefully with 3 points !

Grahams Report

Match Stats

WRONG CALL BY ASSISTANT COSTS MAUD A SHARE OF POINTS

Looking to keep up the winning momentum, Maud kicked off against Culter. For the first 10 minutes it was all Culter as they put Maud under a great deal of pressure trying to gain the first goal. Maud gradually came back into the game and settled well. Ogboke in the 14th minute got on a mazy run going past 3 defenders before McDonald clattered the back of his legs conceding a foul 2 feet outside the 18 yard box. As the ref pointed to the area he was called over by the dugout assistant who in his great wisdom informed him that it was inside the box so duly a penalty was given. Maud were left fuming as once again this particular assistant penalised them wrongly. Ogboke elected to take the spot kick himself and sending Simpson the wrong way sent Culter into the lead. Stephen on the sidelines was booked for dissent when he tried to point out the mistake that was made. Three minutes later Culter had the chance to further increase their lead when a low crossed in ball from the right was drilled in towards the goal but was hastily cleared. Coming out it was collected by the striker and the powerful shot was well saved by Simpson who parried it clear only for it to come back in and go out off the post, a lucky break for Maud. Attacking Culters goal A Davidson put McIntosh under pressure and he hastily cleared the ball as far as Whyte whose was saved from the recovering keeper. First yellow of the game went to Shand for a viscous tackle on Powell only for 30 second later to commit another bad foul only this time to get let off by the ref. Winning a corner off a Whyte shot was crossed in for Wisely to head goal wards but McIntosh was quick to pluck the dangerous ball out of the air. A loose ball out right was gathered up by Ballard  whose thundering shot was parried by the keeper and hooked clear. Caught on the hop Maud lost a second goal, again by Ogboke, who was causing the defence serious problems. Getting into the danger area he calmly flicked the ball over an out coming Simpson and trickle into the back of the net for Culter to finish the first half with a two goal lead.

Culter came at Maud straight from the start and attacking down the right managed to send in a cross but the final shot went over the bar. Willox aggravating an old groin strain was forced to come off being replaced by Jamieson. Almost immediately he started to make an impact when Rae sent up field a long ball which was flicked backwards by the defender only for Jamieson to spurt around him, gather up the ball, pick his spot and bury it past the keeper. Simpson pulled off a great save from McBain who burst through Maud's defence catching them napping. Culter kept up the pressure which finally paid off in the 56th minute when from a throw in from the right side corner flag was crossed to the far post catching Whyte totally out of position allowing Stott to slot home to regain the two goal advantage. This took the stuffing out of Maud but they battled back and Jamieson after chasing every ball finally got a second only for the dugout assistant to rule it offside. Maud finally started to believe in them selves and great inter linking play between Whyte onto Usher saw the delivered ball in hastily scrambled clear. McDonald came alive in midfield and sent a lovely through ball to Ballard whose shot flew just over the bar. Jamieson playing out of his skin won a ball in midfield and threaded it through to Ballard who this time made no mistake in the 88th minute. The clock ticked down and despite some heroic play Maud came out of this encounter 2nd best not helped by two wrong decisions by the assistant. Next week again Maud are on league duty this time at home to Dyce with a 2.30pm K.O.