Sensational Second Half Fightback Sees Gowfers Reach GA Engineering Cup Final

Culter 2 Carnoustie Panmure 4

Culter kicked-off, playing up the slight slope, and won an early corner with Narey deflecting Campbell's attempted cross out behind. Rintoul's cross was laid-off by Shand to Rattray, whose low drive from the edge of the box was just wide of Whyte's left-hand post.

As the Aberdeenshire hosts continued to press, a deep cross from Sim was headed away by Craig. The ball dropped out to Craik, whose fierce 25 yard drive whizzed narrowly over the top.

Carnoustie began to come more into the game and almost opened the scoring in seven minutes when Conway beat two men on the right before sending in a great cross to Collier, who headed just wide.

Seconds later, the Gowfers had another chance after Muhsin was fouled by Campbell 30 yards out. Conway sent the free kick right into the Culter box where it was played back out by Pressley to Abbot, but he blazed his shot high over the top.

Play then surged back upfield and Wilson dispatched the ball deep into the Carnoustie box. Narey's attempted clearance fell out to Craik, who fired the ball well wide of Whyte's right-hand post.

In 13 minutes, Culter came close to opening their account when Shand played a good ball through to Wilson, who loosed-off a rocket shot, but Whyte got across to make a fine save, touching the ball round his left-hand upright for a corner. Again Rintoul took the flag kick and sent in a good cross looking for Shand, but Robertson got up well to head clear.

Back at the other end, Carnoustie won a corner when a Conway cross to the back post was knocked behind by Rattray. Muhsin's cross found Abbot, who played it into the box looking for Voigt, but Pressley just beat him to it and cleared the danger.

In 18 minutes, the home side again had a chance to open the scoring, this time from a Craik lay-off, but Mountford put his shot straight at Whyte, who had no trouble making the save.

With 26 minutes gone, Abbot was adjudged to have fouled Mountford just inside the Culter half. Campbell's free kick found RATTRAY some 10 yards out from the Carnoustie goal and with the Gowfers' defence looking somewhat hesitant, he took it on his chest and as the ball dropped to the ground, he knocked it past Whyte to give the home side the lead.

Carnoustie were dealt another blow in 32 minutes when D. Smith went down injured after being fouled by Adam. The Gowfers' trainer ran on to give him treatment and after play had been stopped for five minutes things looked serious as a stretcher was called for. He was carried off and Cook went on in his place.

When play eventually resumed, Craig sent the resultant free kick deep into the Culter box, but Pressley got to the ball before Voigt and made the clearance.

In 39 minutes, a Muhsin cross was deflected behind by Pressley for a corner. Conway's flag kick, however, was too near the 'keeper, who had no trouble making the save.

Three minutes later, a long throw-in by Conway was blocked away by Wilson. The ball fell out to Cook, who fired it back in low and hard, but was just off target with his shot going narrowly past Spiers' left-hand post.

Deep into first half stoppage time, a Conway free kick picked out Robertson, who headed narrowly past when he should perhaps have done better.

Half Time : Culter 1 Carnoustie Panmure 0

Within a minute of the restart, Muhsin fed Abbot, who jinked past Wilson, then played the ball through to Voigt, but before he could bring it under control, Pressley stepped in to clear.

As Adam and Collier moved to claim the loose ball, the pair clashed with a foul being awarded to the home side and the Gowfers' striker was shone the yellow card.

Two minutes later, Campbell launched a long throw into the Carnoustie box and with the Gowfers' defence again failing to react, SHAND was given time to control the ball before knocking it past Whyte into the back of the net to put Culter two ahead.

Carnoustie made a second change in 53 minutes with Muhsin being replaced by Beith.

Next minute, Robertson became the second Gowfers' player to be cautioned after bringing down Rintoul just inside the visitors' half. Rintoul took the free kick himself and picked out Wilson, but he blasted his shot high over the top.

In 59 minutes, Carnoustie pulled a goal back when Conway sent in a deep cross from the right to VOIGT, who took it well, then ran on before slotting the ball under the 'keeper's body into the net.

Before play resumed, Rattray became the first Culter player to be shown the yellow card, this for comments made to the match official.

The Gowfers now had their tails up and got back on level terms in 65 minutes. Good play by Abbot and Collier created an opening for BEITH, who hammered the ball past Spiers into the roof of the net for his first goal since joining the Laing Park club.

Next minute, Carnoustie came close to taking the lead after Voigt was fouled by Adam. Conway's powerfully struck free kick looked netbound all the way, but cannoned off Collier and spun away to safety.

However, the visitors were not to be denied and edged ahead in 69 minutes. Conway was again the provider, this time latching on to an Abbot lay-off before sending in a great cross to COOK, who headed it past Spiers, giving the 'keeper no chance.

Two minutes later, Culter made a double change with Craik and Mountford being replaced by Cadger and B. Smith. Shand disagreed with an offside decision and after voicing his opinion to the referee was promptly shown the yellow card for his trouble.

In 79 minutes, Collier went up for a high ball, but landed awkwardly on his shoulder and after some treatment from the trainer was taken off and replaced by Hendry.

At this point, Culter also made their final change with Campbell making way for Ord.

Carnoustie remained on top and in 82 minutes made things a bit more comfortable for themselves by doubling their lead. Voigt, out on the right, fired the ball low and hard across the face of the goal and BEITH coming in at the far post blasted it home, giving the 'keeper no chance.

Shell-shocked by the Gowfers' second half goal blitz, Culter appeared to have no answer to the onslaught, but almost reduced the leeway in 89 minutes when Sim played a good ball right into the visitors' goalmouth. B. Smith rose with Whyte, then found himself being booked after deliberately handling the ball as he tried to gain an advantage.

Right on the final whistle, Carnoustie came close to going nap when a Morrison shot was blocked away by Pressley. Morrison was first to the loose ball and passed it on to Conway, who fired low and hard across the face of the goal, but with no-one up in support the chance was lost.

Moments later, the referee brought the tie to a close and so signalled the Gowfers' passage into the final of the competition after a remarkable second half comeback.

Line-Ups:

Culter: Spiers, Campbell (Ord 80), Rattray, Wilson, Pressley, Adam, Sim, Mountford (B. Smith 71), Shand, Craik (Cadger 71), Rintoul.

Substitute Not Used : Brown, Thow.

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, D. Smith (Cook 32), Craig, Narey, Robertson, Morrison, Muhsin (Beith 53), Abbot, Voigt, Collier (Hendry 79), Conway.

Substitute Not Used : O'Boyle, McCafferty (gk).

Referee : S. McKenzie, Peterhead.

Match Report Courtesy Of Guide & Gazette Newspaper