CULTER 1 BERWICK RANGERS 1

by Chris Sanderson

CULTER CO-MANAGER Andy Gibson is confident that his side finish the job off after his side's battling draw against Berwick Rangers.

The North Champions fought back from the set-back of falling behind to Steve Notman's early second half opener to level within nine minutes when Borderers defender Michael Dunlop flashed a David Greig cross past his own goalkeeper for the equaliser.

And the Peterculter side could have easily been celebrating an epic first Scottish Cup senior scalp with a bit of luck as they cranked up a wave of late pressure.

Gibson felt that his side must make home advantage count but the Crombie Park gaffer believes he has seen enough from his troops to make him believe that his side can win at Shielfield Park in next Saturday's third round replay.

Gibson said: "I thought we showed tremendous battling qualities especially after going a goal behind.

"Our heads never went down and I thought we should have won it at the end when we piled on the pressure. I was a bit worried that we might tire in the last 15 minutes or so but if anything we finished the stronger side and I feel we can go down to Berwick and finish the job off."

On a rain lashed afternoon there was no room for any complacency as both teams went straight for the jugular straight from the word go.

In an end-to-end opening quarter it was the North Region's top gun Jamie McAllister who went close after just 11 minutes when he got on the end of a Greig cross but the striker's header landed just over it's intended target.

The second division outfit knew they were going to have to roll their sleeves up and battle if they were going to come away from the North East Coast with a place in the third round draw tomorrow and Steven Tulloch had their best effort of the first half in the 22nd minute which rolled past Neil Duffy's far post.

Berwick then began to take a stranglehold on the game and the next notable opportunity fell to Damian Gielty in the 43rd minute who picked up a Scott Dalziel flick-on but the midfielder's effort landed wide of Duffy's far post.

But there was time for once last effort from the home side before the break and George McBain picked up a pass from Ian Leith and let rip with a effort which stung Rangers keeper Billy Bald's palms.

If the driving rain wasn't making conditions for players and supporters horrendous enough then a driving wind sweeping across the pitch made it almost unbearable for most of the second half.

The general consensus around Crombie Park was that one goal might be enough to win the tie.

And it was the Wee Gers that made the vital breakthrough eight minutes into the second half.

Gielty played a ball up to Dalziel who flicked the ball through the middle of the park to Notman who managed to hold off the challenge of two defenders to shoot the ball under Duffy for the opener.

Culter now faced the acid test but they passed with flying colours by equalising within nine minutes.

The lively Greig was rapidly becoming a thorn in Berwick's side and in the 62nd minute he set about the visitors with another powerful run.

The wide-man's intended target looked to be Leith but on-loan Forfar Athletic defender Dunlop could only flash the cross past his own keeper into an empty net.

It was game-on now and as the light worsened and the conditions took a turn for the worse the game was perfectly balanced on a knife edge.

Both sides had chances to edge their noses in front.

Berwick sub Josh Morris had two great chances to put his side in front.

But it was the home side who finished the stronger as a partisan crowd suddenly sensed a shock could be on the cards.

Two minutes from stoppage time the visitors conceded a free kick and with the light almost fading into darkness Leith drilled a shot goalwards which somehow Bald managed to pick out from a group of players and clutch the ball to safety.

Berwick manager Ian Little accepted his side had rode their luck somewhat in the dying stages and said: "We're just pleased to be in Tuesday's draw with a second bite of the cherry next weekend."

Culter FC

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