Thanks to the Culter players for another great effort in the William Hill Scottish Cup.Five matches, travelling hundreds of miles and watching the team play some great football.And playing in England must be a first for the club.
BERWICK RANGERS 3 CULTER 1
by Chris Sanderson

Culter's William Hill Scottish Cup adventure ended at Shielfield Park with a definite case of what might have been.
With the Reds trailing 2-0 with only ten minutes remaining star striker Jamie McAllister was sent packing by Referee Gavin Ross after picking up a second yellow card - a decision which looked at the very least debatable.

Then within seconds of the striker trudging off the park, Allan Youngson threw the visitors a lifeline from the penalty spot after substitute Michael Taylor had been sent sprawling in the box by Berwick defender.

But sadly for Culter they never got the chance to put the home side under any intense pressure after halfing their lead as Darren Lavery wrapped up the tie in the 85th minute.

Reds co-gaffer Andy Gibson had mixed emotions as he spoke to the waiting press pack after the game and said: "I couldn't fault the boys for effort or application out there today but we weren't as sharp on our toes as we normally are.

"There was a shout for a foul on our goalkeeper Neil Duffy for the first goal - I couldn't tell effectively from the vantage point I had so I would need to watch the video to make a proper judgement.

"The second goal was a ricochet. We've got back into the game with about eight or nine minutes to go but we just couldn't put Berwick under enough pressure to have a real go at them.

"We've enjoyed the run and it's wet our appetite for another crack at next season's competition but to be eligible for that we must once again win the league so we have a lot of work ahead of us in the next few months.

"We'll have a few beers on the way back up North and then we have Tuesday's Grill Cup Final against Banks O'Dee to look forward to. So at the least the boys have something quickly to look forward to pick themselves up for."

Despite feeling his side might have make home advantage count in the first tie at Crombie Park - Gibson was philosophical his team could still make club history by defeating senior opposition in the Scottish Cup.

The Culter co-gaffer's pre-match instructions to his players was not to make the same mistake they made at Firhill Stadium two seasons ago when they conceded an early goal to Partick Thistle.
And with the second division outfit forced to name 39-year-old goalkeeping coach Gary O'Connor as a late replacement to keeper Billy Bauld - the visitors must have fancied their chances.
McAllister caused an early panic in the Borderers defence with a powerful run.
But sadly the visitors made the start that co-gaffer Gibson had warned against when in the 17th minute a corner from Lee Currie was turned home by Kenny O'Brien with goalkeeper Duffy and his fellow defenders furious after they thought the midfielder had impeded the keeper.
For the rest of the half Berwick continued to press for a second goal but the Reds held firm to go into the half-time still just a goal behind with very much to play for.
The outcome of the next goal was crucial but unfortunately for Culter it was the home side who struck a crucial blow in the Reds hopes of a fight back just four minutes after the break.
Left back Dean Hoskins swung in a ball which Scott Dalziel swung his foot at with his initial effort cannoning off the post straight back to feet where he beat Duffy second time around.
The setback certainly deter the visitors and they started to enjoy their best spell of the game and in the 65th minute McAllister sent a right foot effort whistling narrowly by O'Connor's post.
However, it just didn't look as though it was going be the North Region Champions day - even more so when McAllister unluckily picked up a second booking after an off the ball clash with Currie in the 80th minute.
But within a minute the Reds were thrown a lifeline when Tulloch ploughed into Taylor's back and Referee Ross had no hesitation in awarding a spot-kick which Youngson made no mistake from.
It was game-on now and the vociferous away support tried to lift their team for one last push.
Sadly it was the home side who made the game safe with five minutes remaining when substitute Ross Gray threaded a pass through to Lavery who went onto beat Duffy with a low drive.
Duffy superbly denied Steve Notman and Gray at the end as the visitors keeper showed his class.

Culter FC

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