Lying just within the Aberdeen city boundary, Crombie Park is home to Culter F.C., and the venue for their first home league match of the 2024/25 North Region FA Premier League. They welcomed Peterhead side Buchanhaven Hearts on a fair but blustery afternoon in Peterculter.

A Brief History

Formed in 1891, Culter spent almost a century as an amateur side, joining the Junior FA in 1987. In the preceding years, the Peterculter based club firmly established themselves in the Junior ranks with numerous successes in local cup competitions. The turn of the millennium brought more success to a revamped Crombie park, including a run of four consecutive Superleague titles from 2003/04 to 2006/07. The 06/07 triumph was particularly important for the club, as the SFA allowed the champions of each three Junior leagues of Scotland plus the winners of the Scottish Junior Cup to compete in the senior competition. Culter, alongside Pollock and Linlithgow Rose (who won both the East league and Junior Cup), became the first ever Junior teams to compete. Since 2007, Culter have appeared in the Senior Scottish Cup on 19 occasions, most famously drawing to Partick Thistle 1-1 in 2011 and most recently beating Invergordon 4-0 in August of 2024.

Current manager Lee Youngson and his team joined in 2018, revamping the squad and bringing in talent and quality, transforming the team. Culter have been dominant post COVID-19, winning the league the last two seasons and picking up 7 of a possible 8 cups.

Form

Culter are yet to lose this season, winning all three of their Grill League Cup ties against Banchory ST Ternan, Longside, and Westdyke. Next up for the reigning league champions was a first prelininary round fixture of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup, against North Caledonian League winners Invergordon F.C. A comprehensive 4-0 victory at Crombie Park ensured an 8th win in the senior Scottish Cup since 2007, and another home tie against East of Scotland Premier Division side Sauchie Juniors. Back to league action, Culter struggled against a steely Ellon United, who came back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2, only being pegged back to a 3-3 draw with a 97th minute equaliser from Cameron Fraser.

Buchanhaven have had a tougher start to their 2024/25 campaign, exciting the Grill League Cup with a loss to Stonehaven, despite wins against Sunnybank and Deveronside. They then lost 6-0 to Bridge of Don Thistle on the opening day, giving The Hearties work to do.

Culter made 4 changes from their midweek draw, with Benjamin McGregor, Keller Emsile, Craig MacAskill, and Blair Stephen coming in as the home side look to earn their first win of the league campaign.

Kickoff

The Hearties kicked off in front of around 100 spectators, and showed good defensive intent to subdue Culter in the opening stages, with little goalmouth action in the first 20 minutes. Cameron Fraser was looking dangerous on the break and Buchanhaven defenders Lewis Brown and Mark Duncan had to be alert to his pace and technical ability. Culter thought they had taken the lead in the 22nd minute after Mark Adam worked the ball into the net but referee Olivia Crawford called back a previous foul to keep the score level. Culter pushed on and continued to test the Buchanhaven backline, testing keeper Jake Ritchie numerous times before the break. Jordon Cromar came close to giving Culter a fantastic lead, with his half-volley glancing past the right-hand post. The half-time whistle came at the right time for Buchanhaven, who were beginning to tire from the relentless home side.

Culter flew out of the second-half traps and had took an eventual lead on the 53rd minute, when Ryan Smart headed home at the back post from a deep cross. The game slowed down past the hour mark, with a plethora of substitutions from either side and a couple injuries halting play. Josh Robb was the first to make way for Culter on the 70th minute, who was replaced by William Mathers. Olisa Angoegbunam and Fisola Onafeko came on late for the home side who were looking to kill the game off in the final stages. Buchanhaven struggled to create danger in the final third during the second half, and looked to tire towards the end. In the final few moments Jordan Cromar gathered the ball outside the Buchanhaven box, creating space before drilling in Culter’s second goal of the game, killing any chance of a Hearties comeback. The referee blew the full-time whistle shortly after, confirming Culter’s first League win of the season.

Culter are next in action against Fraserburgh United in the quarter final of the Grill League cup, at Crombie Park next Saturday, whilst Buchanhaven welcome Ellon United to Raemoss Park on Tuesday evening.