Hopes are high for cup replay victories

Nov 7 2008 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

COUPAR Angus and Kinnoull replay their Scottish Cup second round ties against Ellon United and Shott’s Bon Accord respectively.

Coupar have the advantage of being at home and this replay is expected to see Foxhall Park house its best crowd of the season so far. Coupar are looking for a strong home support to get behind them as it would no doubt help boost their chances of making it to round three.

Kinnoull’s opponents haven’t lost any of the six games they have played at their home ground Hannah Park this season. Kinnoull however with their terrific track record away from home are quietly confident that they can bring this record to an end and move forward to round three in the process.

Coupar Angus after their top class performance last week in holding their North Region Super League opponents to a 3-3 draw were always behind in this game but their “never say die” attitude and great spirit won them a well deserved replay.

Coupar co-bosses, Dave Martin and Derek Grier will be demanding more of the same from their players in this game and will no doubt get the response they are looking for and hopefully they will clinch their place in round three.

Coupar fielded a new signing in last week’s game. He is Derek Lomas who plays up front. Derek is no stranger to the Foxhall Park faithful as he played with Coupar a few seasons ago. He showed up well in last week’s game.

Coupar are delighted that they have the same squad of 17 available as last week. Mark Traynor will again have to take in the game from the sidelines, as he is still nursing the fractured wrist he sustained three weeks ago. Mark is the only player to miss out in what should be a cracking Scottish Cup encounter.

Ellon must surely be facing this trip to Foxhall Park with a degree of trepidation after failing to win at home last week and being very much the favourites to do so. Now those roles have been reversed. Ellon’s number one danger man is their striker and leading scorer Derek Craigie.

Kinnoull must be feeling that this trip to Hannah Park shouldn’t have been necessary as they twice were two goals ahead but let it slip away from them. They are however quietly confident that they will do the business tomorrow.

Kinnoull boss Scott Brown is happy that all his players came through unscathed in last week’s tie and that he will have the same squad of 17 available.

Still out with injuries are NeilMcCallum and Mark Morrison while Jamie McKenzie is again unavailable due to work commitments.

The draw for the third round of the cup takes place on Sunday at 1pm in the Whitburn Social Club.

Jeanfield Swifts, after their outstanding win against Cumbernauld last week in the Scottish, return to the domestic scene and a home Central League game against Newburgh. This may not have the glamour of a Scottish tie but Swifts manager Eddie O’ Connor says its every bit as important as Swifts are desperately keen to move up the table and join the leading challengers in the championship race.

Swifts are currently in the fourth from the top position in the table with 10 points from six games played and a win in tomorrow’s game would certainly help their cause of keeping in touch with the leading contenders for the championship.

Eddie O’Connor was very pleased with David Thornton’s performance last week. David who has joined Swifts from East Stirling fitted in very well with his new team mates and certainly on this showing looks as if he will be a very valuable addition to the squad.

Swifts lengthy injury list is gradually clearing up. Gary Brock who was out for quite a spell after an operation has been back in full training and is feeling no ill effects. Gary is in the squad for tomorrow’s game. So too is Sean Fergus who has been out for four weeks with a knee injury. Sean has also been back in full training and is feeling okay. Still out with a knee injury is Gerrard Kelly. Donald McDonald misses tomorrow’s game as he is unavailable. On the credit side Kevin Fowler, who missed last week’s game, returns.

Eddie O’Connor expects to have a squad of 16 or 17 available.

Newburgh were on a roll with a five game unbeaten run under their belts before they met Kilwinning Rangers in the Scottish Cup and lost by 3-0 last Saturday. The Fifers felt they just didn’t perform to their capabilities in this game.

Swifts will certainly be striving to make sure that they won’t get back on to the winning track in this Riverside Park encounter which should be highly entertaining.

Bankfoot and Luncarty meet at Coronation in the Central League and they are both very much in need of the points.

Bankies are fourth from the bottom of the table with three points from four games played while Luncarty are worse off as they are anchored at the foot of the table without a point from five games played. Bankfoot and Luncarty both lost out in their Scottish ties last week.

Bankfoot, apart from obviously wanting to finish with the three points from this game are keen to avenge the 3-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Bleachers when they met in the League Cup on the opening day of the season.

Bankfoot boss Robin Wood made a new signing before last Saturday’s Scottish tie. The new man is Jamie McAinsh. Jamie was previously with Coupar Angus, he is a defender. He had a testing debut in last week’s Scottish tie against Kilsyth Rangers and he performed well. Jamie is likely to make his Coronation Park debut in tomorrow’s game.

Bankies skipper and centre half Gary Campbell, who has been out of action with a groin injury for some weeks, has been back in full training. He is now feeling okay and returns to the squad. Bankies could be without Drew Fleming, back injury and Kenny Hynd, ankle injury. They haven’t been completely ruled out of the equation as they may have late fitness tests.

Luncarty, who have been hit by a host of players being unavailable, mainly due to injuries will still be without Dave Taylor, Fraser Simpson and Kyle Warner. Although all three could return very soon as they are much improved. It’s very much on the cards that Ewan Murray, Phil Coleman and Peter Gormley will return for tomorrow’s game. Alan Bailey is another possible starter. Alan has been out of action for a couple of weeks with a foot injury but has resumed training and if he is feeling no ill effects. He will rejoin the squad. The news from the Luncarty camp is that it will be a late selection.

Luncarty, who are without a manager at the present time, are hopeful that this problem will be resolved in the next few days. Luncarty chairman Ian Bannerman said: “We are confident that we will have a new manager in place soon.” Ian would give no indication as to who the new man was.

Scone Thistle travel into the Kingdom to take on Crossgates Primrose. The Thistle will still be without Mark Robertson, who has a foot injury and Scott Ballingall. Scott is nursing an ankle injury. It’s a late selection from Scone boss Derek Adam.

Scone goalkeeper Steve McKinnie, who has been out for a lengthy spell, is back in full training and its not likely to be too long before he will be given the all clear to return.

Crossgates have lost only one of the four league games they have played and have taken nine points from those games. They will be looking to add three more to their tally from this game. Scone will obviously have other ideas.

Blairgowrie have a tough premier league game. They are away to Newtongrange Star and they certainly won’t be wanting a repeat of a fortnight ago when they set of for this fixture only to be turned back half way as they pitch was unplayable.

Blair won’t be at full strength for this game as Paul Freland is still out with a foot injury and Nairn Gellatly is unavailable due to work commitments.

There are also doubts about Mark Christinson who has a calf strain and Ryan Menzies a groin problem. Marn and Ryan are expected to have late fitness tests. A piece of better news is that defender Kevin Kirons, who has been unavailable returns. It’s understandably a late selection from Blair boss Bill Mackay.