Shire duo in cup tie showdowns

Nov 28 2008 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TOMORROW, Jeanfield Swifts and Coupar Angus, are engaged in Scottish Cup third round ties.

Swifts take on north region side Dyce at the Riverside Stadium while Coupar’s visitors to Foxhall Park are west of Scotland side St Anthony’s.

Swifts are going along very well at the present time.

They are undefeated in their last five games and now occupy the second top spot in the central league table.

Dyce who play in the north region’s super league are in a mid table position.

They have taken nine points from five games and are doing quite well in their region’s cup competitions.

They have in fact made it to the final of the Grills Cup.

Brechin Vics were the team they defeated in the previous round of the Scottish Cup by a 2–0 margin. Both those goals were scored in the second half by Kevin Neish.

Swifts humbled their opponents in round two, Cumbernauld, when they thrashed them to the tune of 6–0.

Swifts would obviously be delighted to clock up another emphatic win in this round but that’s a most unlikely scenario considering their opponents current form.

Niall Cassidy, out for some weeks through injury, has resumed training and may be in the squad for this game.

There’s a question mark at Mike Waring who has a suspected fractured nose.

Definite non starter is Gerrard Kelly, sidelined with a knee injury. Mark Caldow returns and Eddie O’Connor expects to have a squad of 16–18 available.

Coupar Angus are at home to west of Scotland side St Anthony’s.

Coupar and St Anthony’s have one thing in common and that is that they both had to win replays in the previous round to make it to round three. Coupar beat Ellon by 3–2 at home, while St Anthony’s beat Irvine Vics 4–1 away from home.

St Anthony’s play in their regions central first division, which is equivalent in status to the east regions North League which Coupar play in, so the teams would appear to be on a level playing field as far as status is concerned.

The Ants as they are nicknamed are in the lower half of their league table at present with five games played, with three wins and two defeats.

Coupar have been a much improved side this season and are in the top half of their league table.

They had a very convincing 4–1 win against Brechin Vics last week which is a morale boosting result before their Scottish tie.

Coupar have three players in the doubtful category for tomorrow’s game due to injury.

Richard Wheeler, Duncan Cocker and Derek Lomas will have late fitness tests.

Mark Traynor is still out with a fractured wrist while on the plus side John Blackwood has recovered from the flu and returns to the squad.

It’s a late selection from Coupar co-managers Dave Martin and Derek Grier.

The rest of the fixture list is a mixed bag of league and cup games.

Kinnoull are guests of Oakley who are anchored at the foot of the league table.

Kinnoull after a good run have hit a blip in their form.

They have lost their last three games. Two cup ties and a league game.

Manager Scott Brown is in no doubt that it is their failure to put away chances they have created this problem.

Hopefully they will get back to the winning ways tomorrow.

Striker Neil McCallum, who had been out for some weeks through injury, came on as a sub last week and should be in the starting lineup for tomorrow’s Blairwood Park clash. Iain Wilkie, who missed last week’s game as he was cup tied for his previous club, returns to the squad tomorrow. Jon Kelly also missed last week’s game, which didn’t help Kinnoull’s cause, also returns. Scott Brown expects to have a squad of 17 available.

Blairgowrie are away to Fauldhouse who like Blair are having their first stint in the premier league after being promoted last season.

Blair will travel to face the Lothians side in a much more confident mood as they have produced their best form of this season in their last two games. They held Carnoustie to a draw in the league game and last week thrashed Ellon United 5-1 in a cup tie.

Blair will travel without Nairn Gellatly and Andy Murray, both unavailable. Kevin Hirons returns after suspension. Paul Ireland, out with a foot injury, has resumed training and hopes to be in the squad for this game. It’s a late selection from Blair.

Scone Thistle have an attractive league game at their RDM ground. Their visitors are the current central league leaders Rosyth.

Thistle go into this game as the second favourites but they will be going all out to buck the odds.

Rosyth will be desperate to take the full points after being surprisingly held to a draw at home by Bankfoot last week and cost them two very valuable points.

Thistle have shown an improvement in recent games and they registered their first away win of the season at Steelend.

Manager Derek Adam has no doubts that their improved form stems from the fact that the hefty injury list has cleared up and he now has a full squad available, although not tomorrow. Callum McKinlay is out due to a one match suspension ban. The Thistle boss said: “We will be going all out to buck the odds and make it another disappointing Saturday for Rosyth.”

Bankfoot and Luncarty are engaged in the supplementary round of the Redwood Leisure Cup and they are both away from home against Downfield and East Craigie respectively.

Bankfoot will again have ex Saint Jim Weir in their defence for this game against Downfield. Jim’s presence was very much in evidence in last week’s game and it will no doubt be again in this cup clash at Downfield Park.

Bankies if they can re-produce the form they displayed in last week’s game will give themselves a very good chance of finishing as the winners in this cup encounter.

The only fly in the ointment for the Bankies is that Gary Campbell, Scott McCabe and Kenny Hynd are all nursing injuries. Late fitness tests are likely to be the order of the day. Colin Fraser and Gavin McLeod return. It’s a late selection from Robin Wood.

Luncarty are guests of East Craigie who like themselves have had a poor season so far. The Bleacher’s performances have perked up since the arrival of their new manager Barrie Malcolm. They turned in their best performance in many weeks in last weeks cup game against premier league side Dundonald and felt they were unfortunate to lose.

Barrie Malcolm will have almost the same squad as last week only exception being Ewan Murray as it’s his wedding day.

Kyle Warner, out for some time through injury, has resumed training and may be in tomorrow’s squad which Barrie expects to number 16 or 17.

Luncarty’s midfield/forward Mike Lindsay has been placed on the transfer list. All enquiries to Barrie Malcolm on 07711386037.

Perthshire Juniors

TOMORROW’S fixtures: City Link Scottish Junior Cup third round – Jeanfield Swifts v Dyce; Coupar Angus v St Anthony’s.

Premier League – Oakley United v Kinnoull; Fauldhouse United v Blairgowrie.

Central League – Scone Thistle v Rosyth.

Redwood Leisure Cup preliminary round – Downfield v Bankfoot Athletic; East Craigie v Luncarty.

All kick off’s – 1.45pm.