Blair’s third stab at the GA Cup tie

Feb 20 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

BLAIRGOWRIE FC are all hopeful that it will be third time lucky as far as getting their GA Cup ties played

The Bankies are at home to Fortmartine, at Coronation Park, while Coupar Angus are away to Sunnybank at Heatheryford Park and Blairgowrie travel to Whitton Park as guests of Broughty Athletic

Bankies manager Robin Wood said in midweek: “If the mild weather continues we don’t visualise having any pitch problems.”

Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie hadn’t heard from their opponents by this point in time.

The mild weather seems to have been quite general and they are pretty confident there will be no pitch problems.

The rest of the days fixtures are in the respective league programmes and its the same story with regard to the pitches at those venues.

All concerned however are well aware that such are the vagaries of the weather and that it’s a case of keeping fingers crossed that the mild spell will continue and that no problems will arise.

Bankfoot are very much looking forward to this cup clash with Fortmartine and are quietly confident that they will add a second north region scalp to their belt. They beat super league side Lewis United in the previous round.

Bankies unfortunately will again be without Scott McCabe and Barry Ward, both suspended. They may also be without Danny Dobbie. Danny has a leg injury sustained at training and is likely to have a late fitness test.

Two pieces of good news from the Bankies camp is that John Mitchell, sidelined with damaged ankle ligaments, and Alan Stewart (unavailable), return to the squad along with new singing Neil McCallum. It will be a late selection from Robin Wood.

Fortmartine are going along well in their regions first division having lost only one of the 11 league games they have played and are joint holders of the second top spot in the league table at the moment.

The prize at stake for the winners tomorrow is a place in the quarter finals of the GA Cup.

Coupar Angus have twice bucked the odds at the expense of north region teams this season.

Coupar ousted FC Stoneywood from the GA Cup and accounted for super league side Ellon United in the Scottish Cup.

They hope to make it a hat trick at the expense of another super league side, Sunnybank.

This is undoubtedly a tough assignment for Coupar as the Aberdonians have lost only one of the 10 league games they have played and are being tipped to win the championship.

Coupar with Derek Grier in charge may have two new signings in their squad.

The Coupar boss said:” We have no injuries to contend with and I will make a late selection.”

Missing form the lineup will be veteran midfield player Jim Henry as he has been transferred to Dundee club North End.

Blairgowrie have a tough hurdle to overcome in the shape of Broughty.

The Ferry side are the current north league leaders and are being tipped as prospective champions.

Blair boss Billy Mackay is however quietly confident that his team can surmount this difficult hurdle.

Blair’s prospects of doing the business has been boosted by the fact that they will have a full strength squad as Mark Brash and Paul Ireland return.

Billy Mackay’s main worry going into this cup clash is that his players are suffering from a lack of action.

Blair have over the past months only played nine games of the 20 scheduled to play. Billy has kept them focussed with a few extra training session but that is no substitute for games.

Scone Thistle, Luncarty and Jeanfield Swifts are engaged in central league games.

Scone Thistle take on Lochgelly Albert at the RDM ground and they are determined to avenge the defeat they suffered in the corresponding fixture at Gardiner's Park earlier in the season.

Thistle will have two new signings in their squad for this game – Drew Fleming and John McGovern.

Drew Fleming has been signed from Bankfoot, John McGovern has been out of the game for some time but has been training with the Thistle and manager Derek Adam liked what he saw and signed him up. Both players play in the midfield.

The Thistle boss could have Grant McGregor back in the squad which will be at full strength.

Lochgelly Albert were at one time well to the fore as contenders in the championship race but have slipped down into the lower half of the table.

Their form has been most inconsistent.

The same couldn’t be said of Luncarty’s guests Rosyth as they are the league leaders and still undefeated after 13 league games played.

The Bleachers who are at the other end of the table are very much the outsiders in this game.

Bleachers boss Barry Malcolm was in an upbeat mood when he said: “Our spirits as usual are high and while we have a very difficult task we are looking forward to the game.”

Barry won’t have a full squad available as Fraser Simpson and Mike Dott have hamstring problems and Scott Wightman has a hand injury. Kyle Warner has resumed training but it will be some week’s before Kyle is likely to consider a return to full training.

The Bleachers gaffer expects to have a squad of 16 or 17 available which will include a trialist.

Jeanfield Swifts are away to Crossgates Primrose. The Swifts won the corresponding fixture earlier in the season. They will go all out to complete the double and if they do they will come home with three very valuable points that will keep them within touching distance of the league leaders.

Swifts boss Eddie O’Connor hasn’t ruled out the possibility of having a new singing on board for this game. Mike Waring and Gary Brock are out with foot injuries. Eddie expects to have a squad of 17 or 18 available.

Kinnoull are guests of the premier league leaders Musselburgh and as part of their preparation for this encounter they played a midweek friendly against Downfield at Tulloch Park. Kinnoull won this game by 2–1 and manager Scott Brown said it was a very worthwhile exercise as it gave the players some much needed match practice.

Stuart Nicol, Iain Wilkie, Martin Maher and Steve McAllister return to the squad for tomorrow’s game.

Gary Sweeney is still nursing a knee injury while Neil Gardiner is unavailable. Jon Kelly picked up a knock in the friendly but is expected to be okay. Scott Brown expects to have a squad of 16 or 17 available.