JUNIOR FOOTBALL – PA FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29

Sep 30 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

IT’S cup tie day tomorrow with both the Scottish Junior Cup and the Tayside/North Region GA Cup kicking off with their first and preliminary round ties.

Jeanfield Swifts and Luncarty are the only teams with first round ties while the remainder of the teams have received byes into round two.

Swifts are fortunate as they have the luxury of a home tie with North Region side Aberdeen East End visitors to the Riverside Stadium, while Luncarty have a tough away assignment against Super League side Lochee United as their hosts.

Jeanfield suffered their first league defeat when they lost their away game against Dundonald last week.

This was a disappointing performance from Swifts especially following on after their great cup win over the East of Scotland Cup holders Newtongrange Star the previous week. A win in tomorrow’s Scottish Cup clash would certainly be the ideal tonic after a very painful reverse.

Swifts boss Scott Brown could again be without Robbie Holden. The striker was ruled out last week with an ankle injury sustained at training and the news from the treatment room is that he remains in the doubtful category and may have a late test. Jamie Reid, who missed last week’s game due to a dead leg injury, has been given the all clear and has been back in full training.

Jamie returns to the squad for this game which will again be without Ross Gunnion who is sidelined with his persistent knee injury, while Scott Christie and Neil Gardiner are unavailable. Scott Brown expects to have a squad of 17 or 18 from which he will make a late selection and there could be changes from last week’s lineup.

Aberdeen East End had their Scottish Cup hopes brought to an end last season when Bankfoot beat them 4–0 in a second round replay at Coronation Park.

Now Swifts have the opportunity make their second visit to the Big County equally disappointing by ending their Scottish Cup hopes at an even earlier stage by winning this first round tie.

The East End are going well in their region’s First Division at the present time they are second top of the league table and have lost only one of their six games played. In their last two games they have hit the goal trail with a tally of 13 goals for the loss of only four.

Luncarty are well aware they will have to produce one of this seasons Scottish Cups major shocks if they are to progress to round two at the expense of Lochee United who have won two and lost two of their Super League games and of course it has been even more difficult for the Bleachers as it’s being played at the Bluebells’ home pad Thomson Park.

John McLean is unavailable but goalkeeper Craig Rothney is expected to make his first appearance of the season in this game. The Bleachers expect to have a squad of 17.

Blairgowrie are at home to Bankfoot in the GA Cup preliminary tie which will be played at Scone Thistles Farquharson Park as the changing rooms at their Davie Park are still under repair.

Blair chairman Billy Mackay was at pains to stress they are again indebted to Scone Thistle not only for the use of the pitch and the facilities but also for their help in staging this game. No doubt Billy would be delighted if they get another successful result as they did in their last cup game at this venue when they ousted the strong going Lothians side Tranent from the East of Scotland Cup.

Blair are undefeated in their last four games and are well aware that the Bankies will be a difficult hurdle to surmount but manager John Holt has got his relatively young side playing well and believing in themselves. John will have the same squad that accounted for Coupar Angus last week, plus James Simpson unavailable last week returns to the squad which is expected to number 16.

Bankfoot’s results have been disappointing in recent games but manager Ian Duff is confident that they will turn the corner.

There’s a few pieces of good news from the Bankies camp for tomorrow’s game. Their recently signed goalkeeper Matt Curtis, unavailable last week, returns and their key midfield player Bally Whytock, who has been out for some weeks with a knee injury, has been given the green light to return. Alan Stewart, who has been out with a shin splints injury, is back training and he could be in tomorrows’ squad which is expected to number 17 or 18. Only player missing is Jamie McAinsh who is unavailable.

Kinnoull make a return to the GA Cup after deciding not to play in it for a number of seasons and they do so with an away tie against Coupar Angus at Foxhall Park.

Kinnoull are favourites to advance to the next round based on the fact they are undefeated in their league games and they have also ousted a Premier League side Broughty in the East of Scotland Cup while their hosts have yet to win a game.

Kinnoull boss Gavin Price adds Calum McKinlay, recovered from injury and Richard Doig, unavailable last week, to the squad that brought home the points from Steelend.

Coupar boss Alan Robson will be without Aly Townsley and Derek Duncan both unavailable and there are doubts about Fraser Smith, hip injury and Duncan Cocker ankle injury.

The Luncarty reunion is being held tomorrow night in their social club. Enquiries should be directed to Jim Meiklejohn, tel 01738 828071 or Brian Whyte, 01738 827664.

FIXTURES for tomorrow (Saturday): Emirates Scottish Junior Cup first round – Jeanfield Swifts v Aberdeen East End; Lochee United v Luncarty. Kick Off’s – 3pm.

GA Engineering Cup preliminary round – Blairgowrie v Bankfoot (this game is being played a Scone Thistle’s Farquharson Park); Coupar Angus v Kinnoull. Kick Off’s – 2.30pm.

Note: Different kick off times between the Scottish and GA Cups.