Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Gowfers in need of Scottish Cup tonic
MANY sides will be on their travels this week with the second-round draw of the Scottish Cup handing some lengthy journeys to local clubs.
Carnoustie make the long trip north to Peterhead to face Longside.
On paper, the Gowfers should be too strong for the First Division outfit but Alan McSkimming’s side are low on confidence after losing their last five matches and, once again, the manager has to deal with a lengthy injury list.
Derek Paterson, Ryan Roche, Adam Harwood, Luke McGeehan and Jamie McCabe are all out injured and loan signing Barrie Gourlay is ineligible to play.
Downfield travel west to face Neilston and, like the Gowfers, Paul Marr’s side are on a low after last week’s 4-0 loss at Dunbar.
Their opponents play in the Central First Division and have made a reasonable start to their league programme, winning four of their six matches.
With home advantage they will provide a stiff test for the Spiders.
Marr has no injury concerns but will make a late selection.
After last week’s superb performance at Penicuik, a visit from Armadale should hold no fears for Lochee United.
The South League side have had an up-and-down season so far, picking up 16 points from 10 matches but, unless there is a dramatic drop in their performance level, it’s difficult to see anything other than a win for the Bluebells.
Manager George Shields will again be without goalkeeper Mark Stewart while Paul Lunan, Aaron Whitehead and Kevin Buchan remain on the injured list.
On the plus side, central defender Danny Millar returns and Jamie Montgomery is back from his loan spell with Violet.
East Craigie will face the first of a double header against Newtongrange. As well as tomorrow’s clash at Craigie Park, they will face each other in the East of Scotland Cup.
It would be a big ask for the Shipbuilders to go through against the Super League side but they have shown in the past they are capable of producing shocks, notably against Hill of Beath a couple of seasons ago. They will give it their best shot.