Junior seniors set up battle of the giants in Holy Grail
YESTERDAY’S Evening Times-staged Macron Scottish Junior Cup 4th Round draw did Pollok no favours after the southside giants landed the competition’s plum tie for the second round in a row.
The reward for Murdie McKinnon’s men overcoming Cumnock in last weekend’s 3rd round replay joust at Townhead Park is an even deeper trip into the Ayrshire heartlands. Pollok face 2017 Cup winners Glenafton but the new Lok boss was not complaining.
He said: “Obviously it’s not one I would have handpicked but I’m pretty sure the Glens manager Craig McEwan will be preaching more or less the same message when you speak to him.
“It becomes particularly tough having to play down at Loch Park, which is a pitch that can be open to the winter elements. However, it is what it is and we will need to pull out all the stops and try to be best prepared.
“We have players coming back from injury to make us stronger and it’s vital we have them in a state of readiness if they are to feature in such a massive game.
“Having two of the top teams going head to head (I believe ours is the only all-Premiership clash) makes for a very exciting tie and there can be no doubting these are the big games you want to be involved in as a player and manager.
“However, we must not lose sight of the fact a lot of football has to be played between now and the November 24. My players have to focus on taking one game at a time and not be looking too far ahead.”
The other nine Premiership big guns were all kept apart in the pairings, though only Kilwinning Rangers had the good fortune to receive home advantage against the only surviving North Region outfit in the last 32, reigning league champions Banks O’Dee.
Trophy holders Auchinleck Talbot are on the road to notorious Castle Park to meet Blantyre Vics while last season’s beaten finalists Hurlford United are on arguably stickier ground in heading through to face a