Historic Scottish Cup clash for Jeanfield

William Hill Scottish Cup Second Preliminary Round

History will be made at Riverside today when Jeanfield Swifts play the Perth club’s first ever home fixture in the Scottish Cup.

The East of Scotland side cruised through to the second preliminary round by thrashing Coldstream 9-1 and now welcome fellow EOSFL Premier Division outfit Linlithgow Rose to the Fair City.

Linlithgow defeated Preston 2-1 to get to this stage.

Jeanfield are in good form after beating Broxburn in the South Region Football Nation Challenge Cup.

Manager Ross Gunnion said: “The squad has really looking forward to this fixture as it’s a great opportunity for the team to perform on the national stage.

“Training has been at a very high standard this week and now the team need to go out and deliver the same standard for 90 minutes.

“We’ve enjoyed a number of close matches with Linlithgow in the past so we expect a good and competitive fixture on Saturday. It’s been brilliant to have so much local support at our recent games and hopefully we’ll have great backing again on Saturday”

The club expect the car park to be busy. Overflow parking is available at Riverside Church and the nearby St John’s School car parks. The Stagecoach number nine bus stops very close to the ground.

The game has a 3pm kick-off. Entry is pay at the gate and is £6 for adults and £3 concessions.

Lochee United meanwhile will be confident of booking a place in the first round proper of the Scottish Cup as they host East of Scotland First Division side Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale at Thomson Park.

The Dundee side were comfortable 7-0 winners over Burntisland Shipyard and although Thistle thrashed Wigtown and Badenoch in the First Qualifying Round, United boss George Shields said his scout learnt very little with the game won within the first half hour.

It isn’t anticipated that Shields will make many changes to the side that comfortably beat Broughty Athletic last weekend and should have the same squad available.

Geosonic Lowland League

Kelty Hearts have taken 15 points from a possible 18 to start the season and are in second place in the Lowland League, a point behind leaders and former Junior rivals Bonnyrigg Rose.

Barry Ferguson’s side were highly impressive in thrashing Spartans 5-0 at New Central Park and will go in to this weekend’s clash at home to Gretna 2008 as big favourites to add another three points to their tally.

The Hearts boss expects to have the same squad that was on duty in midweek.

Central Taxis East of Scotland League Premier Division

Crossgates boss Alan Campbell was delighted that his side took their first points of the season from last weekend’s 2-1 win over Musselburgh Athletic at Humbug Park.

Campbell will now be looking for his troops to maintain that form as they take on Blackburn United at home and has the same squad available as last weekend.

Dundonald Bluebell boss Lee Dair will be looking for a response from his side after last weekend’s 3-2 defeat at home to Penicuik Athletic as they face a second Lothian side at Moorside Park, with Newtongrange Star the visitors.

Dair has no fresh injuries to add to the already missing Craig Wedderburn, Colin Wilson and Lewis McKenzie.

First Division Conference A Burntisland Shipyard make their first away trip in Conference A as they head to Haddington Athletic looking for their first league win of the season.

Last weekend saw Grant Brough’s men lose an incredible game at Recreation Park, 6-5 to Conference leaders Leith Athletic although Brough was able to take a number of positives from the game.

Haddington sit in third place with three wins and a draw from their six games, Shippy make the trip with the same squad that lost last weekend.

Alex Jack Cup First Round Kinnoull will try and take on Arniston Rangers at Newbyres Park in the First Round of the Alex Jack Cup this weekend.

The two sides were due to meet earlier in the month but the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Kinnoull manager Alan Cameron is not short of problems with Alan Cunningham, Tijan Nyass, Fraser Morrison and David Frydrychouz all missing the game while Gordon Norrie has tonsillitis so the team selection will be a late one.

St Andrews United will give a debut to Kyle Wilson, who has signed from Dundonald Bluebell and he will come in for loanee Owen Andrew, who is suspended for their second round trip to Tranent.

Saints could also be without defender Ollie Fleming.

Oakley United manager Stewart Kenny is without Brian Breen, Reece Kay and Lee Halpin as his side travel to take on Dalkeith Thistle at Kings Park.

Kenny was disappointed by United’s exited from the South Challenge Cup to Easthouses on penalties but hopes his side can bounce back at Kings Park.

Glenrothes were surprisingly held to a 3-3 draw by Tweedmouth Rangers last weekend and manager Barry Cockburn knows his side will have to be more clinical as they travel to Paties Road to face Edinburgh United.

Tweedmouth Rangers spend a second Saturday in Fife as they follow up last weekend’s draw at Warout Stadium with a trip to Ballast park to face Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts.

Swifts went down 2-1 at Edinburgh United last weekend and manager Lee Duffy will be looking for a return to the form that has seen his side top Conference B.