Place in cup semi-final is up for grabs

A North Regional Cup semi-final berth is up for grabs at Lochside Park this evening when Hermes face Dyce, in what should be an entertaining encounter that kicks off at 8pm.

At Charlie Gordon Park tomorrow, Newmachar United welcome Fraserburgh United in the McBookie.com Premier League with the visitors potentially going second in the table with a win, depending on results elsewhere.

Home boss Ewan Robb is aware his side needs to chalk up more victories. He said: “We definitely need to turn our draws into wins. In our last matches against Sunnybank and Nairn St Ninian, we’ve had opportunities to put the game to bed but have ended up with two points as opposed to six and that’s something we’ve got to resolve.

“Fraserburgh has traditionally been a tough game for us. They’re a good, strong physical side, so we know it’ll be hard.

“We’re without Ryan Cormack, who’s had a recurrence of his hamstring issue, but we’ve got Greg Wood back earlier than expected after suffering a broken leg.”

Broch boss Russell McBride is another ruing the amount of draws his team has had in the campaign.

He said: “While the league looks good, and that’s what I tell the boys, there’s at least three games we’ve drawn when we should have been out of sight. If we had won those we would already been sitting second.

“The teams that came up last season are doing well and certainly there were those who expected the likes of us to be struggling at the wrong end of the table.

“We’ll have three or four more to choose from compared to last weekend and we’re certainly looking forward to the game.”

Sunnybank and Ellon United, who share the 36-point mark with Fraserburgh, are both on home soil, with Rothie Rovers travelling to Heathryfold and Buchanhaven Hearts making the trip to the Meadows.

Champions and table-toppers Culter entertain Colony Park, while it will be a nervous afternoon at Stauff Park where bottom club Stoneywood Parkvale face an East End side, currently third from the foot of the table and desperate to move clear of the danger zone.

At Showfield, Nairn St Ninian, sandwiched between the New Advocates Park club and Stoneywood Parkvale, host Bridge of Don Thistle and Maud will be taking on Stonehaven at Pleasure Park.

The two Championship matches see Hall Russell United making the trip to Cruden Bay and Dufftown at home to Whitehills.

In the last eight of the Elginshire Cup, Banks o’ Dee JFC are at Forest Park, looking to avenge the league defeat there a fortnight ago at the hands of Burghead Thistle, while Islavale host Banchory St Ternan.

Longside are at home to Lossiemouth United and Deveronside travel to New Elgin.

All of tomorrow’s games kick off at 2pm.

“We definitely need to turn our draws into wins