Football: Nine Lanarkshire clubs in Scottish Cup

Oct 28 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

NINE Lanarkshire clubs take part in the Emirates Scottish Cup second round on Saturday but one all-county clash will guarantee that all nine won’t remain in the third-round draw.

Hannah Park is the venue as Shotts entertain Lesmahagow in one of the ties of the round, with

Tony McInally’s side arguably the current form side in Lanarkshire – despite the home defeat by Bellshill.

They’ve already won the Sectional League Cup and knocked Lanark United out of this competition and the New Coin Automatics West of Scotland Cup.

And if Lesmahagow didn’t have enough to worry about, the Shotts boss is hoping to see his side bounce back in style after last weekend’s loss.

“I’m looking for a massive reaction after Saturday’s performance, which was well below the standard we had set ourselves previously this season,” said McInally. “I had Lesmahagow watched in the previous tie against Maybole and they have good, experienced players in their squad.”

At Moor Park, LANARK UNITED host East of Scotland Premier League side Ballingry Rovers. Lanark, who have twice reached the last 16 over the past four years, have raised their game under the management of Tam McDonald and, with home advantage over Ballingry, they go into the tie with confidence.

BELLSHILL, buoyed by manager Gerry Creaney’s debut win, head for Glenafton in fairly optimistic mood.

Loch Park was the scene of a past 6-3 demolition, but Creaney is confident of making amends.

He said: “I’m quite confident that, if we can give the same sort of display as we did against Shotts, we will do much better.”

First Division front-runners THORNIEWOOD UNITED will host Dundee outfit Lochee Harp, but will be missing suspended defender Brian Wharton and injured Barry McGowan.

BLANTYRE VICS, who have enjoyed convincing wins in the first round of both the Scottish and West Cups, hope to give former Lanark hitman Mark Keegans his debut at home to Ashfield.

Vics boss Ian Rankin said: “Mark gives me a different dimension in attack and different options tactically.”

LARKHALL THISTLE have Stephen Harvie and Kevin Carson back for the visit of Annbank United, but striker Davie Menelaws is suspended and Scott Dunsmore is a fitness doubt.

Manager Duncan Sinclair said: “We had Annbank watched on Saturday when they won 5-1 but if we can take our league form into this cup tie, we must be in with a good chance.”

FORTH WANDERERS, who have taken seven points from their last three league games, will hope that Gordon Murphy can maintain his goal-a-game ratio since returning from Lanark United earlier this month.

NEWMAINS UNITED face a stiff test away to Kilbirnie Ladeside, with player-manager Thomas Devine saying: “If we can play as well as we have been recently, we hope we can make it a weekend to remember.”

STONEHOUSE VIOLET are looking forward to their first Scottish Cup tie since their comeback as they head east to take on Broughty Athletic.

FIXTURES: Saturday, October 30: Emirates Scottish Cup second round: Thorniewood United v Lochee Harp; Forth Wanderers v Greenock; Kilbirnie Ladeside v Newmains United; Larkhall Thistle v Annbank United; Lanark United v Ballingry Rovers; Blantyre Vics v Ashfield; Shotts Bon Accord v Lesmahagow; Broughty Athletic v Stonehouse Violet; Glenafton Athletic v Bellshill Athletic.