Junior games could go ahead

Dec 2 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

EMIRATES Scottish Cup third-round ties which were wiped out by snow and frost are back on the card for this weekend – weather permitting!

Four ties involving five sides are scheduled - in hope more than expectation - with the all-county clash between Super League First Division sides Shotts and Bellshill looking like tie of the day.

Bellshill, who are still unbeaten after four games under manager Gerry Creaney, hold a psychological advantage, having won the league encounter between the sides at Hannah Park in Creaney’s dug-out debut.

But Shotts have recently come out of a 20-game unbeaten run which, if the conditions clear sufficiently, could give them and their tactically-astute manager Tony McInally the incentive to get Bon Accord back on song.

Lanark United, at home to Super League First Division pacesetters Whitletts Vics, are still confronted with a nightmare backlog of injuries which will again deny manager Tam McDonald the opportunity to field anything resembling his first-choice team.

That position, at least numerically, is eased by the re-signing of Declan McAvoy from Alloa Athletic and Jamie McPherson from Albion Rovers but the young lads are as yet untested at junior level, let alone in a Scottish Cup tie against top Ayrshire opposition.

Goalkeeper Derek Barnes, defender Roland Fabiani and strikers Stefan McCluskey and Stuart Tullis expect to be back but defender Tommy Lennox and midfielder Paul Woods will be sidelined for several weeks.

Larkhall’s bang-in-form goal-grabbers Graham Gracie and Ross McGeachie are desperately keen to see the cup tie against Greenock going ahead at Gasworks Park in the hope that they can continue their scoring spree. Gracie has netted four goals in each of his last two outings.

Stephen O’Neil, who can feature in the key midfield holding role, would have missed Saturday’s tie as he was working in England but he was due back last night (Wednesday) and expects to be available for selection.

Forwards Allan Watson and Allan Campbell now have a better chance of being fit to play, giving manager Duncan Sinclair a potential treble selection boost should the tie go ahead.

Sinclair said: “Having O’Neill, Watson and Campbell available for selection certainly provides me with more options against a Greenock side which likes to get the ball down and play it.

“I just hope we get the chance to express ourselves the way we have done in our past two games, by hitting six goals each time, and move forward in the competition.”

Blantyre Vics manager Ian Rankin is also enjoying a selection boost, with young striker Paul Mallon having an extra week to overcome the injury scare which would have sidelined him last Saturday.

Rankin added: “Defender David Arbuckle is also getting over the calf strain which would probably have sidelined him on Saturday and I expect him to be available to play this weekend, weather permitting of course!

“I’ve been trying all weekend to arrange indoor facilities - maybe even an indoor friendly- but, if not, a training session or two to keep the players together and keep their fitness ticking over would be great.

“But it has been difficult as so many other teams are in the same boat.”

Left-back Stephen McGurgan, who rejoined Vics earlier this month following a spell at Shotts, is keeping his fingers crossed that he will soon get the chance to reclaim the spot he made his own at the start of last season.