PETERSHILL team boss Martin Lauchlan has called on South Challenge Cup officialdom to have a “sense of occasion” when decisions are being made affecting their prestigious competition.
41 year old Locky has been irked by the intransigent and totally unsympathetic scheduling from the cup’s powers-that-be (vis-a vis a smattering of representatives from West of Scotland, South of Scotland, East of Scotland and Lowland League clubs),that earlier this week turned down a change of date request from the Peasy’s 2nd Round opponents St Cadocs .
The Newton Mearns based outfit‘s name had come out of the hat first in the draw, as indeed had their landlords St Anthonys in having to host the visit of Rutherglen Glencairn, therefore the Ants had first call on McKenna Park for their tie today.
St Cadocs pulled out all the stops seeking an alternative venue and to their credit managed to procure New Petershill Park for a 7.30pm kick-off tonight under the Springburn floodlights however their request was rejected because it was submitted just five days ago and not the stipulated seven as required by the competition rules.
This seemingly zealous application of red tape has resulted in the Conference League pair preparing to lock horns tomorrow, Sunday 17th October (Kick Off 2pm) and has provoked a bemused retort from the seasoned Locky .
He blasted: “A floodlit Friday night game and with supporters under shelter if the weather worsens is far more likely to pull in a decent crowd than the prospect of standing out in McKenna Park’s wide open spaces on a Sunday afternoon, will it not?
“The St Cadoc’s idea appeared to tick all the common sense boxes and had the full backing of Petershill not least because two football playing teams will not find it easy to produce their best as Sunday’s game will be going ahead on a grass pitch that has been cut up from being played on just 24 hours earlier.
“It’s hard enough trying to promote the game without obstacles being put in the way and for the love of me I cannot fathom why a lag of two days can be so meaningful in relation to clubs at our level .
“It’s maybe understandable if you’re talking about Celtic or Rangers and 50,000 supporters making plans to attend but surely not St Cadocs and Petershill?”
The former Partick Thistle and St Johnstone midfielder stands alone among WoSFL gaffers as a previous winner of the South Challenge Cup (twice) back when he led Lowland League side East Kilbride to silverware glory.
He recalled: “Winning the trophy for the first time with E.K. in 2015 is very memorable even if we needed penalty kicks to overcome Gretna down in the somewhat remote venue of Galashiels.
“Our second success came at the Falkirk Stadium in 2017 when, inspired by an Adam Strachan man-of-the-match performance, we ran out 4-1 winners over Cumbernauld Colts in what was probably the best footballing display served up during my time in charge.
“And what made our victory all the more sweeter was that final being played just a week on from the massive disappointment of East Kilbride losing to Cowdenbeath in our League play-off.
“The South Challenge Cup is a bit of an unknown for clubs in the WoSFL but it’s a wonderful competition that has all the Scottish non-league sides taking part , with the exception of the Highland League, so it’s a real feather in the cap for the eventual winners and not just because they automatically qualify for the Scottish Cup proper.”
The extra 24 hours before his club’s tie may aid the recovery of a couple of injury worries for the Peasy boss but crucially he has in-form pair Stephen Docherty and Ronan Sweeney champing at the bit to extend the Peasy winning run to eight games.
St Cadocs, steered by former Glenafton Scottish Junior Cup winning gaffer Craig McEwan, cannot boast the same impressive stats however it’s an indication of the quality coursing through their side to have recently taken the Strathclyde Cup scalp of big guns Kilwinning Rangers.
The ambitious Southy has relied heavily but not entirely on developing the talent coming through St Cadoc’s youth ranks and he will doubtless again turn to experienced hands Chris Dallas, Richie McKillen, Dale “Gunner” Moore and Tony McParland for the Peasy tester.
A clear winner in any 'tie of the round` billing is the Meadow Park showdown of long standing rivals Irvine Meadow and Kilwinning Rangers which promises not to be for the faint hearted and has the home side extra-motivated from seeking revenge for last month’s 3-1 Premier League defeat.
Among other intriguing contests are strong going Arthurlie taking on Benburb, an all-Premier League clash of Blantyre Vics v Cumnock and Largs Thistle looking to add Glasgow Perthshire to their city scalps after knocking out St Rochs in the first round.
Meanwhile, the healthy crowd always envisaged to take in the Fullarton Park clash of Vale of Clyde v Pollok is set to be swelled even further by the likelihood of the Southside visitors giving a debut appearance to new striker signing Tommy Coyne from Linlithgow Rose .
All eyes will be on the 34 year old, son of the Celtic , Dundee and Motherwell legend ,after this week being described by Lok gaffer Murdie McKinnon as “Different to any of the other strikers on our books“.
He will add competition for the forward line jerseys currently coveted by the quartet of Stuart McCann, Adam Forde, Josh Weir and Callum Graham as well as Jordan Shelvey, fast becoming the forgotten man at Newlandsfield where he has reputedly not been seen since playing in the side beaten 3-1 away to Bonnyton Thistle in mid-July.
PLAYING TODAY: (Kick Offs 2PM): SOUTH CHALLENGE CUP Second Round): Thornton Hibs v Lochore Welfare Kinnoull v Harthill Royal, Bo'ness United v Kirkcaldy & Dysart,,Cumbernauld Utd v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts ,Glenrothes v St Andrews United, Caledonian Braves v Kennoway Star Hearts, Irvine Vics v Vale of Leven, Kilsyth Rangers v Thorniewood United, Dunipace v Sauchie, Jeanfield Swifts v BSC Glasgow, Burntisland Shipyard v Stirling University, Dundonald Bluebell v Crossgates Primrose, Berwick Rangers v Broxburn Athletic, Edinburgh University v Dalkeith Thistle, Easthouses Lily v Spartans, Saltcoats Vics v Glasgow Utd, Irvine Meadow v Kilwinning Rangers Vale of Clyde v Pollok, Renfrew v Westerton Utd, St Cadocs v Petershill St Peters v Beith, Rossvale v Campbeltown Pupils, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Port Glasgow,Yoker Athletic v Drumchapel Utd,Tynecastle v Armadale Thistle, East Kilbride Thistle v Newton Stewart, Bonnyton Thistle v St Cuthbert Wanderers,Blantyre Vics v Cumnock, Abbey Vale v Newmains Utd. Girvan v Maybole, Larkhall Thistle v East Kilbride F.C. Auchinleck Talbot v Forth Wanderers,Lugar Boswell v Heston Rovers, Cambuslang Rangers v Lochmaben,Lochar Thistle v Threave Rovers, Lesmahagow v Creetown, Troon v Lanark Utd, Glenafton v Kello Rovers,Muirkirk v Whitletts Vics, Hurlford Utd v Wishaw, Largs Thistle v Glasgow Perthshire, Arthurlie v Benburb, Finnart v Broomhill Sports ,St Anthonys v Rutherglen Glencairn,Johnstone Burgh v Greenock, Coldstream v Tweedmouth Rangers,Bonnyrigg Rose v Arniston Rangers, West Calder Utd v Bathgate Thistle, Edinburgh College v Penicuik Athletic Harmony Row v Clydebank,Haddington Athletic v Leith Athletic, Pumpherston v Edinburgh United, Blackburn United v Stoneyburn, Ormiston v Hawick RAU, Darvel v Gretna 2008, Bo'ness Athletic v Gartcairn, Glasgow University v Luncarty Cumbernauld Colts v Rosyth ,Lothian Thistle HV v Civil Service Strollers, Linlithgow Rose v Camelon , Whitburn v Gala Fairydean Rovers,Preston Athletic v Peebles Rovers,Newtongrange Star v Tranent, Syngenta v Oakley United . PDM Buildbase Conference League A.
Bellshill Athletic v Maryhill , Shotts Bon Accord v Craigmark. PDM Buildbase Conference League B.Ardeer Thistle v Renfrew, Carluke Rovers v Dalry Thistle, Ashfield v Royal Albert. PDM Buildbase Conference League C.Neilston v Ardrossan Winton Rovers. PDM Buildbase Division Four.Glenvale v Kilsyth Athletic.
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