East Lothian Courier | Sport | Juniors round-up: Tricky tie awaits Burgh

Tuesday, 7th October, 2008

Published: Thursday, 17th January, 2008 09:30

Juniors round-up: Tricky tie awaits Burgh

THE county’s junior footballers had to find other ways of passing their Saturday afternoons at the weekend following the postponement of every scheduled fixture due to heavy overnight frost throughout most of Scotland.

The postponements have raised fresh concerns as to the wisdom of playing throughout the worst of the winter months with some clubs, including Tranent, not having had played a game for over a month.

It’s Scottish Junior Cup day tomorrow (Saturday) and there’s an attractive fourth round tie at Olive Bank where Musselburgh Athletic welcome a Kirkintilloch Rob Roy side who are enjoying a fine season.

There should be a big crowd in attendance as Burgh look to maintain their good cup record of recent years.

Elsewhere, Dunbar United entertain Blackburn United in the South Division, while Tranent Juniors are away to Fauldhouse United. Haddington Athletic have no competitive fixture but were expected to confirm a home friendly against Fife amateurs Eastvale. Kick-offs 1.45pm.

MUSSELBURGH

THE Olive Bank men had an extra week’s rest to prepare for the Junior Scottish Cup as a frozen pitch at Forfar West End’s Strathmore Park ensured a call-off against the Premier League leaders.

But the postponement presents no great disadvantage to Burgh going into tomorrow’s tie with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, whose match was also called off.

The visit of Rob Roy provides all the ingredients for a potentially thrilling cup tie as two good footballing sides fight it out for a place in the last 16 of the famous competition.

Rob Roy, currently topping the West Division Premier League and anticipating a bright future with a new ground in the offing, are high on confidence after hammering Renfew 7-1 in their last outing a fortnight ago.

Musselburgh, who have plenty of experience in their ranks, have enjoyed some epic cup ties in recent seasons and, on their day, can compete with the best junior outfits in the country.

The postponement of Saturday’s game did have one significant drawback as influential Paul Tansey was unable to complete a two-game suspension and will be missing tomorrow.

TRANENT

TRANENT'S postponement in West Calder means the Foresters Park outfit have not played a competitive match since December 15.

The Belters will be hoping for much better weather to avoid another week of inactivity for their scheduled match away to Fauldhouse United.

Fauldhouse impressed with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Foresters Park back in September and they’ll prove tough opponents on their own ground for Tranent as they aim to keep themselves in the thick of the promotion chase.

DUNBAR

DUNBAR’S cancelled South Division match against Harthill at Beechwood Park leaves the Seasdisers with only one game played in the past month with their trip to Harthill postponed twice along with a third fixture at West Calder.

The New Countess Park side are due to host a league meeting with Blackburn United tomorrow, and with the visitors racking up six wins in their last seven outings, both teams have now attained promotion contender status.

HADDINGTON

With just one win since October the Hi-Hi were anxious to get back on the rails with a visit to second placed Fauldhouse before the frost claimed another cancellation on Saturday morning.

The fixture was viewed as a marker to Haddington’s promotion challenge, but the referee’s pitch inspection led to a 10am postponement and left Haddington without a game for the third time in four weeks.

Less than ideally, they were also handed a free Saturday this weekend, but have agreed to meet amateurs Eastvale at Haddington following an approach from the Fife club earlier this week.

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