FOUR East Lothian football teams are 90 minutes away from securing a place in the second round of the Scottish Cup.

Dunbar United, Haddington Athletic, Preston Athletic and Tranent Juniors will all be looking to make it through to the next stop on the Road to Hampden tomorrow (Saturday).

Only Dunbar United have home advantage as they welcome fellow East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) Premier Division side Camelon to New Countess Park.

Fellow Premier Division side Tranent Juniors make the trip to Penicuik Park in one of the picks for match of the day, while Preston Athletic and Haddington Athletic both have long journeys north as Preston face Lossiemouth and Haddington take on Deveronvale.

East Lothian Courier: Dunbar United will be hoping home advantage proves key against CamelonDunbar United will be hoping home advantage proves key against Camelon

Kevin Haynes, who took the managerial hot seat at Dunbar at the beginning of the season, described the feeling around the club after the 3-1 victory over Broxburn Athletic in their first ever Scottish Cup tie last month.

He said: “It meant so much to so many people.

“Part of the day for me was seeing the reception the players received leaving the park. I have never seen that at Dunbar.

“I played there for two or three years and the players were applauded off the park. People were wanting to shake their hands, it meant so much and created a great atmosphere.

“The Scottish Cup is something different to a normal league game.

“It is the biggest cup you are going to play in.

“There is no glass ceiling. We could end up with the best draw possible, financially and experience wise for the players.

“Just by progressing, you do not know what you are going to get.

“There is an element of surprise, an element of excitement and it can generate funds and it can generate experiences for the players that they may never get again.”

The Seasiders welcome a Camelon outfit who have already beaten them in the league this season.

However, Dunbar sit six places better off in the Premier Division table and Haynes felt the familiarity could benefit his side.

He said: “We – myself and my coaching staff – will look at what we did well and we what we did not so well that day.

“We will work on that in training and get a plan set out as to how we can win the match.”

Meanwhile, Tranent Juniors and Penicuik Athletic are locked together at the top of the Premier Division, with both sides having won 10 of their opening 11 league encounters.

East Lothian Courier: Tranent Juniors face Penicuik Athletic, who are challenging them for the Premier Division titleTranent Juniors face Penicuik Athletic, who are challenging them for the Premier Division title

Calum Elliot, manager of the East Lothian side, told Courier Sport his men would have to be “at our absolute best” to get through.

He said: “It is probably the draw both teams did not want to get.

“Both are doing well in the league but it is one we will relish, will prepare for and we will give everything to try to win that match.”

The Foresters Park club enjoyed an impressive debut in Scotland’s top cup competition last season. Victories over Edinburgh University and East Stirlingshire saw them paired with League One side East Fife in the second round. Steven Thomson gave Elliot’s men the lead in the first half before the Fifers fired back to win 5-1.

The manager was keen to see his side progress to the same stage and possibly beyond.

He said: “Sometimes you forget when you are playing what it was like when you were a kid and watching your boyhood club being involved in the Scottish Cup.

“Everybody dreams of playing in the Scottish Cup.

“Now, there is a pathway for the clubs to advance as far as they possibly can.

“Any team, if you are lucky, can get on a run and you can try to put something together.

“Both teams [Penicuik and Tranent] will not be thinking past Saturday.

“It is 50-50, they are at home and maybe feel they have a slight advantage but we will going there to win and hopefully we do that.”

Meanwhile, Haddington Athletic reached the first round last year after victory over BSC Glasgow.

East Lothian Courier: Haddington Athletic face Highland League opposition for the second year in a row as they tackle DeveronvaleHaddington Athletic face Highland League opposition for the second year in a row as they tackle Deveronvale

Formartine United ended Haddington’s cup journey on Boxing Day and another Scottish Highland Football League side are standing in their way again.

Scott Bonar, manager of the Millfield club, said “everybody involved with the club is really looking forward to this weekend and is excited for the occasion”.

Deveronvale sit 11th in the Highland League table but the Hi Hi manager was keen to focus on his own team.

He said: “I don’t go into games thinking about the standard of the other team or who we are playing. I like to focus on what we are doing.

“I would not go and say anybody is a favourite but I like our players to play with no fear, to thrive on it and give it their best shot.”

The Princess Royal Park side reached the fourth round of the Scottish Cup in 2007 – knocking out Montrose and Elgin City along the way before being edged out by Partick Thistle.

Bonar said the club had history in the competition but confessed he had not been able to see much of the current squad, although he had received reports from people in the game.

East Lothian Courier: Preston Athletic face a long journey north to face LossiemouthPreston Athletic face a long journey north to face Lossiemouth

It was a similar story for Jack Lynch’s Preston side, who head to Lossiemouth’s Grant Park with limited knowledge of their opponents.

However, Preston will be buoyed by their 2-0 victory over Threave Rovers in the preliminary round.

The manager felt the standard of the Highland League was above much of the East of Scotland Football League.

He added: “Most people will have us as underdogs and rightly so.

“If I am being honest, I said to the boys just go and enjoy it.

“It is a great occasion, regardless of the result, just make sure you enjoy the game and enjoy the occasion because a lot of the boys have not played in the Scottish Cup.”