South Challenge Cup clashes take centre stage for footballers

Haddington Athletic, Ormiston, Preston Athletic and Tranent Juniors are all gearing up for the South Challenge Cup, as Musselburgh Athletic and Dunbar United focus on the Premier Division.

Three of the cup contests take place in East Lothian as Tranent Juniors welcome Lugar Boswell Thistle.

The hosts will go into the tie as favourites after 14 wins from their 19 league contests this season.

Tranent (maroon) came from a goal down to secure a draw with league leaders Penicuik Athletic

In contrast, their Ayrshire visitors sit third bottom of Conference A in the West of Scotland Football League (WOSFL).

The Rosebank Park side have only won four league contests this campaign, with their last three points coming at the beginning of November against Muirkirk Juniors.

Calum Elliot’s men will be looking to pick up a win before turning their attention to next weekend’s Scottish Cup clash with Stirling Albion.

Ormiston also have WOSFL opposition as Thorniewood United head for New Recreation Park.

Richie Weir’s men ended their long goal drought last weekend as they went down 4-3 to Tweedmouth Rangers.

Ormiston (black and white) host Thorniewood United in the South Challenge Cup today

Thorniewood, of North Lanarkshire, sit fifth in Conference B having won 10 of their 17 league encounters.

Haddington also have home advantage and face an intriguing tie with Lowland League high-flyers Spartans.

The capital club trail Bonnyrigg Rose at the top of the fifth tier of Scottish football but the Hi Hi have already beaten Deveronvale and pushed Brechin City hard in the Scottish Cup.

Haddington Athletic continued their fine form with victory over Coldstream. Picture: Garry Menzies

Haddington also come into the game on the back of near flawless league form with 13 wins and a draw from the first half of the First Division Conference A season.

Preston Athletic are the only county club on their travels in the cup as they head for Sauchie Juniors.

Jack Lynch’s men sit second top of First Division Conference B and will be out to spring a surprise on Sauchie, who sit tenth in the Premier Division.

Preston Athletic (blue) moved to within three points of league leaders Glenrothes with a commanding victory over Peebles Rovers

The hosts come into the contest on the back of consecutive 3-2 wins over Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts and Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale.

In league action, both Musselburgh Athletic and Dunbar United are away from home.

Joe Hamill’s Musselburgh, who sit fourth in the table, head for a Camelon team in desperate need of points at the opposite end of the table.

Three points for the visitors would see them edge closer to Linlithgow Rose, who are third in the table.

Musselburgh Athletic (blue) can edge closer to third placed Linlithgow Rose with victory this weekend

The two sides faced off against each other in July but the game was abandoned due to a torrential downpour.

Finally, Dunbar United head for Fife to face Inverkeithing Hillfield Swift.

The Seasiders stopped their own run of poor form with victory over Newtongrange Star last weekend.

Dunbar United (black and white) are looking to climb the Premier Division table this weekend. Picture: Gordon Bell

Only a point separates Dunbar and the Swifts in the table, although the hosts have played one game more.

Kevin Haynes and his team were 3-1 winners in the reverse fixture in September.