AT LEAST three East Lothian sides will be in the draw for the first round of the Scottish Cup.
The final preliminary round of the prestigious competition is played on Saturday, when Dunbar United tackle Preston Athletic and Haddington Athletic travel to Drumchapel United.
The all-East Lothian clash means that at least one more county side will join Tranent and Musselburgh Athletic, who will enter the competition following this weekend’s ties.
The first-round contests will be played on October 3, when the 10 winners of the preliminary round ties will be joined by 18 clubs from the Highland League and 32 from the Lowland League.
Darren Smith’s Dunbar United come into the derby clash on the back of eight wins from their opening 10 games. He expected there to be a healthy crowd at New Countess Park this weekend.
Smith said: “The Scottish Cup is always a good occasion and usually brings a big crowd. It usually raises players’ levels as well and we are looking forward to it.
“It should be a cracking game but with added spice with it being a derby.”
One of Dunbar’s two losses this campaign came on Saturday, when they exited the South Challenge Cup at the hands of Darvel.
The East Ayrshire side scored twice in the opening 20 minutes and that proved too big an obstacle for Dunbar to overcome.
Smith said: “Strangely, I was happy with how we played on Saturday.
“It was just a case of us giving away two poor goals.
“On the other side, we did not convert opportunities we created but, in fairness, it is not like us with the two goals we conceded on Saturday.
“It is something to learn from.”
Meanwhile, Preston also lost out on Saturday as they were edged out 1-0 by Albion Rovers.
Stevie McLeish was without 10 members of his first-team squad, but five of them are due back for this weekend’s Scottish Cup clash.
Despite the absences, he felt that his team had acquitted themselves well against the Lowland League West outfit.
He said: “I thought we were very unlucky not to take it to penalties.
“Despite having a lack of numbers, the boys outfield and Dan Hart had a great game.
“We probably deserved to take it to penalties, but it was not to be.”
The former Haddington Athletic and Musselburgh Athletic manager was keen to see his side progress – just three days before the sides face off again in the league.
He said: “It’s a big game and the first time two East Lothian teams have been drawn against each other as well.
“It is a very, very big game and two teams who, I think, are going reasonably well, apart from the weekend.
“I’m sure going to Darvel is a daunting place and for us it was quite a challenge.”
Meanwhile, Haddington come into Scottish Cup weekend buoyed by a fine win over Lanark United last time out.
Scott Bonar’s men were the only East Lothian side to progress in the South Challenge Cup as they won 5-1 at Moor Park, a week after losing out to Newtongrange Star.
The manager said: “It was a good reaction from the week before, where as a group we were disappointed, myself included.
“I take a bit of responsibility and maybe set the team up wrong.
“We were too passive at times, so as a manager you are always learning as well.”
Drumchapel United sit fourth in the West of Scotland Football League (WoSFL) Premier Division, with four wins and two defeats.
Their latest victory came in the South Challenge Cup, where they demolished Girvan 9-2.
Bonar said: “A Scottish Cup run is the dream for everybody. You want to get into the latter stages and try to get a big club at home or away.
“From a personal point of view, I would love to do it for the people at the club.
“The committee in general, some of them have been there over 50 years, so Saturday is massive.”
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