Fraserburgh or Bonnyrigg Rose v Spartans was the third Scottish Cup Second Round tie drawn just after 11.00 this morning.

Can anyone remember the last time we received a home draw?

For the third year in a row we’ve been drawn away from home against a Junior Super League winning team although Fraserburgh will have something to say about that.

Whatever,  it’s a tie to savour come 24th October. 

Incidentally every other East of Scotland team have been drawn at home which hopefully gives teams from our league a chance of progressing.

The full draw is

Queens Park v Livingston
Nairn County v Elgin City
Fraserburgh or Bonnyrigg Rose v Spartans
Deveronvale v Buckie Thistle or Forres Mechanics
Whitehill or Wigtown v Threave Rovers
Inverurie Locos v Stranraer
Vale of Leithen v Keith
Forfar Athletic V East Stirling
Cove Rangers v Annan Athletic
Selkirk v Irvine Meadow
Girvan v Clachnacuddin or Wick Academy
Lossiemouth v Albion Rovers
Edinburgh City v Burnt Island Shipyard
Banks O’Dee v Montrose
Huntly v Auchinleck Talbot
Civil Service Strollers v Berwick Rangers

We have been missing the Old Boys score update from the weekend.  With a trademark Andy Mitchell free kick with 5 minutes to go we managed to beat Mike Drabble’s Artois team 3 – 2.  Mitch had scored earlier in the game with Andy Nixon also notching a rare strike.

The 2nd Round draw of the Active Nation Scottish Cup will take place at Scotstoun Leisure Centre at 11am tomorrow Wednesday 30th September. 

In the draw will be those teams who won or are still competing in the 1st Round along with Burntisland Shipyard, Cove Rangers, Deveronvale, Threave Rovers, all the teams from the SFL 3rd Division and of course Spartans.

John McCabe will travel through to Glasgow to watch the draw and will be held responsible should we get our usual 250 mile round trip to play on October 24th.

Spartans Women won 4-2 away to Hamilton in the women’s Premier League. Claire Crosbie bagged a double with the other goals scored by Dianna Barry and Danni Pagliarulo.

Spartans u19s lost 3-1 to Tynecastle, Scott Sime scoring the only goal for Spartans

Mike says -

“Despite trying desperately to fix up a friendly this weekend the EOS Team, by winning the Premier Division last season and thus getting a bye in the Scottish Cup, were left without a competitive game. That should be without a competitive game against non Spartan opposition. Sam and I actually split the squad down the middle and the players available put in a good shift on the field turf at lunchtime.

Dan Gerrard was on an SFA Coaching course, Kevin Sivewright has a troublesome groin and Alex King’s ankle is still causing problems so as well as the players there were a couple of friendly faces, a couple of player’s siblings and a pensioner taking part. Struan Preston has been back training and managed his first full game in a while and Mark Burns, who’ll sign as cover for the Scottish, turned out as well.  Mike Irvine’s lot ran out 4-1 winners but the game came to an abrupt end in the 89th minutes when an old fashioned shoulder charge between Burnsie and Dave Etale resulted in Mark falling awkwardly and being knocked out. We feared he had swallowed his tongue but Dougie “the hairdryer” Hewat took charge and Mark was soon impatiently waiting on the precautionary ambulance.  I spoke to Burnsie last night and he’s nursing a sore head but otherwise is fine.

The early kick off allowed me to watch part of the Craigie v Lothian game then head up to watch the later Uni v the Vale game in the Scottish. I’ve now seen Lothian four times this season and I’ll give my thoughts on them and the very impressive Wayne McIntosh later in the week as we build up to Saughton Enclosure on Saturday.

We could meet the team from Innerleithen in the semi of the Image Printers and at Peffermill the Vale were as impressive as the Uni were disappointing. Sammy’s team seemed very subdued for a Scottish Cup Saturday but that shouldn’t take away from how good the Vale looked on the day. There was a very big Spartans contingent (players and supporters) at the game and we all expected a much closer encounter.

Finally on behalf of the players and management of the EOS Team we wish Jim Martin a speedy recovery. Jim has played a very important  part in the development of the Academy and has still found time to keep me on my toes. It can’t be much fun stuck in a hospital bed nearly 500 miles from home and we all hope to see him around the Academy again, sooner rather than later.”

Mike

Spartans Juniors went out of the East of Scotland cup following a 2-1 defeat to Bathgate Thistle. The West Lothian superleague side made their first visit to Ainslie Park and managed to score a penalty five mintues from the end after Adam Perry had equalised for the home side. Spartans dominated the first half and had several great oppertunities to score. Nick Reid and Adam Perry both failed to make the most of their chances and Bathgate scored from a free kick against the run of play just before half time.

The second half was a more even affair with both teams having chances. Dawid Paterek pulled of a phenomenal save from a Bathgate free kick while at the other end Nick Reid failed to score when put clean through on goal.

Adam Perry then equalised in the 74th minute. A defensive mistake allowed him through on goal. He rounded the keeper to slot home.

Bathgate were then awarded a penalty with five minutes to go with a foul given against Paul Sutherland. Jim Lister scored his scored of the game to put Bathgate through.

Spartans can however be proud of their performance against the Superleague side. Certainly questions were being ask all round the groud, “how did Spartans lose?”

Michael Osborne starts yet another Spartans attack

Elsewhere the Amateur side lost 3-2 to Redpath Albion at Pilrig Park. Goals from Clark and McIntyre weren’t enough to win the game.

Spartans Juniors face Bathgate Thistle in the 1st round of the East of Scotland Cup in what could be the toughest game of the season. Superleague Bathgate are the first top flight Junior side to visit the new Ainslie Park and Spartans will be looking to make a good account of themselves.

Jordan Steele is still injured and Spartans could start with the same team who defeated Edinburgh United last weekend. Nick Reid could be the only doubt from that side after picking up a leg knock in Tuesdays friendly match against Gala Fairydean.

Spartans manager Mark lamb comments “This promises to be a very hard game but we are delighted to be welcoming Bathgate to Ainslie Park. This is our first season in the Juniors are we are absolutely delighted with the start we have had in the league. Today will be a very different type of match and we really hope to make a good account of ourselves. With the East of Scotland side not having a game we are hoping the Spartan army will come out in force to cheer on the boys.”

Tickets for the game are £5/£3 and kick off is 2:30pm. Please be aware due to Junior rules, season tickets are not valid for this match.

Elsewhere, the Saturday Amateurs take on Redpath Albion in the Logan Cup. The game is taking place at Pilrig Park, Leith with a 2:00pm kick off