TERRY BANNED FROM FACING FORMER TEAM MATES

Drawing parallels in the narratives of famous old duo Petershill and Cambuslang Rangers comes  naturally when you think how close their twin formations were back in  the latter years of the 19^th century…the Peasy first in 1897 followed a mere two years later , 1899,  by the Wee Gers.

Now, a history lesson this is not, as one can also allude to similarities from more recent times and point to both clubs having won corresponding promotions as Conference League champions in 2021/22 then sharing the same  relegation fate in 2022/23 that has left them again joined together this season in the WoSFL First Division .

I was going to say “at the hip” but for their somewhat converse experiences since dropping into the second top flight, Petershill having briefly led the standings before back-to-back defeats dropped them down to their current 7^th position whereas the Camby occupy a significantly more lowly 13^th spot in the table after a horrid sequence of results .

No doubt , the break from chasing league points afforded by the pair locking horns in a Scottish Junior Cup first round clash through in Springburn today will be welcomed by their respective supporting bands and therein lies yet another parallel because Petershill and Cambuslang Rangers share the distinction  (if you take Auchinleck Talbot out of the equation) of having won the game’s top prize more times ,5 victories apiece ,than any other Junior club, past or present.

Admittedly, none of these Holy Grail triumphs were yesterday, Peasy hands haven’t been laid on  the coveted silverware since 1956 on the back of a  4-1 defeat of Lugar Boswell while even  the considerably later Jack McLagen steered triumphs ,the last of which saw Cambuslang  overcome Linlithgow Rose by a 3-1 scoreline, will date back all of 50 barren  years when this season’s Final is played out .

Fast forward and the luck of the draw in this season’s competition  has ordained that only one of them can take a step towards rediscovering these past glories and the perception is Petershill are strong favourites in this respect and not just because of their infinitely superior league form to date.

The Scottish Cup’s much more recent past, last season to be precise, has inflicted a couple of hammer blows on the Wee Gers’ hopes in the shape of carried over 2 match suspensions ruling out experienced pair Terry Hewitt and Del McNab.

Striker McNab’s sidelining has come about from getting his marching orders as a Rob Roy player against one of his former clubs Arthurlie while there’s more than a few added shades of irony surrounding  towering defender Hewitt’s ban seeing as it was incurred playing for Petershill  in  a 3^rd round defeat (2-3) against Carnoustie Panmure.

The anguish felt by the 34 year old from having to sit out the Cup clash with his previous club was all too evident when he spoke last night.

“ I enjoyed my time at Petershill and have no axe to grind with anyone at the club however I will admit to having been looking forward to  making a first return there, until word came through I was banned.

“Having to sit the tie out is a real sickener and more so because I was sent off for nothing more than pushing a Carnoustie player off me when he’d landed on top after we’d come together jumping for a high ball.

“Their guy had a little dig with his elbow but I didn’t react other than to try and get back on my feet but the Referee saw things differently and showed me a red card.”

The former St Rochs and Blantyre Vics stalwart who has also turned out with East Region pair Sauchie and Bo’ness United during his career, is patently  aware of the much changed look to the home dressing room he frequented as recently as three months ago.

He said ,” There are precious few familiar faces other than my former defensive partners Ross McCabe and Craig McGregor ,Del Hepburn and Darren Miller who latterly came on board when I was still a Peasy player.

“Our goalkeeper Stevie McNeil is another but his step up to become manager means he’s no longer one of the guys as I discovered during pre-season when it became apparent I wasn’t in his plans going forward.

“He straightaway started ringing the changes as you do in his shoes and to be fair, his new look side hit the ground running and were looking the part right up until suffering defeats in their last couple of outings.

“Now the pressure is firmly on him and his players ahead of facing us and I don’t believe it’s a foregone conclusion they will come out on top .

He added , “Yes we’re way understrength with Del and myself ruled out along with Gary Fleming (on holiday) but this Cambuslang team is not as bad as our results make out so don’t rule out an upset.”

PAUL REMAINING DEFIANT IN THE FACE OF SETBACKS

Wee Gers gaffer Paul McColl admitted “It is what it is “when it was suggested his players will be up against it in the Springburn head to head.

He went on , “ This past week has been spent scrambling about trying to put the finishing touches to transfers or loan deals in order to  boost our playing numbers  and it’s no exaggeration to say that’s been the way of things ever since the season started.

“It’s  frustrating when things don’t come off but rewarding when they do and right now I’m hopeful of putting out a team more than capable of having a bash at Petershill .”

The Petershill Park contest is one of 11 all-WoSFL pairings to emerge from the first round draw made at the end of June and devoid of the 16 licensed clubs given exemption by their involvement in the Scottish Gas Cup Preliminary Round Two , also taking place on Saturday.

The undoubted plum among these  Junior ties is the clash between Premier Division pair Gartcairn and Rob Roy whose league meeting at the MTC Stadium in mid-August ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for the Kevin McGoldrick steered Rabs .

One cannot rule out the likelihood of Gartcairn coming good to reverse that outcome and neither should a shock be discounted at New Tinto Park where St Cadocs await the visit of lower league Blantyre Vics who raised eyebrows as recently as last weekend through inflicting a first defeat of the season(2-0)  on  First Division leading lights Rutherglen Glencairn.

Another hard fought First Division encounter is promised at Valefield where second bottom of the table  Kilbirnie Ladeside take on six places better off Ashfield while a tasty Tollcross head to head is in the offing between near neighbours Vale of Clyde and Glasgow United.

No doubt the fuller draw, entailing as it does long bus journeys North for Shotts Bon Accord, Maybole , Ardeer Thistle  and WoSFL others will have its share of surprises but surely not at Keanie Park where the much vaunted Johnstone Burgh are somewhat intriguingly up against beaten 2022/23 semi-finalists  Dundee East Craigie.

The Tayside outfit’s conquerors from last time out, Rutherglen Glencairn are one of the 16 Scottish Gas Cup participants along with reigning Junior Cup top dogs  Cumnock  whose manager John Doyle (he took over from Cup winning gaffer Brian McGinty ) took time out from preparing for the visit of  Girvan to unashamedly reveal his Ayrshire troops are still suffering a hangover from their Broadwood Stadium success .

JOHN DOYLE IS PLAYING CATCH-UP AT CUMNOCK

“ The Final against the Glens was at the start of June and another three weeks elapsed before I was then appointed and set about what I saw as the immediate priorities of getting to know the players first hand.

“Resulting from this hoo-ha was a far later start to the season than any other Premier Division  club and I learned precious little about our  strengths and weaknesses other than from working with the guys on the training ground  so  I’m of the mind we are  still playing catch-up.

“It didn’t help that we lost a number of established players such as Kyle McAusland (retired) ,James Dolan (recalled by Ayr United) and Jordan Moore ( transferred to Darvel) on top of Jamie Wilson expressing a wish to move  on to pastures new.

Added the amiable Doyly,who was unceremoniously sacked by St Cadocs just four games short of securing promotion last season.

“ We’ve had to make several signings ,Sam Jamieson (Troon),  and Andy McLaughlin (Arthurlie )are our latest additions , however we’ve just not had the time  needed to cement newcomers into their surroundings and it’s been a case of make do and mend up to now.

“We’ve also been beset with injuries Keirin Coleman, Luke Kelly and Jamie Wilson were already non-starters for facing Girvan and now Robbie Young has pulled a hamstring which will sideline him for up to 5 weeks.

“Our current state of play means there’s no such thing as an easy game so I expect Girvan to give us a good challenge but I’m ever hopeful  things will be clicking a lot more  smoothly and we can get ourselves into the next round.

If successful, Doyle and his players will not have long to wait before discovering their next up opponents as SFA chiefs have set aside this coming Sunday for making the First Round draw at Hampden Park.

PLAYING TOMORROW: (Kick Offs 2 PM unless stated ):Scottish Gas Cup Preliminary Round Two(3PM).Carluke Rovers v Dalbeattie Star, Beith v Bonnyton Thistle, Cumnock v Girvan, Easthouses Lily MWFC v Threave Rovers,Fort William v Clydebank. Glenafton v Darvel,Irvine Meadow v Dunipace, Kilwinning Rangers v Glasgow University, Penicuik Athletic v Rutherglen Glencairn, Pollok v Benburb,Wigtown & Bladnoch v Auchinleck Talbot.Scottish Junior Cup.First Round(2.30PM).Coupar Angus v Rothie Rovers, New Elgin v Banks O’Dee, Cambuslang Rangers v Petershill, Islavale v Greenock, Banchory St Ternans v Maybole, Muirkirk v East Kilbride Thistle, Fraserburgh Utd v Shotts Bon Accord, Pumpherston v Finnart, Whitehills v Caledonian Locomotive, Cruden Bay v Stoeywood Parkvale, Cumbernauld Utd v Dundee North End,Dufftown v Lochee Harp, Blairgowrie v Troon, Largs Thistle v Lugar Boswell, Wishaw v Rossvale, Kilsyth Rangers v Arthurlie, Newmains Utd v Dyce, Vale of Clyde v Glasgow United , Glentanar v Deveronside,Dalry Thistle v Royal Albert, Maud v Dundee Violet, Hurlford Utd v Sunnybank, Irvine Vics v Forfar West End, Stoneyburn v Aberdeen East End, Longside v Colony Park,  Johnstone Burgh v Dundee East Craigie, Brechin Vics v Bellshill Athletic, Lossiemoth v Hall Russell Utd, Ellon Utd v Dundee Downfield, Saltcoats Vics v Forfar Utd, Gartcairn v Rob Roy,  Bridge of Don Thistle v Maryhill, Yoker Athletic v Broughty Athletic,  Forres Thistle v Letham FC,St Cadocs v Blantyre Vics,   Buchanhaven Hearts v Ardeer Thistle,Lanark Utd v Craigmark, Stonehaven v Kirrie Thistle,  Burghead Thistle v Lesmahagow, Arbroath Vics v Dundee St James, Hermes v Armadale Thistle, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Ashfield, Vale of Leven v Newmachar Utd, Larkhall Thistle v Thorniewood Utd, Nairn St Ninian v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Scone Thistle v Kello Rovers, St Rochs v Bathgate Thistle. PDM HUWS GRAY

Fourth Division. Campbeltown Pupils v Knightswoood

REGARDS

JIM O’DONNELL