Irvine cup task for Bathgate

Oct 30 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

SCOTTISH Cup holders Bathgate Thistle face a tricky away tie this weekend in their bid to retain the most prestigious honour in the Junior game.

Thistle lock horns with Irvine Meadow, one of the favourites for the cup, but after returning to form in recent weeks they will travel in confident mood.

The two Junior heavyweights last met two years ago when Bathgate dumped Meadow out in the Scottish Cup semi-finals at Firhill.

Barry Elliot and Rory Grant netted in a 2-1 win for the West Lothian side and another cup cracker is expected on Saturday.

Irvine Meadow have spent big in assembling a new side and will be a real challenge to Bathgate’s Scottish Cup hopes, but Willie Hill has pulled off a transfer masterstroke of his own with the capture of John Elliott.

Scottish Junior international Elliott made the switch for Creamery Park from Bonnyrigg and he could be the foundation stone upon which Bathgate build their side.

He is a top-class player and addition to an already strong Bathgate side who are more than a match for anyone in the Junior game in Scotland on their day.

Boss Hill admits his side face a tricky tie but he reckons that’s what sides with genuine Scottish Cup ambitions have to overcome in order to win the trophy.

He said: “We’ll have to be at our best that day. We know Irvine Meadow will be out for revenge but we’ll be prepared for that.

“Elliott is a player we’ve been looking at for a while and he has the ability to win games on his own.

“To be the best you have to beat the best so that’s the challenge.”

Anyone wishing to travel on the Bathgate Thistle Supporters bus to Irvine Meadow on Saturday should contact Ian Strathearn on 01506 636219.