West Lothian Clubs are stepping out on the road to junior football’s biggest prize

Oct 2 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

THE road to glory in the Scottish Junior Cup begins again this weekend with several West Lothian sides in action.

The most prestigious trophy in junior football is proudly on display at Creamery Park just now after Bathgate Thistle took the silverware back to the county last season.

And hoping to follow in their studmarks are a host of top sides from West Lothian.

Tie of the round is in South Lanarkshire where East Kilbride Thistle host Whitburn.

The Burnie will still be missing a host of regular picks and this could be a first round banana skin for Derek Strickland’s men.

There is an all-South Division clash in Armadale as they host Edinburgh in a match which the Dale should win.

Blackburn face Dundee side Lochee Harp and with home advantage should progress.

Broxburn face a trip to Dundee to square off against Downfield and once again home advantage could be crucial with Downfield heavily tipped.

West Calder face the longest journey of any of the sides in the draw in a 330 round mile trek to Inverness City to meet the junior game’s newest side.

Livingston also have a real tough game to win against high flying Super League cracks Bonnyrigg.

There is also a powder-keg Super League battle of two of the divisions top sides at Prestonfield where Rose host Bathgate Thistle.

This is a massive game even at this early stage of the season for two sides with genuine title ambitions.

Linlithgow have enjoyed an excellent start to the new campaign while Bathgate need the win to kick-start their own season.

In the Premier League Fauldhouse are away to Carnoustie and the West Lothian side are looking for a morale-boosting win.

They recently had their first win in the league but Carnoustie is a long way to go for nothing.

High flying Stoneyburn host Pumpherston in the South Division as they strive to prove their position perched at the top of the table is merited and not a fluke.

All games have a 3pm kick-off.