Bathgate and Bo’ness set for last 16 Scottish Cup super clash

Feb 11 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Emirates Junior Scottish Cup

THERE may be barely 10 miles between them geographically but in terms of Superleague form this season Bathgate Thistle and Bo’ness have been worlds apart.

The Jags have had a stop-start league campaign while Bo’ness have raced clear at the top of the pile.

But this week the two sides will collide in a Scottish Cup cracker as Creamery Park hosts the most anticipated of all the last-16 ties.

And with Bathgate boasting an excellent recent record in the competition it is hard to pick a winner from the pair.

Like the rest of the junior football world Jags boss Graeme Love is eagerly looking forward to the game.

“It is a massive game for us,” conceded Love.

“There will be a big crowd as Bo’ness are one of the best-supported clubs in the region.

“They are flying high at the top of the table just now and although they lost their unbeaten run last week they will be a dangerous side.

“We will need to be at our best to beat them but most of our squad have great memories of the Scottish Cup win and we would like some more of that.”

Linlithgow Rose, winners of the competition in 2007, are also in action on Saturday.

The Rosey Posey face a trip into the relative unknown when they travel to Ayr to face a Whittlets side who they know little about.

Whittlets did knock out Forfar West End in the last round on their own patch which suggests they will provide stiff opposition to the county side.

Linlithgow go into this match on a decent run of their own after two well-deserved victories on the bounce and will have no fears about heading down the M77.

Fife and Lothians Cup

ARMADALE are on the road on Saturday where they will meet Superleague side Bonnyrigg.

Bonnyrigg slammed 11 goals past a shell-shocked Harthill last week and it will be a tough test for the Dale.

Elsewhere, Broxburn meet Spartans and should come out on top in this one while Blackburn face a tricky test of their character for their visit to Tranent.

Harthill play South Division colleagues Livingston with Fauldhouse away to Newburgh.

Finally, Whitburn play host to old friends Thornton Hibs at Central Park.

South Division

In the South Division Stoneyburn are at home to Dunbar with West Calder travelling to Edinburgh.