Cup showdowns will be tough

Published 4 Feb 2010 10:00 0 Comments

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OLD FRIEND: Budgie McGhie

By Kristian Truelsen

JIMMY McQuade insisted Arthurlie will have to be on top form if they are to have any chance of seeing off Hill Of Beath Hawthorn in this Saturday's Emirates Junior Cup fourth round clash.

It will be the second time Arthurlie take a trip into the unknown in this season's cup campaign as they defeated Newburgh and Kirkaldy to reach fourth round of the tournament.

McQuade knows Hill O' Beath are of good pedigree, with Jock Finlayson's side sitting in third spot in the East of Scotland Super League after only six league matches.

However, the Dunterlie assistant boss is adamant if the Lie produce a repeat performance of their 7-0 demolition of Petershill last month, they will have no problems in booking their place in the next round where they would meet Shotts Bon Accord.

McQuade said: "It is going to be a difficult game and we will give them the utmost respect.

"I have been up there many moons ago and I do know the manager Jock Finlayson quite well.

"He is a bit of a legend in that area.

"We have had people watch them and their two danger men are Lee Dair and Andrew Roberts.

"But they are mainly a compact unit without any real individual players.

"We will have to work hard and play as well as we can. But I think if we produce the same form as we have produced recently then we should get a result.

"I don't think the game being called off on Saturday will make a difference this week because the players' fitness levels are good at the moment.

"We have had two good training sessions this week and Hill Of Beath will be in the same situation as us."

And Arthurlie were also drawn against Clydebank on Thursday in the Central League Cup second

round.

This tie will have a little bit of extra spice because Lie assistant McQuade served at the Bankies as a coach for two years alongside manager Budgie McGhie.

He was also a coach at Dunterlie Park when McGhie played for the Barrhead club and McQuade can't wait to meet up with his old colleague.

He said: "Clydebank is probably one of my favourite places in junior football and I really enjoyed my time there.

"I'm very familiar with the club and I think Budgie is a fantastic guy.

"He was a smashing player at Arthurlie when I was assistant manager to Fergus Ferguson.

"They should bring a great support with them which is vital for Arthurlie as a club because of gate receipts.

"Budgie will be looking forward to the match and the Clydebank players will be desperate to win so it will be a tough match."

Weather permitting, Arthurlie's Emirates Scottish Junior Cup fourth round tie at Hill of Beath Hawthorn will kick-off at 1.45pm on Saturday.

This article appeared in Barrhead News 04 Feb 10

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