Beith end long cup wait with Linlithgow tie

HAVING waited since 1937 (when they lost 4-0 to St Mirren), for another crack at the Scottish Cup, Beith, the Stagecoach West of Scotland Superleague Champions, who hosted the first round draw at their Bellsdale ground yesterday, came out of the hat alongside reigning Emirates Scottish Junior Cup holders Linlithgow Rose.

The clash of the junior giants was probably the plum tie in a draw which brought together the minnows of the competition. Former St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson and ex-Celtic, Motherwell and Dundee striker Tommy Coyne, who made the draw, also handed some long-distance treks to the clubs, with Highland League Forres Mechanics drawn to travel to Coldstream, right on the English border.

Girvan, who retained their full SFA membership when they dropped out of the South of Scotland League into the West Juniors have been asked, for the second time in three seasons, to travel to Huntly, while St Cuthbert Wanderers, from Kirkcudbright on the Solway coast must travel to Fraserburgh for their tie.

East of Scotland junior champions Bo'ness United, a team with a great Junior Cup tradition will fancy their chances of beating Selkirk at Selkirk, while the North Juniors champions Sunnybank have to travel to Gala Fairydean of the East of Scotland League.

Bo'ness director of football Allan McGonigal was yesterday revelling in his new nickname of 'Mystic McGonigal.' The Newtown Park chief explained: "In my other role with the Hamilton Accies Youth team we played Selkirk recently in a game. Since then I have been telling people that I reckoned we would be going back there in the senior Scottish Cup with Bo'ness and it has happened."

McGonigal added: "I know the park and their players a good bit better than I know anyone else in the draw apart from Linlithgow Rose. It will be a tough game especially away from home, but it is our first ever game in this competition and I want us to do well in it so being a bit better prepared is no bad thing."

Lossiemouth will host Whitehill Welfare, and Clachnacuddin travel from Inverness to Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium to face Edinburgh City with the capital also hosting the match between Edinburgh University and Brora Rangers.

Wick Academy received a bye into the second round.,

The competition will not be known as the Active Nation Scottish Cup this season, after the two-year deal with the Scottish Government and businessman Willie Haughey came to an end.

Beith v Linlithgow Rose

Civil Service Strollers v Wigtown & Bladnoch

Coldstream v Forres Mechanics

Deveronvale v Inverurie Loco Works

Edinburgh City v Clachnacuddin

Edinburgh University v Brora Rangers

Fraserburgh v St Cuthbert Wanderers

Gala Fairydean v Sunnybank

Glasgow University v Burntisland Shipyard

Golspie Sutherland v Fort William

Hawick Royal Albert v Dalbeattie Star

Huntly v Girvan

Lossiemouth v Whitehill Welfare

Newton Stewart v Preston Athletic

Rothes v Nairn County

Selkirk v Bo'ness United

Vale of Leithen v Keith

Wick Academy - bye

Ties to be played Saturday 25 September