Edinburgh City relishing clash with rampant Queens

The clash with Allan  Johnston’s rampant Second  Division leaders will take place at Meadowbank Stadium on Saturday, November 3.

City boss Gary Jardine said: “We are obviously going to be playing a team who are flying high after they have beaten both Hibs in the League Cup and Rangers in the Ramsdens Cup. This will be a big challenge for our players to play against full-time players and that is something we will look forward to over the next few weeks.

“This is great for Edinburgh City to play against such a professional club and I will, as always, be going to watch them and do our homework. I actually enjoy spying on Scottish League teams and trying to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

“Queen of the South have players in their team who played in the East of Scotland League recently, with Gretna 2008 and Annan Athletic. They include Dan Carmichael, Ryan McGuffie and Gavin Reilly so we already know something about them. However, the game is almost four weeks away and our priority at the moment  is to get points on the board in the Central Taxis Premier  Division.”

Ross Macnamara, the assistant manager, added: “Our players play better against higher level teams and if they do as we tell them then this game against Queens should hold no fears. They obviously have a very good Scottish Cup  pedigree having been in the final only four years ago when they were unlucky to lose to Rangers.”

East Juniors champions  Bonnyrigg Rose – conquerors of Stirling University in the second round – have been drawn away to another Second Division outfit, Brechin City. Brechin last night put assistant boss Kevin McGowne and first-team coach Andy Millen in charge after sacking manager Jim Weir at the weekend on the back of a four-game losing streak.

Rose boss Max Christie today insisted: “This is a very difficult tie for us. Brechin have a good youth system and plenty of experienced players.

“If we go there and play as we can and Brechin are rattled, then we can win the game.

“We showed last Saturday that we can step up a gear when we need to and win ugly. We’ve started to play better as the season progresses and this tie could come at the right time for us.”

Elsewhere, the winners of Selkirk against Vale of Leithen, who replay this weekend after a 1-1 draw last Saturday, will be away to First Division side Cowdenbeath.

Third-round draw: Buckie Thistle or Annan Athletic v Turriff United; Dumbarton v East Stirlingshire; Airdrie United v Raith Rovers; Stranraer v Queen’s Park; Partick Thistle v Cove Rangers; Forfar Athletic v Clyde or Nairn County; Albion Rovers v Greenock Morton; Cowdenbeath v Selkirk or Vale of Leithen; Edinburgh City v Queen of the South; Stirling Albion v Deveronvale; Inverurie Loco Works v Arbroath; Ayr United v Clachnacuddin; Stenhousemuir v Berwick Rangers; Brechin City v Bonnyrigg Rose; Rangers v Alloa Athletic; Elgin City v East Fife. Ties to be played on Saturday, November 3.