Scottish Cup first round ties kick off

After two preliminary rounds, the 2015/16 William Hill Scottish Cup starts in earnest today with the first round being played and history being made at Glasgow’s Lochburn Park.

Picture: SNS

Broomhill Sports Club are making their debut and they face a tough baptism as junior giants Auchinleck Talbot are their opponents with a crowd close to the capacity of 520 expected.

BSC manager Craig Young said: “We made a poor start at Spartans last weekend and paid the price. Auchinleck are a very good side and we cannot afford to start slowly against them especially in a game of such importance.”

Talbot surprisingly lost 2-0 to Rob Roy last weekend with manager Tommy Sloan saying: “This is the perfect game for us to bounce back in.”

Lothian Thistle host Kelty Hearts with both sides looking for a 
historic second round place and an 
all-Aberdeen clash sees junior side Banks O’Dee face Cove Rangers who are joint leaders of the Highland League.

There are five all-Highland League meetings with Buckie Thistle facing a Rothes side who have yet to pick up a point. Deveronvale welcome Clachnacuddin and the Banff side have Mark Chisholm in temporary charge after Ally Macleod and Craig Stratton resigned earlier this week. Keith, who lost 6-1 at Turriff last weekend, are looking to bounce back against Inverurie Loco Works while Lossiemouth face a Forres Mechanics outfit who won 2-0 at Grant Park last weekend.

Spartans entertain Coldstream with John Grant suspended and Gala Fairydean Rovers meet junior side Linlithgow Rose at Netherdale.

There are some far-travelled ties with Formartine out to match their best ever run in the competition by defeating visitors Gretna 2008, Fraserburgh host Dalbeattie Star, Hawick Royal 
Albert welcome Huntly, Nairn County 
entertain Selkirk and Preston Athletic face Fort William.

Wick Academy are looking to make Whitehill Welfare’s 530-mile round trip an unhappy one with Strathspey Thistle hoping to win their first-ever tie when Edinburgh University visit.

Threave Rovers meet the University of Stirling just seven days after losing 4-1 to the scholars with history also being made tomorrow when Cumbernauld Colts face Glasgow University in their first-ever tie.