It's a kind of magic as Scottish Cup campaign gets under way

Naturally, the first round draw has spawned some tasty ties, not least in tomorrow's Sunday section of the competition, where clubs from rival Edinburgh associations will face-off with claims to league superiority at stake.

Three matches represent a cross-organisation contest between teams of the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur FA (LEAFA) and the Edinburgh and District Sunday Amateur FA (EADSAFA). Spartans AFC, Craigroyston AFC and Silverknowes Star, all members of the latter association, will travel across the city to face Liberton United, Athletico Northfield and Roseburn Thistle respectively. For Silverknowes boss James Taylor, the game can't come quickly enough.

"It's about the biggest rivalry you can have - our league wants to look the best, as does theirs," said Mr Taylor, 40. "We're really looking forward to the game, as it also gives us a break from the league, which hasn't gone our way so far. We've got a young team, and it's about trying to get the players to gel. I'm sure they'll enjoy coming up against a team they wouldn't normally get the chance to play."

The Star manager recently retired from playing but can reflect on an amateur Scottish Cup career in which his old team, Cross Keys, of Longstone, paved a path to the sixth round of the competition, losing to Stirlingshire outfit Steins Thistle, who went on to reach the final that year. Despite the North Edinburgh side's league form, Mr Taylor will be looking for an upset tomorrow and a cup run thereafter to reinvigorate Star's season. "I've watched Roseburn a couple of times and they look like a strong outfit," he said. "On currently form, a victory for us would be a bit of an upset, but we've just managed to sign another two players for tomorrow's game, so hopefully that will make a difference. If we get the first goal and take confidence from there, who knows what can happen."

For many teams, such as Pentland Thistle, who currently sit bottom of the EADSAFA First Division, any positive result is a bonus, followed preferably by an attractive away fixture. Thistle coach Mark Hermiston, 38, is looking for that cup pick-me-up tomorrow afternoon at home to mid-table Premier Division side Ryries Alba at Saughton 3G. "We've not been that lucky in the Scottish Cup - the furthest we've been is the second round," he said. "Our problem this season is that we have a lot of new, younger players and we're still figuring out how to play together. But, every time we've played Ryries we've given them a good game. They like to play football and they let you play good football, too, so it should be good to watch. Our striker Ben Sanderson has scored four in give games, so if we keep it tight at the back we can hopefully win. We're not likely to be one of the teams that will go far, but if we get past this one, we might get a good away trip." A team with loftier ambitions in this season's competition will be Newton Heath, who reached the last-16 a few months ago and who have been drawn to travel to Falkirk to play Roman Bar.

Len Blackie, EADSAFA league secretary, hopes Heath will lead the way for an Edinburgh assault on amateur football's big prize. "Our own association is running well this season and there has been some great competitive football," he said. "The Scottish Cup draw has been quite fair to our teams this year, and we've done not too badly in the past. A couple of years ago, Redhall got to the quarter-finals, and last season Newton Heath fell away just before the last eight with a great run."

nON Wednesday 8 September, the Evening News published an article announcing that the South East Region Youth FA team Cavalry Park under-19s had agreed a sponsorship deal with the Radical Road. It should be noted that the company is a restaurant, and not, as stated, a public house.

"Ben Sanderson has scored four in give games, so if we keep it tight at the back we can hopefully win"

MARK HERMISTON