Kelburne have score to settle with Grange in Scottish Cup final

There was no doubt that the Edinburgh side were up for it two weeks ago, they gave Kelburne a real run-around and won 3-1, with two goals from Cammie Fraser and one from Rob Barr from the spot.

“We controlled the game and dictated much of the play in our league win, but accept that Kelburne had half an eye on the semi-final the next day and their European tournament the following week,” said Barr, Grange’s captain.

But Barr does accept that beating Kelburne for the second time this season could be a tall order. “There’s no doubt they will fight for everything, and the main dangers for us are Michael and Jonny Christie who are at times impossible to play against. But we have Gary Cameron and Cammie Fraser who are equally dangerous and will cause Kelburne problems.”

Apart from the Grange lapse, Kelburne have been awesome this season and were perhaps unlucky not to win the final of the European Club Champions Trophy against Lille last weekend. The Paisley outfit have a couple of scores to settle on Saturday, as explained by Harry Coles, Kelburne’s manager. “I think it would be fair to say that all the guys are looking forward to the final and the opportunity to ‘balance the books’ following the recent reversal to Grange. Also, I know they want to put right the disappointment of last year’s final when we felt very unlucky to lose out to Western in a tight match.”

After a gruelling four-match schedule in Lille last weekend, it is hardly surprising that Coles is quoting several undisclosed injury concerns, but whatever the final line-up, the Paisley side are still a daunting prospect. In particular the goal-scoring form of international striker Alan Forsyth, he scored six goals from both open play and set pieces against quality opposition in Lille.

In the women’s final VWS Dundee Wanderers are the underdogs, but international goalkeeper Carmin Dow believes her side have a sniff of an upset against holders Grove Menzieshill.

“We have come close to beating Grove the last few time we have met, but still haven’t quite managed it yet. An occasion like the cup final may be just what we need to take that final step,” said Dow.

The statistics do not support Dow’s aspirations, Grove won last year’s final against their Tayside rivals 2-0. In the league the first meeting ended in a 2-2 draw, but in the return fixture Grove held the upper hand with a 4-1 triumph. Grove finished strongly in the European Club Champions Trophy in Belfast over Easter, thumping Italian side Libertas San Saba 5-1 and then La Gantoise 2-0 to finish a creditable fifth.