Musselburgh's joy as six return for final

With the season extended well into June, Musselburgh had no fewer than eight players away on holiday at the weekend.

Six of those are back for tonight's final – the last of the season – which kicks off at Newtongrange's New Victoria Park at 7.30pm. Paul Tansey, Ryan McCallum, Fraser Beveridge, Danny Kelly, Johnny Bain and Tom Graham are raring to go and bring the Athletic squad almost back to full strength.

On Saturday Musselburgh went down 2-1 to a double by Rose's Tommy Coyne, despite the fact that Linlithgow had striker Paddy Flannery in goals after it turned out keeper Ronnie McPherson was cup-tied having played for 'Burgh in a previous round.

So the Olive Bank men will be desperate to grab their last chance of silverware and manager David McGlynn reckons they can build on what was a decent show against the Scottish Cup winners.

He said: "We've got to get Saturday's defeat out of our system.

"We played really well but never got the breaks we deserved.

"All the players who were there on Saturday did the club proud but there will be changes for tonight's game.

"It's our last chance of silverware this season and this is our seventh final in four years, plus we won the Premier League last season.

"Those are great achievements for a club like Musselburgh but the players and supporters are now looking for silverware every season so that is what we're trying to do tonight."

McGlynn is convinced he has the players who can make the difference in a close encounter but is also wary of the experience in the Bathgate squad.

He said: "We have winners in all areas of the field with the players back and that gives us the confidence to go for it.

"We know it will be a tough match for us but Bathgate will be expecting a tough game themselves as games between the clubs are always tight.

"They have players with a lot of experience who know the game inside out but we have players who can turn a game on its head with a piece of magic.

"I hope for the supporters' sake that it will be a good game to watch.

"If we win then we can look back on a very successful first season in the Super League.

It's been a tough baptism in a very tough league but we've had some great games since we stepped up and we are already looking forward to next season."

McGlynn admitted, though, that the prospect of losing so soon after Saturday's disappointment was not something he wanted to think about.

He said: "Another defeat would be hard to take, especially after the way we have played all season."

In contrast to 'Burgh, Bathgate had the weekend off but went along to Creamery park to watch the East of Scotland final. They were impressed with the commitment of the Musselburgh players but they are equally determined to lift a trophy in what is also their last game of the season. Although they've had a few days rest, Thistle have been playing three games a week for two months now and their squad is older than most.

Boss Graeme Love said: "I'm glad we had a few days off to give everyone a chance to recharge their batteries.

"It also gave us the chance to clear up a couple of niggling injuries, which means that we have a full squad.

"We saw Musselburgh on Saturday and were impressed enough to know we'll be in for a test of our character.

"I knew they would be without key players for the game against Linlithgow but didn't know until after the game those players would be back for our game.

"At this stage of the season all we want to do is finish on a high with a trophy in the cupboard.

"It's been a funny season with a lot of games called off because of the weather – in fact it's almost been like having two seasons in one."