Old heads can have final say for Lasswade

AMBITIOUS Lasswade will be looking to the men who have previous experience of lifting silverware at Murrayfield to help guide them to the Scottish Hydro National Shield final when they take on Whitecraigs in this afternoon's last-four clash.

As the lowest ranked team left in the event – third in National Two – the Midlothian side go into the semi-final clash at Hawthornden as underdogs, but they are looking forward to the challenge.

Lasswade trio Gavin Brown, Bernie Hennessey and Carl McWilliam were all part of the Watsonians squad that won the Cup back in 2006 with victory over Currie. And Brown would be delighted if he can help their up-and-coming team reach the national stadium.

He said: "We have a three-year plan in place at Lasswade and it is going well so far. We were promoted from National Three last season and will still have a chance of going up this term. To get to a final at Murrayfield would be a bonus.

"For us, Whitecraigs are the kind of club we want to emulate because they have been going up the divisions with a local squad and they look like they will be heading for Premier Three in the coming weeks. They will provide a good test, but the younger players at Lasswade are coming on well and we are up for the game."

Meanwhile, at Fort Matilda, Greenock Wanderers will be taking on Dalziel for the other spot at Murrayfield. Both sides have secured promotion from National Two and National One respectively and, with Wanderers having only lost one match this term and Dalziel none, it promises to be an entertaining day.

Dalziel's success has been built on a miserly defence having only conceded 139 points in league and cup this season. President Paul Gracie said: "We have had a settled side throughout the season, so that has helped with the consistency of results and to get to the final after securing promotion would be great for us."

Both matches kick-off at 3pm.