Tollcross out for another giant killing

Ambitious Tollcross Thistle were, this afternoon, aiming to prove they should be playing among the big boys in amateur football as they made a bid for an upset against Premier Division One outfit Seaforth Highlanders in the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur FA Logan Cup Second Round.

Thistle, promoted last season to the third tier of the league setup, currently sit top of the Lothian West Division after three games, and manager Alan McKay is targeting the latest slaying of higher-league opposition, similar to the giantkillings performed in the past by his side.

"We want to be playing your Uphalls and Bo'nesses on a week-to-week basis," says the 25-year-old. "Realistically, I think we can compete at that level with the team we've got.

"Last season, we played Spartans and Tynecastle Star from Premier Division Two in the Miller Cup and beat them both, then beat Granton Vale from Premier Division One in the final."

Seaforth manager Steve Cameron, meanwhile, is only too aware of the threat posed by the opposition in a game scheduled for 3.00pm at Saughton's 3G surface. We're expecting a tough challenge," he says.

"We have had a poor start to the season and, from our own point of view, it's an opportunity to get away from the league and gather some momentum from the cup, and also generate some confidence in the team.

"We know Tollcross are an ambitious team who are working their way up the leagues," adds Cameron, a 36-year-old taxi driver who himself expects to start the match in goals. While the Highlanders gaffer is looking for some magic from winger John Higgins and centre forward Ross Young, his side will be up against a team in fantastic goalscoring form.

Tollcross were among three teams to run up double figures in terms of goals scored in the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur FA Centenary Cup Second Round last weekend, a result that maintained their near-perfect record.

Thistle dropped points days earlier to league rivals Livingston AFC, a team that boss McKay expects to be challenging for honours come the end of the season.

"We're quite happy with our start to the season., I would say that Livingston will be there or thereabouts - and hopefully we will, too.

"They're a sticky team and have some big boys, and they're always hard to play against.

"The teams who came down from the league above (Armadale Athletic and Whitburn] will also fancy their chances."