Scottish Cup Draw: Rothes Await In Round One
MacKessack Park in Rothes will be the scene of Nairn County's return to the country's national cup competition after 22 years in the Scottish Cup wilderness.
The draw for the first ever all-in Scottish Cup pitted the Station Park side with their Highland League rivals and they will do battle for a place in round two on Saturday September 29. The winners will go into the hat for the draw for round two along with the victorious clubs from the 16 other ties plus Edinburgh University, Keith, Inverurie Locos, Threave Rovers and Annan Athletic (who all received a
The last time Nairn qualified for the competition was in season 1985/86 when they were beaten 7-0 by Premier Division side Dundee at Station Park in the third round. Before that, Mansel Craib's battlers dumped Meadowbank Thistle at the Meadowbank Stadium in a famous replay. The current crop of players will be out to emulate that sort of achievement in this year's competition and become the first Nairn player to net a Scottish Cup goal since captain Brian Penman's 31st minute effort at Meadowbank, which followed a Charlie Innes free kick after 25 minutes.
Speaking after today's draw at Linlithgow Rose, County gaffer Les Fridge said: "It has been an interesting draw because there are four all Highland League ties, including our's. We would have preferred to be drawn at home but it is going to be a very difficult match regardless."
For both sides, drawing a Highland League opponent will have taken away any element of surprise that would have come with a match against East of Scotland or South of Scotland League opposition. Fridge said: "It would have been nice to get a long trip to a different ground and really get
"The boys will require no motivation for the match and just being in the Scottish Cup is great for the club. Some of the players will never have played in it before so it will be a great experience all round."
Fridge's side will return to league duty this Saturday after narrowly losing out to Highland League champions Keith after extra time in the quarter final of the SFA Challenge Cup. The manager said: "It is never an easy game against Wick. They are an improved side and they have had some several good results over the past year or so, most notably against Inverurie last season in the Qualifying Cup."
He added: "We do have home advantage but that can sometimes work against us because teams can get a lift from coming and playing here because our park is in such good condition."
Fridge will definitely be without the injured Scott Nicholl while Iain Brooks and Scott Graham also miss out because of work commitments. Doubts still linger over the availability of Brian Macleod and Stephen Skinner, who both came off injured last week, and Martin MacDonald who also picked up a knock.
Full Scottish Cup first round draw: Brora Rangers v Cove Rangers; Golspie Sutherland v Preston Athletic; Coldstream v Dalbeattie Star; Glasgow University v Buckie Thistle; Wigtown and Bladnoch v Burntisland Shipyard; Civil Service Strollers v Selkirk; Fort William v Spartans; Newton Stewart v Linlithgow Rose; Vale of Leithen v Gala Fairydean; Wick Academy v Deveronvale; Culter v Hawick Royal Albert; Rothes v Nairn County; Fraserburgh v Huntly; Girvan v Forres Mechanics; Lossiemouth v Whitehill Welfare; Clachnacuddin v Edinburgh City; St Cuthbert Wanderers v Pollok. Bye - Edinburgh University.