Match Preview

A break from league action this week where we host East Stirlingshire for our first ever competitive meeting in both teams' 138 year history (both teams founded in 1881) in the SFA South Region Challenge Cup.

This is the Shire's third season in the Lowland League following their relegation from League 2 and they have had top four finishes in the previous two. Following a sluggish start to the season they parted ways with ex Camelon Juniors manager John Sludden, who was replaced in the dugout by another ex Mariner Derek Ure, who spent five seasons at Carmuirs having had a prior long spell with the Shire. Ure was part of the playing personnel at East Stirling but appearances have been limited this season as preference appears these days to be on the touchline. His assistant Andy Rodgers recently wrote himself into the Shire history books as his latest goal took him to joint second on the all time Shire scoresheet. They also have prolific ex Hill of Beath, Edinburgh City and Spartans front man Ross Allum on their books who is towards the top of the Lowland League scoring charts this season.
East Stirling have been on a good run of form over recent months, which has seen them reach 6th position in the Lowland League and they have yet to taste defeat in 2019. They have taken some notable scalps in this cup in earlier rounds, including high flyers Kelty Hearts and Linlithgow Rose and will be keen to end this season with a trophy in one of the two cups that they currently remain in.

Rose gaffer Horn made another seven changes to the previous week's starting eleven in Bonnyrigg's 4-1 victory over Burntisland Shipyard, so there is every chance that there will be another few changes to today's starting line up as he tries to give everyone game time while keeping players fresh. Bonnyrigg are currently five points away from assuring the Conference B title and today's South Challenge Cup is one of four that the Rose still have a chance of winning. There is a full squad to choose from and each one of them will be keen for a starting berth to face today's opposition.

Road to the quarter finals:

East Stirlingshire:

Rd 1 Bye
Rd 2 East Stirlingshire 1 - 0 Glasgow University
Rd 3 East Stirlingshire 3 - 2 Kelty Hearts
Rd 4 East Stirlingshire 5 - 1 Linlithgow Rose

Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic

Rd 1 Bye
Rd 2 Blackburn Utd 1 - 5 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic (Swanson (2), Lough (2), Wilson)
Rd 3 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 10 - 0 Eyemouth Utd (Wilson (3), McGachie (2), Lough (2), Hoskins, Brown, Brett)
Rd 4 BSC Glasgow 1 - 3 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic (McGachie, Hoskins, Moyes)