Saturday sees us enter the first round of the William Hill Scottish Cup for the fourth time, away to Highland League side Deveronvale. One of the primary reasons in our rationale to move to the East of Scotland league was the ability to enter this competition on an annual basis, which will hopefully become a reality once the current licencing embargo imposed by the SFA is eventually lifted & we get the opportunity to become a full SFA member.
Deveronvale have been Highland league champions on two occasions (2003 & 2006) and finished 8th last season. This season they currently lie in 14th position of the 18 team league, with nine of their twelve points accumulated away from Princess Royal Park so far – their solitary home league win coming on the first day of the league season v Lossiemouth.
While this is Bonnyrigg’s first ever fixture against the Vale on Saturday this isn’t the first time that the Rose have faced some of their players – both Nowosielski and Allan were part of the Turriff Utd side which Bonnyrigg played twice in the Scottish Cup in 2016. Remarkably Deveronvale have played all of their Scottish Cup ties for the past five seasons at home. Last season after defeated our first preliminary round opponents Hawick Royal Albert in round one they were defeated by West Junior double winners Glenafton Athletic with two late goals in round two.
Bonnyrigg are taking their own match preparations seriously, with the team bus travelling to Aberdeen on Friday and an overnight stay there before the bus journey to Banff the following day. The manager made five changes last Saturday with the side that won 5-1 at Blackburn Utd and every one of those players did themselves no harm at all with the performance they put in. As is always the case every Saturday, all of the players making the trip up to the Highlands will feel vindicated in wanting a starting position.
A reminder to all Rose supporters making the trip to Banff on Saturday, either on the supporters’ bus leaving NDP at 8 a.m. or by other means of transport. Pre and post match hospitality will be put on by our hosts in the Fans Bar located at the ground.
The draw for the second round will take place at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday. Those of a Bonnyrigg persuasion will be hoping that they see the team’s name in it.