MATCH PREVIEW - EAST KILBRIDE (H)

For the first of two successive Saturday home games against East Kilbride we welcome Kilby to Central Park for our Fifth Round South Challenge Cup tie with a 3pm kick off.

It has been an interesting cup campaign for us which kicked off with a home 2-0 Second Round win in September with Dylan Duncan coming off the bench to hit a brace on his debut.

The Third Round saw another home tie against Whitehill Welfare which saw us run out 4-2 winners with goals from Lucas Berry, Aiden McLauglin, Ewan MacPherson and Mikey Cunningham.

In the Fourth Round we were once again at Central Park and ran out 6-0 winners over Lanark United with goals from Matty McDonald, Josh Jack (2), Mickey Cunningham, Ewan MacPherson and Lucas Berry.

Our recent signing Daryl Healy will miss the game after being cup tied playing for Dundonald Bluebell in the games against Bellshill Athletic and Glenafton Athletic.


LAST TIME OUT

Last Saturday we came back from being a goal down to draw with Civil Service Strollers at Christie Gillies Park with Josh Jack scoring direct from a corner.


THE OPPOSITION

East Kilbride have won the South Challenge Cup on three occasions which has only been bettered by The Spartans who won it for the fourth time last season.

Their first win came in season 2013/14 when they beat Dalbeattie Star 2-0 at Palmerston Park with goals from Chris McDougall and captain Marc Templeton delivering their first ever honour in their maiden season in the Lowland League.

Their second win came in 2016/17 just a week after we had beaten them in the League Two Play Off Final when they beat Cumbernauld Colts 4-2 at the Falkirk Stadium Their last success came in 2018/19 when they beat Bonnyrigg Rose 2-1 at Meggetland Stadium.

This season’s campaign opened with a 9-0 home win over Nithdale Wanderers with the, goals coming from Nathan Flanagan (3), Calum Biggar (2), Marc Kelly (2), Keir Samson and former Central Parker Aiden Gilmartin.

Another home game then saw a 6-1 win over Maybole with goals from Nathan Flanagan, Ryan Lockie, Marc Kelly and Adam McGowan with a hat trick.

The Third Round saw opponents Carluke Rovers withdraw and in the Fourth Round they had a 5-2 away win over St Cadocs with Nathan Flanagan, Liam Brown, Calum Biggar, Marc Kelly and Adam McGowan getting the Kilby goals.


MATCH SPONSOR: COWDENBEATH INDEPENDENT SUPPORTERS SOCIETY
MATCHBALL SPONSOR: CRAIG BENNET



MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE – Rhys Struthers

ASSISTANT REFEREES – Ellis Walls & Joshua Gardiner


ADMISSION

Adults - £10 (£11 PATG) | Concessions - £5 (£6 PATG) | 16 and under - FREE | Season tickets are not valid for this game.

To save £1, you can buy your ticket in advance here.


PROGRAMME

Issue 12 of our new look Blue Brazilian is on sale from just inside the turnstiles and is a 40 page issue which also covers next Saturday’s Lowland League game with Kilby. The cost is £3.50.




Previewer: Andrew Mullen.