Challenge Cup kicks off

Aug 15 2008 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

THIS WEEKEND sees the start of this season’s SFA Challenge Cup which involves all the clubs from the South and East of Scotland leagues.

Last season, in its initial year, the competition started later and became bogged down in the fixture backlog so an earlier start this time around should ensure a smoother passage.

In the preliminary round there are six South teams involved with four of them playing each other.

Threave Rovers entertain Wigtown and Bladnoch at Meadow Park for a tie which the Castle Douglas side will start as strong favourites to progress from.

Nithsdale Wanderers have East side Selkirk as their visitors to Sanquhar and they have a very good chance of making it into Round two if they play to their potential.

Abbey Vale take the long journey up into Fife to play Burntisland Shipyard at Inverkeithing.

This is another tie which the South side could progress from if Vale manage to recover their early season form.

Newton Stewart and Mid Annandale clash at Blairmount for a match the present form of both sides would suggest could go either way.

There are also matches between Leith Athletic and Edinburgh City with the City side looking like strong favourites while Glasgow University play hosts to Vale of Leithen in a match which could go close.

The kick-off time for all these cup ties is 2.30pm

There are also four matches scheduled to be played in the South of Scotland League.

Fixtures for Saturday, August 16:

SFA Challenge Cup – Preliminary Round, all kick-offs at 2.30pm: Threave Rovers v Wigtown and Bladnoch; Leith Athletic v Edinburgh City; Nithsdale Wanderers v Selkirk; Glasgow University v Vale of Leithen; Burntisland Shipyard v Abbey Vale; Newton Stewart v Mid Annandale.

South of Scotland League, all kick-offs at 3pm: Crichton v Annan Athletic; Fleet Star v Dalbeattie Star; Heston Rovers v Crichton; St Cuthbert Wanderers v Stranraer.

Fixtures for Tuesday, August 19, all kick-offs at 6.30pm unless otherwise stated:

Haig Gordon Cup – Round 1: Abbey Vale v Dalbeattie Star; Heston Rovers v Nithsdale Wanderers; Newton Stewart v Fleet Star; Threave Rovers v Crichton – kick-off 7.30pm.

Haig Gordon Cup – Round 2: Stranraer v Wigtown and Bladnoch – kick-off 7.30pm

South of Scotland League: Mid-Annandale v Annan Athletic – kick-off 6.30pm; St Cuthbert Wanderers v Creetown – kick-off 7.30pm.