Cup rivals hope it's seventh-time lucky after latest call-off

Published Date: 26 February 2010
By David Barnes
THE long-overdue Scottish Hydro Premier Cup clash between Kirkcaldy and Boroughmuir was postponed for a sixth time last night, after the home grounds of both clubs were rendered waterlogged and unplayable. It is now hoped that this long-awaited preliminary round match – which was originally scheduled for 21 November – will go ahead at Kirkcaldy's Beveridge Park tomorrow at 11.30am, with the winner taking on Cartha Queens Park in the first round proper next weekend.
Boroughmuir have once again offered Meggetland as a back-up venue, and if neither pitch is playable it is incumbent on Kirkcaldy as the home team to find an alternative ground to play on. Otherwise the situation will be referred to the championship committee, who will have to decide what course of action should be taken so as to ensure that the second round of the cup can go ahead as scheduled in two weeks' time.

This is precisely the type of scenario that the championship committee will have been dreading. Last year they attracted widespread criticism when they decided to alleviate a fixture backlog by expelling St Boswells and Cumbernauld from the competition on the basis that they had a lower league placing than their opponents. With the cup being given precedence this weekend over Boroughmuir's league match against Watsonians – tonight's scheduled match has been postponed – all eyes in the Premier 1 relegation battle will now be focussed on Old Anniesland this evening instead, where Glasgow Hawks are hopeful but not fully confident that their game against Edinburgh Accies will go ahead, kick-off 7.30pm.

The weather has prevented Hawks from playing any competitive home games since 29 November, while the club has played only three matches in total during this period, leading to a scenario whereby a temporary ground share arrangement with West of Scotland is being considered.

The Anniesland pitch was waterlogged last night and the prospect of the game going ahead was "touch and go". An inspection will take place at lunchtime.

Mathematically, Hawks might not be safe from the drop yet, but it would require an extraordinary sequence of events to occur if they are to end up in the bottom two.

Accies, meanwhile, are perched precariously above the relegation zone, with only five more points than 11th-placed Watsonians and one less league game to play. Selkirk and Boroughmuir will also spend the final few rounds of matches scrapping for survival in a four-way battle which could be just as intriguing as the tussle between Currie and Ayr at the top.

With their last two games consisting of a daunting trip to Melrose followed by a home game against, arch-rivals Heriot's, Accies will be targeting this match as a golden opportunity to put some much-needed breathing space between themselves and their fellow strugglers.

They have been able to bolster their pack through the return from injury of props Lewis Niven and Duncan MacLeod. The former starts at tight-head while the latter starts on the bench.

In the backline, Sam Atkins is rewarded for a positive showing off the bench in last week's heavy defeat to Dundee HSFP by being handed the No11 jersey.

Hawks coach Peter Wright is in Sardinia with the Scotland Under-20 squad with Jamie Dempster taking over in his absence.

Glasgow Hawks: C Shaw; R Hare, A Adamson, G Harkness, K Gossman; A White, C Gossman; G Strain, J Maclay, J Stafford, C Harvey, M Whittleston, R McKay, G Oomen, G Strang. Substitutes: N Cox, C Kerr, E Milligan, G MacDonald, E Morrison.

Edinburgh Accies: S Moffat; D Rattray, G Douglas, R Browne, S Atkins; R Bonner, M Campbell; S Patience, D Cherry, L Niven, E Stuart, G Campbell, R Snape, T Drennan, D Teague. Substitutes: D McLeod, N Miller, P Jenkinson, S Wilson, M Coupar.

This article was originally posted on 26-Feb-2010, 07:49 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 26-Feb-2010, 11:05.