Alloa boss Allan Maitland was delighted to be drawn against his former football employers at Hamilton Accies, although he knows that if the Wasps win he will be upsetting his day to day boss, New Douglas Park Chairman Ronnie MacDonald.
Maitland said, “In a footballing sense it is an exciting draw for Alloa and one I am sure our players will be looking forward to. We gave a really good account of ourselves against St Mirren last season in the Fourth Round and gave Aberdeen a real fright two years ago so we will go to Hamilton with nothing to fear.”
The Recreation Park boss added, “Things will be interesting at Cullen Packaging for the next few weeks that is for sure as Ronnie will no doubt be mentioning the cup-tie every day. We met at this stage of the competition four years ago and held them to a draw at their place before they beat us 3-0 in a replay at Recreation Park just weeks after I had taken the job here.”
The relationship between the pair is hardly likely to be stretched by the Scottish Cup draw as Maitland and MacDonald have been colleagues for nearly 30 years starting at Knightswood Juveniles before moving on to Maryhill Juniors.
Clyde and then the Accies earned promotion to the First Division with the duo in charge with Maitland adding, “I know a lot about Hamilton and Ronnie knows a lot about Alloa but there will ne more secrets given out between us for the next few weeks.”
Elgin City boss Ross Jack reckons that the Highlands will be jumping when his Borough Briggs side travel to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in early January. Jack said, “I would imagine that we will take a big support through for this game as it is a journey of less than an hour which is a really short one for a fan of Elgin. I know Terry Butcher and Maurice Malpas well and recognise that it will be a very, very tough game but we will go there and give it a real go. Our fans will certainly add to the atmosphere and we have a couple of former Inverness boys that will be well up for the game.”
It was one of the former Caley players that told Jack of the draw with the Elgin chief saying, “Barry Wilson was straight on the phone to me screaming ‘we have Caley, we have Caley’ so you could say he is excited about going back. I am delighted for him and Jamie Duff, who was there last season, and they will be out to show people up there what they can do.”
Montrose manager Steven Tweed had crossed his fingers for a home draw against a big side and he got his wish when First Division Dunfermline were picked out the hat to travel to Links Park. Tweed said, “We were looking for a big name and we got one. It is at home which suits us but I am sure with their Cup pedigree Dunfermline will bring a big support here.”
“They will fancy their chances against a part-time side but we will give it a real go.”
Stranraer boss Keith Knox faces a wait to find out his side’s opponents in the next round just as he had done in their previous games. The Blues have drawn the winners of the Threave Rovers and Stenhousemuir replay with the Stair Park boss saying, “We had a chance to go and see St Cuthbert’s when they beat Fraserburgh, Girvan when they faced Golspie Sutherland and now we can send someone to watch our two potential opponents in action again.”
“I am sure it will be a tight game this weekend as Threave beat Stenhousemuir on their pitch a few years ago and will fancy their chances of doing so again.”
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