COULD Petershill’s long wait to get their hands on the Scottish Junior Cup be coming to an end this season?

This most audacious of questions is posed by Peasy boss Willie Patterson steering his side to lift the first silverware of the season through last weekend’s Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup victory over Vale of Clyde.

Theirs was hardly the most convincing of performances if truth be told, however the celebrations out on the pitch and back at New Petershill Park later on Sunday evening had experienced goalkeeper and current-day team captain Stevie McNeil enthusing over his side’s chances of “going all the way” this time around.

And the 27-year-old shot-stopper admits to being fired up to end the famous old Springburn club’s long spell in the Junior Cup doldrums … nigh on 60 years have elapsed since their last triumph, a 4-1 Hampden Park defeat of Lugar Boswell in 1956.

Last night he revealed: “We had both an enjoyable and emotional time of it back at the club on Sunday night not least because of the presence of the family of Charlie Fingland – our long-time supporter who sadly died on the terracings from a heart attack suffered in our initial quarter-final game against Shettleston.

“It felt only right and proper to go on and win the Euroscot Cup for him, but every single player believes it would be an even better way to commemorate his passing by having the Scottish sharing the trophy cabinet come next May.

“Petershill have sadly lacked a good cup run in recent years and we are desperate to put that right for our supporters and ourselves which is why tomorrow’s tie at home to Newtongrange Star is feeling like yet another must-win cup final occasion.

“The Star are a top-notch team containing many players who took part in a pre-season friendly match between our clubs last season when they deservedly came out on top by a 2-1 scoreline so we couldn’t have picked tougher opposition.

“We had a shocker for 45 minutes against Vale of Clyde but battled our corner to come good in the end and I loved going up as skipper to hold aloft the trophy and I’m now determined to experience it all over again.

“ Yes, it was disappointing to play so poorly on the day, however I’ll gladly settle for same again against Newtongrange because the only thing that counts is for Petershill's name to be in the third-round hat at 4.15pm.”

Stevie revealed he has never yet played beyond the cup’s last-eight stage which he reached as part of the John Richardson-steered Rob Roy side that were knocked out by shock troops Dalry Thistle back in 2011.

He added: “Dalry went on to lose to Musselburgh Athletic in the semi-finals and by sheer coincidence, five or six of that Mussy team now turn out for Newtongrange.

“They won’t lack for experience so it’s a real blow that we are without defensive pair Jordan Chisholm (suspension) and his brother Fraser (groin).

“I myself have a problematic ankle ligament injury which only cleared up last Saturday morning in the nick of time to let me play in the final, but truth is I was not fully fit, but adrenalin got me through the occasion.

“It still hasn’t felt 100% right at training this week but Newtongrange is too important a game to sit out.”

Peasy gaffer Patterson revealed: “I watched Newtongrange last weekend up at Carnoustie and it was hard not to be impressed as they are very well organised with key individuals such as the former Hearts full-back Craig Thomson and big striker Chris Renton.

“They are not unbeatable by any means, however I’d have felt more confident had Stephen McGladrigan been fit to play and neither does it help our cause that young Ryan Hynes has gone back to Queen's Park because he couldn’t hold down a regular place.

“Winning the Euroscot Cup does not prove we’ve arrived as a team but I’d like to think it’s a sign that better times are coming to Petershill football club.”

Yet another member of that losing Rob Roy side in 2011 … striker Chris Zok … is hoping today’s Scottish Cup showdowns will bring his first goal for Renfrew after sealing a recent transfer from Rutherglen Glencairn.

It’s the former Harmony Row protégé’s second time around playing stint with the Frew and also his second pairing up with Alain Kinney who netted all his side’s goals in last weekend’s 4-2 victory over Neilston.

The 29-year-old frontman said: “I was not getting a regular game at the Glens and sitting on the bench playing second fiddle to Dennis McLaughlin and Mark McCarry was not to my liking.

“Willie Harvey was keen to put me out on loan but I preferred to put down roots and I jumped at the opportunity to return to Renfrew once Colin Clark made his approach.

“I thoroughly enjoyed previously playing under him, Martin Ferry and Jim Quigley so signing formalities did not take long and I was able to debut against Neilston.

“Alan deservedly took the limelight but there were signs of our old partnership catching fire again and I cannot wait for the cup tie against Maud from up North even though I believe it will take a run of 5/6 games to regain my old sharpness.

“I’ll content myself with serving the chances up on a plate for Alain but if he’s up for a role reversal then I’ll willingly have a go at stepping into his scoring shoes.”