KILBIRNIE Ladeside are not running scared of Scottish Junior Cup opponents Penicuik Athletic ahead of heading through East for their played to a finish 2nd Round replay contest on Saturday.

So says defiant Blasties boss Budgie McGhie who insists his playing charges will be better prepared for facing the East Region title challengers whose first game display at Valefield arguably deserved better than a 2-2 scoreline.

Budgie blasted: “Penicuik’s performance in what was a really good Cup tie came as no surprise to myself as we had done our homework on them and were well aware they are one of the top teams through there .

“A lot of people out there might think our failure to come out on top at home has handed them an advantage however all I will say is any team that can go and win at places like Newlandsfield and Bellsdale Parkthis season has no need to fear going anywhere in the Junior game .

“And more so when you consider our supporters …who gave us loud and wonderful backing last weekend…are planning to be there in numbers to roar us on.

“So to anyone writing off our chances I can only say do so at your peril “

Kilbirnie went into last week’s game without having played competitively for the previous three weeks and with star turns Jon Scullion and Davie Anderson playing with troublesome injury knocks but gaffer Budgie insists he is not making excuses .

He said , “ The line-up we put out was more than capable of winning the game but conceding very poor goals by our own standards left us with an uphill battle and it would be fair to say Penicuik probably edged things on the day.

“Gavin Mitchell was also forced to come off with a badly staved toe and we were out of sorts and looked a shadow of our true selves but I’d like to think we will be better this week for getting 90 minutes under our belts and more so if this week’s treatment table sessions do the trick for Davie and Jon.

“Both teams are evenly matched so the tie will come down to who plays best on the day and I’m confident of it being us.”

Added motivation (not that it is needed ) for the Ayrshiremen arrived when the Junior Cup 3rd Round draw was made yesterday and the winners of the Penicuik v Kilbirnie clash were landed with a home tie against Central Second Division outfit.

A handful of definite all-West Region pairings were pulled from the hat with one of them…the Guys Meadow meeting of Rob Roy and defending Cup holders Glenafton emerging as a clear winner of “tie of the round “ status.

The Super Premier Division rivals have yet to face each other this season however they both chalked up 2-0 wins in their head to heads last time out when the Rabs eventually finished as runners –up to champions Glenafton.

And they came close to playing a rubber game in the Junior Cup after Rob Roy lost out 2-0 in the Quarter Finals against a strong Bonnyrigg Rose team that were subsequently beaten by the Glens in a two legged semi-final.

Kirkintilloch team boss Stewart Maxwell summed up his side’s clash when saying “ It’s as tough as it gets and not one we’d have picked but I don’t imagine Craig McEwan will be doing cartwheels at the prospect either.

“ A lot of teams will be happy to see one of us going out at this stage and we will certainly need to be at our best to ensure it is not us.

“Thankfully we have players coming back from injury to strengthen our playing hand for the tie however we already have a definite non-starter is goalkeeper Michael McKinven who is looking at 6-8 weeks out with a dislocated knee-cap injury.”

Bo’ness United hosting the visit of Kilwinning Rangers and the Blair Park meeting of Hurlford United and Musselburgh Athletic look the pick of the West v East showdowns while the Whitburn v Benburb tie will evoke memories of their classic semi-final head to head in 2000 when the East Region side prevailed on penalty kicks before going on to overcome Johnstone Burgh (once more via the spot kick route) in the Firhill staged Final .

Strongly fancied Pollok will not be too dismayed with a trip across city to take on Glasgow Perthshire however a longer and more exacting journey awaits Petershill in travelling up to Tayside to face Carnoustie Panmure whom they beat 1-0 at the same 3rd Round stage last season.

The full draw is Scone Thistle v Kilsyth Rangers,Forth Wanderers /Irvine Vics v Lochore Welfare , Sauchie v Camelon ,Dyce v Irvine Meadow ,Glasgow Perthshire v Pollok ,

Haddington Athletic v Vale of Clyde .Bellshill Athletic v Ashfield ,Oakley Utd v Linlithgow Rose,Cumnock v Bathgate Thistle,Downfield v Wishaw,Whitburn v Benburb ,Hermes v Dunbar Utd, Forfar West End v Shotts Bon Accord, Penicuik Athletic /Kilbirnie Ladeside v Lanark Utd, Kennoway Star Hearts v Blantyre Vics ,Thorniewood Utd v East Kilbride Thistle ,Rossvale v Banks O'Dee, Troon v Yoker Athletic,Newtongrange Star v Cumbernauld Utd,Hurlford Utd v Musselburgh Athletic, Arthurlie/Lesmahagow v Coupar Angus ,Gartcairn v Maud ,Rob Roy v Glenafton ,Vale of Leven v Bonnyrigg Rose ,Carnoustie Panmure v Petershill, Bo’ness Utd v Kilwinning Rangers, Lochee Utd v Johnstone Burgh ,Tranent v Jeanfield Swifts,Rutherglen Glencairn v Stonehaven,Crossgates Primrose v Beith , Blackburn Utd v Annbank Utd /Colony Park ,Hill of Beath v Auchinleck Talbot .(Ties to be played Saturday 25th November Kick Offs 1.45PM)