HURLFORD UNITED boss Darren Henderson can well remember the scathing put down he received from a young Derek "Homer" Holmes when they were Ross County team-mates so he’s not expecting the Wishaw manager to be cowed at the prospect of their teams locking horns in the Scottish Junior Cup semi-finals.

The two teams were paired together in yesterday’s draw while 11-time winners Auchinleck Talbot came out of the hat alongside East Region hopefuls Lochee United and found themselves immediately installed as favourites to clinch a 15th Cup Final appearance (14 of them in the last 32 years).

Hurlford are similarly fancied to get the better of their lower league opponents, but a cautious Hendo does not believe his side’s chance of a second showpiece appearance in four years is any foregone conclusion.

He said: “Four of us, Homer, Paul Kinnaird, Eddie Cunnington and myself, were out for dinner in Dingwall one night and were discussing how our game at the weekend had panned out and Homer was not exactly praising my performance.

“My retort to him was to say, 'Who are you to criticize when I've played almost every game this season, and you're a kid trying to get a regular jersey?'

“Homer, who had been tipped for the top when he broke into Hearts first team as a teenager didn’t so much as break stride before firing back, 'Have you ever played in the UEFA Cup?' and at that point I knew I was beaten and just shut my mouth.”

Speaking just hours after the draw was made Hendo added: “All kidding aside, Homer has a wealth of experience at Senior level playing under top coaches and I’ve no doubt any team he manages will be fit and very well organised, so my players will be warned to treat Wishaw as if we had drawn Talbot or Lochee.

“To have beaten Rob Roy 2-0 in the quarter-finals is a real giant killing act and I’m just glad the first leg of the semi-final is away from home to give us a chance to see what they have to offer before coming to Blair Park.

“I would describe our performance in beating Bo’ness United last Saturday as hit and miss at best but it was pleasing to see the guys rolling up the sleeves to come back from 1-0 down.

“I just hope the manner of our victory can act as a boost going into the Wishaw double-header.”

Suspension ruling out midfielder Danny Mitchell from tomorrow’s West of Scotland Cup tie against Lesmahagow leaves Hendo down to the bare bones and looking to strengthen his playing hand.

He admitted: "Chris McKnight, who is awaiting cruciate ligament surgery, while Chris Murchie, who has a broken foot, were named as substitutes against Bo’ness – as was Stewart Kean... and he wasn’t there!

“It’s looking like we will be similarly short of numbers again but I am hoping to bring in a few bodies over the next week or so.”

It’s an indication of their long-standing friendship that Holmes had arranged to meet up with Henderson last night.

The Wishaw gaffer said: “My son is training with Kilmarnock so it seemed a good opportunity to chew the fat with Darren even though I don’t expect him to tell me too much about his team.

“We shared digs up in Dingwall – in fact we shared the same room – and he’s a great character as well as a good guy to have in your team given his liking for a meaty tackle.

“It was often said he deliberately worked on having a bad first touch so that he could put in a challenge to win the ball back but that’s maybe unfair on him as he could certainly play a bit in his prime.

“We were in digs Monday-Friday in Dingwall and drove back down the road in my car after our game on the Saturday and there were many occasions when I would tell Darren to take the car to Ayr with him and pick me up again for the journey back up on the Monday morning.

“That’s the kind of close friendship we enjoyed as team-mates and I can’t see the semi-final affecting it unduly even if we won’t be talking to each other in the run-up.

“It’s interesting to hear Darren is happy to be at home in the second leg because playing first at The Beltane is ideal as far as I’m concerned – not least because I’ll be looking for our players to earn an advantage to take down to Ayrshire.

“Nobody will expect us to get through this hurdle but the same was said when we came up against Rob Roy in the quarter-finals and look what happened.”

PLAYING TOMORROW (Kick Offs 2PM): McBookie.com Super Premier Division. Pollok v Kilwinning Rangers.McBookie.com Super First Division. Shettleston v Cumbernauld Utd, Petershill v Renfrew, , Kello Rovers v Maryhill.McBookie.com Central First Division. East Kilbride Thistle v Benburb, Glasgow Perthshire v Port Glasgow, Rossvale v Blantyre Vics.McBookie.com Central Second Division.,Dunipace v Vale of Clyde, Royal Albert v Carluke Rovers, Bellshill Athletic v Lanark Utd, Newmains Utd v Vale of Leven McBookie.com Ayrshire District League. Muirkirk v Annbank Utd. New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup Second Round.Ashfield v Craigmark, Auchinleck Talbot v St Rochs , Beith v Neilston, Cumnock v Wishaw, Gartcairn v Clydebank, Girvan v St Anthonys, Largs Thistle v Cambuslang Rangers, Larkhall Thistle v Irvine Meadow,Shotts Bon Accord v Whitletts Vics , Troon v Maybole , Ardeer Thistle v Greenock, Arthurlie v Saltcoats Vics , Dalry Thistle v Darvel, Forth Wanderers v Thorniewood Utd, Hurlford Utd v Lesmahagow , Kilbirnie Ladeside v Johnstone Burgh , Rob Roy v Irvine Vics.