Huntly vs. Peterhead - A
Cove Rangers vs. Dalbeattie Star - B
East Fife vs. Whitehill Welfare - C
Forfar vs. Montrose - D
Morton vs. East Stirlingshire - E
Inverurie Loco Works vs. Keith - F
Glasgow University vs. Brechin - G
Cowdenbeath vs. Dumbarton - H
The full draw for the Second Round, to be played on Saturday December 11th, is as follows:
F vs. D
Ayr United vs. Edinburgh City
Gretna vs. Elgin City
Albion Rovers vs. Arbroath
Stranraer vs. Queen's Park
H vs. Berwick Rangers
G vs. Stirling Albion
A vs. C
B vs. E
Alloa Athletic vs. Stenhousemuir.
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There are some intriguing ties here. In a change to last year's format, the two relegated clubs from the First Division go into the draw straightaway, rather than for the second draw. This revelation was made apparent to me after I vocally convinced the two guys behind me that Brechin and Ayr would not be in Round One. Of course, the Glasgow University side was then drawn against Brechin in what is surely one of the hardest ties of the round, cementing my ignorance. What's more, the two guys I was talking to play for the Uni, so I'm sure they were very happy with my confident statement that they would avoid Dick Campbell's side.
Anyway, an Angus tie between Forfar and Montrose should see few difficulties for the Loons; one would assume that Morton and Brechin are also capable of advancing to Round Two. East Fife, on the other hand, may be sweating - they are on a pretty poor run right now and Whitehill have proved in the past that they are cup specialists. Huntly may raise their game against local league opposition Peterhead, and Cowdenbeath could take advantage of Dumbarton's terrible form to snatch a shock win. Inverurie vs. Keith will probably result in a convincing home victory for Locos.
Assuming they do, they will go on to face either Forfar or Montrose at home. Even if they get Forfar, they may still have a chance, as their defence has only let in four goals in eight Highland League games so far; they are also only two points off the top with a game in hand. Ayr United will get a visit from Edinburgh City, who cannot be underestimated, whilst geography danced its evil jig in drawing an improving Elgin City team away to high-flying Gretna. I'm sure the distant Northern side will appreciate a third visit to the Borders...
Elsewhere, Albion Rovers may have a chance to salvage what's already looking like a terrible season when they entertain Arbroath; Stranraer, on the other hand, will look to cement a great start to the season at home to Queen's Park. Cowdenbeath or Dumbarton will play Berwick in what promises to be a close game, with all three teams underachieving, while Glasgow University or Brechin will play Stirling Albion. Assuming it's Brechin who advance, their convincing victory at Forthbank last week will not be filling Binos fans with any sense of confidence. Huntly or Peterhead will play either East Fife or Whitehill Welfare, with the unpredictable East of Scotland side seemingly as likely to advance as the Fifers. Peterhead, in either case, should win that tie based on form and squad.
Then, another non-league side will have a chance to kill a giant as either Cove Rangers or Dalbeattie Star play host to Morton or the 'Shire. Either a long journey north or a long journey south will await the League club. Dalbeattie Star play near Dumfries in the same league as last season's Cup minnows Vale of Leithen (who are now relegated from the top division), where they lie 4th, two places below last season's shock troops Spartans. Cove languish near the foot of the Highland League with only two wins from six outings. Finally, Alloa Athletic face Stenhousemuir at Recreation Park, with a close game on the cards.
Lots of interesting ties this year - thankfully, Morton seem to have been given a fairly easy path to Round 3. But, how often recently have Morton been faced with a sure thing, only to mess it up anyway?