EGLINTON FC will be out to make history this weekend.
The club's co-boss has set his side the challenge as the Kilwinning-based outfit begin preparations for their first ever cup semi-final.
Dougie Taylor is under no illusion that it will be a monumental task but insists "you never know" what can happen in a one off cup game.
This Saturday, October 19, Eglinton will host West of Scotland Football League (WoSFL) Premier Division side St Cadoc's in the semi-final of the Strathclyde Demolition Cup.
The tournament is relatively small in size, with only a handful of teams competing for glory.
The trophy is a knockout cup competition for WoSFL clubs who are not SFA licensed or do not compete in the Scottish Junior Cup.
The cup provides a qualifying route for next season's senior Scottish Cup as the winners will play off against the winners of the equivalent competitions in the east and south.
Both St Cadoc's and Eglinton are relatively new sides in the west, having both joined the WoSFL after its inception from the former junior leagues.
St Cadoc's quickly established themselves as a top side since joining in 2020, and finished third in their debut Premier Division campaign last season.
Eglinton entered the set up in 2022, and have competed in the bottom Fourth Division since then.
Despite that, the Kilwinning club will take confidence into the match, especially given their most recent cup showing.
As they faced Lowland League side Bo'ness United - a club five division ahead of them - in the South Challenge Cup on Saturday, October 12, it took a 90th minute goal to down Eglinton who fell to a 1-0 defeat.
While that match featured some heroic goalkeeping from stopper Ross Lundy, co-boss Taylor is hoping for an equally inspired performance from his side against St Cadoc's.
He commented: “It’s the clubs first ever semi-final, if you can’t get up for that then nothing will.
“It’s a football first for Eglinton and they boys have a chance to create history there.
“That’s why we opted to go down that route, it’s a wildcard but it does give you that we crack at it.
“It’s a massive task for the lads but you never know in a one-off cup game.”
And Taylor is hoping Eglinton will leave everything out on the pitch.
He added: “There’s a no fear attitude in the changing room, the boys get right fired up for it.
“It’s like anything else, when you’re playing a team in a higher league the pressure is off slightly and you play with a bit more freedom.
“It is a free hit, the pressure is all on them, but we still expect to win every game – it’s so important to keep the momentum up.
“It’s not as if we are going to down tools or make wholesale changes.
“It’s a right good confidence booster if you can win against a good side, it gives them a lift to kick on.”
The big semi-final will take place this Saturday, October 19, at Eglinton FC's home ground, the Ian Cashmore Snr Memorial Park at Kilwinning Sports Club. Kick off is at 2pm.
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