Civil Service Strollers play one of their biggest games of the season on Saturday 1 March when they travel to face second placed East of Scotland Premier outfit Hill of Beath Hawthorn (2.30).
The competition is the South of Scotland Challenge Cup and it is a quarter final tie.
Originally there were over 70 teams in the draw and Strollers have battled through seeing off the likes of Irvine Meadow and Shotts Bon Accord from the West of Scotland league.
Should Strollers progress to the semi-final an away match awaits against the winner o Auchinleck Talbot v Kirkintilloch Rob Roy – again familiar names to many.
Currently Strollers lie tenth in the Lowland League after a series of mixed results; plusses include solid wins against Broxburn, Tranent and a Hearts X1 while draws occurred against Linlithgow Rose and a Celtic X1.
The Christie Gillies Park based team had some success earlier this season in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup but frustratingly went out on penalties to Linlithgow Rose in the fifth round.
Largely a young side, Strollers do, however, boast some considerable experience notably captain/assistant manager Marc Laird who during a spell down sound was on the bench for Millwall in a League One play off final victory over Bradford City at Wembley Stadium in front of 53,000 fans.
Other notables include goalkeeper Freddie Owens, 19, who has just been named in the Official Catchup Team of The month for February is on loan from Hibernian while 19-year-old centre back Bayley Klimionek is on loan from St Johnstone.
Strollers next home game is against East Stirlingshire on Saturday, 8 March (3pm).
Evergreen sports journalist. Previously published in many publications around the world. Send me your local sports stories. billlothian1008@gmail.com
