Football: Annan Athletic and Edinburgh City travel in search of their brief moment of fame

ennents scottish cup

Stevenage Borough are not the only British non-League club striving for an shock result this weekend. North of the border, Annan Athletic and Edinburgh City are both engaged in Tennents Scottish Cup third-round action today.

Of the teams outside the Scottish League who have caused an upset in the competition over recent years, the majority have come from the Highland League. But now sides from the East of Scotland League are beginning to make progress and dream of glory.

Annan set off yesterday for a six-hour coach trip to Aviemore to prepare for their meeting with Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Edinburgh City, who tackle Premier Division Dunfermline, hope a trip over the Forth Bridge will secure their passage to the fourth round. Both clubs will collect pounds 6,500 for getting this far - and Annan say they will split the money with their players.

The Dumfriesshire side will be looking to the striking partnership of Norman Montgomerie and Euan Brydson to find the net against Inverness. Montgomerie, a 31-year-old process worker at ICI, has scored 38 goals since moving from a junior side, Cumnock, in the close season.

Annan's manager, Kevin Hetherington, who spent nine years as a player with Queen of the South, said: "Norman has a marvellous scoring record but he knows he has a lot to thank Euan for. He is very unselfish, acts as a feed for Norman and helps creates a lot of chances.

"We are basically a young side and we have prepared really hard for this game. In fact, the players requested an extra night's training after we heard the draw."

Edinburgh City's manager, Gordon Rae, said: "It has reached the stage now when the players have to take a step back from the publicity and think about the game. We do have to climb Everest, but then Everest has been climbed before and, without being over confident, I feel we have to go to Dunfermline believing we can produce a result."

The holders, Kilmarnock, make the short journey south to take on Stranraer at Stair Park. "We've had an amazing number of requests for tickets from places as distant as Manchester, Newcastle, Belfast and Dublin," Stranraer's manager, Campbell Money, said. "It's an attractive match because this club has never entertained the Scottish Cup holders before."

Kilmarnock's manager, Bobby Williamson, said: "I just wish we were going into the third round every year as Cup holders. We want to hang on to the trophy, and that's why there won't be any complacency from my players tomorrow."

The Third Division strugglers, Dumbarton, will have to show improved form at Boghead if they are to progress at the expense of Premier Division Motherwell. Ian Wallace's side have the worst home record in the league: five defeats and five draws in 10 games.

Heart of Midlothian, who meet Clyde at Tynecastle Park, will be without their French goalkeeper, Gilles Rousset, because of flu, so they must choose between his deputies, Roddy McKenzie and Myles Hogarth.

Rangers are away to Hamilton in a tie which has been switched to Motherwell's Fir Parm, while Celtic entertain Morton at Parkhead.

- Ken Gaunt