Keith manager is expecting 'tough challenge' in Scottish Cup against Luncarty
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KEITH manager Craig Ewen is targeting the second round of the Scottish Cup but is expecting a tough challenge when Perthshire side Luncarty visit Kynoch Park on Saturday.
The Maroons were beaten 1-0 at home by Brora Rangers on Saturday, and will be back on home turf for the fourth successive weekend when they host Luncarty.
The visitors have lost all eight of their East of Scotland Premier Division games this campaign, but Ewen isn’t looking too much into that.
“It’s a big game,” he said. “I’m not really looking into their league form in a Scottish Cup tie.
“The East Premier Division is a good standard. We are glad we are home. We are in reasonable form at the moment and if we play our best then we have a chance of going through.
"Obviously they are a decent side, they got promoted into that league, and maybe it’ll just take them a minute or two to find their feet.
“We could have got an easier draw but we are looking forward to the game. We would love to get through a few rounds of the Scottish Cup and generate some excitement.”
Saturday’s defeat to Brora Rangers was a precursor for the Highland League Cup semi-final trip to Dudgeon Park in a little under two weeks time.
Ewen added: “Brora were comfortably the better team in the first half and should have been ahead but didn’t score thanks to a combination of good goalkeeping from Craig Reid and missed opportunities.
“We got in at 0-0 and knew the next 20 minutes would be important. Then three minutes into the second half we concede.
“It was well-worked goal from their point of view with good passing and movement. After that we made a fist of it but couldn’t create a good chance.
“On their pitch it’ll be really difficult, but we’ll give it everything we have to see if we can get through. It would be a massive thing for the club.”
