The William Hill Scottish Cup returns this weekend, with 34 teams from across the country looking to book their place in the second round of the competition.

Civil Service Strollers make the trip to face Forres Mechanics, who find themselves on an 11 match scoring run in the competition, while East Stirlingshire travel north to take on Huntly, who will be looking to advance to the second round for the first time since 2016.

Both the University of Edinburgh and the University of Stirling will be looking to replicate their showing in 2017-18, which saw both teams progress to the second round. The capital-based outfit will be the visitors to Whitehill Welfare this Sunday, with the men in green – formerly coached by Scotland Women’s National Team head coach Shelley Kerr – hosting Keith on Sunday afternoon.

An all-Highland League clash will kick off the weekend, as Fraserburgh travel to Inverurie under the Friday night lights at Harlaw Park. Both sides have repeatedly shown their goal-scoring prowess in Scottish Cup matches gone by, with supporters of both teams hoping for more of the same this season.

Six teams remain from the preliminary rounds, with Auchinleck Talbot’s reward for their crushing 10-0 victory over Wigtown & Bladnoch coming in the form of a trip to Wick Academy.

Beith Juniors, whose late winner against Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale saw them progress to the main draw, travel to face Nairn County, whilst Linlithgow Rose welcome Fort William to Prestonfield with the visitors looking for a first second round appearance in three years.

Burntisland Shipyard’s reward for edging past Girvan in the preliminary stages is a tough home tie against Cumbernauld Colts. The visitors will be looking to atone for last season, which saw them fail to reach the second round for the first time in their history.

The final two ties featuring teams surviving from the preliminary rounds see Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic and Coldstream, both 3-0 winners in the last preliminary stage, travel to Deveronvale and Strathspey Thistle respectively.

Elsewhere, there is potential for a high-scoring affair between Brora Rangers and Turriff United on Saturday. Brora’s last two first round matches have yielded nine goals between them, a feat more than matched by their opponents’ 25 in their last six first round ties.

Dalbeattie Star, meanwhile, will be looking to progress to the second round for the first time since 2014 when they welcome Kelty Hearts to Islecroft Stadium, while Clachnacuddin will be looking for a repeat of their 8-0 victory over Fort William in last season’s first round when they travel to face Rothes.

Buckie Thistle – scorers of 13 goals in their previous two first round ties – travel to Galabank Stadium to face Edusport Academy, with Vale of Leithen making the trip south to face Gretna 2008.

The Scottish Cup featured match comes from Galashiels this weekend, as Lossiemouth make the long trip south to take on Gala Fairydean Rovers at Netherdale in search of their first Scottish Cup win in nine years.

The winners of the first round ties will join BSC Glasgow in the second round, with the Lowland League side having been given a bye to the next stage following the withdrawal of Selkirk from the competition.

For full updates from across the fixtures taking place this weekend, follow @ScottishCup on Twitter.

The draw for the Second Round will take place following Saturday’s First Round matches at 5.45pm. You can watch it live:

John Hislop
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John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.

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