Rutherglen Glencairn v Arthurlie: Taste of Junior Cup final last year driving players on for more

Rutherglen Glencairn boss Joe Pryce admits their run to the Junior Cup final last season is driving them to go one better this term, after upsetting Premier Division Troon at the weekend.

Another top-flight side in Arthurlie awaits in this Saturday’s third round as they bid to negotiate another hurdle on the road to the 2024 final.

First Division Glens went down to an agonising, last-gasp 1-0 defeat to Premier side Cumnock in June and have their sights set on lifting the silverware this time around.

Toppling Troon shows they can mix it with the top teams this season, but Pryce knows another big performance will be required when Arthurlie – who thumped Forfar United 6-1 in their second round tie at the weekend – come calling at the Hamish B Allan Stadium.

”We’d love to be back at the final again but we are a long way away from that,” said Pryce, whose Glens hadn’t played a Junior Cup game at home for four years.

“We’ve only taken the first step on Saturday but having experienced it all last year, we’d love to get there again and do better.

“There’s a lot of hurdles in the way before that and this first one is this weekend against Arthurlie, and that is not going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination.

“We know we are going to have to play as well – or even better – than we did against Troon to get past them.

“They are another top division side so it will be difficult.

“It is a tie we are looking forward to but we are under no illusions that Arthurlie are the favourites for this tie as well.

“We just have to make sure we go out and perform as well as we did against Troon.”

Glens have won seven games from their last eight outings in all competitions and Pryce is delighted with the graft his squad are putting in to