I'm excited about this game as there is a potentially a big 3rd round tie for the winners. I know nothing about Crichton other than that they are Southern League Champions so must be able to play a bit. It's impossible to judge the standard between them and Clach but I have doubts about how well they will handle the long journey north or the tasty reception on offer from the home fans. Personally I feel home advantage suits Clach down to the ground but a draw is as good as a defeat given their appalling away record. Home win.

As Alan Partridge might say, "Jurassic Park!"

Chrichton must be unknown quantity. Currently 2nd in SOS league. But Clachnacudinn no great outfit either.

CRICHTON TO WIN 2-1 TOMMY TO SAVE PENALTY KENNEDY AND BIG ADAM FROM CORNER CMON THE SOUTH

Easy Clach win. I'd say by 4 goals. Come on the Lillies!!!

Cant see Crichton getting much out of this. Seen them about ten times in the last couple of season yet to see a good performance from them. Saying that they will not get bullied, they are a pritty physical side.

Hope they do it for the South though.

Indeed, in the years Ive been living in Inverness I have yearned for Alloa to be drawn away at Clach. A game on my doorstep for once and the tantalising prospect of a pre-match pub crawl starting maybe at the Castle Tavern and working my way down into and through the town and out to Grant Street. So come on the Lillies, get it right up the Crichton .

That sounds magic, I'll join you if it happens.

Having watched Crichton for the last season and a half i think Marf is a bit harsh............not a performance in ten in the past two seasons!!!!!!!!!!!!! You dont win the league unless you perform............they beat Threave home and away i think last season and got 6 points off Stranraer reserves.....they compete but also have footballers.......Clach will be favs but expect the wee team to compete...........was lookin at the prices..............thought clach would be odds on and Crichton about 8/1 but its closer than i thought

11/8 Clach...5/2 Crichton...............draw might be a good bet if only we had the price

Two very week South of Scotland sides took Highland League sides to replays and extra time in the last round. It is blatantly obvious that the Highland League is not that strong.

Crichton are the League Champions and I will take them to get at least a draw up there.

So there.

Two lower league Highland sides though..............Clach took 9 off Lossiemouth who are above them so will be a seious test............think they will start rising the league on their home form

Does anyone know if Crichton will bring some support?

Dare say there will be some but i cant help (probably selfishly) that the clubs have missed out on a bit of support by not playing this one at 12.30. Qos are at Ross at 3 and are Caley not at home as well so it would have been possible to do a 2 in one day. I was really keen to go to the Crichton game but given QoS are only a few miles further up the road i cant really ignore that game.

Think Marf is a bit harsh on Crichton as i think they arent a bad side at all and try to play a bit of football. they have good strikers in Kennedy, Soltys & Montgomerie, Johnstone at the back always looks decent when i've seen him and the likes of Stankiwicz (?), True & Nicoll are solid enough guys, Millar has looked good the couple of times i've seen him as well .

I expect Clach to win but hold out hope that Crichton could just suprise folk. Looking at Clachs results its all a bit confusing they thumped Lossie but lost to Golspie who lost to Threave whilst drawing (i think) with Forres and Brora so theres maybe some hope for Crichton given results by SoS teams in the cup against the same opponents.

Best of luck to Crichton its been a fine acheivement for them to win the league given what they used to be a few years ago. I hear they are going to go for it on the day so maybe goals aplenty.

Cricthon are one of the hardest working teams ive seen,they are a tough team to break down.

Best of luck to Jim and the boys for saturday

Take it you know that the SPL and 1st Division sides don't come in until round 4?

According to Wikipedia 6 clubs from the 1st division are involved in the 3rd round - I hope this is correct. Pretty much any league club is a big tie anyhow.

I trust you will be there to offer great hospitality to the visitors a wee taste of the World Famous Clach Soup would be a welcoming thirst quencher upon arrival to Grant St!!!!!!

I'll be there Mac, and yourself?

According to Iain Polworth in today's Highland News, he understands Crichton are travelling up on Friday so they will be well rested for the game. I think it'll be a close one.

I am afraid I won't as I will be supporting City on Saturday, I did make the Cove game tho and thought that Gordie Mo was fantastic a great signing from Polworth!, I hope that Clach make it thru as it will be a huge benefit financially and also a morale booster too so "Mon the Clach", All Crichton fans should try the Clach Soup too!!! I think it will be a cracking game as Crichton will not be mugs but think Home Advantage coupled with a noisy Home support should see the boys home

Where have I been all week? Busy.

Match programme will be for sale at the ground for £1.50.

New article, 'Songs to Watch Clach to' features with 5 songs to listen to on the iPod on your trip to Buckie next week... Awesome.

Fantastic result and a well earned one too. Luckily Clach had the wind behind them in the 1st half as it appeared less strong during the 2nd. It had looked likely they would need to go in at the break with more than a single goal lead as it was such a massive factor in the game. Great long range arrow strike from Ross for the goal and a potentially massive financial and publicity boost for the club depending on who they might get in round 3. Harsh for both sets of players, particularly the defenders, to play in the monsoon like conditions.

My trip down to Alloa today fell through so popped over to Grant Street and really enjoyed the game. Crichton were a tidy enough side and played some nice stuf against the wind early on, thought Clach's goal (a cracker) was slightly against the run of play. For the rest of the half though Clach were well on top and should have managed at least one more goal before the break. One incredible save by the Crichton goalie, a free kick off the bar, then 2 off the post in the same incident.
Second half was the other way around with Crichton having the wind behind them and coming close to a goal a few times, think they had 2 efforts against the post as well. Clach then had a really good wee spell against the wind in the last few minutes and another great save by the Crichton keeper. Finally one of the Crichton lads missed a sitter right at the death. Thought Clach probably just deserved to win but Crichton maybe feel they should have had the draw.

Good atmosphere at the game today. I hadnt been to Clach for a wee while but the place seemed much livelier than the games I was at last season. The wineshed seemed in danger of blowing away though, the main support at the end where it meets the standside is broken and the whole structure was moving back and forth in the wind .

Really good cup tie and excellent match programme, nice one Jonathan. Clach at home to Alloa next please .

It's a bloody death trap. The support is so crudely welded together.

Also, the programme is quality Jonathan. Very impressive.

Any of you following City down to Blackburn next week for the Junior Cup 2nd Round?

Is that a reference to the structure or its inhabitants?????

Well done to Clach a great result and hopefully help with much needed money coming in from the run! Was there a good atmosphere there? The weather was horrendous so hope that didnt deter the crowd, I was at the City game and the pitch is now F**ked its like a mudbath!

What was the crowd at the City game?

Suprisingly good Elgin took a few fans through through and were noisy near the end when they scored the winner, I would reckon just over 100 considering it was absolutely chucking it down not bad at all. Caley Thistle,Clach and County were all at home too. Again it was a cracking game shame about scoreline my only concern for City wouldnt be the supporter base but the pitch as its shocking truely horrendous for drainage a real swimming pool.

Yeah Im surprised it hasnt been condemned, it must be one of the bits of Grant Street thats owned by Clach rather than the Council. There was talk when ICT built their new stands that the (pretty new) covered enclosure they had the Bridge End of their ground would be going to Grant Street. It obviously never happened which is a shame, could have replaced the Wine Shed or else gone down the dugout side of the ground.

Thanks for the kind words re the programme. It's coming on a wee bit now.

I can't compare this season to last, but I imagine it's more lively just now, because Clach are taking on all comers at Grant Street Park this season, scoring a fair few goals too. Some of the games have been great value and some of the goals have been absolute belters.

Couple of things for Raybees... Are you and your better half going down to the low key Biffy Clyro gig in Dunfermline this December? Would you be heading down after the match on the train? And PM me your address so I can send some programmes to you.

Nah won't be going to see Biffy. It's my girlfriend who's the fan (i just tolerated them) and she's lost interest now that they're all 'commercial'.

Tell you what, I'll PM you my mobile number and we can meet up at the next home game.

The Clach - Alloa game looked to be on at the end of the draw but we were one out and end up with a boring away tie against Raith. Stenny go to Grant Street, b@stards. Should be a good day at Clach Park.

Shame about that Waspie. Away to a team in your own league must hardly be inspiring.

Bring on Stenny though, hope they bring a few fans up the road.

Our away support is uninspiring at best. I'd expect about 50-70 of us to make the trip at most.

Yeah, third year in a row we've had a boring away draw (Stranraer and Livi previously) and probably the third year in a row we'll lose.

However my folks are coming up to the Sneck that weekend for their annual trip which normally involves me and and the old man going to Clach or Nairn/Forres if Clach are away. As such I will be most likely donning the Clach scarf and heading for the Wine Shed for the Stenny game.

Sorry, you're right - never spotted that!