MARTIN HUGHES wants to make it third time lucky in Saturday's Citylink Scottish Junior Cup semi-final.

Arthurlie's inspirational midfield battler goes into the Love Street showdown against Linlithgow Rose determined to make amends for twice falling at the penultimate hurdle with Maryhill sides beaten by Tayport (2003) and Lochee United (2005).

And 26-year-old Hughes admits the fear of failure will be driving him on to make it to the Final and a meeting with either Kilwinning Rangers or Kelty Hearts.

He said: "I was on holiday in America and missed Maryhill's semi against Tayport, but had no excuse when we were on the wrong end of a 4-0 drubbing by Lochee.

"Looking back, it would be more accurate to say I was on the pitch rather than played because like so many others, I had a howler.

"I enjoyed the occasion - other than the result, of course - and have been desperate to experience it all over again.

"I never thought another chance would come around so soon but now Arthurlie are here I'm hoping there's a happier ending in store because the last thing I want is to fall flat on my face this time around."

Primary schoolteacher Hughes will take part in a training session with his team-mates tonight as Arthurlie wind-up their low-key preparations ahead of meeting up at Dunterlie on Saturday for the short bus ride to Paisley.

He added: "As you would imagine, our dressing room has been buzzing. However, manager Gary Faulds has deliberately kept our build-up as normal as possible which is exactly what the players wanted.

"In fact, he didn't even mention how Linlithgow set themselves up or discuss who their dangermen are until speaking in depth this week. Now our cards have been marked on their twin strikers Gordon Herd and Brian Carrigan, as well as the likes of my own direct opponent Mark Bradley, yet Gary does not want us to worry too much about them.

"He is very much of the mind that our main focus should be on playing to our own strengths and not just stopping theirs.

"And that is understandable when you look at our own potential match-winners like Joe Andrew, John Johnston, Alan McFadden, Ross Ballantyne and John Bradford. With that lot on our side we have every reason to feel confident about getting a result."

The former Hibs, Queen of the South and Stranraer ace also insists his side's supporters could turn out to be their twelfth man against the East Region cracks.

He went on: "The backing from our fans is arguably the best in the West and it will be great to have them roaring us on and even more so if they turn up in the numbers they are promising.

"Linlithgow are well supported and will bring a big crowd through, but they might struggle to make themselves heard if our lot are in good voice. Better still if we can give them something to shout about."

Meanwhile, Hughes is one of two Arthurlie players, along with full-back Paul Hilland, selected in the 16-strong Junior Scotland squad that will fly out to Dublin at the end of this month for a Dalymount Park clash against Ireland.

Linlithgow strikers Herd and Carrigan are also included in a much-changed squad that has only the Pollok trio of Joe Carruth, Robert Downs and Bryan Dingwall remaining from the Scotland side that pipped the Irish on goal difference to win the 2005 Quadrangular Tournament held in Glasgow.

Squad: Allan Fleming (Kelty), Mark Graham (Hill O'Beath), Joe Carruth (Pollok), Derek Wingate, Steven Swift ( Irvine Meadow), Joe Mbu (Whitburn), Paul Hilland (Arthurlie), Brian McKeown (Beith), Bryan Slavin (Auchinleck Talbot), John Elliott, Sean Grady (Bonnyrigg), Martin Hughes (Arthurlie), Robert Downs , Bryan Dingwall(Pollok), Gordon Herd, Brian Carrigan (Linlithgow Rose). Top Mark provides high spot

CLYDEBANK grabbed a last-minute winner to dump Beith in a friendly at Glenhead Park last night.

The game was played at a cracking pace, but the deadlock was only broken when Bankies striker Mark Bowie rose above the Ayrshire defence to head home an Alan Jack free-kick.

That delighted home boss Budgie McGhie, who said: "I have to be happy considering we had as many as seven changes to the side which drew with Yoker in our last outing.

"Some of the performances last night have definitely put certain players in the frame for a starting jersey when we play Yoker again on Saturday week." Tonight

7.45pm unless stated Uefa Cup. Quarter-final 2nd leg - Benfica (2) v Espanyol (3), Osasuna (3) v Bayer Leverkusen (0), Spurs (1) v Sevilla (2), Werder Bremen (0) v AZ Alkmaar (0). Last night

Uefa Champions League. Quarter-final, 2nd leg - Bayern Munich 0 AC Milan 2 (agg: 2-4), Liverpool 1 PSV 0 (agg: 4-0).

SPL Reserves - Motherwell 0 Rangers 0.