EARLIER this week when conversing with Cumbernauld United manager Tony Fraser about his side’s top scoring hitman Kieran Boubekri, a picture emerged consistent with those painted by a proverbial host of Premier League defenders this season.

That is of somebody whose footballing career is back on track since moving to the WoSFL outfit and is showing signs of fulfilling the potential that had him singled out as one of the emerging Livingston F.C.Youth Academy star turns just a couple of years ago.

The 22 year old’s tale could well be regarded as a cautionary one after an unsavory fall-out earlier this season almost led to him heading out the Guys Meadow gates when his transfer listing by Fraser evoked a flurry of signing  approaches from interested clubs.

However with matters resolved he has returned to the fold with his eye firmly back on the ball and is once again doing the basics really well…in Kieran’s case scoring goals… his latest counter coming in last weekend’s 1-0 South Challenge Cup triumph away to Inverkeithing Hillside Swifts.

More but not of the same Cup business is looming ahead of him and his United team mates today in heading down to face Premier League rivals Irvine Meadow in  what is arguably the pick of the Macron sponsored competition’s 3rd Round ties.

A coveted place in the last 16 is up for grabs and seasoned gaffer Fraser reckons it is not beyond his troops even if most pundits have tagged the visiting Cumbernauld as outright underdogs.

He insisted, “This has been the viewpoint ever since the draw was made and it’s totally understandable with the form book showing Medda are 7th in the league table whereas we are down in 15th position .

“And people will also take our 2-0 defeat when we visited Meadow Park earlier this season as another indicator towards how this week’s game will pan out but too much is being read into that actual result if you ask me.

“Our captain Danny Boyle was sent off just 20 minutes in and was followed inside by Lee Davidson in the second half so play the vast majority of the game with ten men and a decent slice of it with only nine puts a different complexion on the final outcome.

“I won’t deny Irvine Meadow shaded things on the day however it’s encouraging to think we still managed to create a number of chances even in our depleted state and all it takes is one or two of them to be put away this time around and its game on.

”And that’s always a possibility with Kieran looking sharp and back to his best !”

Fraser is well aware his counterparts at the Ayrshire club, co-managers Colin Spence and James Latta. will have earmarked Boubekri for close marking attention.

He revealed: “Spenny and Latta know all about his qualities as Irvine Meadow were one of the leading clubs in the hunt for the big fellow’s signature when he was up for sale  back in August but thankfully he decided to stay put and is now more settled than ever.

“He’s been out on his own as our main attacking threat because of problems afflicting Liam Gormley(Covid), Kieran Hannoway(shoulder) and Scott Thomson (ankle) but now we  are hoping some of the weight can be taken from his shoulders after he and Thomas Sinclair partnered up together in the win over Inverkeithing.

“Sinky was a revelation despite playing out of position and pushing him up front has not unduly weakened our midfield because of Stephen McDevitt slotting in there as our ball-winner .

“I keep hearing that Medda have got better since our last meeting but so too have Cumbernauld United .”

The only other all-Premier League tie has Cumnock hosting the visit of a Largs Thistle side intent on avenging a 2-1 Barrfields reverse when the teams clashed in late July.

Largs gaffer Arnie Davidson admitted, “ For various reasons our squad was threadbare for the earlier Cumnock game  to the extent we didn’t have any substitutes to give us  fresh energy after recovering from 0-2 down to score a goal  just after half time .

“We’ll never know whether it would have made a difference but there’s no denying Cumnock’s pairing of Jamie Wilson and Finlay Frye had dominated the midfield so our guys must look to impose themselves more in that area and if we do then it’s anyone’s game.

“ Ours is a fairly good record against Cumnock and the mood in the camp is we can do well down there .”

Petershill going up against Benburb promises to be another tasty tie as does ambitious Gartcairn awaiting the visit of Beith while hard not to think Glasgow Perthshire will have their work cut out , even with home advantage , to get the better of a much improved Arthurlie.

Shire’s near neighbours Ashfield head out on the road to face Vale of Leven with confidence boosted by last Saturday’s 6-1 victory over Royal Albert which saw Saracen Park’s leading marksman Ryan McManus become the latest winner of the Possil club’s historical “Silver Dollar Award ” bestowed on any player who scores 5 goals or more in a game .

McManus is now the fifth recipient of the award in the past twenty years and joins the exalted company of Kenny Gordon (v Wishaw 2001), current Ashfield manager Paul Maxwell (v Coltness Utd 2003), Ciaran Friel( v Annbank Utd 2018),and  Callum Graham (v Maybole 2019).

Elsewhere , Saturday 20th November is the date put aside for the 32 South Challenge Cup ties that emanated from the 3rd Round draw being made last night.

The full draw is:  Darvel/Gretna 2008 v Cambuslang Rangers,Whitletts Vics v Arthurlie , Pollok v Harthill Royal, Largs Thistle v Troon, Glenrothes v Clydebank, Beith v Rossvale, Petershill v Greenock, Newmains Utd v East Kilbride F.C., Vale of Leven v Edinburgh University, Bonnyrig Rose v Coldstream, Syngenta v Edinburgh Utd, Blantyre Vics v Broxburn Athletic, Auchinleck Talbot v West Calder Utd, Finnart v Jeanfield Swifts, Cumbernauld Utd v Glasgow Utd,Tranent v Lugar Boswell, Gala Fairydean v Stirling University, Hurlford Utd v Blackburn Utd, Bo’ness Utd v East Kilbride Thistle, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Caledonia Braves,Luncarty v Renfrew, Threave Rovers v Civil Service Strollers, Bo’ness Athletic v Glenafton, Cumbernauld Colts v Tynecastle, Sauchie v Preston Athletic, Haddington Athletic v Spartans, Irvine Meadow v Penicuik Athletic, Lesmahagow v Drumchapel Utd , Linlithgow Rose v St Cuthbert Wanderers, Ormiston v Thorniewood Utd, Maybole v St Anthonys,Lochore Welfare v Dundonald Bluebell. 

PLAYING TODAY: (Kick Offs 2PM unless stated): Scottish Cup 3rd Round (3PM).Preston Athletic v Auchinleck Talbot, Stranraer v Darvel, Clydebank v Elgin City (Monday 7.45 PM).

Scottish Junior Cup 3rd Round: Glasgow Perthshire v Arthurlie,Yoker Athletic v East Kilbride Thistle,Muirkirk v Ardrossan Winton Rovers,Dyce v West Calder Utd, Vale Of Leven v Ashfield,Shotts Bon Accord v  Thorniewood Utd, Carnoustie Panmure v Rob Roy,Gartcairn v  Beith,Dundee East Craigie v  Johnstone Burgh,Newmacher Utd v Dundee North End,Petershill v Benburb,Lochee Utd v Banks O’Dee, Irvine Meadow v Cumbernauld Utd, Cumnock v Largs Thistle.

P.D.M Buildbase Premier League: Glenafton v Rossvale, Bonnyton Thistle v Hurlford Utd,  Blantyre Vics v Rutherglen Glencairn, Kilwinning Rangers v Kilbirnie Ladeside (Friday 7.30PM) Pollok v Troon.

PDM Buildbase Conference League A: Maybole v Bellshill Athletic, Irvine Vics v Whitletts Vics  Girvan v Glasgow University Lugar Boswell v Forth Wanderers, Lesmahagow v Maryhill.

PDM Buildbase Conference League B: St Cadocs v Cambuslang Rangers, Newmains Utd v Dalry Thistle , Royal Albert v Renfrew, Carluke Rovers v Port Glasgow, Ardeer Thistle v Greenock.

PDM Buildbase Conference League C: Kilsyth Rangers v St Anthonys, Neilston v Wishaw, Drumchapel Utd v St Rochs, Larkhall Thistle v Lanark Utd.PDM Buildbase Division Four. Harmony Row v Glenvale, St Peters v Campbeltown Pupils, B.S.C. Glasgow  v Kilsyth Athletic, Harthill Royal v Finnart .