Road to Hampden gets off to a cracking start

With the rolling hills of Ayrshire as a backdrop, Beith Juniors' tree-lined Bellsdale Park was a magnificent setting for a Scottish Cup tie and the start of my annual pilgrimage on "Spencey's Road to Hampden".

The visit of East Superleague giants and Junior Cup holders Linlithgow Rose in round one, meant sadly that one Junior side would go out of the competition.

In the event, the Rosey Posey as they're known, succumbed to two top quality goals despite having battered Beith for the opening 25 minutes before the Ayrshiremen found the right gear.

But there was a terrific atmosphere and it lent further weight to the call to let ambitious juniors and others into a proper Scottish Football League structure.

More than 1,200 fans, including a big Linlithgow contingent, witnessed an end to end game of very decent quality.

A bulleted header from Mark McShayne and a joyous mazy dribbled goal from the magical feet of Joe Bradley put Beith through.

However, they lived dangerously with the Rose having a barrage of good chances and near things.

At �8 for adults and �4 for kids and concessions, it's no wonder some junior crowds put the seniors to shame.

I interviewed a taxi driver from Dundee, George Aimer, who thought it would be a smashing match (correct) and took the road and the miles by bus to see it.

I talked to four guys who were Pollok fans, who'd recently seen their team concede six goals to the Mighty Beith; a young guy who'd travelled from Northern Ireland, a very polite English Rangers fan and I was mobbed by the best behaved and most inquisitive young fans I've met in a long time.

The banter with the fans was brilliant and the game was played in a tough but fair spirit, well-handled by referee Don Roberston and his assistants.

Club president John Boal, a driving force behind the club, welcomed me like a long lost son and nothing was too much trouble for him or his committee members.

Oh, and a cracking cup of coffee and a lovely doughnut cost only �1.50 and was served by two lovely cheery girls who seemed very happy at their work.

A great day out? You bet.

It was great crack, I haven't enjoyed myself so much at a game in a long time and you'll hear all about it on Beyond the SPL on Thursday night on BBC Radio Scotland at 1900 GMT.

West Bromwich Albion Tickets West Ham United Fixtures West Ham United News West Ham United Players West Ham United Transfers