Morton (in red) versus Stranraer, the last time. (From Around the Grounds in 42 Days).
Greenock Morton head for the SW corner of the compass today to play Third Division club Stranraer in the first round of the Scottish League Challenge Cup, or as it is now styled, the Ramsdens Cup, after the pawnbroker. It was at about this time a year ago that The Ton visited Stair Park to meet The Blues in the first round of the League Cup, and won 7 - 1. Stranraer's worst showing ever was an 11 - 1 loss to Queen of the South in 1932, so that's something for the Greenockians to aim for this time, over and above a win. So far this pre-season the Ton have not scored more than two goals in a game.
Q: Which is more illustrious, Morton or Stranraer?
A: Morton, easily.
Q: Though, Morton and Stranraer both got to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup last year, where they were eliminated by Inverness CT and Motherwell respectively. And when they met head-to-head in round four of the 2002-03 Scottish Cup, Stranraer won.
A: Get away from me.
The Scottish Football League is sponsored by Irn Bru. Irn Bru. Made in Scotland, from girders.
The Greenock Telegraph points out that all but four of Morton's last 21 cup draws have been away games, and a comment adds that if it were Celtic there'd be outrage.
Here's a thought. Stranraer is closer to Belfast than to Ayr or Dumfries. The Stranraer-Belfast ferry takes only three hours to make the crossing. If Stranraer FC were ever to become disgusted with the SFL they have the practical option of applying for entry into the Northern Irish league. The SFL itself has an English member, Berwick Rangers.
The Ramsdens aka Scottish League Challenge Cup is contested annually by the 30 clubs of the SFL. 30 is an awkward number for a knockout playoff system, which works best with powers of 2 (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 etc.) Last year the organizers dealt with it by giving two clubs a bye into the second round. This year they have instead upped the number of participants to 32 by adding the top two Highland League teams, Buckie Thistle and Deveronvale. The Highland League is unofficially regarded as the fifth tier of Scottish football. Buckie Thistle reached the fifth round of the Scottish Cup last year, and with their 5000-seat stadium would be a strong candidate for admission to the Scottish Football League if some existing SFL club were to fold (or take the ferry). To date the SFL has poached Inverness Caledonian and Thistle, Ross County, Peterhead and Elgin from the Highland League.
Morton are playing without recently signed defender Andy Graham, who broke his cheekbone during the Renfrewshire Cup game.
Wow. Morton win 8 - 0, with four goals each by Jackson and Di Giacomo. Other teams to advance are Hamilton, Livingston, Partick, Raith, Falkirk, Dundee, Ayr, Stirling, Annan, East Fife, Elgin, Peterhead, Forfar and Berwick. Dumbarton and East Stirlingshire play tomorrow.
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