KDM Evolution Trophy round of 32 draw in full as Bonnyrigg Rose, Edinburgh City and Spartans discover fate
Bonnyrigg Rose, Edinburgh City and Spartans were all in the KDM Evolution Trophy round of 32 draw.
The KDM Evolution Trophy round of 32 draw has been completed.
Bonnyrigg Rose, Edinburgh City and Spartans have landed three of the toughest draws on offer, against promotion-chasing Championship trio Dunfermline Athletic, Partick Thistle and Livingston respectively. The three clubs were in this draw’s unseeded section as second tier sides enter the tournament following the league phase’s conclusion in midweek.
The Rosey Posey managed by Jonny Stewart finished 16th out of 40 teams competing with City a space below, Spartans coming in at 21st. 22 teams would progress with the top six gaining seeded status alongside the Championship sides coming into the tournament for ties that will be played on the midweek of November 3/4.
How did Bonnyrigg Rose, Edinburgh City and Spartans get on in recent matches?
Stewart, who’s side host Cowdenbeath in the Lowland League this weekend, said after a 1-1 draw with Spartans midweek: “Everything I asked of the boys, they gave me. That was hard work, effort, togetherness, communication, organisation, all the dirty side of the game. I thought we were really good at that . It's maybe been missing.
“We've been criticised for some of the results recently but hopefully the boys can take massive confidence from that because that was a really good performance. It's great to get through, but it's important that we focus now on league duty. It'll be a difficult match against Cowdenbeath. We're going to have to show exactly the same quality as we showed on Tuesday tonight to go through and get a result.”
Kirk Crichton, Edinburgh City assistant manager, says it was good for the Citizens to get a look at club youngsters in defeats to Formartine United and St Mirren ‘B’ during their final two league phase matches. He said: “I think over the two games that we're talking about with the academy boys playing, they've all acquitted themselves really well. They've all shown in glimpses what they've got to offer and our academy is growing all the time. The pathway is starting to bloom and we're starting to see some real quality coming through, which is exciting for the future of the club.”
New Spartans boss James Craigen will take charge of his first League Two game this weekend against Stranraer at Ainslie Park with youth inclusion also on his radar. He added: “I've worked with young players previously as well. I'm really passionate about developing young players. Of course they've got to have the right attitude and they've got to be good enough as well. We've got a good crop of players in the U20s and below the U20s coming through as well. They'll be training with us as well. They're going to learn, they've got a positive environment to learn here as well, but I want them to get in the team.”