Youssef Bejaoui confident Penicuik can upset odds in final

Penicuik Athletic captain Youssef Bejaoui knows cup final opponents Bonnyrigg are favourites to lift the Fife and Lothians Cup, but he insists his team-mates have got the belief that they can upset the odds.

Youssef Bejaoui reckons Penicuik have made big strides since he joined the club. Pic: TSPL

The Cuikie were on the wrong end of a 4-0 defeat the last time the sides met 11 days ago, but boosted by the return of midfield duo Lewis Barr and Jordan Lister, goalkeeper Bejaoui is hoping for a completely different game.

“This is probably the biggest game we’ve had since I’ve been at Pencuik and with it being Bonnyrigg as well it’s a bit off a derby, which adds a bit more spice to it,” he said.

“The fact they won the league so convincingly as well and being a local team we want to try and set a marker down for ourselves for next year. Bonnyrigg are favourites, but we believe we can win it. We believe we can give anybody a game. There’s no pressure on us.

“We’ve beaten Bo’ness, Kelty and Newtongrange this season so on our game we’ve got the boys that can do it.”

Penicuik ended their Super League campaign a disappointing ninth after a sixth-place finish in their promotion year. Bejaoui admits this season has been a frustrating one, but ending it with silverware would highlight the strides the club is making.

He added: “Since I’ve been here we’ve had unbelievable growth. We got promoted, won the league and got to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Junior Cup. This year hasn’t been that great but the club is improving.

“Tonight is probably our best chance to get silverware.”