Main: We're always out to upset the odds
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FORMARTINE United goalkeeper Kevin Main believes his teammates are more suited to the underdogs tag as they shape up to face East Kilbride.
A win for United on Saturday will see them lobbed into the magic hat with the giants of Scottish football - evoking memories of their run to the 4th Round and a trip to then-Premiership Partick Thistle almost three years ago.
A home draw against a Lowland League side appears, on paper, as one of the more favourable match-ups at this particular stage of the competition.
However the Pitmedden men’s struggle to overcome Gala Fairydean in the last round has underlined that they still face a formidable task on their hands.
East Kilbride themselves have had the ecstasy of a dream draw when they were pulled out alongside Celtic in 2016.
But Main says one of United's key strengths is standing up to more illustrious opposition.
He said: “I think any home tie [is good for us].
“The expectation of playing a Lowland League side, it’s one of that ones where I think a SPFL side would be better as you go in as underdogs, it gives you a better chance.
“I think Gala are sitting in a mid-table and East Kilbride are around the same.
“Gala came across really well, when we spoke to their boys they said it was the best they’d played all season.
“We know we’re going to be in for a tough game.
“We just hope we can be on form on the day."
Postponements and fixture changes have seen Formartine fall behind in the league race in both points and games played but the veteran shotstopper isn't fretting: “We’re not going to win the Scottish Cup - we just want to go as far as we can and get a good draw which takes in a bit of money for the club.
“The league will take care of itself.
“We’re maybe five games behind some of the teams at the top so at the end of the day, we’re taking it one game at a time and want to win as much as we can."
A sublime strike from Graeme Rodger ensured the North Lodge men have the bragging rights over local rivals Inverurie Locos for the time being.
Main reckons Formartine just shaded the game and was grateful for victory after their league charge suffered a setback against the same opponents just 10 days prior.
He said: “It was an end-to-end game, I think we really needed to win that one after they beat us the Wednesday before.
“It was quite an open game, we changed formation a bit and they had a few players back but it was good to get the win and a bit of confidence.”
