Capital clubs seek double over Celtic

Spartans face the hoops at Lennoxtown (kick-off 4pm) and boss Debbie McCulloch believes that both clubs have the potential to win the competition. The Ainslie Park club has won two of the three contests between the teams this season and have enjoyed a lot of success against the Parkhead girls in recent years.

McCulloch commented: “This Sunday will be the fourth time this season that we have played Celtic and every game has been extremely difficult.

“This is our third visit to Lennoxtown and having won the previous encounter we know Celtic will be looking for revenge.

“They pass the ball very well and we know we are going to have to be at our very best to proceed into the next round of the cup.

“However, if we are to have a chance of winning the trophy we need to beat the best teams and Celtic are one of those.”

Meanwhile, Hibernian Ladies – five-times winners of the trophy – must overcome Celtic Reserves at Barrowfield (kick-off 4:30PM) if they are to keep alive their hopes of a sixth success in the competition.

After a disappointing defeat from Forfar Farmington at the weekend all but ended their hopes of winning the league title, the Scottish Cup offers Hibs their only realistic chance of silverware this term.

“The Scottish Cup is our main focus for the rest of the season,” commented Hibs boss Willie Kirk before adding, “but we will have to play a lot better than last weekend to get through.

“Celtic Reserves are better than a lot of Scottish Women’s Premier League teams and we have to take them seriously. I watched them recently in a friendly with Spartans and they are a very talented side with a lot of potential First Team players.

Elsewhere, there is an all-Easter Road tie as Hibs’ second and third string sides face one another at Meggetland (kick-off 1pm).