Highland League champions Buckie Thistle will play host to Brechin City in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup tomorrow week after Third Division East Stirling were thrown out of the competition yesterday for fielding an ineligible player.

Shire's 21-year old goalkeeper Michael Andrews played in the 1-0 forth-round win against Buckie at Ochilview on January 19.  The SFA's emergency committee met at Hampden yesterday after it was revealed Andrews should not have played in the tie.  His loan deal from First Division Falkirk had been signed, but the papers were never received by the SFA.

Buckie president, Mark Duncan said "We are delighted.  This time last week we were out of the competition, but we received a call from the SFA telling us they would be investigating.  It has been very frustrating as we expected an answer the following day.  We were as high as kites, but then we found out the matter wouldn't be discussed until a week later.

"I feel sorry for the East Stirling supporters, players and manager.  They have been eliminated on a technicality and they will be bitterly disappointed.

"Most of our fans would have been happy with a replay which would have been fairer but the rules have changed and this is unfortunate for East Stirling.

"But we've gone through and it's a massive boost for the whole town.

"I still think our game at Wick last season when we won the title for the first time in 52 years was our biggest, but the Brechin tie, with the chance of emulating Elgin City's feat of reaching the quarter-finals back in the 1967-68 season, makes this our biggest home match for more than half a century.

"Buckie played Falkirk in 1958 when the Bairns were the Scottish Cup holders.  There were 8,000 there and Buckie lost 2-1, but should have knocked them out.  It was a Falkirk side full of Scotland internationals as well.

"Demand is already huge here and the phones haven't stopped.  We are getting inquiries for tickets from all over the country.

"It will be an all-ticket match and the ground is going to be packed out, probably for a capacity of 3,000, but we don't know yet."

Buckie manager Gregg Carrol said: "I am delighted to be through to the next round, but obviously disappointed for East Stirling as they must be devastated.

"But I am very pleased for our supporters.  They were magnificent down at Ochilview.  They always are, home or away, and they will have a big part to play in the Brechin game."

Buckie goalkeeper Kevin Main was also relieved as it was his 88th minute error which led to Buckie's 1-0 fourth round defeat.

He said: "I took the blame for the East Stirling goal two minutes from time.

"It was my fault so for us to go through now really is fantastic.

"It will be a massive tie against Brechin City but it is winnable and we will be doing everything in our power to reach the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

"We are sure to have a huge crowd cheering us on a week on Saturday."

East Stirling were upset with the ruling.  An appeal against the expulsion cannot be lodged, but East Stirling club chairman Les Thomson said the club's board would meet to consider whether to appeal against the financial penalties imposed as Shire have lost the prizemoney for the win.

Report by Dave Edwards, Press & Journal