The stage is set for what promises to be a fascinating Jim Harvey Cup Final as Busby AFC take on Westhill United under the lights at Hamish B Allan Stadium on Wednesday evening.

With silverware on the line, contrasting league positions, impressive cup runs and two ambitious managers seeking their first major honour in the GCFA Saturday Morning setup, all the ingredients are there for a memorable occasion.

Wednesday 3rd June
Kick-off: 7:30pm
Venue: Hamish B Allan Stadium
Entry: £5

Road to the Final

Busby AFC arrive at the final as the 4th-placed Championship side, while Westhill United represent the Conference League after finishing 2nd in the division below.

Neither side has had an easy route to the showpiece event.

Westhill are certainly no strangers to Championship opposition. They announced themselves as genuine contenders by defeating both Rhu Colts and Third Lanark on their way to the final. Their semi-final victory was particularly impressive, with a 3-1 win over Third Lanark.

Busby, meanwhile, have shown they are equally capable of overcoming teams from different divisions. Their semi-final triumph over Banknock secured their place in the final and demonstrated the quality within their squad.

Form Guide

Recent form adds another intriguing layer to the contest.

Busby have lost three of their last five matches, while Westhill head into the final in excellent shape, having won four and drawn one of their previous five outings.

Momentum can often play a huge role in cup finals, and Westhill will undoubtedly take confidence from their recent run of results. However, finals are unique occasions where form can quickly become irrelevant once the whistle blows.

A First Major Final for Both Managers

This final also marks a significant milestone for both clubs’ management teams.

For Connor Moffat of Westhill United and Joe Noon of Busby AFC, this will be their first major final since joining the GCFA Saturday Morning setup.

Both managers deserve enormous credit for the work they have done in recent years. Through commitment, recruitment and development, they have transformed their squads into genuine contenders and now stand just one game away from lifting a major trophy.

Regardless of the outcome, both have already played a huge role in the progress of their respective clubs.

Players to Watch

Westhill United

If Westhill are to get their hands on the trophy, much could depend on the influence of Kyle McDonald and Sean McBride.

McDonald arrives in the final in red-hot form after scoring a stunning hat-trick in the semi-final victory over Third Lanark, single-handedly firing his side into the final with all three goals in the 3-1 success.

Alongside him, creative attacker Sean McBride possesses the quality and vision to unlock defences and could prove to be the difference-maker in the biggest game of the season.

Busby AFC

For Busby, much attention will fall on the shoulders of the Dempster brothers.

Their leadership, experience and quality will be crucial if Busby are to secure silverware. In a final where fine margins often decide the outcome, Busby will need their key men performing at their very best.

Talking of leadership, those skills could be vital for Busby AFC and Central defender Shaun Noon has plenty of those type of attributes.

The Bookmakers View

According to our local bookmaker Hilly Will, Busby AFC go into the final as the pre-match favourites.

Their Championship status and experience against higher-level opposition have clearly influenced the odds, but cup finals rarely follow the script and Westhill will be more than happy to embrace the underdog tag.