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Scott Fraser yesterday warned Ayr United that Deveronvale would be no pushovers in the next round. The Banff side needed 120 minutes to see off nine-man Buckie Thistle at Victoria Park, but Fraser believes his side will be a much more dangerous proposition when they have nothing to lose in front of a big home crowd.
The centre half - Vale's record signing - said: "It will be the biggest game I've played in. Ayr are a First Division outfit so will be full of quality but we will have nothing to lose and will be playing in front of what should be a very big crowd.
"I certainly think we have a chance if we produce our best and Ayr will, at the very least, know they've been in a game.
This will be the second meeting of the clubs in the Scottush Cup.
The long drag to the Highlands was last endured on 5th January 2002 again on Scottish Cup 3rd round duty.
It took United only four minutes to dispell any thoughts of a potential banana-skin as former Dundee 'keeper, Barry Thomson, allowed Eddie Annand's drive to slip through his fingers for the opener. Eddie added his second just six minutes later when he found himself with bags of time to finish off Craig McEwan's cross.
Thomson then redeemed himself somewhat with a good save from Pat McGinlay, before touching over a long-range effort from McEwan. However he was beaten again in the 37th minute as Paul Sheerin struck home from the edge of the box.
Pat McGinlay added a fourth with a clinical finish just before half-time to confirm United's place in the fourth round draw.
United continued where they left off in the first half as Scott Crabbe pounced in the 50th minute to score after Thomson had parried McEwan's cross.
The 6-0 score was completed by James Grady with the best goal of the day as he dived to head home, and United even had the luxury of a penalty miss by Grady before the end of the game.
With United struggling badly in the Scottish first division any kind of victory is to be hoped for but this could one one of United's worst ever results.