Auchinleck Talbot can make the semis

Mar 20 2009 by Mike Wilson

TOMMY SLOAN insists Auchinleck Talbot can confound the pundits and strike out for the Citylink Scottish Cup semi-finals.

Many believe Talbot have lost their chance after being held 1-1 at home by Arthurlie to leave them facing a tough replay at Barrhead.

But boss Sloan is backing his men to march on in their centenary season.

He said: “We were a goal down in 15 seconds before I had even taken my seat. It was a big setback but after that I thought we dominated without being at our best. Some people might think Arthurlie are now favourites but I still fancy us.”

After John McLay dealt the hammer blow, Sean McIlroy equalised ten minutes into the second-half.

IRVINE MEADOW are counting the cost after crashing 2-0 at home to favourites Pollok. David McGeown and Bryan Dingwall hit two second-half goals to leave the big spenders licking their wounds.

GLENAFTON dug out a 3-2 win at home to Neilston with Joe Savagehitting a double for his first competitive goals with the club.

Mark Quinn fired Glens ahead but then was short with a passback to keeper Chris Fahey which allowed Neilston to equalise. Savage then hit two in two minutes to put Glens in control at the break.

The Farmers’ Boys pulled one back but then had Mark Ferris sent off.

MAYBOLE gained revenge for two defeats from Carrick rivals GIRVAN with a 2-1 win at Ladywell, both goals coming from Paul Kerr.

Now boss Paul Leonard is eyeing three points from Saturday’s visit of Renfrew as he tries to pull clear from the basement zone.

Leonard said: “It was a dour struggle but Girvan had beaten us in the league and League Cup so we are delighted to get our first win against them. We’re capable of keeping it going with avictory over Renfrew.”

Kerr fired ‘Bole ahead with a 30th minute penalty after hand ball but Michael Moffat equalised just before the break. Girvan lost keeper Stuart Leavy with an ankle injury and then shipped the winner when Kerr beat Danny Cunningham in the chase to fire home at the second attempt past stand-in John McDougall.

WHITLETTS did their Ayrshire League promotion hopes a power of good with a 3-0 win over Saltcoats thanks to strikes from Scott Weir, Sean Quinn and an OG.

But boss Jim Geddes refuses to talk about going up and said keeper Martin Barclay made a great save at 2-0.

Chris Skippen has re-joined the club while midfielder Mark Cameron has signed from Hurlford.

TROON boss John Redmond insists they can still go up despite losing 2-0 at home to Irvine Vics. Ewan Robertson with a 40 yard deflected shot and Gary McGrath got the goals.

Redmond said: “I’ve always said we had to win two of our last three games. Now if just means we have to win both against Craigmark and Dalry. We could have played for a week against Vics and not scored – it was one of our poorest performances for a long time.”

LUGAR suffered only their second league defeat when they crashed 3-1 at Winton despite Andy Rae, the league’s top scorer with 17 goals, chipping keeper Stevie O’Neill to put them ahead.

Winton struck back three times while Lugar claimed they should have had a penalty for handball. Lugar now host Dalry who will play their remaining home games at Troon’s Portland Park with Merksworth out of action.

CRAIGMARK have appealed after being docked three points and fined £50 for fielding Martin Lawrie againstWinton when he was banned.

Lawrie received two yellow cards against Saltcoats earlier in the season but was also reported after the match for his comments to the referee. But boss Lawrie Dinwoodie didn’t realise he was being given a red card which merits an automatic suspension.

Mark’s woes continued with a 2-0 defeat by Darvel in a match switched from Dalmellington because Station Park was under water. Included as a trialist was former Linlithgow player Paul Docherty who has been training with Maybole after being out the game for almost two years.