Auchinleck Talbot still need points to prove

May 1 2009 by Mike Wilson

TOMMY SLOAN has urged Auchinleck’s Scottish Cupfinalists to get a move on.

Seven times winners Talbot will meet Clydebank in a Rugby Park showdown on Sunday May 31.

But before then they have a huge backlog of league games and West and Ayrshire Cup ties.

Sloan said: “We’re currently third bottom in the league which is play-off position so we need to get up the field quickly. We’ve a huge league game against Irvine Meadow on Thursday.”

A super strike from David Gillies earned Talbot a 1-0 win over Rob Roy just as penalties were looming.

Sloan said: “I was a team-mate of Bankies boss Budgie McGhie at Queen of the South. He’ll relish the day and they’ll bring a huge support to the final.”

Sloan’s all conquerors, showing seven changes from Saturday, beat Beith 4-3 on penalties in the Ayrshire Cup after a 1-1 draw on Monday night.

Beith had looked set for victory before veteran Stevie Mallan equalised late on.

CUMNOCK will leave their relegation worries behind they host Beith in the semis of the West of Scotland Cup on Saturday.

They slumped deeper into drop trouble after falling 1-0 away to Irvine Meadow. Chris Strain got the only goal from a Mark Crilly free-kick to settle a dour game.

MAYBOLE boss Peter Leonard has set a target of finishing fourth in the First Division. They followed a super 1-0 win at leaders Largs with a 2-0 defeat at Kilbirnie but are on course to top last season’s sixth top finish.

Leonard quipped: “There is a family debate about our winner at Largs. Paul Kerr headed the ball down but Brian claims it went in off his backside.”

ANNBANK boss Steph McMillan slammed a 4-3 defeat at Renfrew as the worst since he took over. Bankies were 2-0 and 3-1 up but had Jim Wilson sent off for retaliation along with two home players.

Wilson had fired them ahead in nine seconds and then crossed for Graham Carmichael to add a second. After Renfrew pulled one back, Wilson sunk a penalty after Stevie Agnew was brought down. But then came a late collapse.

GIRVAN beat Kilsyth 2-1 with goals from Scott McGilp and Danny Cunningham and then on Monday were 4-2 winners against Annbank.

WHITLETTS will clinch promotion if they win their final two games away to Saltcoats and Dalry.

They edged closer with a 1-0 win at Craigmark thanks to a Chris Skippen goal and then came from behind to beat Muirkirk 6-1 on Monday. Goals came from James Davidson (2), Elliot Duffy, Mark Cameron, David Cunningham and an OG.

Boss Jim Geddes said: “Of course, we want promotion but until it happens I won’t talk about it.”

TROON blew their promotion chances after drawing 1-1 with Dalry. Trailing to a Chris McKnight penalty, they hit back with a super 18 yard Jonathan Baillie header from a Mark Gardiner free-kick.

Boss John Redmond said: “The players can be proud of themselves after turning around the season and bringing back some respectability to Troon.”

LUGAR finished with a 5-0 rout of Muirkirk to go top but can be overtaken by others.

Boss Alan Cotton said: “We’ve got the points but we’ll have to wait and see if the others can handle the pressure. It’s still in the melting pot but Dalry romping the league might be our best hope of getting second spot.”