Auchinleck Talbot triumph over Stirling in Emirates Junior Cup journey

Nov 6 2009 by Mike Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

BRING on Stirling but we’ll worry about Stonehaven before that.

That’s the message from Auchinleck Talbot who continue their cup trail on a double front.

A nail biting 4-3 win over Huntly sends Talbot to Stirling Albion in the third round of the Active Nations Scottish Cup on November 28.

But before that, they continue their defence of the Emirates Junior Cup at home to Stonehaven on Saturday.

Boss Tommy Sloan admitted the nerves were jangling as Talbot raced 3-0 up against Huntly but then allowed the Highlanders to roar back.

Goals from Bryan Slavin, John Boyle and Steven White seemed to have the tie won. But Huntly hit back to 3-2 before sub Danny McKelvie fired a fourth off the post. Huntly hit a last minute penalty.

Sloan revealed: “We were nervous late on but we’re delighted to be through. Stirling will be a right test so bring it on.”

IRVINE MEADOW, who will host Second Division strugglers Arbroath in the third round of the senior cup, brushed past the fancied Musselburgh 3-0.

John Paul Boyle nodded the big spenders into a tenth minute lead after Chris Strain’s shot was fumbled by the keeper.

Boyle limped off with a pulled hamstring two minutes and his replacement Emilio Jaconelli just failed to cash in after Strain crashed a cross off the bar.

Meadow had to wait until the final ten minutes to seal it when Jaconelli fired home a David Hamilton cross. Then right at the death, Brian McGinty sunk a penalty after Mark Crilly was upended.

ANNBANK boss Steph McMillan hailed his men for the result of the day as they beat Sunnybank 3-2 in Aberdeen.

McMillan said: “They were unbeaten in 16 games and it was a hostile place but my boys were magnificent. It’s a superb win.”

Bankies were twice behind but hit back through Jim Wilson (penalty) and Dwayne Hyslop. Another Wilson penalty after Neil McGinn was pulled down won it late on.

Annbank’s Jay Ritchie was sent off while two Sunnybank men also walked.

CUMNOCK boss Stevie Farrell reckoned a 3-0 win over Bishopmill would have been more if Ian Cashmore had been fit. The former Ayr striker gets the plaster off a broken bone in his foot on Friday and could be back by the end of the month.

Farrell said: “We created countless chances and kept a clean sheet but would have scored more if Cashy had been on the park.”

Gareth Campbell, Joe Gold and James Tyler got the goals.

CRAIGMARK came from behind to beat Harthill 3-1 with Brian Kerr grabbing a double. Boss Lawrie Dinwoodie admitted: “We had been on a bad run so we needed that. After going behind, I switched things and we deserved our win.”

Trailing at the break to a penalty, ‘Mark hit back through Kerr’s brace and then sealed it through Lloyd Murphy. A new signing is wide player Robert Nolan from Onthank Amateurs.

WHITLETTS were six hits as they crushed Lochore 6-1 in a one sided romp.

Boss Jim Geddes said: “They were a big side who spent £90,000 on their players last season but my boys still believed they could have played better.”

Goals came from Craig Main, Elliot Duffy (penalty), David Cunningham (2), James Davidson and Raymond Buchanan.

Lochore had their keeper sent off in the first-half.

GIRVAN boss Brian McLuckie reckons they can make home advantage count in the replay after being held 1-1 at Longside.

Kevin Biggart fired Girvan ahead on the hour but Longside equalised with a wonder strike in just about their only attempt on goal. Biggart blew the chance to win it in the final minute when he fired a penalty over.

KELLO veteran striker Norman Montgomery gave former Rangers defender Scott Nisbet a tough time in a goalless draw at Arniston. Keeper Cammy Menzies was the hero with some great second-half saves.

MAYBOLE boss Peter Leonard blasted his team for a shocker as they crashed 2-1 at home to 14/1 outsiders Dufftown.

He hit out: “It’s a big disappointment for the club after getting to the last 32 last year and the last 16 the season before. You can’t give teams a head start and although we had all the ball in the second-half, Dufftown dug in well.”

Alan Love cancelled out Dufftown’s early goal but the visitors struck again before the break.

TROON beat LUGAR 1-0 in the only league game thanks to a 25 yard free-kick from Rhys Galloway.

A worry is that former Hibs defender Jonathan Baillie limped off with a knee ligament injury.