Auchinleck Talbot defend the Emirates Cup

Dec 4 2009 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

DETERMINED Auchinleck Talbot may be out of one cup but they're not about to go out another.

And on Saturday, they put their defence of the Emirates Junior Cup on the line when they make the tricky trip to Girvan.

Boss Tommy Sloan says his men can take many positives from their 2-1 defeat by Stirling Albion in the third round of the Active Nation Scottish Cup.

Talbot fell behind to a Liam Corr header after nine minutes but hit back through a Sean McIlroy penalty after a Bryan Slavin shot was handled. But they were dumped after the break when Ross Forsyth headed the winner from a David O'Brien corner.

Sloan said: "We never had any intention of going there to defend and we took the game to Stirling with the aim of winning the tie. However, we were caught a couple of times and got punished.

"I couldn't complain about the performance and effort. We showed we have quality in our side and even although we suffered an early hammer blow, we never sank.

"We have good players with a lot of senior experience and I think we could compete in this division. If fair, we were due a replay but football isn't like that."

Talbot now turn their attentions to the tie against Girvan when they will be without John Boyle who twisted his knee in the first-half and had to be taken to hospital.

Sloan admits: "Girvan is not a tie I would have chosen. There will be a family feud on the touchline with two brothers in opposition - Allan McLuckie is my assistant while his brother Brian is in charge of Girvan. That will make it extra interesting."

WHITLETTS beat Dalry 2-0 to march into the last 32 despite having David Cunningham sent off a minute into the second-half.

Boss Jim Geddes said: “It’s ironic that in the programme notes I praised referees for being good but it was two very soft bookings that cost us.”

A James Davidson header gave Vics an interval lead and Elliot Duffy sealed it with 20 minutes to go.

Geddes added: “We got to the last 32 two years ago but then had a goal disallowed against Ballingry when Elliot’s shot went through the net. We then lost on penalties.”

CUMNOCK came from behind to beat Dunipace 2-1 at Townhead Park.

Trailing at the break, they equalised through a Gareth Campbell penalty. Then Campbell raced clear to bag the winner.

HURLFORD new boss Willie McMahon got off to a flier in his first competitive tie with a super 1-0 win at Lanark thanks to a goal from Steve McAvoy.

LARGS had a last kick goal from James Marks to thank for a 3-2 win at home to Broughty after blowing a two goal lead.

KILBIRNIE bounced back from a 4-0 caning by Beith to sink KILWINNING 3-0 with goals from Alain Kinney, Ritchie Chang and Jamie Longworth.

CRAIGMARK made last season's beaten finalists Clydebank fight all the way at Station Park before losing 1-0 to a Brian Miller goal before the break.

Bankies hit the post midway through the second-half but came under heavy pressure as Craigmark fought to the end.

The tie ended with a sea of red cards. ‘Mark’s Darren Tallen walked for two yellows in the final minute. Then in stoppage time, Scott Dinwoodie was dismissed along with Bankies’ Paul Allum after a scrap.

Ayrshire League leaders KELLO found BEITH too hot at Kirkconnel as they crashed 4-1.

Stevie Hyslop glanced a John Spence corner into his own net to give Beith an interval lead, John Craig’s cross cum shot made it 2-0 before David Frew got one back.

But Beith were soon back on top and goals from Brian McKeown and sub Kenny McLean clinched it.

In the First Division, MAYBOLE kept on the climb with a 2-0 win over Ashfield.

Stuart McGrady headed home an Andy Boyle corner and Martin Reilly blasted the second from 25 yards.

Andy Stevenson missed a late chance from eight yards after a Jordan Kerr shot was parried.

GLENAFTON, who have signed 19-year-old Dumbarton defender Richard McKillen on loan to the end of the season, had Jordan Mullen sent off as they lost 1-0 at home to leaders Glencairn.

GIRVAN warmed up for Saturday's cup visit of Auchinleck with a 2-0 win at strugglers Neilston. George Wallace and Darren Mitchell got the goals.

In the Ayrshire League, LUGAR came from behind at the break to beat Darvel 2-1. Jamie Baird looped in a shot over the keeper’s head and then Tam McLelland headed the winner from a Mark Morrison cross.

TROON shrugged off a controversial red card for veteran defender Carlo Walker to beat Winton 1-0 thanks to a Gary Robertson overhead kick just before the break.

Walker walked for hand ball after only seven minutes. Boss John Redmond claimed: "He put his hand up to protect his face. To send him off was an amazing decision and no one could believe it.

“If we win at Kello on Saturday and then beat Ardeer at home, we are right back in the promotion hunt.”

On trial for Winton was freed Cumnock striker Gareth Armstrong.