THE PENALTIES FOR FAILURE ARE…

Did the Townhead Park terracing wags mean it when giving voice to their innermost thoughts on Saturday and insisting a bit of Xmas shopping would be a better way to spend the afternoon?

It’s one thing to say so but quite another to carry out this sacrilegious deed and truth is one never actually caught sight of any disgruntled souls heading for the exits while the Cumnock v Auchinleck Talbot derby clash was in the throes of being played out however I’m willing to bet more than a few must have been sorely tempted.

It would give a misleading impression to state otherwise because this latest locking of rival horns which had all the makings of an early Xmas treat given the stakes on offer…a place in this season’s Scottish Junior Cup quarter finals…felt like a waste of time such was the lack of goalmouth action and talking points that normally abounds when these perennial foes meet.

The poor fare served up by a 0-0 stalemate didn’t matter a jot to the many Cumnock supporters wildly celebrating out on the pitch after coming up trumps with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory and somewhat understandably given their side had just dealt a knockout blow to the Cup holders while also crucially bringing Auchinleck’s perceived dominance in the competition to an end…no other club has held aloft the silverware since 2017.

The delight felt over his team coming out on top meant one could not help but notice Nock boss Brian McGinty’s veneers when he summed up his thoughts afterwards.

Gints said ,” It was a typical derby with the two teams going hammer and tongs at each other and yes the game was lacking in quality but nobody in our dressing room really cares.

“ I thought we had the better of the first half while Auchinleck shaded things after the break however over the piece our guys deserved their victory and have earned the right to go away and celebrate tonight.

“That said we’ll remind them not to overdo things because our next game is here on Wednesday against Glenafton and everyone will need to be fully recovered.”

Turning to the 90 minutes itself, both teams appeared to have opted for a `safety first` approach and the early exchanges were mainly played out between the respective 18 yard lines until Talbot front man Mark Shankland reminded everyone what the end product was meant to be with a well struck shot denied by a smart save from home team goalkeeper Jamie Barclay.

Tall striker Jordan Moore was doing his best to pose a Cumnock attacking threat and after having an 18 yard drive deflected wide of target, he took off on a mazy run from much further out, weaving his way past 3 defenders in the process, only to scuff a parting shot which was then easily gathered by towering Talbot No 1 Andy Leishman.

Not surprisingly, the best players on show were all defenders, Craig McCracken and Neil McPherson proving to be near impenetrable in the visiting ranks while the Cumnock duo of Kyle McAusland and Mark McLennan were similarly giving nothing away so the paucity of goalmouth thrills continued into the second half though Barclay needed to produce a terrific tip over save to keep out a netbound Graham Wilson effort and Talbot were to again come close when midfielder Ally Park contrived to slash a driven Shankland cross wide when a certain score looked on the cards.

No further outbreaks of near-scoring activity saw the contest peter out to a penalty kicks conclusion and Talbot’s drawing first blood through Leishman saving McAusland’s attempt proved a false dawn as Barclay made a diving stop to deny Aiden Wilson and Michael Wardrope sent his shot high over the crossbar either side of Findlay Frye’s conversion for the home side.

Losing gaffer Tommy Sloan ,” A shoot-out can be a lottery but how you get through in these games doesn’t really matter and it just didn’t happen for us today though it didn’t help that we weren’t firing on all cylinders in terms of available bodies.

“Look, we’ve had plenty of success in these occasions beforehand but today is Cumnock’s day so let them enjoy it.”

JAMIE BARCLAY’S SAVES IN THE CUMNOCK GOAL WERE TELLING

Talbot were not the only Junior Cup hopeful to encounter a `spot of bother` after another four of the eight matches in total taking place were decided by penalty shoot-outs that saw Larkhall Thistle get the better of Aberdeen East End at Gasworks Park and St Rochs tumble out against East Craigie up on Tayside.

Shotts Bon Accord also clinched a last eight slot after coming back from 0-2 behind at home to Arthurlie for whom Gary Smith netted twice to eke out a 2-2 draw through substitute Danny Hashimm and a late own goal before prevailing 5-4 on penalty kicks thanks to a wonder save from experienced goalkeeper Johnny Murdoch while Harry Mitchell and Jack McIlveen (penalty) did the trick for Rutherglen Glencairn in a 2-1 triumph over Gartcairn whose consolation score was notched by Reegan Aitken. .

Arguably the most dramatic tie went ahead at Rockburn Park where a visiting Kilbirnie Ladeside, 2-0 to the good at the halfway stage thanks to a Dean Scott brace of goals, were brought back to earth by Connor Cowan and Ross Girdwood scores making the final scoreline 2-2 prior to the lower league outfit prevailing 2-1 in the ensuing shoot-out and causing Blasties manager Thomas Molloy to tender his resignation after the dust had settled .

MOLLOY PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE

Hurlford United defender Carter Frew bagged the only goal of the game to overcome Troon at Blair Park while further afield, Glenafton emerged as another Ayrshire qualifier after Olly Rowe, Paul Paton and Sean McKenzie were on the mark to inflict a 3-1 defeat on Carnoustie Panmure.

The revised Quarter Final draw (made on Friday)now reads

Larkhall Thistle v Rutherglen Glencairn

Bellshill Athletic v Glenafton

Hurlford Utd v Cumnock

Dundee East Craigie v Shotts Bon Accord

(Ties to be played Saturday 11^th February)

Meanwhile , the limelight is quite rightly on the Scottish Junior Cup however it would be amiss of one not to pay tribute to Petershill for chalking up their first Premier Division victory of the season with a 2-0 triumph over Rob Roy thanks to Ross `Archie` McPherson and Christian Nade counters.

The Peasy still boast the distinction of being “rank bottom markers” (a moniker not to the liking of my Springburn associates) however their win is seen as the

start of better things and has supporters looking forward to Wednesday’s tester at home to Irvine Meadow.

WEEKEND RESULTS: Clydebuilt Home Improvements Scottish Junior Cup.Fourth Round.Cumnock 1 Auchinleck Talbot 1 (Cumnock win 4-3 pens), Bellshill Athletic 2 Kilbirnie Ladeside 2 (Bellshill win 2-1 on pens), Larkhall Thistle 1 Aberdeen East End 1(Larkhall win 7-6 on pens), Hurlford Utd 1 Troon 0, Gartcairn v Rutherglen Glencairn, Shotts Bon Accord 2 Arthurlie 2 (Shotts win 5-4 pens),Carnoustie Panmure 1 Glenafton 3,Dundee East Craigie 1 St Rochs 1(East Craigie win 3-1 on pens). Strathclyde Demolition Cup.Semi-Finals. St Cadocs 0 Renfrew 0 (Renfrew win 7-6 pens), Thorn Athletic 0 Whitletts Vics 2. P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Petershill 2 Rob Roy 0, Beith 4 Largs Thistle 1, Cambuslang Rangers 0 Pollok 1, Irvine Meadow 1 Darvel 2, Clydebank 5 Kilwinning Rangers 1. PDM Buildbase First Division. Cumbernauld Utd 2 Blantyre Vics 2, Bonnyton Thistle 2 Neilston 1, Thorniewood Utd 1 Johnstone Burgh 2, Rossvale 0 Drumchapel Utd 1, PDM Buildbase Second Division.Greenock 3 Glasgow Utd 1, Wishaw 2 Kilsyth Rangers 3, Glasgow Perthshire 2 Maryhill 1, Forth Wanderers 2 Craigmark 1, Ashfield 1 Yoker Athletic 4, Maybole 5 Glasgow University 3, Ardeer Thistle 0 Muirkirk 2.PDM Buildbase Third Division. Lesmahagow 1 Kello Rovers 0, Irvine Vics 0 Dalry Thistle 4, Finnart 2 Vale of Leven 2, Royal Albert 1 East Kilbride Thistle 2, Saltcoats Vics 2 Port Glasgow 1, Carluke Rovers 3 Girvan 4, Newmains Utd 0 Lanark Utd 2, Lugar Boswell 0 Vale of Clyde 6.PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. Easterhouse FA 3 Glenvale 1,West Park Utd 8 Campbeltown Pupils 3, Threave Rovers 9 Rossvale Academy 1, BSC Glasgow 0 Harmony Row 1, Eglinton 1 Kilsyth Athletic 2.

Regards

Jim O’Donnell