HAVE TALBOT KICKSTARTED THEIR SEASON?

JAMIE MADE THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE

Saturday’s 3-2 Scottish Junior Cup victory over the reigning trophy holders Cumnock was more than just a case of “job done” for Tommy Sloan and Auchinleck Talbot.

Supporters and no doubt his playing charges will have a renewed spring in their step when making the long journey North to face Bridge of Don Thistle in the next round however Tucker will be ever mindful that there remains plenty of room for improvement before thoughts of a phenomenal 15^th Holy Grail success can be entertained.

And that’s only happening because the seasoned team boss appears to have belatedly found the remedy for Talbot’s hitherto failings in front of goal this season seeing as Saturday marked the first time (other than a 12-0 annihilation of sorry minnows Wigtown and Bladnoch ) when his troops notched up more than two goals in a game.

And if it dare be suggested that Tucker’s recent capture of his former striker Jamie Glasgow has provided this cure then you won’t get any arguments from yours truly after the soon to be 30 year old turned in a performance, nothing less than intrinsic to his club’s win over their arch rivals.

He it was who earned the early second half penalty kick to get Talbot back on level terms at a time when inspiration was sorely needed and for good measure Jamie was then instrumental in the sealing of victory after his 70^th minute shot was only parried out by Nock goalkeeper Jamie Barclay , allowing Ross Smith to fire the visitors 3-1 in front.

This 3 goals in 25 minutes burst proved decisive in turning a hard fought Townhead Park contest on its head at a time when Auchinleck were staring down the barrel of a seventh defeat in thirteen starts and even more crucially, elimination from a competition their passionate followers have long since taken to calling “Oor Cup”.

Not a lot in the way of thrills and spills can be reported about the opening 45 minutes other than to say Cumnock started and finished the half on top and in between got their noses in front through a terrific Sam Jamieson finish just after the half hour mark.

The former Troon marksman had given warning of his scoring prowess with an earlier shot deflected onto the crossbar but was left totally unmarked to meet a a sublime driven cross by Jared Willet at the near post to crash a close range volley beyond Auchinleck goalkeeper Aidan Glavin.

Tommy Sloan revealed, “ I wasn’t happy at half time mainly because I didn’t think we were competing well enough and had allowed ourselves to get bullied so I made one change (bringing on Ruairdh Langan for Ali Boyle) and gave a 2 minute warning to the rest of the guys that they needed to buck up their ideas …or else.

“ The guys then responded because we started well and Jamie, who brings real quality to our forward line, has shown his experience by winning us a penalty kick through putting his body between the ball and the Cumnock defender .

“Our goal threat was apparent from that point and the guys also improved at the back where Craig McCracken’s return steadied the ship and I felt we fully deserved our win .

“I wanted us to build on last weekend’s victory over Irvine Meadow so what’s important is we continue to take little steps forward and not get carried away in thinking we’re back at our best.”

TUCKER IS NOT GETTING CARRIED AWAY

Talbot ‘s greater desire saw them pin Cumnock back on the resumption and the home team’s plight was duly compounded when Greg Ferry’s tackle from behind floored Glasgow enabling Ross Smith to step up and tuck away the resulting spot kick awarded by whistler Keiran Trayner.

It took no more than eight minutes for the home side to vehemently call for a penalty award of their own after Tam McGaughey went down under a robust challenge from McCracken but the man in the middle was having none of it and waved away all claims sparking fury among home supporters whose mood worsened further as Talbot swept upfield to net their second score of the afternoon through Mick Wardrope blasting home a lay off from Smith who had criminally been allowed to gather possession from a high ball played into Cumnock’s penalty box.

A buoyant Auchinleck continued on the ascendancy and a third goal arrived after a wonderful through ball found Glasgow and he cut inside his marker before letting loose with a netbound shot ,beaten away by Barclay but only as far as the lurking Smith whose second goal of the game had visiting supporters in full voice .

A shellshocked Cumnock came close to conceding a fourth goal , firstly when Willet’s deflection of a driven cross went inches wide of his own upright shortly before Talbot substitute Bryan Boylan’s fierce shot was superbly saved by Barclay but the home side’s desire to hold onto their silverware prize sparked a rally over the closing stages.

Mark McLennan pulled a goal back in 85 minutes when he blasted home an Andy McLaughlin cut-back via the underside of the crossbar for 3-2 and right at the death Callan Veitch sunk to his knees in agony after rising highest in a crowded six yard area to meet a McLaughlin cross only for his downward header to bounce inches over Glavin’s crossbar .

Losing gaffer Murdie McKinnon admitted , “ We dominated passages of play in the first half and merited our 1-0 lead but coming back out we very quickly got leggy and fell out of the game.

“That said I didn’t think Auchinleck’s first goal was a penalty kick whereas the tackle on Tam McGaughey looked a stonewaller but while disappointed I’m not going to stand here and blame the Referee for our defeat.

“There’s a lot of hard work ahead of us because if we had played more passes and been braver on the ball then I’m pretty certain the day would have been ours.”

MURDIE UNHAPPY WITH KEY DECISIONS

Talbot’s next up opponents Bridge of Don Thistle booked their passage with a resounding 6-1 hammering of Irvine Vics on a day when three Ayrshire sides were dumped out on their travels by North Region sides .

Craigmark went down 4-1 against Culter but arguably the biggest shock of the round was the demise of reigning WoSFL champions Beith , beaten 3-1 on penalty kicks by Hermes following a 2-2 regulation time draw earned by Ciaran Diver and Carlo Monti scores.

Hermes` reward is another home draw against the winners of the 2^nd round clash between former Cup winners Hurlford United and Tayport which was one of 14 ties postponed by Saturday’s horrific weather conditions while `tie of the round` status (even allowing for the ifs and buts outcomes ) surely belongs to the Govan Classico of St Anthonys v Benburb.

The full 3^rd Round draw as it now reads is as follows, Johnstone Burgh or Dundee North End v Irvine Meadow, Greenock or Glenafton v Darvel, Hermes v Hurlford Utd or Tayport, Vale of Leven or Carluke Rovers v Montrose Roselea , St Anthonys v Benburb, Culter v Lochee Utd, Finnart or Dyce v Larkhall Thistle, Bellshill Athletic v Lesmahagow, Dundee Downfield v Pollok or Dalry Thistle, Rothie Rovers v Shotts Bon Accord or St Rochs, Dundee Violet or Deveronside v St Cadocs, Bridge of Don Thistle v Auchinleck Talbot, Kello Rovers or Gartcairn v Ashfield or Largs Thistle, , Caledonian Locomotives v Carnoustie Panmure or Letham, Stonehaven v Aberdeen East End or East Kilbride Thistle, Rutherglen Glencairn or Troon v Forfar Utd or Arthurlie.

St Anthonys had goals from Craig Donaldson, Ethan Prior and John O’Hagan to thank for a 3-2 win at home to Stonewood Parkvale while the Bens were forced to go much further afield for their ticket from a 4-1 defeat of Arbroath Vics where Aaron Black netted a double along with Jordan Bow and Jamie Menzies counters.

Top flight sides definitely assured of last 32 places are Darvel for whom Ian McShane , Scott Ferguson and new signing Reegan Aitken were on target in a 4-1 victory over Rossvale… Irvine Meadow who came back from 0-2 down against Lochee Harp to emerge 4-3 winners up on Tayside through scores by Jordan Boyd, Louis Kerr, Sean Ewart and Nathan Baird …and a St Cadocs side for whom Neil McLaughlin , Aiden McIlduff and Daniel McManus with a hat trick did the damage in dishing out a 5-1 floodlit beating to Petershill on Friday night.

Lesmahagow were another side to go nap thanks to Paul Woodlock(2), Kieran McGuire, Robbie Duddy and Chrissie Lawlor finding the target in a 5-2 away triumph over Hall Russell while a Taylor Scott penalty kick, after Connor Phairs was sent crashing inside the box proved the only goal of the game as Larkhall Thistle got the better of Ardeer Thistle.

Kyle Caig and Kieron Markey were on target as Bellshill Athletic beat hosts Broughty Athletic while the `contest between the renamed” went the way of Caledonian Locomotives after Roddy Patterson and Connor McAteer netted in their 2-1 success at home to Glasgow United.

Of the WoSFL league games to go ahead , Matt Niven and Liam McGonigle scores enabled Clydebank to overcome Rob Roy 2-0 and go four points clear atop the Premier Division pile.

WEEKEND RESULTS: Scottish Junior Cup.Second Round.Hermes 2 Beith 2 (Hermes win 3-1 pens) , Cumnock 2 Auchinleck Talbot 3, Rossvale 1 Darvel 4, Petershill 1 St Cadocs 5, Arbroath Vics 1 Benburb 4, St Anthonys 3 FC Stoneywood Parkvale 2, Ardrossan Winton Rovers 2 Dundee Downfield 3, Broughty Athletic 0 Bellshill Athletic 2, Ardeer Thistle 0 Larkhall Thistle 1, Bridge of Don Thistle 6 Irvine Vics 1, Caledonian Locomotives 2 Glasgow Utd 1, Colony Park 0 Rothie Rovers 1, Hall Russell Utd 2 Lesmahagow 5, Lochee Harp 3 Irvine Meadow 4, Culter 4 Craigmark 2,Montrose Roselea 2 Lochee Utd 3.P.D.M HUWS GRAY Premier Division. Clydebank 2 Rob Roy 0. PDM HUWS GRAY Second Division. Glasgow Perthshire 2 Muirkirk 3, Yoker Athletic 2 Kilsyth Rangers 3, Bonnyton Thistle 1 Vale of Clyde 2.

Regards Jim O’Donnell