WOSFL ROUND-UP
MIKE WILSON
Tommy Sloan insists Auchinleck aren’t down and out despite having it all to do against Darvel on Friday evening.
Talbot head to Recreation Park in the Scottish Junior Cup semi-final looking to overhaul a 2-0 defeat from the first leg at a packed Beechwood.
The record 14 times winners fell to goals from Jordan Moore and Talbot old boy Graham Wilson with a penalty.
But long in the tooth gaffer Sloan declared: “We are still in the match and we’re going there to win the game. If we score first then we are back in the mix.
“If I was in Darvel’s position, I would be confident of going through as I am sure they will be and we know it will be a tough ask.
“Darvel showed they had more experience than us. Although we had plenty of the match we didn’t test Andy Leishman. The final bit wasn’t there for us although there were one or two positives.”
Darvel boss Tony McInally reckons the tie isn’t yet settled and claimed: “It’s only half-time and there is a big game to come. We’ll have to play even better in my opinion.”
Talbot will be boosted by the return of Aiden Wilson who returns from honeymoon but Euan Thomson and Craig McCracken again miss out.
Sloan revealed: “Euan is going for a scan on his knee after injuring it at training. His absence has been a big blow for us.”
TROON have two home games in 72 hours after a run of four road trips. Tonight (Wednesday), they entertain West Cup finalists Pollok before GLENAFTON are visitors to Portland Park on Saturday.
CUMNOCK will close the season with trips to Rob Rob on Saturday, Largs and Glenafton after pulling down the curtain on Townhead Park with a thrilling 3-2 win over Hurlford in midweek.
Trailing 2-0 at the break, they stormed back through Allan Mackenzie, Luke Watt (penalty) and Robbie Buchanan as Hurlford twice saw red.
WHITLETTS entertain Shotts with their First Division Great Escape hopes still alive.
Mick McCann’s men, who hadn’t played for three weeks, fought out a thrilling 3-3 draw away to leaders Drumchapel where Louis Kerr was man of the match.
MAYBOLE sit just above the trapdoor after a 4-1 defeat away to Ashfield, their fifth loss in the last six games. Sub Roddy Paterson got the goal.
CRAIGMARK will see out the season with an interim team of former assistant manager Paul Gordon and coaches Lee Wright and Kieran McCrum. This follows the resignation of Ian Nixon.
They sit fourth bottom of the Second Division after a 3-1 home defeat by Larkhall with Reece Wilson scoring the consolation.
On Saturday, ‘Mark head to MUIRKIRK who are off the back of a 4-1 defeat by Cumbernauld.
GIRVAN head to Lesmahagow in the Third Division after bagging a precious safety point in a 2-2 draw against Greenock with goals from Euan Smith and Sandy Robertson. With four games to go, they occupy the third relegation spot, a point behind Ardeer with two games more played.
LUGAR stay firmly in the Fourth Division promotion mix after beating BSC Glasgow 2-1 with goals from Jack Marks and Conan Mackin. They trail third top Rossvale by two points with a game in hand.
RESULTS: Scottish Junior Cup, semifinal, first leg: Auchinleck 0, Darvel 2; Arthurlie 2, Johnstone 2; Premier: Cumnock 3, Hurlford 2 (played midweek); Beith 2, Benburb 0; Hurlford 2, St Cadoc’s 1; Pollok 3, Gartcairn 2. First Div: Drumchapel 3, Whitletts 3; Kilwinning 1, Kilbirnie 2; Neilston 0, Rutherglen 3; Renfrew 4, Shotts 1; St Roch’s 1, Petershill 1; Ashfield 4, Maybole 1; Second Div: