Keir we goal... Milky happy to front up for Bot final push
KEIR MILLIKEN’S forward line link-up with Graham Wilson is ready to shoulder the responsibility for getting Auchinleck Talbot into an astonishing 14th Scottish Junior Cup Final when the Ayrshire giants lock horns with Linlithgow Rose in today’s semi-final second leg at Beechwood Park.
Talbot boss Tommy Sloan’s reliance on the experienced pairing of Milky and top scorer ‘G’ can now be taken as a fait accompli after an injury blow struck Mark Shankland in last weekend’s first leg 0-0 stalemate at Prestonfield which threatens to sideline the 20-yearold for the rest of this season.
Little wonder then with exKilmarnock and St Mirren youngster Dylan Pooler (he turns 20 next month) as the only other recognised frontman on Talbot’s books that Sloan and Talbot’s fans are looking to the Milliken/ Wilson partnership to assume the net-finding burden.
Milky, who has trained his sights on a fourth cup final appearance in seven years, revealed: “Shankers has a stress fracture of his foot and is facing a six-week healing process, according to the initial diagnosis from doctors, so chances are he might not even recover in time for the cup final if we were to get through.
“It’s a sickener as he’s scored a lot of key goals this season and his absence is a real hammer blow to the team and not least of all for him personally
“However, he has dealt with the news incredibly well and as you might expect from one very determined character, he’s vowing to be back playing sooner than expected.
“Hopefully we add to his motivation by coming out on top in the semi-final tomorrow though it’s anything but a foregone conclusion as Linlithgow were a really good passing team and served up an impressive showing in last week’s first meeting. That said, the game sadly lacked for goalmouth action and we never tested their goalkeeper in the entire 90 minutes while big Andy Leishman had just one save of any note to make.
“Home advantage and the superb backing of the Talbot fans doesn’t give us any divine right to win and we need to play at a much higher tempo and with a lot more confidence if we are to book a place in another final.
LOSING Shankland is not Auchinleck gaffer Sloan’s only concern. He added: “Dwayne Hyslop has trained this week after sitting out the first game but I’m not convinced he’s fully over his foot injury so I’ll delay making any decision on him until closer to kick- off time.
“That said, we may have no choice than to throw him straight back in because Craig McCracken tweaked his calf muscle in midweek and has to be considered very doubtful at this stage.
“Steven White also came off injured through at Linlithgow but has declared himself fit and it’s important we have players of his ilk in our line-up as we need to look to dominate the midfield more than we did last weekend.
“Linlithgow enjoyed far too much possession for my liking, particularly first half. But thankfully the introduction of substitutes James Latta and McCracken made us much more competitive and we definitely improved in the second half.
“Over the piece, neither team ever looked like winning the game outright so both Linlithgow and ourselves cannot really grumble over the result which leaves everything to play for.
“We must put all thoughts of injuries to one side and look for the players we have available to show themselves on the pitch.”
On a sadder note, the funeral service for legendary Irvine Vics figurehead Bert Loach, who passed away last week, has been arranged for Thursday, May 4, at Fullarton Parish Church in Irvine (11am) and then on to Holmsfordbridge Crematorium (12 noon).