SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
NEAR neighbours Auchinleck Talbot and Glenafton will contest this season’s Scottish Junior Cup Final.
A celebration of all things Ayrshire at a venue still to be decided, but most probably Rugby Park, was set in motion after both sides prevailed in hard-fought semi-final contests on Saturday against East Region opposition.
Talbot triumphed 1-0 at home to Linlithgow Rose after a 0-0 first leg draw.
And a magnificent backs-tothe-wall performance away to Bonnyrigg Rose earned the Glens a 0-0 stalemate and a 1-0 aggregate success on the back of last weekend’s narrow victory at Loch Park to take them through to the final on June 4.
A healthy four-figure crowd was in attendance at Beechwood Park to take in Auchinleck’s latest showdown with long-standing Scottish Cup rivals Linlithgow.
In what was always going to be an authentic examination of the Ayrshiremen’s 2017 credentials was exacerbated to no little degree by an untimely spate of injuries depriving Bot boss Tommy Sloan’s starting line-up of regulars Steven White , Mark Shankland, Dwayne Hyslop and Craig McCracken.
The undoubted pedigree of Linlithgow promised a tough 90 minutes, however a patchedup Talbot — with veteran James Latta drafted into midfield alongside youngster Clark Thomson — making only his third start were their typically aggressive selves right from the first whistle.
And Rose found it difficult to get out of their own half despite the best efforts of busy trio Sean Mushin, Blair Bachelor and Ross Gray.
His team’s injury circumstances had Sloan fearing the worst when Stevie Wilson went down after a late challenge and was signalling furiously to his bench — but the midfielder was able to play on after some treatment.
Talbot’s early pressure failed to breach a resolute visiting rearguard, however, an opener almost arrived in 24 minutes when Bryan Young’s free kick was met by Graham Wilson, whose header cleared the crossbar by a matter of inches.
Little had been seen of Linlithgow in an attacking sense but Tommy Coyne duly reminded everyone of his scoring threat when he turned smartly and drilled in a low 25-yard shot which forced Bot goal- keeper Andy Leishman into a full length diving save.
Matters were heating up and Latta was only inches away from meeting a Gordon Pope driven cross just two yards out.
HOWEVER, what was to prove the game’s most significant moment duly arrived just seven minutes short of the interval.
No danger was apparent as Auchinleck came forward down the right and a neat exchange of passes ended with Latta finding Young whose clipped cross-cum shot sneaked into Rose goalkeeper Darren Hill’s net.
Midfield playmaker Youngy admitted afterwards: “I tried to put in a cross more than a shot but there’s always a chance you might strike lucky by playing the ball into the right areas and that’s what has worked in our favour today. Doesn’t matter how they go in as long as it’s in the net for us.”
Finding themselves 1-0 down sparked Linlithgow into a number of attacking forays and one bout of concerted pressure saw Coyne given a rare sight of goal but his poked close-range shot came back of the upright with Leishman helpless.
Woodwork came into play again early in the second half when Graham Wilson’s close -range shot flew past Hill only to come crashing off the bar.
The visitors pushed forward but were making little headway against an outstanding Talbot rearguard.
Frustration led to the East Region cracks resorting to letting fly from further out but the formidable Leishman takes some beating from long range and he saved comfortably from Bachelor, Kelbie and Gray in quick succession.
Linlithgow went for broke near the end and the big Talbot keeper excelled himself by diving to parry away a Coyne shot that looked net bound .
Talbot gaffer Tommy Sloan gave a measured assessment of his side’s latest semi-final tri- umph — his seventh as boss.
“We should never have needed Andy’s late save as we had several clear-cut chances to put the game out of Linlithgow’s reach long before thefinish.
“But it’s hard to be critical given the key players who were posted missing today and I’m absolutely delighted for this club to be in the final again.”
Ref Stewart Luke’s fulltime blast brought outpourings of celebration and relief for Talbot’s supporters, who are now savouring the prospect of a showpiece occasion against Glenafton 25 years on from when they last met in the 1992 final with Talbot winning 4-0.
One can’t imagine a similar scoreline this time as Glens also boast a near-impregnable defence with superb central defenders in Craig Menzies and Ryan McChesney, whose displays along with the handling of ex-Talbot goalkeeper Brian McGarrity were instrumental in nullifying all that Bonnyrigg could throw at them through at New Dundas Park.
There were various near things for Craig McEwan’s men to survive but the nearest thing to a goal came at the other end of the pitch where Bonnyrigg shot-stopper Michael Andrews produced a wonder save to keep out a David Gray free kick.
Meanwhile, supporters of the two finalists will have a dress rehearsal as Auchinleck host Glenafton in a Super Premier Division encounter on Wednesday night at 6.45pm.