ETHXENERGY SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP ROUND 4

AUCHINLECK TALBOT 3 CUMNOCK 0

IT was second time lucky as the derby match finally got the go ahead on Saturday.

Despite a poor record at Beechwood, in form Nock were in high spirits heading to the reigning Scottish Cup holders.

Cumnock got off to a quick start and put the pressure on the hosts early.

In the 6th minute Josh Watt turned Keir Milliken out on the touchline and raced up the right into the penalty area where his cross was blocked behind by Martin McGoldrick.

Talbot’s first chance to test the Nock defence came after 8 minutes. Keiren Wood clipped Graham Wilson’s heels resulting in a Bot free kick out on the left. Gordon Pope swept it over to the far post where Dwayne Hyslop climbed to meet it but bulleted his header over the bar.

The visitors continued to press and the first close call of the afternoon came their way in the 17th minute. Del Esplin’s long diagonal ball caught the Talbot defence out and sent Aiden Malone running in behind on the left. However, he failed to make the most of it, drilling a low shot across Andy Leishman but wide of the left post.

Talbot hadn’t carved out a decent chance but gave Cumnock a lesson in clinical finishing when they opened the scoring after 22 minutes. Bryan Young cushioned a header into the path of Wilson who strode clear down the right side of the area before sliding a shot by Darren Johnston into the back of the net.

The second goal was going to be crucial and Talbot nearly doubled their lead in the 40th minute. Pope swept a free kick over from the left right onto the head of Hyslop who was denied the goal by Johnston who produced a top save to tip it over the bar.

The decisive moment in the match occurred on the stroke of half time. Esplin fouled Hyslop 25 yards out, right of centre, in the perfect area for a left footer to have a go at goal. Pope stepped up and curled a wonder strike inside Johnson’s left hand post which the keeper could only stand and admire to send Talbot two goals in front at the break.

Cumnock then had a glorious opportunity to get a foot in the game. Ross McNeil met Watt’s long ball and headed it perfectly into the path of Malone. He looked set to score but Leishman was quick off his line to spread himself and make the block.

Leishman, who was having a relatively quiet game over all, produced a top class save to keep Talbot two goals ahead in the 73rd minute. Malone was challenged as he hit a shot and the ball spun kindly into the path of Paul Burns whose low drive looked net bound until Leishman dived to his left to touch it wide of the target.

Cumnock then pushed players forward in a last gasp attempt to pull a goal back but were caught on the counter with 10 minutes remaining. Ex-Cumnock forward Robert Love was racing clear down the right until Kieran Downs hauled him to the ground and picked up a booking.

As the game moved into injury time Cumnock were reduced to ten men when Downs sent McGoldrick crashing with a late challenge and was shown a second yellow card.

Talbot took full advantage of the extra man, adding a late third goal deep into added time.

Mark Shankland switched the ball out to Young on the left and he floated a cross down the right of the box where James Latta stretched to cut it back across goal for Love to come back and haunt his old side as he slid it home from close range to seal the win for Talbot.

AUCHINLECK TALBOT– Leishman, Latta, Pope, McGoldrick, White, Boyd, Young, Hyslop, Gillies, G Wilson, Milliken.

Subs; Shankland, Love, S Wilson, Cochrane, Lyle.

CUMNOCK – Johnston, Wood, Crawford, Lundie, Murphy, Montgomery, Scott, Esplin, Malone, Burns, Watt.

Subs; Lyndsay, Downs, Lowe, McNeil, Nixon.