SCOTTISH Junior Cup-winning Auchinleck Talbot boss Tommy Sloan does not read anything into the fact that the Auchinleck Talbot team of 1988-89 lost the league title after being beaten by Cumnock in their last match.

The class of 2018 go to Townhead Park on Saturday knowing that a win against their bitter rivals will land them the flag, regardless of how Beith do against Girvan.

Last night, Beith got one over on their title rivals by beating Talbot 2-1 at Beechwood Park with 10 men as they knocked the holders out of the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup.

Twenty-nine years ago it was Meadow who prevailed after Talbot lost 3-2 to their bitter rivals. But this year Beith are hoping to triumph.

Sloan said: "I don't pay much attention to that, it's only stats you are talking about. You make your own luck.

"We will be favourites when we go to Cumnock but at this time of year no-one is certain beat anyone. But it is difficult. This is a great opportunity which we must take but we are going to Cumnock to play our big rivals, they are going to be well up for it so it will be tough."

"They have a huge motivation as they won't want us winning the league on their patch, I certainly wouldn't want to. But the boys are on a high after their cup final win."