AUCHINLECK Talbot have been handed a nightmare 12 hour, 600 mile round trip to Caithness in the first round of the Scottish Cup.

Their reward for a thumping 10-0 win over the farthest south team in the preliminary rounds, Wigtown and Bladnoch, is a trip to Harmsworth Park – home to the Highland League’s most northerly side, Wick Academy.

Talbot have had two previous marathon away days in the Scottish Cup but they haven’t travelled north of Aberdeen in the competition for seven years.

In the first round in 2011 they travelled to Lossiemouth where an 89th minute winner from David Gillies saw Talbot win 2-1 and in 2009 they needed a reply to overcome Huntly in the second round after a 1-1 draw.

The Bot are unbeaten against Highland League opposition, recording four wins from five and scoring 19.

Striker Graham Wilson – who bagged a double against Wigtown on Saturday – was hoping for another Talbot away day ahead of the draw.

He said: “I’m not really bothered about the draw. A home tie would be good but if you get an away tie it’s an away day and if you’re up north, it can be quite good. We’ll take whatever, it doesn’t really matter. We’re not expected to do anything so the bigger the team the better.”

Talbot boss Tommy Sloan said: “We were expected to win the match. I know Wigtown are more or less starting from scratch with a new side, they are a young side and they will get better.

“One thing about them, they kept going right until the end so they can take a bit of credit as well. We’re pleased that we’re through to the next round and scored a few goals so it’s a good day.

“I could pick faults but we’ve scored 10 goals and I’m not going to grumble much. We’ll take the result, take the confidence out it and go onto the next game.”