CUMNOCK manager John McKeown couldn't contain himself after his side ousted Auchinleck Talbot to reach the final of the West of Scotland Cup.

Scott Anson's 53rd minute goal was enough to see the Townhead Park side win 1-0 at the home of their biggest rivals.

The Cumnock boss felt did brilliantly to overcome the odds against a lacklustre Talbot. McKeown said: "You don't get anything easy here, it's the way it's been for a number of years and particularly with it being a derby.

"From my poiny of view, I just said to them 'don't leave an ounce of energy out on that park, go and knock your pan in, defend with your lives and take the chance when it comes your way'.

"All creadit to big Scott Anson because I've absolutely served him his dinner at half time. I've went through him like a tonne of bricks because I thought he was miles off it.

"Second half, I thought he's took his chance fantastically. I actually thought, when he took the touch, that he'd taken it too wide but he's done great to slew it back across big Leishman.

"They are at the top of the game for a reason and we've narrowed that gap in the last few years and that just shows that we can come here into their own backyard and compete with them."

It's been a tough tournament for Nock, and McKeown felt his side gave Auchinleck too much time on the ball after they had taken the lead.

He added: "I thought we showed them a wee bit too much respect and when they got the man sent off I felt we sat off them too much and were inviting pressure.

"They've done it to us so many times, scored late goals, and I thought here we go again. Thankfully they regrouoped and we fought our way through it.

"I've just spoken to them and I said, 'the club's never won this trophy, we know that, all this tonight means nothing unless you go and do that'.

"We've had to do it the hard way. We've had such tough draws throughout it, we've had Clydebank, we've had Kilbirnie, we've had Blantyre.

"We've then had Rob Rob and then we've had Talbot and now if we're going to do it we need to beat Pollok so if the boys do it the deserve it no matter how they do it, by hook or crook they need to win it.

"We've played them a couple of times in the league and it's been a share of the spoils.

"We beat them at Cumnock and they turned us over at Newlandsfield. We know we're in for another tough game.

"They've got quality all over the park and they've got a good manager so it's going to be just as tough as what tonight was again. They've had the advantage of having a wee week off and they're at home.

"We'll go there with no fear because this group of players, I trust them with everything."