AUCHINLECK Talbot did what Auchinleck Talbot do best on Saturday as they reached the Junior Cup final for the seventh time in 10 seasons.

In the process, they became the first team to overturn a first leg home defeat in a Junior Cup semi-final thanks to late goals from Dwayne Hyslop and Ross Harvey.

The 2-0 win over Lochee United at Thompson Park set up a clash with Hurlford United in the final at Rugby Park on May 27.

Talbot manager Tommy Sloan, a veteran in Junior Cup terms, felt his side got the result they merited. He said: “We got the result we deserved to be honest with you. We showed a lot more going forward than Lochee did.

“Their goalie had two good matches. It was a bit anxious towards the end, there was a point you wondered if it was going to happen but we got there.

“We’ve won it five times and lost twice so this is my eighth final with Talbot.

“Listen, it’s great to be in it and its something to look forward to. It makes the league games a bit easier because you’ve got that to look forward to. It’s not as much of a chore.

“We’re not out of the league either but it will be a big ask playing Monday, Wednesday, Saturday each week. We have three tough matches next week, away to Arthurlie, Hurlford and Kilwinning. It doesn’t get much harder than that.”

Next up for Talbot is a trip to Ardeer Thistle as they continue their defence of the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup. Sloan added: “Ardeer is our first midweek game, we didn’t play on Monday. It’s the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup and we’ll be trying our best to win it.

“I’ll have a look at resting a few players with an eye on Saturday’s game. We want to be in it just like any other cup but we’re still in the league race. We won’t be giving up on that just yet.”