The striker saved a penalty after taking over in goals when keeper Andy Leishman saw red during Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final with Hurlford.

Although he conceded a goal shortly after, Gormley’s superb save was a pivotal moment in the second-leg match which Talbot won 2-1 to go through 5-2 on aggregate.

Two magnificent strikes - Bryan Young straight from a corner and Keir Milliken with an opportunistic lob just inside the Hurlford half - cancelled out the visitors’ goal.

It wasn’t the first time that Gormley became a poacher-turned-gamekeeper to perform heroics between the sticks.

The Bot hero said: “It happened when I played for Alloa against Hamilton in the Scottish Cup five years ago but we lost on that occasion, so it’s different circumstances as it was all about getting through to the final.

“I never had any particular technique in mind when I was facing the latest penalty, but one of my team-mates told me which way to dive - and he was right.

“I was a bit gutted when they scored shortly after, from a corner, but it is great to be in the final and we can now concentrate on the league for the next few weeks.

“As for the final itself, it doesn’t really matter who it is we are playing, it’s always going to be 50/50 whoever the opponents are.” Beechwood gaffer felt that his side were well worth their final spot on June 7. He said: “I think we deserved to go through over the two games. There’s no doubt there were some great goals today.

“I feared the worst when big Andy went to ground and brought the boy down and it’s went against us but I think Gormley’s saves actually gave us a wee bit of momentum. I think even though we lost a goal just after that it still gave us a wee lift.

“He came to me and actually said ‘look I can go in goals if you want’ so that was great. I’m fearing the worst when our goalkeeper gets sent off. I’m think Stewart Kean is going to knock the penalty in but we have got a wee lift from David saving the penalty.” Talbot backup goalie Rab Kerr was unavailable as he was sunning himself on his hols in Las Vegas.

Both Talbot goals were worthy of winning ay game. Bryan Young pulled them level after his looping corner kick nestled in the top corner. It’s not the first time that Young netted directly from a corner. Young said: “The first time I did it was against Linlithgow in a friendly, so it didn’t really count so I suppose that was the first official one,” he said.

“I had to admit that I meant it, especially as it was the second time but, let’s be honest I have floated it in and it has gone into the top corner.

“I was putting it into a good area for big Mark to attack and maybe put it in, but the main thing was it was such an important time to score.

“It brought us back into the match and that, combined with them also getting a man sent off, deflated them.

“After our keeper was sent off they went into all out attack and they were hitting us from everywhere and it was good timing as well as a good goal to score personally.” Keir Milliken then found the net with a stunning strike from all of 45 yards. He said: “If you watched that first half you’d want your money back but in the second half if you said that was going to be how it went you wouldn’t believe anybody. A sending off, a penalty save by a striker, a long range goal and a goal from a corner.” Of his goal, he added: “I saw him way off of his line. I think he could have maybe done better to be honest with you. I just looked as it went in and I lay on the ground. All I was thinking was ‘Take me off. I’m knackered!’.” The attacker added: “They were taking our pictures at full time. I don’t like that really because you are celebrating something that you haven’t done yet. It’s just a semi final.

“It’s unbelievable to be through. It’s great. Another final is excellent and we still have the league as well.”