AS the year nears it’s end, and the first half of the WoSFL seasons draw to a close, it’s fair to say it’s been a turbulent season for local sides.

There is no better example of this than Auchinleck Talbot - who are now bouncing back after what would have been considered a disastrous start.

Tommy Sloan’s side won only two of their opening six matches in the WoSFL Premier League- leaving them closer to the relegation zone than any title challenge.

Though a resounding 3-1 Scottish Junior Cup win over Darvel seems to have turned the tide, with two league wins since propelling them back into a comfortable position.

They reached the third round of the senior Scottish Cup, before a second half hat trick from Raith Rovers’ Aidan Connolly handed the Championship side a 3-0 win.

This left Auchinleck lagging behind in league matches, playing the least in the league so far - eight.

Though they still sit comfortable mid tabled in ninth place, eight points off top spot with two games in hand to leaders Darvel.

Neighbours Cumnock are showing they no longer wish to be overshadowed by their rivals.

In boss Brian McGinty’s first full season in charge, they started their season with an away win against reigning champions Darvel.

Despite some disappointing losses, five wins and three draws in their ten games to date has been enough to keep them fifth place in the table - only four points from top spot.

With games in hand to every side above them, apart from Darvel, a win would take them into second place.

They also had an excellent run in the Scottish Cup, which came to an agonising end live on BBC Scotland with a 3-1 defeat to League Two title challengers Dumbarton.

Meanwhile Ryan Stevenson’s Glenafton side don’t look to be in any immediate danger, but will be looking over their shoulder.

After 12 matches, the Glens have drawn more games than anything else, picking up a solitary point from five matches so far.

Adding three wins and four defeats to their tally has left them in 10th place - four points above the drop zone. Though of the four sides below them, all bar one have games in hand.

Glens also have a Junior Scottish Cup quarter final to look forward to in the new year - and the addition of floodlights to Loch Park has high-lighted the clubs off the pitch development.

In the Second Division, Craigmark Burntonians are amongst the clubs pushing for top of the table positions in a tightly packed league.

They have won six, drawn one and lost three of their ten games so far, and sit in seventh.

They also deserve massive credit for the cup shocks they have produced so far, earning draws against Largs Thistle and Cumnock Juniors before winning on penalties to knock them out of the Scottish Junior Cup and WoSFL cup..

In Division Three, Kello Rovers also looked like a team with a title in mind in the early season.

An unfortunate run of five defeats in their last nine games brought a halt to a five game winning run to start the season, and put the breaks on table topping thoughts.

Though they still remain in seventh place, only seven points shy of the promotion places. With 22 matches still to play, if they can rediscover their early campaign form, who knows what 2023 may hold.

We move back into the Second Division to look at Muirkirk Juniors who may face a relegation dogfight.

After 12 matches, they lie in 12th place, two spots clear of the drop. But a draw against table topping Renfrew shows that ability is not the main issue.

In the Third Division, Lugar Boswell Thistle’s three wins and a draw plus ten defeats has left the side fourth bottom.