BATTLE-weary Auchinleck Talbot have been given a welcome boost in their quest for another extended run in the William Hill Scottish Cup.

Tommy Sloan’s team kept their hopes alive by drawing 2-2 away to Fife cracks Dundonald Bluebell on Saturday and then reached the quarter-finals of the West Region Sectional Cup with a 3-0 home win against Kello Rovers.

However the last eight tie at home to Whitletts Vics was switched from tonight (Wednesday) until Monday, August 26 to allow Tucker’s team to prepare for the hotly anticipated replay on Saturday at Beechwood Park.

Talbot fell behind late in the game before a late Graham Wilson penalty forced a rematch.

Sloan said: “To be fair Dundonald are a decent side and it was disappointing not to win the tie.

“But the positive thing for me is that we’re still in the Scottish Cup. It’s important for us to progress and hopefully we can do the business at Beechwood Park on Saturday. It was good the SJFA put back the quarter-final as we want to focus on the Dundonald game which is vital for us.”

Dwayne Hyslop has a knock and is set to miss out and Bryan Boylan is recovering well after being sidelined from last month.

Meanwhile Glenafton Athletic were held at home by newcomers Benburb in the McBookie Premiership on Saturday. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

After a period of sustained pressure from the home side the visitors began to threaten and in 33 minutes earned a free-kick on the outskirts of the box. Kyle McAusland’s effort thundered into the wall before Ryan Nisbet rolled the loose ball back to Findlay Frye who rifled it from 18 yards to the top right hand corner. However in 58 minutes, Bens levelled when substitute Ciaran Diver picked up the ball on the halfway line and went on a mazy run to the edge of the box and drilled home a low shot.