They’ve already beaten them FOUR times in the last six months – now Auchinleck will bid to make it high fives on Saturday.
Only seven days after completing a league double with a 2-1 win, Talbot head to Irvine Meadow in the fourth round of the South Challenge Cup.
Tommy Sloan’s men have already knocked Meadow out of the Scottish Cup and the Scottish Junior Cup. Now they are chasing a cup hat-trick.
Meadow, who are bossed by former Beechwood favourites Colin Spence and James Latta, have added to their ex-Talbot network with the recent signings of Willie Lyle and Keir Samson.
Bot No 2 Allan McLuckie admits a fifth clash is far from ideal but added: “It is what it is. In hindsight with 38 league games, why are there so many cups? Unfortunately we have pulled Meadow in so many of them.
“We’ll see them again on Saturday and hope to earn another good result.”
Talbot have taken a firm grip on the Premier title race after cutting the gap on leaders Pollok to a point with three games in hand.
Goals from Bryan Boylan and Graham Wilson inside 17 minutes put them in the driving seat against Meadow. Although Mick Wardrope pulled back a spectacular goal, Talbot held on.
And with Pollok losing 2-1 at Darvel to a stoppage time Scott Ferguson winner, Talbot are looking stronger by the week.
But laid back boss Tommy Sloan refuses to get over excited. He insisted: “There are lots of points to be won and lost – there’s nothing given out just now.”
However, Darvel are still in the frame although a monster fixture pile-up may be their undoing. They trail Talbot by 17 points but have five games in hand.
CUMNOCK head to fourth top Kilwinning tonight (7.30pm) in free scoring form with 11 goals in the last two games.
Last midweek, they came from 2-1 down to beat Hurlford 5-2 with strikes from Jordan Moore (2, one pen), Carlo Monti, Greg Ferry and Ally Miller. Hurlford looked well placed when Chris Robertson and Alex Bell put them 2-1 up.
On Saturday, ‘Nock went one better as they thrashed Rutherglen 6-2 with the highlight a magnificent double from star man Adam McLaughlin. Findlay Frye also hit a brace with Smart Osadolor and Ferry on target.
TROON head to Sauchie in the South Challenge Cup off the back of a 2-1 win away to Largs which lifted them to seventh.
The Seasiders have won five of their last six league games, a stunning form run which is bettered only by Darvel.
Trailing at the break to a William Sewell penalty, they hit back through a looping effort from Dale Moore and a left foot drive from Jack Sherrie with nine minutes to go.
GLENAFTON have appointed former Ayr United and Hearts star Ryan Stevenson as their new boss after Mick McCann quit following less than a season in charge.
McCann called time after a shock 4-3 defeat by struggling Bonnyton which leaves Glens deep in relegation trouble.
The New Cumnock side have won only eight of their 25 league games and sit fifth bottom of the West of Scotland Premier Division.
Stevo will be assisted by former Ayr boss Mark Roberts in the Loch Park dugout.
CRAIGMARK can leapfrog Maryhill in the Conference A promotion race with victory at Dalmellington after the weather washed out their weekend clash against Forth.
WHITLETTS , who have only four league games left, travel to Forth but are ruing dropped points from new boss Gordon Pope’s first game, a 1-1 draw at Maybole.
James Cuthbertson fired ‘Bole ahead only for Jordan Baird to level three minutes before the break.
Jordan Boyd had the chance to win it for Vics from the penalty spot but Ally Semple made a fine diving save.
The home team had Cuthbertson dismissed for a second yellow with 10 minutes to go.
MAYBOLE are in South Challenge Cup action on Saturday with a home tie against Darvel.
GIRVAN visit Bellshill in the league while MUIRKIRK travel to Lesmahagow.
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