Opponents topping the West Of Scotland League’s Premier Division with maximum points six games in, and a frightening goal difference to boot, were unfortunately too strong for us in Ayrshire this afternoon as we exited the Scottish Cup at the first hurdle for the fourth season straight, the second in succession at their extremely capable hands. After going down 4-1 at Millfield when Talbot visited twelve months ago, when we’d given them a decent game before they cranked up the pressure in the later stages, we travelled hopeful of at least competing equally well again – sadly it wasn’t to be, as we found ourselves two goals down inside fifteen minutes in conditions increasingly blustery as the afternoon wore on.
We were behind barely a minute after kick off as Main opened the scoring with something of a fortuitous goal, and an already massive challenge was made hugely more difficult quarter of an hour in when McPherson headed the ball past Jamie Smith at the back post from a cross delivered from the right. There were no more goals before the break, but Auchinleck were very evidently every bit as strong a team as their record this season indicates and we seldom managed to make inroads in the final third. Physically bigger in almost every area, the home team dominated possession and though they didn’t really create many clear-cut chances they performed with the confident assurance of players used to winning games.
At 2-0 down at the interval there remained in fervent Hi Hi’s hearts some little hope that, with a big effort and a few breaks, a turnaround wasn’t beyond us. Personnel changes at the break had a positive impact, and we certainly spent more time in our opponents’ half after play resumed than in the first half. Grant Rose, one of those introduced from the subs’ bench, came closest to a Haddington goal around fifty five minutes in – Muir in the home goal however got down to put the ball out for a corner. Muir’s Hi Hi’s counterpart Jamie Smith had appeared as though he might be struggling with a knock earlier, and shortly before the hour mark he was forced to quit the action. Replacement Miko Komocki was beaten within a couple of minutes of his introduction, when Sime netted Talbot’s third following a corner on the right. McAvoy’s spectacular overhead effort, a finish fit to grace any game, made it 4-0 on seventy four minutes, and that proved to be the final scoreline.
It’s always disappointing to be knocked out of the Scottish of course, and there’s no denying we’d travelled hoping to have contested today’s tie more effectively. Have to however hold our hands up and acknowledge we were beaten by a stronger team who richly deserved their win.
We move on now to the realistically more important matter of picking up Premier Division points, with matches against Penicuik Athletic and Dunbar United coming up in the next seven days. Today’s experience won’t hurt long-term – and hopefully Scottish draws to come might be a shade kinder to us!
Must recognise here the exceptional hospitality shown us by our Talbot hosts today, the best we’ve encountered. The whole set-up at Beechwood Park is very impressive, and those responsible can be rightly proud of the standards achieved on and off the field there. They’re a benchmark for clubs at our level – don’t doubt for a moment they’ll go on to have a successful season.
Thanks to all who travelled west to support the boys. The upset we hoped to pull off wasn’t to be, but the experience served to highlight standards we should strive to achieve.
