Auchinleck Talbot 2 Yoker Athletic 0 as Junior Cup heads back to Beechwood for 14th time

Tommy Sloan savoured a successful season after a second-half salvo clinched Auchinleck Talbot their 14th Junior Cup triumph.

Goals from man-of-the-match Craig McCracken and substitute Jamie Glasgow ensured it was party time once again at Beechwood on Saturday night.

However, they had to see off a spirited Yoker outfit who did themselves proud on the big stage in front of the live BBC ALBA cameras.

Boss Sloan was thrilled his side got over the line and insists their cup double – having already secured the South Challenge Cup – made up for not winning the West of Scotland League Premier Division title.

He told Ayrshire Football News: “I’m delighted but relieved as well to be honest. We dug deep and got our rewards.

“At half-time we could have gone in a goal down. It was a very even match and Yoker had one or two half-chances. But once we got the first goal, we were the only team going to win.

“We looked stronger in the second half and that is credit to the players as we’ve played a lot of games this season.

“It’s been a great season – two trophies and one of them is the Junior Cup? We’ll take that every season. We’ve had a full year’s playing.”

Rugby Park looked resplendent in the Platinum Jubilee sunshine and there was a terrific atmosphere as both sets of fans made the most of this special occasion.

Talbot were red-hot favourites to add to their bulging trophy cabinet but Yoker, who finished mid-table in Conference C this season and were playing in their first Junior Cup final since 1936, would prove no pushovers.

Indeed, the Whe Ho produced an impressive first-half performance based on good organisation and solid defending.

Gordon Robertson’s men were also the most threatening and, on the half-hour mark, Scott Gallagher converted from a long ball forward but the assistant referee’s flag was up for a contested offside.

Then, in the 43rd minute, the Glasgow side came close to breaking the deadlock when Ross McDonald drove a low effort into the side netting.

Talbot needed more in the final third and served notice of their second-half intentions through Bryan Boylan, who troubled the same area of side netting as McDonald.

The East Ayrshire giants were then denied, in the 56th minute, by keeper Scott Urquhart who turned away Graham Wilson’s header from Mark Shankland’s corner.

Minds were beginning to turn to the possibility of extra time when, in the 73rd minute, McCracken stepped up and delivered for Auchinleck.

The big centre-back received a Kieran Healy ball midway inside the Yoker half, advanced unchallenged and unleashed a 25-yard shot which flew into the top corner despite Urquhart getting a hand to it.

With five minutes remaining, McCracken almost bagged a brace to put the final to bed but his header from Glasgow’s corner struck the bar.

Talbot would get their second, though, in the final minute when Glasgow found the far corner of the net from a Wilson flick-on to seal the silverware.

Proud Yoker gaffer Robertson said: “Right now, it’s pretty disappointing. We didn’t come here to make up the numbers or be part of an occasion, we came here to try and win the Scottish Junior Cup.

“I’d like to congratulate Auchinleck Talbot on winning the cup. They are a great club, full stop. Not even just a great Junior club, they are one of Scottish football’s great clubs and I admire them so much. Congratulations to them.

“As for us? We need to pick ourselves up. When the dust settles, we will realise we did pretty well. I’m proud of the players. They are a good group.”

Don’t miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here