GOAL hero Mick McCann was hailed by Glenafton Athletic manager Craig McEwan after helping put derby rivals Cumnock to the sword on Saturday.

The veteran striker bagged what turned out to be the victory-clinching goal for the New Cumnock side as they edged out the visitors 2-1 to rack up a second victory out of three.

McEwan said: “It was a great finish from Mick, who is such an important player to the club. Myself and Craig Menzies have been here for eight years, but I’ve been here for five years.

“Mick is a great role model in the dressing room and also helps out with some coaching work when he can. He’s a great encouragement to the younger guys in the team.”

The Glens boss is happy with his team’s recent form and said: “Some people think it’s doom and gloom but we have won two game, lost two and drawn two and there’s a long way to go.”

He is relishing the trip to Newlandsfield Park to face Pollok on Saturday.

McEwan added: “Pollok are a good side but we are going there looking to win the game.”

Meanwhile Auchinleck Talbot boss Tommy Sloan is fighting on two fronts as his team face their biggest games of the season so far. They face Beith away in the semi-finals of the Sectional Cup tonight (Wednesday) and on Saturday area away to Camelon in the William Hill Scottish Cup Second Preliminary Round.

Sloan said: “I might make a couple of changes on Wednesday as it’s always a tough game at Beith but we want to reach the final and can hopefully win. It’s a big game at Camelon, who beat Linlithgow recently and we want to make sure we progress as we hope to have another good Scottish Cup run.”