William Hill Scottish Junior Cup Second Round

AUCHINLECK TALBOT 1

COVE RANGERS 0

By Stewart McConnell

TERRIFIC Talbot made the bookies eat their words as the outsiders overcame crazy midweek odds of 10-1 to sink Paul Hartley’s League Two title chasers.

A dramatic last gasp goal from Dwayne Hyslop saw the newly-crowned League Cup winners write a glorious new chapter in their history by pulling off another famous victory in front of a bumper crowd.

In two minutes, home goalie Andy Leishman brilliantly parried a 20-yard shot from Ross as Cove opened strongly. Keir Samson made a great run to the byeline and whipped in a cross which was cleared but only as far as Mark Shankland to shoot well over the bar from 25-yards in eight minutes. Former Ranger Fraser Aird shot well wide from 20-yards five minutes later and two minutes later at the other end, a strong 10-yard shot from Samson produced a fine one-handed save from visiting goalie Stuart McKenzie.

Leishman(pictured) made a fine save to foil Matty Smith on the edge of the box in 19 minutes. In 26 minutes, Scott Ross sent a left-footed effort from the edge of the box well over the bar. Hyslop aimed a pass at Samson on the half hour, but Milne intercepted.

A cross-cum shot 25 yards out from Aird was confidently clutched by Leishman in 38 minutes. In 40 minutes a Higgins free-kick at the edge of the box was blocked by the Talbot defence. Aird set up Smith to head just over the bar from eight yards in 49 minutes. Gordon Pope shot just over the bar from a corner-kick for Talbot a minute later after a Graham Wilson effort had been deflected wide. Talbot came so close in 57 minutes when a Samson shot from the edge of the box sent high an just wide. A minute later a Shankland free-kick from 25 yards just missed the target. Leishman got down well to deny Mitchell Megginson in 63 minutes. He then produced a stunning one-handed save to foil the same player a minute later. Then on the hour the outstretched leg of Graham Wilson just missed connecting with a Samson cross. A speculative shot from Aird was clutched by Leishman in 66 minutes and a minute later a lob from Martin Scott crashed off the crossbar. However two minutes from time substitute Bryan Boylan made a surging run into the box and sent over a flighted cross for Hyslop to powerfully head home from eight yards, sparking delirium among the players and home fans.

AUCHINLECK TALBOT: Leishman; Lyle, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Samson, Shankland. Subs: Glasgow, Boylan, Healy, Young, McDowall, Hewitt.