PARTY ATMOSPHERE doesn't begin to describe how the village of Auchinleck felt in the lead up to the Scottish Cup fourth-round tie between Auchinleck Talbot and Hearts. 

The supporters were definitely in high spirits before they came piling into Beechwood by the hundreds and was close to full of their 4000 capacity. 

The mixing between Hearts and Talbot fans before kick-off added to the atmosphere, driving into Auchinleck supporters crowding the streets, smoke bombs and singing between both sets of fans added to the special occasion. 

Ayr Advertiser:

One fan told me "It's a very special game and it's not every day you get to play a team like Hearts at your home ground in the Scottish Cup. To eliminate them after Hamilton will be really special".

Stephen a fan who came down from Glasgow specifically for the game alluded to the previous encounter between Talbot and Hearts at Tynecastle back in 2012, he said: "The last time we played them in 2019 it wasn't close, but we have taken them close in the past at Tynecastle so hopefully we can do the same today". 

The Ayrshire club buoyed by the noise from the stands kept Hearts on the back foot for the opening ten minutes and it looked like the Premier League side hadn't woken up yet. It wasn't long however before Hearts kicked into gear and took the lead in the 14th minute through an Andy Halliday header.

They doubled the lead through a Liam Boyce penalty 6 minutes before halftime and 6 minutes after the restart Boyce cemented his role as pantomime villain with his second and Hearts' third giving Auchinleck a mountain to climb. 

Peter Haring compounded the Talbot woes with a fourth goal on 80 minutes and on 83 Cochrane gave the away support something to cheer about with their 5th goal in a game where Talbot never really got going. 

An unfortunate result for Talbot but an opportunity for the club to perform on a national stage who still have a lot to play for this season.