Shotts Bon Accord 1 Auchinleck Talbot 2
Tommy Sloan insists Auchinleck Talbot have set their sights on extra Scottish Junior Cup glory after transferring menacingly into the semi-finals of the competitors this afternoon.
The Beechwood boys needed to come from behind in North Lanarkshire however did simply sufficient to arrange a last-four showdown with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy subsequent month.
Ally Martin's controversial penalty gave the house facet the lead and so they had possibilities so as to add to their benefit earlier than Bryan Boylan levelled for 'Bot simply earlier than the interval.
With the wind at their backs within the second half, Sloan's troops have been on high with Craig McCracken's scrappy effort proving decisive within the 73rd minute after Shotts had keeper Johnny Murdoch sent-off.
Nonetheless, Shotts have been off course with headers from harmful set-pieces within the closing phases and the ultimate whistle would have come as a aid to Auchinleck's travelling military of followers.
For boss Sloan, it was a case of job finished as his facet continues its combat for silverware on a number of fronts.
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He instructed Ayrshire Soccer Information: "I am delighted. It was a extremely powerful one, we needed to come from a aim behind, however I believed general we deserved it ultimately.
"They put up a extremely sturdy combat. There was an awesome physicality about them and that precipitated us quite a lot of hassle, particularly within the first half.
"Bryan's aim simply earlier than half-time was essential as we went in feeling a wee bit higher about ourselves as we knew we had the circumstances in our favour within the second half.
"And Craig's trundled one into the online. He will get into the areas that rely and I am delighted for him."
He added: "We now have an awesome historical past within the Junior Cup and we'll be attempting onerous to get to the ultimate once more. We're taking it as severely as any competitors."
Martin scored from the spot within the thirteenth minute after the referee noticed an infringement from 'Bot keeper Andy Leishman.
"I've not seen a penalty given for ungentlemanly conduct earlier than," remarked a bemused Sloan. "It regarded like a tangle of legs to me and by chance sufficient we've managed to beat that so I am not going to say an excessive amount of."
Shotts had a aim dominated out for offside earlier than Paul McGeough nodded over from a Josh Watt nook halfway by way of the primary half.
Within the forty first minute, 'Bot equalised when a free-kick into the field wasn't cleared and Boylan fired house from round 12 yards.
An enormous second within the tie arrived within the seventieth minute when Murdoch dealt with the ball exterior his space and was red-carded.
Derek Barnes took over between the sticks with Shotts down numerically and his first activity was to select the ball out the online after Graham Wilson's ensuing free-kick struck the wall and fell properly for McCracken who transformed.
Shotts twice got here shut late on. Craig Crawford ought to have finished higher with a header from a free-kick by Martin Shiels whose nook within the sixth minute of damage time was nodded extensive by Scott Faulds.
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