Everyone in blue must win a battle

HAVING watched Auchinleck on three separate occasions this season, I can safely say that Musselburgh couldn't have been handed a tougher task in their first-ever Junior Cup Final.

Tommy Sloan's side may have survived by the skin of their teeth thanks to a late equaliser from David Gillies at Linlithgow but they certainly deserved to beat last year's winners in the replay back in Ayrshire.

They were even more impressive in the second leg of their semi-final against Bo'ness, blowing the reigning East Region Super League champions away with a fast start at Newtown Park as they went on to win 5-1 on aggregate.

First and foremost, Talbot are a hard-working side, with players who know exactly what they're there to do and certainly don't have to be asked twice by their manager to do so.

In terms of height, they're not the biggest but they've definitely got players with big hearts and, to be successful on Sunday, Musselburgh will need to start by winning the battle.

Can they pull off a famous victory? Yes because, on their day, I reckon David McGlynn's men are one of the best footballing sides in the Junior game – encouraged by their excellent young manager to play the game exactly how it should be.

McGlynn has big, strong players at the heart of his defence, in the middle of the park and also up front. But buzzing around them he's got the likes of Graeme Beveridge, Paul Tansey and, of course, Chris King.

In King in particular, The Burgh have a real matchwinner in their ranks, the little midfielder-cum-striker possessing a bag full of tricks.

He's equally dangerous with either foot and also links up play as well as anyone in the entire East Region when he's firing on all cylinders.

It is going to take a monumental effort by Musselburgh but here's hoping they can brick back that trophy to the Honest Toun!