Sloan eyeing cup hat-trick with experienced auchinleck troops

Auchinleck TALBOT, one of the giants of Junior football, will start as odds-on favourites to win the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup on Sunday and one look at their record in the competition tells you why.

The Ayrside men are record-eight times winners of the Junior Cup and have secured numerous final and semi-final appearances.

For manager Tommy Sloan, this weekend's clash with Musselburgh at Rugby Park represents his third final and he's yet to taste defeat following wins in 2006 and 2009.

"The bookies and supporters are making us the favourites but were going into this game well aware of the task ahead," admitted Sloan.

"Musselburgh are a very good side and one we are wary of. I watched them recently against Kelty and they had some players rested, but they still won.

"The problem with being favourites for this game is that there's no pressure on Musselburgh.

"A lot of folk believe we just have to turn up. That's not the way the players and me are thinking. Musselburgh have players who can hurt us. Players like the King boys and Tansey. They can inflict some damage to our hopes of lifting the cup."

Auchinleck are a terrific side with players for the big occasion. The experienced Stevie Mallan may not make the starting XI but he can turn a game on its head after coming on as a sub, while central defender Gavin Collins is a colossus of a player.

Sloan can call on many of the players from his previous cup successes and said: "This cup is the biggest stage for any of the players out there. For some, it's the biggest game they will ever play in.

"Luckily, we have players who have been with us in the club's previous finals.

"We still have the nucleus of the squad from 2005-06 and some of our players are going for their third winner's medal. That does give us a lot of experience.

"Nerves, though, can do funny things to you on the biggest day of your life.

"Players like Stevie Mallan and Gavin Collins, who lifted medals in 2006 when we beat Bathgate and 2009 when we beat Clydebank now have the chance against Musselburgh to complete the hat-trick."

Sloan saw his side lose their West Super League title to Irvine Meadow this season but insists the Scottish Junior Cup remains the No.?1 trophy in the Junior game.

"To me, the Cup is the biggest thing in Junior football and will continue to be until the people who decide things sort out the leagues," said Sloan.

"As it stands just now, we play three quarters of our league games in the last six weeks of the season.

"After Sunday, we still have a few games to play. Until the league is sorted then the Scottish will be the competition everyone wants to win at the start of the season and the biggest incentive is the chance to play in the senior Scottish Cup should we win.

"The last time we were there we played Stirling Albion and everyone at the club enjoyed it hugely.

"Ahead of Sunday's game, I'll tell the players to go out and enjoy the occasion because they might never reach another Scottish Junior Cup final. Everyone at the club is looking forward to the game because we want some more of that senior Scottish Cup experience.

"Musselburgh will want exactly the same. They know the rewards and will make it very difficult for us.

"Musselburgh are going into this game with nothing to lose and everything to gain."