By Lewis Moynihan
Auchinleck Talbot manager Tommy Sloan insists they will be not be taking it easy against lower league Lanark ahead of their Sectional League Cup final.
Premiership giants Talbot will square off against the League One side at their own Beechwood Park Sunday as both sides vie for the first trophy of the Juniors season.
Sloan speaking after 'Bot's win over Pollok, who Lanark beat in the semis of the competition, says he's been keeping a wry eye on the Yowes.
He said: "I watched them the other week there up at Bellshill, so I know a bit about them.
"They've beaten top league sides to get to this stage so we need to give them every respect and we will."
In perfect preparation for the match, Talbot stunned the Premiership league leaders with two goals in the opening 20 minutes.
Craig McCracken got on the end of Mark Shankland's corner in the sixth minute, before Shankland bent in yet another free kick in the 20th minute to put 'Bot two up at the break.
It took a little longer to break the deadlock in the second-half but it was certainly a goal worth waiting for.
Gareth Armstrong fed the ball across to Gordon Pope who smashed into the top right hand corner from 25 yards.
On the wonder strike and the tough upcoming fixture list, defender Pope said: "I've seen the ball out wide and I thought if I receive it early enough I can get it set and shoot but I didn't expect that!
"Playing with Talbot every game is difficult because everybody is out to beat you.
"Looking at the fixtures we've just played Pollok who are top of the league, the cup next Sunday and then Cove the week after, all hard games.
"We've just got to keep trying, keep the momentum going and keep winning."
'Lok managed to grab a late consolation through former Cumnock man Del Esplin, who tucked in at the back post following a free-kick.
That goal ended the run of two consecutive clean-sheets for Talbot, something which disappointed Tucker.
He said: "We got a bit ragged towards the end when they started throwing men forward.
"We've got over the line though and we deserved to win."
The result means Auchinleck have now won the past three games, in that run included a 7-0 rout against Bellshill in the Scottish Junior Cup.
With 'Hill beating League One title rivals Lanark 3-0 in the game prior to the second round tie.
Despite that result, Talbot assistant manager Allan McLuckie insists it will be no advantage come the cup final .
He said: "It's a different game, it's a cup final, we don't look at things that way it would be silly to do that.
"It's another game which can have totally different circumstances, so we aren't even thinking about that result to be honest."
