AUCHINLECK TALBOT (Beechwood Park)

SCOTTISH CUP 1ST ROUND, AUCHINLECK TALBOT 5-0 BUCKIE THISTLE, ATTENDANCE: 800 (est)

A painting in the ground to
commemorate Auchinleck's record
10 Scottish Junior Cup wins

This weekend, possibly for the last time with Scotland as part of the UK, I made my way north to East Ayrshire, 

In my eyes this was the tie of the round as the West Superleague Champions Auchinleck Talbot took on Highland League heavyweights Buckie Thistle. 

The Bots have good recent form in the Scottish Cup reaching the 3rd round in 2010 (losing 2-1 at Stirling Albion) and the 4th round in 2012 (losing 1-0 at Hearts).

Auchinleck is a former mining village a couple of miles north of Cumnock. As I drove through the main street to the football ground there did not seem to be a lot going on. The football club though was absolutely heaving with people and clearly seems to be at the heart of the community.

The club are named in honour of Richard Wogan Talbot, the 5th Baron of Malahide, who died 1921, who gifted the then fledgling football club a football ground, hence the name Auchinleck Talbot.

Beechwood Park is still their home to this day and is certainly up there in the list of top Junior grounds I have visited. 

The main stand was once part of Hamilton Academical's Douglas Park and was purchased in the mid 1990's when the Accies old ground was demolished.

The Bots have had a fine start to their season winning 10 out of 10 in all competitions, whilst the The Jags have had a mixed start in the Highland League, winning 4 out of their 8 games so far and last week drew with perennial whipping boys Strathspey Thistle.


The Highland league team started brightly and it was somewhat against the early run of play that Auchinleck took an 8th minute lead courtesy of Graham Wilson's 16th goal of the season. 

Buckie had a couple of half chances but would have considered themselves lucky to be only one goal down at the break after Auchinleck hit the post and squandered a hatful of chances to extend their lead.

They weren't so lucky in the second half as the home side went nap. Once Martin McGoldrick (54) had scored to make it 2-0 the floodgates well and truly opened. 

Further goals from Steven White (60) Gordon Pope (69) and substitute Kenny Connolly (75 - the pick of the bunch) made it 5-0 and, in truth, it could easily have been double that.

A pretty comfortable win for Auchinleck where they will now face a trip to Edinburgh City in round 2.