As build-ups to the season go, both Auchinleck Talbot and Glenafton will be satisfied by their 2-2 encounter on Saturday.

Talbot recovered from going a goal down and being given the runaround for the opening half hour to come within a minute of racking up a crucial victory over the reigning Ardagh Glass Cup kingpins whose last-gasp equaliser and all-round battling performance demonstrated a clear intent to keep hold of their silverware prize.

A slick passing Glens undoubtedly had the better of the early exchanges, but still needed substitute Daniel Orsi to touch home in the 89th minute to earn the point that manager Craig McEwan felt his side’s display fully merited.

He said: “Dan’s goal was the culmination of a magnificent six or seven passes move and I’m delighted for him as he could well have made our line-up for today’s game but for missing training all week through work commitments.

“His pace would have provided an added threat at the start when Talbot just couldn’t cope with us, but unfortunately failing to make the most of holding that upper hand came back to bite us .

“Auchinleck in their own backyard are always going to have their own spell on top and they punished a couple of defensive slackness moments and could well have added further goals but for some great saves from Brian McGarrity.

“It was pleasing to see how our players stood up to this testing examination and getting on level terms was no less than the guys deserved for continuing to battle and take the game to Talbot.”

Glenafton’s reward for storming out of the blocks arrived in the 10th minute when they broke upfield from defending a free kick and Darren McGill unselfishly set up Chris Malone to clip a low shot beyond Bot goalkeeper Andy Leishman that found the far corner of his net.

They remained on top with left winger Craig McGuffie looking tricky and lively in possession, but without ever really looking like stretching their advantage.

And the ultimate price for this lack of a cutting edge was paid shortly before half time when Gordon Pope ‘s high free kick forward from the halfway line was met by Dwayne Hyslop whose header looped over McGarrity’s outstretched hands for 1-1.

A passionate Auchinleck began the second period on the ascendancy and the Glens goalkeeper did well to beat away a Hyslop snap and deny an acrobatic Graham Wilson effort.

However, he was a mere spectator in 66 minutes when Wilson’s flick put strike partner Keir Milliken clear and he smashed a low shot past McGarrity only for the ball to strike an upright and rebound to safety.

The pressure was mounting now but the Glens defenders were answering all questions asked of them until criminally switching off after Talbot won a disputed free kick just a yard outside the area for a McGill offence.

A wall was in the process of being organised when the quick thinking Pope took the kick to play through Milliken on the right side of goal and he squared the ball for the inrushing Wilson to smash home from point blank range.

Auchinleck then passed up several scoring opportunities to put the game out of sight and Glenafton made the most of their escape to get back on level pegging with Orsi’s late goal.

Talbot gaffer Tommy Sloan declared: “To have the lion’s share of the game and not win is disappointing, but that can always happen if you don’t put away your chances when on top.

“But it’s hard to be too critical of the guys given they are still finding their feet with the likes of Milliken and Mark Campbell both playing their first games of the season today.

“And that need to give players game time possibly contributed to our late lapse because I made substitutions for that very reason when it might have been better to just see the game out when 2-1 ahead.

“That said, I’ve no complaints over the result as the Glens came here and played well particularly early days.”

There were some high scoring Ardagh Glass contests with Kenny McLean netting four goals as Beith hit nine without replay against Dalry Thistle, while Whitletts Vics frontman Tony Balfour went one better in netting a handful in his side’s 9-1 defeat of Craigmark.

And former Annan Athletic striker Kieran Brannan helped himself to a hat trick as Kilbirnie Ladeside ran out 6-0 winners at home to Kilwinning Rangers.