COLIN SPENCE spent over a decade thinking the only thing that mattered from a footballing viewpoint was pulling on the black and gold colours of Auchinleck Talbot.

An understandable notion really when one considers he has tasted Scottish Junior Cup glory on five occasions.

However, his mindset totally changed over the summer months when a frustrated Spenny - he spent most of last season on Talbot’s substitutes bench - headed out of Beechwood Park to sign for Troon Juniors.

Because if his pulling the midfield strings display in the Ayrshire club’s 2-0 weekend victory over Pollok is anything to go by, then the 31-year-old’s move has worked out better than he could ever have imagined.

And further proof if needed could come tomorrow night when he and his Seasiders team-mates have an Ardagh Glass League Cup semi-final date with Kilwinning Rangers.

And victory would see the flame-haired Spenny take a step closer to ending his own personal heartache in the competition.

He said: “I don’t have a bad word to say about my time at Auchinleck and will forever have many close friends there, but moving away, though difficult to do at the time, has been the best thing for me not least because I’ve rediscovered my zest and desire for the game here at Troon.

“ It was always going to be strange moving elsewhere, but right from the moment I walked into Portland Park for our first pre-season training session, I’ve been impressed with the people and the overall sense that this is a Junior club going places.

“Neil Duffy’s training methods have been hard going but hugely enjoyable, while the gaffer Gordon Burns leaves no stone unturned with his attention to detail .

“And we as a group of players have responded out on the pitch with a number of top-class performances, capped off by deservedly getting the better of both Glenafton and Pollok in the past week.

“Another tough test awaits us against Kilwinning, but I’d like to think it’s a challenge we can face with a fair degree of confidence considering we have home advantage and are playing at the top of our game.

“Getting into the final could provide the icing on the cake for me because last season’s final against the eventual winners Glenafton was when I first saw the writing on the wall for my Talbot career.

“I had played in every game, but found myself a substitute in the final itself as Tucker opted to pick a younger midfield line-up and despite losing that day, he persevered with this ploy throughout the season and with great success it has to be said.

“To win the Scottish Cup and Premier League double again was a truly fantastic achievement, but it was hard for me not to feel as if I was on the outside looking in ”

The one-time Gretna signing is effusive in his praise of Troon’s emerging talents, Jordan Muir, Dale Shirkie and Adam Forsyth whose weekend displays were the talk of the Newlandsfield terracing slopes.

He said: “Troon have always been regarded for the defensive steel provided by Gavin Collins and Dean Keenan as well as the wing trickery of Dale Moore while the arrival of goalkeeper Ally Semple has raised a few eyebrows.

“But not a lot was known about the three younger guys - I believe they are all teenagers - and this has allowed them to sneak under the radar and to devastating effect up to now.

“They are highly skilful types who delight in taking on opponents and their enthusiasm and work-rate is a godsend for myself and Scott Chatham as we can afford to sit deeper and play passes forward knowing the guys will get on the end of them.

“They are not quite the finished article and still have a bit to learn about backtracking to help the team but I’ll be mighty surprised if Senior scouts are not flocking around Portland Park this season.

“None of them will be surprise packets to Kilwinning Rangers as they all played when the teams met in a pre-season friendly so their manager Chris Strain will no doubt be planning to curb their threat.

“We won that game 3-1 but the scoreline has no bearing on the semi-final considering the amount of trialists fielded by both teams and Gordon has warned us to expect a tough and physically demanding contest.”

Hurlford United are rated overwhelming favourites to win the other Ardagh semi clash despite having to take to the road to face shock troops Maybole.

United boss Darren Henderson, who is without injured trio Danny Mitchell, Ross Chisholm and Ryan Borris, said: “How can anyone possibly understimate Maybole after they knocked out Auchinleck in the last round?

“You have to admire the rebuilding job done by Carlo Walker after so many of his players left to join Girvan during the close season and you can bet your boots he will fancy their chances of turning us over.

“Semi-final occasions can be great levellers and it all depends upon who plays best on the night.”

TOMORROW NIGHT

(Kick-offs 6.30pm)

Ardagh Glass Sectional League Cup semi-finals: Troon v Kilwinning Rangers, Maybole v Hurlford Utd.

Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup quarter-finals: Vale of Clyde v Wishaw, Rob Roy v Petershill.

SATURDAY

(Kick-offs 2pm)

West Region Super Premier Division: Troon v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Hurlford Utd v Beith, Shettleston v Irvine Meadow, Petershill v Glenafton, Arthurlie v Pollok.

West Region Super First Division: Clydebank v Cumbernauld Utd, Maybole v Largs Thistle, Bellshill Athletic v Winton Rovers, Cumnock v Kilsyth Rangers, Rutherglen Glencairn v Yoker, Shotts Bon Accord v Greenock, Kilwinning Rangers v Blantyre Vics.

West Region Central First Division: Larkhall Thistle v Neilston, Maryhill v Vale of Clyde, Johnstone Burgh v Renfrew, Dunipace v Lesmahagow, Wishaw v Carluke Rovers, St Anthony's v St Roch's, Thorniewood Utd v Rossvale.

West Region Central Second Division: Gartcairn v Royal Albert, Ashfield v Port Glasgow, Benburb v Cambuslang Rangers, Newmains Utd v Lanark Utd, East Kilbride Thistle v Glasgow Perthshire, Forth v Vale of Leven.

West Region Ayrshire District Division: Girvan v Craigmark, Dalry Thistle v Annbank Utd, Saltcoats Vics v Lugar Boswell, Irvine Vics v Muirkirk, Darvel v Ardeer Thistle, Whitletts Vics v Kello Rovers.