Rob Roy centre-back Danny Boyle has laughed off suggestions that he deliberately feigned injury to get Auchinleck Talbot striker Graham Wilson sent off in Saturday’s league game between the top-flight sides.

The tall defender had an eventful 90 minutes against his former club, netting one of the Kirkintilloch outfit’s goals in a remarkable 4-3 comeback victory.

But he was involved in the controversial first half incident that saw whistler Steven Graham give Wilson his marching orders.

Talbot's normally laid back gaffer Tommy Sloan came out with scathing after-match comments on the dismissal that inferred opponents are “conning referees” into targeting his top scoring hitman.

And those comments brought Boyle to enter the furore last night.

He said: “There’s no way I would over-act to get Gee sent inside or any other striker for that matter.

“The simple facts are he went up early for a high ball and his outstretched arm caught me on the head as I tried to jump causing me to lose my balance to the extent that I hit the ground with a thump and needed treatment.

“I rate Gee highly and there’s no doubt he’s a competitive type who puts himself about and never shirks a challenge, but he’s not a malicious player and it was definitely not an elbowing offence on me.

“That said, his arm catching me in the manner it did was definitely a foul and the referee clearly felt enough was enough and decided a second yellow card was merited after twice previously speaking with Gee about his foul count.

“He was always treading a very thin line after some early challenges brought the game’s first yellow card and even his own team-mate Steven White was urging him to cool it, but Gee just isn’t one for holding back.

“And it’s way below the belt for anyone to infer I pretended to be injured because Gee as sent packing for persistent infringement and not just on account of the clash with myself.

“That might appear a tad on the harsh side considering the game was just over 30 minutes old, but people have pointed out his foul on me was his fifth of the game.

”He was understandably a bit down when I spoke with him afterwards but hopefully he doesn’t think it necessary to walk away from the Juniors as he’s definitely one of the top strikers going the rounds.”

Though delighted with Rob Roy’s battling performance that yielded up a welcome three points , Boyle was not best pleased with the overall display.

He said: "At 3-0 down we were staring at a humiliating defeat so to turn things around in the manner we did was excellent.

“Talbot are as hard working as ever, but we made things far too easy for them by conceding goals with some sloppy defending and we have to put in some work on the training ground to make ourselves a much tighter unit.

“Clydebank are next up on Wednesday night in the Sectional League Cup and hopefully we can put the lessons learned against Auchinleck to good effect.”

Former Bankies full back Scott Walker is struggling to be passed fit for the last eight clash at Holm Park after picking up an injury that caused him to be substituted at half time on Saturday however his replacement Stefan Law has undoubtedly earned himself a starting jersey and there could be a new signing on show for Rabs supporters as team boss Stewart Maxwell is thought to be close to concluding a loan deal for another defender .

Elsewhere on the signing front , one hears veteran Robbie Winters has joined Cumbernauld United while Irvine Meadow have snapped up one time Motherwell defender Ross McKinnon whose last known club was Elgin City.

A look ahead to the weekend sees Irvine Vics hosting the annual Marymass Festival Trophy game against near neighbours Irvine Meadow in a Friday night encounter (Kick Off 6.45PM) which has forced the cancellation of the Ayrshire pair’s scheduled league fixtures (away to Lugar Boswell and home to Shettleston respectively ) which will now be played next Monday night.

Largs Thistle can start preparing to head through to face Hurlford United in tomorrow night’s Ardagh Glass Cup last eight after qualification was secured by Beith only managing to share the spoils with a 3-3 draw in their final sectional game at home to Kilbirnie Ladeside last night.

Beith went into the game knowing only a victory would suffice but they found themselves with an uphill task facing a fired up Kilbirnie who forged a 2-0 lead through Jon Scullion and James Finlay goals before being pegged back by a goal from David McKenna approaching half-time.

Former Annan United striker was to go on and net a hat-trick but his second-half goals were either side of another strike from Finlay and a late onslaught failed to bring a winning score meaning Largs finished as Section One runners-up.

TOMORROW

(Kick-offs 6.30pm)

Central Sectional Cup quarter-finals: Renfrew v Gartcairn, Forth Wanderers v Pollok, Cambuslang Rangers v St Roch's, Clydebank v Rob Roy.

Ardagh Glass Cup quarter-finals: Hurlford Utd v Largs Thistle, Kilwinning Rangers v Irvine Vics, Girvan v Auchinleck Talbot, Glenafton v Craigmark.

FRIDAY

(Kick-off 2pm)

Marymass Trophy: Irvine Vics v Irvine Meadow.

SATURDAY

(Kick-offs 2pm): McBookie Com. Super Premier Division: Arthurlie v Rob Roy, Auchinleck Talbot v Hurlford Utd, Beith v Glenafton, Clydebank v Kilwinning Rangers, Cumnock v Pollok, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Girvan.

McBookie Com. Super First Division. Cumbernauld Utd v Renfrew, Kello Rovers v Petershill, Kilsyth Rangers v Largs Thistle, Rutherglen Glencairn v Darvel, Larkhall Thistle v Cambuslang Rangers. Maryhill v Troon.

McBookie Com.Central First Division. Greenock v Yoker Athletic, Blantyre Vics v Glasgow Perthshire, Neilston v Forth Wanderers, Port Glasgow v Benburb, Wishaw v East Kilbride Thistle, Rossvale v Thorniewood Utd, Shotts Bon Accord v Lesmahagow.

McBookie Com.Central Second Division: Bellshill Athletic v Vale of Clyde, Carluke Rovers v Ashfield, Gartcairn v Vale of Leven, Johnstone Burgh v Dunipace, Lanark Utd v Royal Albert, St Anthony's v Newmains Utd.

McBookie Com.Ayrshire District Division: Craigmark v Muirkirk, Dalry Thistle v Annbank Utd, Maybole v Saltcoats Vics, Whitletts Vics v Ardeer Thistle.