AUCHINLECK Talbot are yet again Scottish Junior Cup kingpins following a 2-1 defeat of Musselburgh Athletic in yesterday's final at Rugby Park

A crowd of 5186 spectators took in the Junior showpiece which got underway with few goalscoring moments of any note as both teams opted on the side of caution and expressed themselves in tentative fashion.

But everything changed just short of the half-hour mark as the Ayrshire cracks went 1-0 to the good with a truly stunning goal from midfielder Dwayne Hyslop...later confirmed as man of the match.

Latching onto a loose clearance in midfield, he sensationally let fly with a shot that flew beyond the outstretched arms of diving Mussy keeper Ally Adams en route to the back of the net.

The goalscorer afterwards: "The ball sat up nicely and was crying to be hit and I thought to myself why not and thankfully it was on target."

Talbot continued on the ascendancy following this breakthrough, but Musselburgh were clearly not for settling for second best and they got themselves back on level terms just five minutes short of the interval break.

No danger was apparent as top scorer Jordyn Sheerin dropped deep to pick up a Jackie Myles pass but from 30 yards he unleashed a ferocious and also audacious attempt at goal, which left Talbot No.1 Andy Leishman clutching nothing other than thin air.

At 1-1, East Region underdogs Musselburgh finished the half on top and they were well to the fore in the early second half exchanges as both sides battled to exert a supremacy in midfield.

The game's deciding moment arrived in 59 minutes when Talbot striker David Gormley cut in from the left and was upended by a despairing Andy Munro challenge that looked a stonewall penalty-kick award even before referee Steven Kirkland took it upon himself to point unerringly to the spot.

Gordon Pope stepped up to the mark to convert with more than consummate ease to fire Talbot into a 2-1 lead.

Hard-working striker Keir Milliken came close to extending his side's advantage with a left footed effort that came back off the upright with Adams beaten all ends up but Auchinleck were otherwise prepared to play out the closing stages in relative comfort in settling for a narrow win.

Ecstatic gaffer Tommy Sloan admitted: "Musselburgh posed a number of problems early on through having an extra man in midfield and prompted us to change shape at half-time, but I did not feel we looked like losing the game from that point on.

"Pee Wee's opening goal was special, but it's no less than he deserves for being willing to have a go when the opportunity came his way and he is rightly due the plaudits.

"We'll go back to Auchinleck tonight and celebrate this win with our supporters, but come Monday we will need to re-adjust our sights as there are still a number of crucial games to be played."

Full-back Pope, scorer of the pressure pot match-winning goal did his best to play down his contribution.

He said: "Sticking the ball away in these circumstances is all down to confidence and I never doubted I would hit the ball cleanly and ask their keeper to make a big save."