THE fuse was well and truly lit for Junior Cup fireworks yesterday when the third round draw was made in Glasgow.

An undisputable tie of the round was pulled from the hat with the pairing of last season’s beaten finalists Pollok and record 11 times trophy winners Auchinleck Talbot in what is thought to be the first Scottish Cup head-to- head between the clubs since the Hampden Park staged the 1986 Centenary Final when the Ayrshirmen memorably recovered from falling 2-0 behind with only 15 minutes on the clock to win by a 3-2 scoreline.

“A cracker … an absolute cracker of a tie” was Talbot gaffer Tommy Sloan’s immediate reaction upon first hearing news of the draw even though he believes the Super Premier Division rivals have been landed with a cup clash that neither of them wanted.

He added: “Clearly not a game I’d have picked for us and I wouldn’t imagine Tony McInally is doing cartwheels at the prospect either but it is what it is and we’ll be prepared when the time comes.

“Pollok beat us 1-0 on our last visit up there on league business and they tend to be a formidable force playing in front of their own supporters but this being a Scottish Cup occasion will have our fans fired up and they will travel up there in numbers looking to make themselves heard so we won’t lack for backing of our own.”

Lok boss Macca who a matter of hours before the draw had said he was hoping to get the weakest team left in the competition said succinctly: “It doesn’t get much tougher in the Scottish Junior Cup than a tie against Auchinleck Talbot and I would echo everything Tucker says but from a Pollok perspective.

“You are talking here of two Junior football heavyweights yet clubs with a massive respect for each other and the real winner from this tie are the many neutrals planning to take in the game as it is sure to be a spectacle.

“Our clash would have made a great cup final.”

Another plum contest sees beaten semi-finalists from last time out, Kilwinning Rangers host the visit of Shettleston whom they beat in the Super Premier Division play-off double header at the end of last season.

The Glasgow outfit’s much improved form ever since dropping into the Super First Division … they continue to proudly boast an unbeaten record over 90 minutes … is not lost on Buffs team manager Chris Strain.

He insisted: “Peter Weatherson and Gary McStay have rang the changes because their Shettleston line up is unrecognisable from the team who were relegated and I’m under no illusions that we are facing an extremely tough cup tie.

“That’s three on the spin now after facing St Roch's and Arthurlie in the earlier rounds and it really is beginning to look as if someone up there has it in for us when you look at the winnable games that other teams are landing.”

Strain’s comments might be construed as a light hearted dig at Ayrshire rivals and reigning Scottish Junior Cup holders Beith whose place in the last 32 seems all but assured after being saddled with a comparatively easy Bellsdale Park encounter against North Region minnows Islavale.

Not so fortunate are current Super Premier kingpins Rob Roy pitched into a Keppoch Park locking of horns with Glasgow Perthshire or indeed the Shire’s near neighbours Ashfield whose reward for overcoming Stoneyburn on the road is a further afield trip to meet strongly fancied East Region hopefuls Kelty Hearts.

Home advantage was warmly received by another couple of Glasgow clubs, Petershill ahead of Carnoustie Panmure coming through to Springburn and the John Hughes steered Maryhill landed with a Lochburn Park encounter against Forth Wanderers.

The full third round draw came out as: East Kilbride Thistle v Culter, Kirriemuir Thistle v Hill of Beath, Kilsyth Rangers v Lochgelly Albert, Penicuik Athletic v Scone Thistle, Haddington Athletic v Neilston, Blackburn Utd v Girvan, Thorniewood Utd v Bonnyrigg Rose, Stonehaven v Greenock, Luncarty v Rosyth, Dundee Violet v Glenafton, Dundee North End v Linlithgow Rose, Glasgow Perthshire v Rob Roy, Petershill v Carnoustie Panmure, Banks O’Dee/Kilbirnie Ladeside v Sauchie, Renfrew v Arniston Rangers, Dufftown v Dunbar Utd, Gartcairn v Whitburn, Lochee Utd v Musselburgh Athletic, Maybole v Benburb, Maryhill v Forth Wanderers, Blantyre Vics v Bo’ness Utd, Darvel v Irvine Meadow, Irvine Vics v Carluke Rovers, Larkhall Thistle v Fauldhouse Utd, Kilwinning Rangers v Shettleston, Beith v Islavale, Downfield v Broughty Athletic, Kelty Hearts v Ashfield, Pollok v Auchinleck Talbot, Edinburgh Utd v Maud, Jeanfield Swifts v Hermes, Cumbernauld Utd v Tranent.

(Ties to be played on November 19, 1.45pm kick-offs).