AUCHINLECK Talbot frontman Keir Milliken knows the score but his name is unlikely to figure on any scoresheet.

The pacy frontman's conversion of a penalty-kick during last Wednesday night’s 7-1 Ayrshire Cup rout of Ardrossan Winton Rovers was not exactly headline grabbing news…however one can understand his goal meaning the world to Milky after it was revealed he last bulged a net in a mid-October victory over Cambuslang Rangers…and he’s been a regular starter in almost every game over the intervening seven months.

“I must be doing more right than wrong to keep holding down a place in our team but yes I felt a great sense of relief to get this particular monkey off my back and I do believe the ball was thrown to me at the penalty-kick award because my team-mates were feeling sorry for me,” said the Largs-based striker.

He continued: “I’ve never been what you could call prolific in front of goal because of the role I play for Talbot which is more to do with running the channels and pressing defenders high up the pitch.

“In fact I actually went a run of eight games recently without so much as managing a shot or header at goal but to my mind playing up top is all about partnerships so as long as someone else is sticking the ball away then I’m more than happy to do the 'donkey work' and provide the ammunition to help gun opposition teams down.

“In saying all that, we as a team have not found goalscoring easy to come by this season and a lot of victories have come through 1-0 scorelines.”

Talbot’s current top marksman Graham Wilson sat out the Ardriossan game through suspension and he will also be posted missing for today’s vital Super Premier Division clash at home to Troon which should see Milliken asked to form an attacking spearhead alongside Dylan Pooler.

He revealed: “Dylan has played well recently and he also scored the other night as did young Clark Thomson and our Trialist so their spirits will be high ahead of facing Troon and you can bet Dylan Stevenson will be brimming with confidence after helping himself to a hat-trick on the back of scoring our opening goal after just 25 seconds.

“Nobody is getting carried away just because of one result but there are a lot of good signs about the place right now given that a number of players are on the way back from injury at just the right time.”

A boost for Talbot’s fanatical support came with the sight of talented striker Mark Shankland coming off the substitutes bench to put in a 20-minute appearance on his comeback from a stress fracture injury.

And adequate compensation for the absence of regular centre-back pair Martin McGoldrick (work commitments) and Ross Harvey (suspension) came with Craig McCracken’s return to the fray along with the mobile Stevie Wilson.”

Milky added: “It’s pleasing to get so many big-game players on the recovery trail because everyone will have a part to play in the hectic schedule of games we are facing over the next few weeks leading up to the Scottish Junior Cup Final.

“James Latta is another one not far away from declaring himself fit but he doesn’t need to push himself with the other guys back and we’ll soon be up to full strength other than Big Peewee (Dwayne Hyslop) who will be out until sometime next season.”

Auchinleck's hopes of retaining their league title will be severely dented unless they take all three points against a Troon side sitting rank bottom of the Super Premier pile yet still in with a shout of securing the play-off place in their battle for survival.

Another basement battler, Kilwinning Rangers, will be hoping to get something from their Abbey Park encounter against Pollok whom Buffs boss Chris Strain describes as “dangerous opponents”.

He reasoned: “Pollok are assured of finishing mid-table at worst but their players will be giving their all to earn a starting jersey in the New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup Final at the end of May and that could work against us.”

“They have quality players who can hurt us but I’d like to think our players Carlo Monti, Ben Lewis and Bryan Boylan can do the same if given half a chance.”

Joe Coleman’s suspension and the transfer listing of Isaac Farrell who is looking set to join Whitletts Vics has caused Strain to turn to comeback ace Martin Campbell and Tommy Maitland to plug his central defensive.

There is no lack of intrigue in the remaining top flight contests, not least of all at Bellsdale Park, where Beith will be going all out to assume pole position by toppling current league leaders Rob Roy.

And determined to promote their faltering title ambitions are the Craig McEwan-steered Glenafton whose dropping seven points in their last four league matches has supporters eagerly awaiting the visit of his former club Arthurlie today.

On a sad note comes word of the passing of a true Juniors stalwart – Billy “Buff” McMurray a defensive stalwart of Dumbarton, Arthurlie, Petershill, Benburb and other clubs, who passed away in hospital on Thursday at the age of 74 after a short illness (No funeral details are known as yet).

TODAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm)

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Kilwinning Rangers v Pollok, Glenafton v Arthurlie, Beith v Rob Roy, Auchinleck Talbot v Troon.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Clydebank v Maryhill, Cumbernauld Utd v Rutherglen Glencairn, Girvan v Shotts Bon Accord, Irvine Meadow v Yoker Athletic, Petershill v Kilsyth Rangers, Shettleston v Irvine Vics. McBookie.com Central First Division: Wishaw v Thorniewood Utd, Benburb v Forth Wanderers, Johnstone Burgh v Neilston, Larkhall Thistle v St Roch's.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Royal Albert v Newmains Utd, Dunipace v East Kilbride Thistle.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Dalry Thistle v Maybole, Annbank Utd v Kello Rovers, Muirkirk v Darvel.