WILLIE BOYD will never forget his first-ever Dyslexia Scotland Junior Cup semi-final after helping Auchinleck Talbot to a 3-1 first-leg victory over holders Hurlford United at Blair Park.

The 20-year-old midfielder was named as the sponsor's man-of-the-match after a high-energy, battling display, which was instrumental in putting his side firmly in the driving seat ahead of this Saturday's second leg at Beechwood Park.

And the youngster was quids in after Many Clouds won the 2015 Grand National, giving Boyd a healthy return for his £2.50 each-way bet on the 25/1 outsider.

Even his mum's new car being accidentally damaged during the game couldn't spoil the day for the Saltcoats kid. He said: "It was quite a day, however nothing can match the high of running out on to the pitch in front of the Talbot supporters. To play in my first-ever semi-final was amazing, to win the game was just fantastic, and to pick up the man-of-the-match award was just an unbelievable feeling and caps everything.

"But now I need to work hard on the training ground this week and try to convince the manager that I should play in the second leg."

A near 1,300 crowd had gathered inside Blair Park for this titanic clash, which saw a high-tempo Talbot gradually gain the upper hand and forge ahead in 20 minutes when Bryan Young scampered clear down the left wing to fire over a cross that Dwayne Hyslop met with a diving header at the near post.

Hurlford were inept as an attacking force, but a few choice words from gaffer Darren Henderson during the interval saw them dominating the early second-half exchanges with Talbot goalkeeper Andy Leishman brilliantly keeping out a Paul McKenzie shot prior to Danny Mitchell striking the crossbar with a fierce 20-yard blast.

But the goal was only delayed until a McKenzie corner kick picked out David McClune just outside the penalty area, and he had time to manoeuvre a volley high past Leishman to level the scores at 1-1.

Hurlford's outnumbered support were now to be heard, however they were soon silenced as Auchinleck responded with two goals in two minutes from twin strikers Keir Milliken and David Gormley.

Milky netted when he caught Ford keeper Stevie O'Neil flat-footed as the ball trundled into the net for 2-1, and the ever-dangerous Gormley then got in on the act when he played a one-two with Young before cutting in from the left to rifle a low shot into the corner of the net.

Talbot boss Sloan said: "The two front players gave us an excellent spell in the second half to turn the game in our favour and we'll need them to reproduce that form this week because this tie is far from over."

His disappointed counterpart Henderson said: "Too many of our big players were below par and you simply cannot afford to be anything but at your best against this Auchinleck team."

Similarly established as favourites in the other semi-final clash are Musselburgh, following their 3-2 victory at fancied Linlithgow Rose.

And success could have been even sweeter for Stevie McLeish's men, whose bossing Prestonfield's opening 45 minutes saw the underdogs lead 2-0 at the halfway point through a well-taken double from top scorer Jordyn Sheerin.

Linlithgow were then thrown a double lifeline on the hour mark when visiting goalkeeper Ally Adams was red-carded for conceding a penalty kick duly tucked away by Tommy Coyne to halve the home team's deficit.

But, within minutes, the Rose again fell two goals behind as goalscorer Sheerin turned goalmaker with a lobbed pass to Michael Hunter, who blasted home an unstoppable shot, but the euphoria among visiting supporters was only slightly diminished as Rose centre-back John Ovenstone reduced the leeway.

Meanwhile, Auchinleck's day became even better as hopes of a third successive Super Premier title were boosted by current league leaders Irvine Meadow going down 1-0 against relegation-battling Shotts, whose match-winner was Alan McCrum.

Third-top Petershill also came off second best after losing 4-3 at Arthurlie, whose goals came from Ryan McGregor, Eddie McTernan and Gary Smith (2), while the Peasy's response was two penalty kicks from Keiran Daw and a Michael Daly score.

Things look even grimmer for bottom club Clydebank after a David Gillies brace and Tony Murphy goal helped Troon run out 3-0 winners at Portland Park.