DARREN HENDERSON insists Hurlford United will not relinquish their grip on the Dyslexia Scotland Junior Cup without a fight.

The 48-year-old Ford manager exceeded all expectations last season when he conjured up the club's first Holy Grail silverware triumph in their 77-year existence, however repeating that trick in today's semi-final, second leg at Beechwood Park - with Talbot leading 3-1 from the first leg - may require him to produce magic of Houdini-like proportions.

Henderson said: "I felt the two teams were pretty evenly matched last week, with Talbot shading the opening 45 minutes and my players starting the second half on top until we shot ourselves in the foot with a five-minute spell of defensive carnage.

"And, while we could have conceded more goals, let's not forget we came close to scoring on several occasions despite many of our big players operating well below their best.

"Right now Auchinleck are in the final, so the pressure is on us to make all the running, and that suits us fine given the abundance of forward- going players at our disposal. And, if we can just notch the first goal, then it's game on and the momentum will be with us."

Auchinleck can afford to sit back and try to keep things tight, but Hendo does not think they will play a system that is totally alien to them.

He added: "I'll be very surprised if Talbot deviate from their pressing game high up the pitch, particularly after it worked so well for them in last week's game.

"But this time around I'd like to think we will make a far better fist of competing in the midfield areas and win the chance to impose our own game plan on their players."

Experienced shot-stopper Ally Brown has had an injection and could return between the posts for the visitors, while towering stopper Chris Robertson - who can also use his height to great effect as a centre-forward - is hoping to be passed fit enough to figure on the substitutes' bench.

Someone who will be doing his utmost to ensure Talbot enjoy further engine room supremacy is 20-year-old Willie Boyd whose all-action display saw him awarded the man-of-the-match honours at Blair Park.

The former Morton signing, who was brought on board from Largs Thistle at the start of this season, said: "I'm friendly with my team-mate James Latta, and he arranged for me to do pre-season training with Auchinleck with a view to improve my fitness levels, and I showed up well enough for Tommy Sloan to offer me a contract.

"I jumped at the chance, even though I knew holding down a place in the team would be extremely difficult, and that's the way things have panned out with it taking almost six months to get my foot in the door.

"Getting a run of games has me determined not to drop out of the picture and it was fantastic to figure from the start last week, so the man-of-the-match award was the icing on the cake, even though it could just as easily have gone to Bryan Young, Dwayne Hyslop or James, who were great in nursing me through the 90 minutes."

Talbot gaffer Tommy Sloan revealed: "It was a last-minute decision to play an extra man in midfield, and it certainly paid off with Willie doing a great job for us.

"Mark Shankland was the guy to drop out, even though he's been outstanding of late, and we now have to consider whether to recall him or go with the same line-up today.

"Hurlford showed in the first game they will pose a real threat, and they are a team who did well at Beechwood last season, so it's imperative we are up for this fixture."