FEW management pairings are more adept at reading each other's thoughts than Whitletts Victoria's Steph McMillan and Derek McCulloch.

They first came together as kids at Ayr United Boys' Club then Ayr Boswell before they stepped up into the Junior ranks together at Maybole.

Later they teamed up again at Auchinleck Talbot before McCulloch went on to play for Arthurlie and Beith.

McMillan's career path took him to Troon, Hurlford United and Annbank United prior to taking up the managerial reins at Whitletts, where one of his first moves was to bring in Del Boy to bolster his backline.

McCulloch hung up his boots at the end of last season before being persuaded to come out of retirement to help his old pal in a coaching role. Here the pair name their dream Junior XI.

Goalkeeper:

Steph and Del both joined Maybole at the same time as Stuart McIntosh, later of Auchinleck Talbot and Scotland Juniors renown, and he just edges it in the No.1 pecking order ahead of Keith Ross.

McCulloch described Ross as "a cornerstone " in Beith's 2010 Super Premier Division title-winning side. He added: "Keith was a magnificent keeper, but Tosh exerted every bit as much of a presence.

"He was an outstanding shot-stopper with a penchant for saving penalty kicks."

DEFENDERS:

George Gemmell was before their time but both men played with another Talbot right-back legend, Billy Mason. Yet they plumped eventually for Ian Gallacher, a Scottish Junior Cup winner with Kilwinning Rangers and Linlithgow Rose.

Beith's Craig Brittain and Grant Paterson, of Tayport, were both in the running for the left-back slot, but it went to Gal's partner at the Buffs, Paul Mullen, who also played alongside Del for Junior Scotland.

McCulloch explained: "Gal and Mulzer could get up and down the park with the best of them but, first and foremost, they were solid defensive types who made themselves difficult to get past, which is what full-backs did in those days."

Both men could think of candidates galore for the stopper roles. Their ex-Talbot team-mate Barry McCorriston was central to their thoughts along with Whitburn great Calum Milne and Tom Currie, formerly of Kilwinning Rangers.

But Steph could not see past Ian Ashcroft, a "heart on your sleeve" type he played alongside at Hurlford.

Del reckoned the long-range passing and ability to read the game of Benburb and Irvine Meadow legend Derek Wingate could not be overlooked.

He insisted: "Ashy had an awesome presence yet his size belied a turn of pace that saw few, if any, attackers get the better of him. Dexi was an ice-cool customer who never appeared flustered and he was a great organiser."

MIDFIELDERS:

The duo's admiration of all things Auchinleck contributed in no small part to the decision to select Talbot pair Kenny Paterson and Tam McDonald for the flank positions, even though it meant no place could be found for the likes of former Tayport star Stevie Stewart, Beith's Joe Bradley or even Ian 'Boris' McLaughlin, who played for Pollok and Linlithgow Rose.

Del insisted: "I could never leave Kenny out of any team as he was a never-say-die type whose unquenchable passion for Talbot led to him spending over 10 years at Beechwood.

"Big Tam earned the same legendary status at Auchinleck through bursting forward from midfield to score 20-plus goals every season without fail.

"And we'd fancy him to score even more goals in our team coming in off the left to get on the end of back-post crosses."

The names of ex-Arthurlie skipper Davie 'Digger' Fulton and another former Auchinleck pair of Gary Graham and Kevin Biggart were considered for the vital boiler-room roles.

In the end the nod went to former Beith favourite Brian 'Sniffer' McKeown's energy and drive allied to the mercurial passing ability of former Pollok and Shettleston playmaker Martin Nelson.

FORWARDS:

Memories of the diminutive frontman Stevie Gallen - who enjoyed a sensational couple of seasons at Auchinleck before he dropped out of the Junior game - were to the fore in the forward-line considerations, as was the penalty-box prowess of ex-Kilwinning and Glenafton marksman Norman Montgomery.

Del had a hankering to pick pacy Beith hitman Kenny McLean, but ultimately settled on the combination of the late Paul McGrillen, of Bellshill Athletic and Bathgate Thistle renown, alongside the former Talbot and Pollok goal machine Gavin Friels.

Del said: "Mowgli's attitude was second to none as one of the few Senior players to drop back to Junior level and show the game and players at this level every respect. Paul was also very similar to Gavin in being a thorn in the flesh of defenders.

"Both earned recognition as terrific goalscorers, but they shared a willingness to graft and put in a shift."

The Whitletts duo wrestled long and hard before coming up with their cream of the crop which reads as follows (4-4-2):

McIntosh; Gallagher, Mullen, Wingate, Ashcroft; Paterson, McKeown, Nelson, McDonald; Friels, McGrillen. Subs: Ross, McCorriston, Graham, Fulton, Montgomery.

SATURDAY JUNIORS

2pm unless stated

Scottish Junior Cup. Second round: Stoneywood v Deveronside (2.0).

Stagecoach Super Premier Division: Hurlford Utd v Arthurlie, Clydebank v Shotts, Auchinleck v Petershill, Troon v Glenafton, Kilbirnie v Beith, Cumnock v Irvine Meadow.

Super First: Irvine Vics v Glencairn, Cumbernauld v Greenock, Largs v Neilston, Maybole v Rob Roy, Thorniewood v Kilsyth, Pollok v Yoker, Ardeer v Shettleston.

Central First: Dunipace v Lanark, Benburb v Bellshill, Larkhall v Ashfield, Vale of Clyde v St Anthony's, Maryhill v Renfrew, Lesmahagow, v Blantyre Vics, Carluke v Wishaw.

Central Second: Rossvale v Cambuslang, East Kilbride v Perthshire, Royal Albert v Port Glasgow, Johnstone Burgh v Forth, Newmains v St Roch's.

Ayrshire District: Kilwinning v Annbank, Dalry v Winton Rovers, Saltcoats v Lugar, Kello v Craigmark, Darvel v Whitletts, Muirkirk v Girvan.