Talbot’s hopes of reaching the Junior cup final were left hanging by a thread after a disappointing night at Beechwood.

The Bot got off to a sluggish start and could have been a goal down within a minute. A ball out right found Barbour in space and he cut into the area and fired a low shot across Glavin that the keeper parried out with Slooves on hand to clear for the corner.

Darvel had another good chance in the 4th minute. A cross was whipped in from the left where Moore was free in the centre but he misjudged the flight and the ball skimmed off his head and wide.

There was another close call in the 6th minute. A ball up the right sent Moore free and he had the time to look up and square it inside to Wilson 8 yards out. His shot was blocked by Glavin and came to Caldwell who ought to have burst the net but saw his shot cleared off the line by McPherson.

Having ridden their luck Talbot’s first break forward came in the 9th minute. Glasgow passed it into the feet of Boyd who in turn laid it off to Langan. He had a chance to shoot from just outside the area but opted to slide a pass wide to Gillies which a defender managed to put behind for a corner. The corner was taken short and played back to  Boyle whose curling cross to the back post had too much on it.

Two minutes later Talbot won a free kick 25 yards out after Glasgow was tripped. He took it himself but sent his effort well over the bar.

In the 17th minute Talbot were caught out on the counter. Armstrong’s pass down the right was intercepted and Darvel broke down their left before switching it to the far side to find Moore. He raced into the area but pulled his shot well wide of target.

Two minutes later Hutton tried his luck from 20 yards and his effort skipped just wide of the left hand post.

Wilson became the first name in the ref’s notepad when he was cautioned in the 23rd minute for an aerial challenge.

A minute later McAvoy held the ball up down the left & threaded a pass through for the overlapping Gillies who fired into the side-netting.

The next chance went Darvel’s way when Moore got in behind down the right and drilled a shot across goal but well wide.

Talbot came close in the 28th minute. Glasgow played it into the feet of Boyd and his low drive from 19 yards flew just past Leishman’s left hand post.

Just when the game appeared to have settled down into a quiet spell Darvel took the lead in the 38th minute. Wilson laid it back to Caldwell who sent a pass through to MOORE who blasted it inside the right post to put Darvel ahead.

Talbot looked for an immediate response and had a half chance when the ball broke to Glasgow 15 yards out. He shifted it onto his right foot and went for goal but Leishman was well positioned to make the stop.

In the final minute of the half Armstrong conceded a free kick 25 yards out. Syme took it but his effort sailed over and the sides went in at the break with Darvel a goal to the good.

Talbot made a nervy start to the 2nd half and gifted Darvel a half chance two minutes after the restart. Wilson broke forward after Talbot lost possession and when he was challenged the ball broke loose to Barbour who hit a tame effort on target.

In the 49th minute Talbot won a corner down the left. Glasgow played his part, whipping over a dangerous in swinger but no Bot player read it and the ball flew across the 6-yard area and behind for the goal kick.

The Bot’s next attack saw Boyd whip a decent ball in off the right to find Langan at the near post but he was well marshalled and could only header wide of target.

In the 55th minute McPherson played it up the touchline to find McAvoy wide on the left. He cut inside and fired a good shot at goal that took a slight deflection as it went wide of the left post.

On the hour mark Langan did well down the left, winning it initially before playing a 1-2 and making it to the bye line but his cross into the centre was just too high for McAvoy.

Darvel made a change in the 63rd minute with Baird coming on for Walker.

A minute later Talbot found themselves up against it when they conceded a needless penalty. Murphy tussled with Schoneville and got the better of him just inside the penalty area. Slooves came across to cover but mistimed his challenge and the ref pointed to the spot. WILSON took it and gave Glavin no chance as he buried it high inside the right post to make it 2-0.

Darvel now made a further change with C Moore on for Wilson.

Talbot pushed forward looking for a way back into it and nearly reduced the deficit in the 75th minute. Gillies won a corner down the left and when it came over McPherson met it and headed it back across goal. It was heading in but hit off a defender and Leishman was able to smother it on the goal line.

Talbot now made a change with Abed on for Glasgow.

Boyle then had his name taken in the 77th minute for a foul on Murphy.

In the 79th minute McAvoy turned his man just inside the area and headed for the bye line before cutting it back where Barbour bundled it behind for a corner at the near post. When the corner came in Slooves got his head to it and headed it on to Gillies whose back header went straight at Leishman.

Talbot should have reduced Darvel’s lead in the 83rd minute. Leishman couldn’t prevent a heavy back pass from going behind resulting in a Talbot corner down the left. Langan curled a good ball into the near post where Armstrong ghosted in to meet it but glanced his header just wide.

Tucker now made a double change with Smith & Urquhart coming on for Boyd & Langan.

Darvel now made another change with Aitken replacing J Moore.

Five minutes from time Talbot won a free kick 30 yards out when Abed was fouled as he raced forward. Schoneville took it but sent his effort wide of the right post.

Deep into added time Darvel had a gilt edged chance to extend their lead. Armstrong’s risky square pass across the area was intercepted by Aitken but Glavin managed to block his shot from 15 yards and C Moore’s follow up was then blocked by a defender.

It wasn’t Talbot’s night and there can be no complaints about the result. Hope springs eternal though and will just have to give it everything next Friday to try to turn the tie around.

Auchinleck Talbot – Glavin, McPherson, Schoneville, Slooves, Armstrong, Langan, Boyle, McAvoy, Boyd, Glasgow, Gillies

Subs – Smith, Abed, Urquhart, Wardrope, Kennedy, Nimmo, Henry (gk)

Darvel – Leishman, Barbour, Bronsky, Syme, Sideserf, Walker, Murphy, Hutton, Caldwell, Moore, G Wilson

Subs – O’Halloran, Cairns, Aitken, C Moore, Baird, A Wilson (gk)