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Raith Rovers will have to be wary of an Auchinleck Talbot side with a proud Scottish Cup record

Talbot players and supporters celebrate the winning goal versus Hamilton. Image: SNS.
Talbot players and supporters celebrate the winning goal versus Hamilton. Image: SNS.

Raith Rovers have themselves what is known in the industry as a potential banana skin this weekend.

Auchinleck Talbot visit Stark’s Park on Saturday in the third round of the Scottish Cup.

They will be looking to add to their collection of excellent results and performances in the competition against teams much further up the pyramid.

Tommy Sloan has managed the side through that time – since 2003, in fact.

He has guided them through many an early round in this tournament, upsetting the odds a few times along the way.

Courier Sport takes a look at their record in the competition and their current form.

Scottish Cup history

Talbot have a proud history in the Scottish Junior Cup and have competed regularly in the early rounds of the Scottish Cup since 2009.

They made it as far as the fourth round twice and the fifth round once, drawing Hearts each time.

Auchinleck Talbot’s Scottish Cup exits. Replay scores are in brackets.

In 2018/19 they lost 4-0 at Tynecastle but in 2012 a Gordon Pope goal was chopped off in a 1-0 defeat to the eventual winners.

Earlier this year they were more comprehensively beaten at home by the Gorgie side.

In the 2012/13 Scottish Cup a 93rd-minute Jamie Longworth equaliser for Stranraer denied them another fourth-round adventure after they lost the replay at Beechwood Park.

Cup upsets

On their way to that 4-0 reverse at Tynecastle, Auchinleck swiped aside Wigtown & Blandnoch 10-0.

They also knocked out Cove Rangers as the Highland League side made their way to the SPFL.

Their famous win of that run came at a raucous Beechwood against regional rivals Ayr United as locals packed themselves in among national media.

Craig McCracken’s 78-minute header in a 1-0 win sent the home supporters wild.

McCracken’s goal:

That venue proved similarly problematic for Hamilton last season when Graham Wilson caused similar scenes and ensured the exact same scoreline.

Wilson’s goal:

Current form

Talbot are on a run of five matches without defeat – the one draw in that time came in the previous round of the Scottish Cup.

In those games they have scored 17 goals and conceded just twice.

They currently sit fifth in the SJFA West Region Premiership – though that doesn’t tell the whole story given the disparity in games played.

The top positions of the SFJA Est Region Premiership. Image: </p> <p>https://www.scottishjuniorfa.com.[/caption</p> <p>]</p> <p>To reach this season’s third round of the Scottish Cup they scored 11 on their way past Coldstream and Syngenta before knocking out Bo’ness United on p</p> <p>

To reach this season’s third round of the Scottish Cup they scored 11 on their way past Coldstream and Syngenta before knocking out Bo’ness United on penalties.

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