juniors

A large crowd turned up to watch unbeaten Kilwinning Rangers kick off the defence of their title against bitter rivals Auchinleck Talbot.

Both teams were without key players with Mark Cameron missing for Kilwinning and Talbot without the injured Derek

McCulloch and goalkeeper

Stewart McIntosh.

A tough encounter was

expected by the fans and Talbot's Barry McCorriston picked up the first booking of the game after only seven seconds for a crude tackle on Alan McTurk.

Kilwinning opened strongly and Norman Montgomery shot narrowly past and then hit a post in their next attack.

The opener was only delayed, however, when Kilwinning deservedly went ahead in the eleventh minute.

A long throw from Montgomery was headed on by Paul Mullin and there was Charlie Adams

lurking at the back post to knock the ball home.

Talbot, though, were level in 16 minutes when Brian Slaven

headed home a Paul Hyslop free kick.

Kilwinning were then reduced to 10 men after 36 minutes when full-back Mullin was red-carded for a last man tackle on striker Gavin Friels.

Despite this advantage Talbot couldn't capitalise and a 1-1 draw saw both sets of fans leave

reasonably happy.

Glenafton collected all three points in their 3-0 win over Beith. Ian McLaughlin opened the

scoring from the penalty spot after Stevie Agnew had been upended in the box. Scott Houston made it 2-0 before half time and ex-Ayr United youngster Gareth

Armstrong emphasised the

superiority with a third.

In other Ayshire league games, Ardrossan and Darvel shared six goals and Muirkirk had a fine 4-0 win at Ardeer. Kilbirnie and Irvine Meadow drew 2-2.

Cumnock will meet Kilwinning in the final of the Kerr and Smith Cup following their 1-0 semi-final win over Hurlford.

Paul McIntyre scored the winner in 20 minutes when he headed home a John Nolan corner.

Hurlford almost equalised in the dying minutes but Chris McGowan cleared his net-bound shot off the line.

Arthurlie will play host to local rivals Pollok in the second round of the White and Mackay Cup and Glenafton was given home advantage in their difficult tie against Benburb.

Draw: Renfrew v Largs, Troon v Carluke, Shettleston v Larkhall, Glenafton v Benburb, Arthurlie v Pollok, Kilbirnie v Annbank, Kilsyth v Lanark, Rob Roy v Kilwinning, Glencairn v Neilston, Bellshill v Royal Albert, Greenock v Beith, Blantyre v Muirkirk, Lesmahagow v

Hurlford, East Kilbride v Maryhill, Cumnock v Thorniewood, Auchinleck v Cambuslang.

Ties to be played on October 21.