Auchinleck Talbot vs Ayr Predictions

Non-league Auchinleck Talbot will take on a high-flying Ayr United in 2019’s first cup game. Can the hosts bring down a giant?

The Scottish Junior Football Association is the equivalent to non-league football, and it’s where surprise package Auchinleck Talbot play. The club’s based in East Ayrshire and it’s no too far from Kilmarnock.

The Bot play in the West Premiership division of the SJFA, and they currently hold the 3^rd place position, gathering 31 points in their division.

The Bot are the most successful Junior team in the Scottish Junior Cup, and the club first participated in the Scottish Senior Cup after rules were changed in the 2007-2008, meaning that a team that won any of the three regional Superleague competitions could participate in the following season’s FA Cup. Talbot have participated seven times since the new rule came into effect, and they’re currently on their joint-best run in the tournament. A win in the 4^th round would see them make it to the next phase in the cup, beating their previous record.

The East Ayrshire side are in fine form too. They’ve managed to win 5 of their last 6 games in their league. Their most recent outing was 2-1 away win over Irvine Meadow earlier on in the month. Meadow were in good form themselves, having beaten top two Clydebank and Hurlford. However, Talbot went 1-0 up within five minutes thanks to a Gareth Armstrong header. The hosts would bring things level after converting a penalty in the 27^th minute. The visitors would go in front once again with 15 minutes left on the clock, sealing the three points in the process.

High-flying Ayr United will be looking to make it even further in the Scottish Cup following a tremendous year in 2018. The Honest Men were promoted at the end of last season after finishing 1^st by a country mile, and the club will be hoping to recreate that League One success for the remainder of the Championship season.

However, Ian McCall’s side have dipped in form over the last few games and they were winless since the end of November, when they thrashed Dundee United 5-0 away from thanks to yet another goal-fest from star-striker Lawrence Shankland. Ayr have gone on to draw three of their next five games, losing their most recent outing against Inverness following a disappointing defeat to Falkirk at the start of the year.

This relatively bad form meant that the club dropped into 2^nd place, allowing the now league leaders Ross County take the top spot and distance themselves by three points, although Ayr United still have a game in hand to play.

There is a massive gap in the quality of both sides. Moreover, Ayr United are a professional club that’s been playing regular football since the start of the season, whilst Auchinleck Talbot have played far less and against worse opposition. While both sides will be desperate to remain in the cup and the fact that cup games often have surprising results, we’re going to back the visitors to win to nil and pick up a comfortable 3-0 result.