WINGER Gary McCann is quietly confident form team IRVINE MEADOW can see off bitter rivals Auchinleck Talbot on Saturday.

McCann set up three of the goals in Saturday’s 6-0 rout of Shotts Bon Accord. He is predicting team-mate Willie Sawyers, who bagged a double, could be a big threat in the Scottish Junior Cup Third Round tie against Tommy Sloan’s Beechwood Park side.

Meadow go into the game on the crest of a wave with 11 straight wins in all competitions, with eight of tthose in the Premier Division. However manager Stevie Rankin and assistant Murdie MacKinnon are making sure the players stay grounded ahead of the top tie of the round.

McCann (24), in his second season at Meadow Park,told Sporttimes: “We are on a great run of form but have to keep it going.

“It will be a huge test and I’m sure neither side wanted the tie this early in the competition but you have to beat the best teams if you want to win the trophy and hopefully we can come through. The Scottish Cup semi-final against Hurlford was a big one but this will be the biggest game of my career as it’s against Talbot and the team who come through would be the favourites to win the competition.

“We are playing well and not conceding many goals which was our problem last season, the defence is strong and we have quality throughout the squad as we saw when Mark McLennan and Chris Hall came on against Shotts and both scored. Willie Sawyers did very well, scoring another couple of goals and he could be a handful for Talbot, he holds up the ball well and is anatural goalscorer which was something we didn’t have last season. Chris Hall is also chipping in with someimportant goals.” MacKinnon, meanwhile can’t wait for the tie.

He said: “It was a great win for Saturday and thoroughly deserved. We are on a great run and myself and Stevie Rankin have been doing our homework and planning for the Talbot match. We are doing well in the league but there’s a long way to go. The lads are all really up for the cup tie and are working very hard in training.

“We know it will be very tough as Talbot are such a good team but we will respect them and I’m sure they will respect us. There will be tackles but hopefully the referee will let the game flow. We are going all out for a win and don’t fear them, hopefully we will come through and the crowd will get behind us.” KILWINNING RANGERS player and co-boss Chris Strain says his District League leaders aim to spring a surprise as his side make the short trip to Bellsdale Park to face BEITH JUNIORS in another fascinating Scottish Junior Cup Third Round tie.

However he misses out through a calf injury as does striker Michael Hart (hamstring).

He said: “Beith are a very good side and are second in the Premier Division, they have experienced players who can cause us problems. But we want to be back competing at the top level and this game will give us an idea of how we are progressing. The players look forward to it and we are going into the tie looking to win. We had a great win at Darvel on Saturday and had a good support, I’m sure we will have good backing in the Scottish Cup tie.” Co-manager Stevie Wilson was delighted with his IRVINE VICTORIA side as they defeated Neilston 2-1 away to chalk up a second successive win in the Super First Division.

Now he looks to build on the success as the Westenders head south to face high-flying Maybole on Saturday.

He said: “We dominated the game and had what wr thought was a good goal chalked off when we were 1-0 down for a foul by Robert Burgess, although there didn’t look to be anything in the challenge. It was good to pick up a win. It will be difficult at Maybole, I’ve never known an easy game there, but we aim to tak