It’s the second big clash in three weeks as Auchinleck Talbot visit Portland Park again, this time on South Region Challenge Cup duty in our second round match.
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Auchinleck Talbot ⚽️
Saturday 13th September 2025
FinestCarMats South Region Challenge Cup Round 2
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 2pm
Saturday was a fantastic performance and a more convincing victory than the 3-2 score line suggests. And that gets the run back in full flow after the league defeat at home to Talbot, one blemish in a superb start to the season. But there is an inward determination to prove it is more than just a good start.
The cups were the only source of disappointment in an otherwise fantastic season last time out, and that is therefore an area we are looking to improve on this season. But with the visit of Auchinleck Talbot today, the trip to Beith next Saturday in the Scottish Communities Cup & then the visit of either Ardrossan Winton Rovers or Cumnock in the West, we could hardly have been set three harder challenges.
The Talbot juggernaut rumbles on, they have won two matches quite comfortably since their last visit. They quickly dispatched 3rd place Glenafton Athletic on Saturday, running out 7-1 winners. After two summers of rebuilding and mass changes, consistency has been the watchword at Beechwood this summer with fine tuning rather than overhauling being the plan. Experienced goalkeeper Willie Muir is a key signing, whilst Robbie Scullion and Kieren Wood are shrewd additions to an already competitive squad that finished 2nd last season.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match…
Good to see the majority of the squad available for selection on Saturday, ahead of another important month in September.
Summer signing Kyle Faulds finally made his full debut for the club on Saturday after returning from a calf injury, and turned in a Man of the Match performance. Sam Jamieson has returned to full training & is available for selection this weekend following his injury against Renfrew on the opening day. Calum Gow returns to the squad this weekend following his sending off against Talbot in the league match.
Captain Mark Morrison is back to light training while he is awaiting a consultant appointment and hopefully we’ll see him back on the park soon, while Scott McLean is continuing his rehab from his knee reconstruction surgery. He is back to gentle running now & is eyeing a comeback around Hallowe’en.
Pleased to win on the road last weekend, especially at somewhere we didn’t really perform last season. Drumchapel are full of experience, they certainly did a job on us twice last year but we were more than ready for them and that first half hour was probably as well as we’ve played this season. We showed a different side to us after that, we managed the game against a very good side and saw the result out. Different ways to win and all that, but we showed we have that in our locker. We’ll need that season for sure.
Talbot were utterly clinical three weeks ago, they scored against the run of play and then just went for the jugular. We just have to learn the lessons of that game & match that ruthlessness. The ability is in the dressing room, we have the experience as well but we must take our chances when they present themselves.
Since we knew what was going to be at stake this season, I always suspected that getting off to a strong start was going to prove critical and I think Talbot obviously believe that as well. This is the strongest Talbot side for a few seasons & this is the best start to a season they have made in quite some time, so I think that tells you everything you need to know about the importance of this season.
Here’s hoping Saturday’s match lives up to the billing, I’m quite sure it will. Look forward to seeing a big support!
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)
| Full Name | Auchinleck Talbot Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The ‘Bot |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Ground | Beechwood Park, Auchinleck |
| Capacity | 4,000 (500 seated) |
| President | Morton Wright |
| Manager | Tommy Sloan |
| Captain | Neill McPherson |
| 2024-25 | WOSFL Premier Division, 2nd from 16 |
⚽️️ WILLIE MUIR ⚽️
Experienced goalkeeper Willie Muir was a key addition in the summer, and his signing demonstrated a shift after two seasons of young loan keepers from Kilmarnock in Aiden Glavin & Corey Armour.
The 32 year old began his career in Aberdeen’s youth system before spells with Celtic, Motherwell & Ayr United’s Development Teams, but he first came to prominence in the West when he joined Cumnock in 2014. Subsequent spells with Queens Park, East Fife, Forfar Athletic, Alloa Athletic and Airdrieonians followed, before he joined his hometown club Lanark United for a two year spell.
⚽️️ KYLE McAVOY ⚽️
The 25 year old would certainly have caught the eye in the last match between the sides, but he has become steadily more important to the side with 35 goals in 73 appearances since joining them from Bonnyton in October 2023.
Began his career with Harmony Row youths before he joined Queen of the South’s youth system. A spell with East Kilbride and Benburb was followed by a couple of years with Upper Annandale followed before a season at Maryhill and 14 months at Bonnyton.
© Thanks to our club photographer Graeme McKenzie for his photos – fantastic, as always!
Troon F.C.
| WON | LOST | WON | WON | WON |
| 2-3 | 2-5 | 0-9 | 0-1 | 1-0 |
| Drumchapel United (A) | Auchinleck Talbot (H) | Nithsdale Wanderers (A) | Cumnock (A) | Beith (H) |
| Sat 6th September | Sat 23rd August | Sat 16th August | Wed 13th August | Sat 9th August |
| WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | South Challenge Cup | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier |
Auchinleck Talbot
| WON | WON | WON | WON | WON |
| 7-1 | 4-0 | 2-5 | 0-2 | 7-2 |
| Glenafton Athletic (H) | Haddington (H) | Troon F.C. (A) | Beith (A) | St. Cadoc’s (H) |
| Sat 6th September | Sat 30th August | Sat 23rd August | Sat 16th August | Sat 9th August |
| WOSFL Premier | Scottish Gas Scottish Cup | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier |
If you can’t make it along to the game , you can keep up to date with all the latest info via the club’s social media channels:
Live updates from the official Troon F.C. Twitter feed (nope, still not calling it X yet)
- Team news pre-match
- Goal alerts
- News flashes
- Real time alerts
Make sure you follow our NEW feed!
Match news via the official Troon F.C. Facebook page
- Team news pre-match
- Half-time score & update
- Full time results
All news on the club FIRST via the official Troon F.C. WhatsApp Supporter’s Group chat
- Vote for your Man of the Match
- Info on functions & events
- Book your seat on away buses
- Discuss the match with fellow Troon fans!
It was a win apiece for each side in the Premier Division last season, with both sides winning their home matches in two entertaining encounters.
HOME MATCH
| Saturday 30th November 2024 | Match Centre |
| TROON FOOTBALL CLUB | WON | Portland Park |
| AUCHINLECK TALBOT | 1-0 | WOSFL Premier |
The first encounter of 2024-25 was an entertaining affair at Portland Park.
Troon came into the game on the back of a healthy run of form, and their confidence carried them through the first half, although Talbot’s defence was resolute and held firm.
The second half, Troon upped their efforts and, just when it looked like the match was going to run out goalless, substitute Ben Black popped up with a great finish to secure the 3 points for the Seasiders.
AWAY MATCH
| Wednesday 14th May 2025 | Match Centre |
| AUCHINLECK TALBOT | LOST | Beechwood Park |
| TROON FOOTBALL CLUB | 2-1 | WOSFL Premier |
The return match in May was Troon’s last match of the season & saw a different contest, with Talbot playing & full of confidence and Troon shorn of a few injured players.
After a rip-roaring start to the match, the tempo slowed down a little before young Jack Allan gave Troon a deserved lead after 34 minutes with a lovely finish from a team move. Talbot didn’t take long to regain their composure, and Alex Nimmo restored parity just three minutes later. In the second half, Talbot stretched their legs against a tired side and once Luke Gillies scored a deserved second goal there was only going to be one winner.
(before this week’s matches)
| REFEREE: | ||
| Ross Birrell | ||
| Assistant Referee 1: | Assistant Referee 2: | |
| Calum Haswell | Emmett McLaughlin |
| Referee Observer: | To be appointed |
Tickets are available at the cash turnstiles at Portland Park:
| Adult: | £10.00 |
| Concession: | £5.00 |
| Under-16: | FREE |
Season Tickets are NOT valid for this game, with it being a Cup match.
You can find out all about the match itself by visiting the match centre both before and after the game, with the team line-ups, scorers & bookings on the specific match page for the fixture.
To visit the match centre, CLICK HERE.
The social club at Portland Park will be open early from 12pm ahead of the 2pm kick-off, and supporters of both clubs are very welcome.
And, indeed, neutrals!
📺 Come early & enjoy the football on the big screen! 📺
| ⏰ 12.30pm | Arsenal v Nottingham Forest | (FA Premier League) ⚽️ |
| ⏰ 5.30pm | West Ham v Tottenham | (FA Premier League) ⚽️ |
The bar close following the conclusion of the 5.30pm match.
Scott will be selling tickets for our half-time draw at the gate before kick-off, and inside the ground throughout the first half for just 50p a ticket.
Our local resident food truck, SCRAN have our hungry supporters covered with their own take on “Football Food” – highly recommended!
They will be open all day on Saturday & will be open til late, selling a variety of hot food & drinks as well as cold drinks.
If you’ve never been to SCRAN before, you really need to watch Blair McNally’s YouTube video after his visit to Portland Park…and SCRAN!
⚽️ Troon F.C. Development Team versus Ardrossan Winton Rovers ⚽️
Friday 12th September 2025
WOSFDL Conference E
Kilwinning Sports Club
Kick-off 7.45pm
Head along & support the Troon stars of tomorrow!
⚽️ Beith versus Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 20th September 2025
3 Pillars Financial Planning Scottish Communities Cup Round 2
Bellsdale Park, Beith
Kick-off 2.30pm