Auchinleck Talbot crowned Junior Cup champions as Craig McCracken stunner downs impressive Yoker

Big game hunter Craig McCracken was the Auchinleck hero again as his stunning second half drive secured Talbot a 14th triumph in the Junior Cup.

The defender - who netted an opener against Largs in the 2019 final and a last gasp winner against Hurlford United a year earlier at Rugby Park - returned to the scene to deliver a 73rd minute hammer blow to brave Yoker Athletic.

McCracken also scored the winner in Talbot’s famous Scottish Cup victory over Ayr United three years ago and was the toast of the Ayrshire village last night as Tommy Sloan’s side made it a cup double just a fortnight after lifting the South Challenge trophy against Bonnyrigg Rose.

Jamie Glasgow’s 90th minute strike put the seal on a 2-0 victory.

But Talbot were made to dig deep by a Yoker side who made a mockery of pre-match odds that gave the impression they were only in Kilmarnock to collect runners-up medals.

Gordon Robertson’s side - three divisions below Talbot last season - had the better of the first half and had the giants of the junior game seriously rattled before McCracken’s intervention.

But the trophy returns to Beechwood Park for the third time in a row as Talbot equal their previous record set by legendary boss Willie Knox’s side between 1986 and 1988.

Rugby Park was bathed in June sunshine making for a survival of the fittest contest.

And while Yoker were enjoying their day in the sun - their first final since winning the competition in 1933 - the Holm Park side were far from making up the numbers

SFA chief Ian Maxwell was among the crowd as he looked for a footballing remedy to the nation’s World Cup play-off pain.

And he would have been on the edge of his seat as the contest sat on a knife edge for 73 minutes.

Yoker were predictably