The first sign it was going to be a long afternoon for the visitors came as early as the 4th minute. Wardrope’s pass saw McAvoy beat the offside trap and race through on goal but he slid his shot wide of the left hand post.

A minute later Smith did well out on the right to create space before whipping over a dangerous cross that just cleared McAvoy in the centre.

Talbot moved in front after 9 minutes thanks to a quality goal. McPherson lifted it up the right to find Smith who cushioned a header out wide to Wardrope. He plinked a first time ball over the defence where ROSS SMITH strolled through to knock it past the advancing Johnson.

Two minutes later Craigmark had a rare chance. Ryan kept the ball on the right touchline and swept a ball into the area which deflected off McCracken and skidded across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

In the 17th minute Talbot doubled their lead. Smith’s low ball in from the right wasn’t properly cleared by the defence and came out to McAvoy. He switched it to his left to find JAMIE GLASGOW in space and his low drive beat the keeper at his right hand post.

So far so good for Talbot but the Bot were dealt a blow in the 21st minute when McCracken went down inside his own area and couldn’t continue. Abed came on in his place with McPherson moving into the centre.

Talbot were playing some neat football and put together a slick move in the 26th minute which ended with McAvoy flicking the ball into the path of Glasgow who fired wide of target.

Craigmark had a let off in the 29th minute when Schoneville fired a ball across the face of goal that only needed a touch but there was no one to prod it home.

It was one-way traffic and Talbot had a chance to add to their lead in the 36th minute. Armstrong won it in the centre and surged forward before sliding it right to release McAvoy who fired across goal and wide of the right post.

Five minutes from the break Schoneville played it to Wardrope and his cross to the back post was met by McAvoy but he was off balance and couldn’t direct it on target.

In the 44th minute Glasgow squared the ball in from the left toward Smith who looked set to score but took his eye off it and had a fresh air swipe in front of goal.

The goal was only delayed however and in the final minute of the half Armstrong swung over a cross from the right that Glasgow directed on target. The keeper made a great save to keep it out but the rebound came out to KYLE MCAVOY who fired it into the net to send Talbot in 3-0 ahead at the interval.

Craigmark made a change during the break with Wilson on at full-back in place of Gilbert.

It was clear early on in the 2nd half there was going to be no let up from Talbot and Glasgow had a chance to extend Talbot’s lead in the 49th minute when McAvoy laid the ball into his path but his shot from 18 yards flew just over the bar.

Down the other end Craigmark forced a corner down the left. When it came into the near post it skidded off a Talbot head and came out to Armer 15 yards out whose low drive was blocked.

Talbot now launched a swift counter-attack that ended with McAvoy finding Wardrope free on the right of the area but his shot was deflected behind for the corner. Before the corner could be taken Craigmark made a further change with Sherrie replacing Banks. When the corner came over a comedy of errors ensued in the Craigmark defence with 2 defenders colliding whilst trying to head it clear and the ball broke in front of goal to TAREK ABED whose point blank effort was saved by the keeper but he swept home the rebound to make it 4-0.

It could have been five in the 53rd minute. A series of quick passes created space for McAvoy who sent it right to Glasgow who drilled it wide of target from a good area.

Talbot did make it 5-0 in the 57th minute. Wardrope swept a low ball in from the right touchline which went through a defender before landing at the feet of KYLE MCAVOY who took it round the keeper before slotting it home

On the hour mark Smith fed it out wide right to Abed whose driven cross was slashed behind by Tan.

In the 64th minute Talbot were awarded a penalty. McAvoy played it into the feet of Glasgow who sent tumbling by McCreer and the ref pointed to the spot. Smith took it but fired it wide of the left hand upright.

Talbot now made their 2nd change with Lennox on for McAvoy. The visitors also made another change with McCowan replacing Henderson.

The Bot were knocking the ball around confidently and a quick passage of passes could have resulted in a top class goal but unfortunately Glasgow was crowded out inside the area before he could get his shot away.

Twenty minutes from time Glasgow clipped a good ball in behind the defence to send Smith clean through down the left and he fired it low across goal but wide of the far post.

In the 74th minute Tan got the better of Wardrope 30 yards out and carried forward before firing a shot on target that Henry saved low to his right.

A minute later down the other end Talbot nearly grabbed a sixth. Smith played it into Wardrope 18 yards out and his shot just cleared the crossbar.

Talbot now made a triple substitution with Armstrong, Urquhart & Glasgow making way for Boyle, Gillies & Thomson.

In the 77th minute Boyle received a caution for a shirt tug.

The chances were still coming for Talbot and Wardrope pounced on a poor clearance just outside the penalty area but he fired it wide of the right hand post.

In the 81st minute Lennox played a good square pass inside the area to find Smith. He could have shot but tried to thread it on to Thomson who’d strayed offside

A few moments later Craigmark won a free kick within shooting distance which Sherrie took but he scooped his effort well over the bar from 25 yards out.

In the 84th minute Craigmark got their consolation. Sherrie played it out wide left to Reilly who cut it back into the area. It landed at the feet of Ryan who fell over somewhat easily but the referee awarded the penalty and RYAN took it himself giving Henry no chance as he fired it inside the left post to make it 5-1.

There was still time for one last Talbot attack in the 88th minute when Gillies got in down the left and whipped a dangerous ball across goal but there were no takers.

A good win for Talbot who were always in control and had the tie done and dusted by half-time. Next week Talbot are back on their travels as they head through to Govan to face high flying St Cadocs in the league.

Auchinleck Talbot – Henry, McPherson, Schoneville, Slooves, McCracken, Armstrong, Wardrope, Urquhart, McAvoy, Smith, Glasgow

Subs – Thomson, Gillies, Lennox, Abed, Boyd, Boyle, Glavin

Craigmark Burntonians – Johnson, McCreer, Cameron, Tan, Ryan, Armer, Reilly, Henderson, Banks, Gilbert, Gilmour

Subs – Wilson, Sherrie, McCowan, McCrea, McCrum, Orr, Gordon