ANXIOUS Auchinleck Talbot boss Tommy Sloan is desperately hoping his team are back in action on Saturday to help avoid a further backlog of games.

And he is warning his players to guard against any notion of complacency when struggling Benburb visit Beechwood Park for a crunch McBookie Premiership clash on Saturday.

Talbot, like most other sides, were idle at the weekend as their scheduled West of Scotland Cup tie away to Sloan’s former side Kilwinning Rangers was called off owing to extreme weather conditions. The Beechwood Park team now still have eight games in hands over leaders Buffs, which means a host of midweek dates over the next few months.

He said: “We can’t afford to fall any further behind or that will make it more difficult for us. It was unfortunate we didn’t play at the weekend.

“They have good players in their side like Willie McLaren, who is ex-Airdrie and their manager Paul Lovering used to play for Ayr United and Hibernian. Benburb had a good win in the West of Scotland Cup and are fighting for their lives so it will be difficult.”

Cumnock are relishing a home clash with Irvine Meadow on Saturday, after inflicting the first defeat of the season on Ayr United Reserves, defeating them 4-2 in a friendly at Townhead Park last Tuesday. Jamie Conn netted a double and Iain Anderson and Chris Campbell were on target.

Boss Tony McInally said: “We played well in our last competitive game against Hurlford United and had chances to win it.

“On any other day we would have and we can take confidence from this game into the weekend. We also played well against Ayr United.”

Looking ahead he said: “I have lot of respect for Irvine Meadow and know their manager Brian McGinty and assistant Stevie Aitchison really well. They are doing a great job and are on a good run of form.

“But this is a home game and we will go there looking to take the three points.”

Also this weekend, Glenafton Athletic make the trip south to face struggling Troon at Portland Park.