AUCHINLECK TALBOT dug deep to ensure they did not fall victim to a Dyslexia Scotland Junior Cup giant-killing act at Greenfield Park.

All the ingredients for a shock upset were in place as the injury-depleted Ayrshiremen faced a strong-going Shettleston side that had already taken the scalps of Super League pair Clydebank and Newtongrange Star en route to the quarter-final stage.

But no player sporting the famous black and gold stripes - young or old - was in the mood for accepting a banana skin embarrassment and they revelled in the intimidating atmosphere to win by a 4-1 scoreline.

Talbot boss Tommy Sloan gave no indication he had experienced sleepless nights going into the tie where he was without five regulars and had youngsters Lee Cochrane and Willie Boyd propping up the midfield.

He said: "Yes, we were missing players that I'd rather have had available for selection, but nobody can deny we showed the greater desire and were by far the better team. Shettleston had us going a bit when they levelled the scores at 1-1, but we showed bags of character and spirit in hitting back to regain our lead.

"That settled us again and yet another of our younger lads, Mark Shankland, has come off the bench to score a goal of real quality and put the result beyond reach. Going overboard with celebrations just for getting into the semi-finals is not in this club's make up so we enjoyed the win but we will be back training tonight to prepare for our next game."

Talbot began the match with a notable sense of purpose, but all their territorial dominance failed to create any clear-cut openings against a tight-marking and four-strong Shettleston backline.

Indeed, it took all of 25 minutes before Town keeper Bryn Halliwell was tested to any effect when he acrobatically tipped a net-bound David Gormley free-kick over his crossbar and, shortly afterwards, he dived low to keep out a well-struck Boyd shot.

Having to get men behind the ball ensured little was being seen of the home side in an attacking sense.

However, any hopes of Hugh Kelly's side keeping their goal intact until the halfway stage were undone in 40 minutes when a deflected right- wing cross from James Latta found the unmarked Dwayne Hyslop, and his well-directed header back across goal left Halliwell helpless.

As to be expected at 1-0 down, Shettleston displayed a more attack-minded approach after the break and their reward arrived in 58 minutes when Bob Campbell's cross from wide left was glanced home at the near post by Rikky McIntosh for 1-1.

But parity lasted all of six minutes until a ferocious Keir Milliken shot was beaten out by Halliwell only for Talbot midfielder Ally Park to react quickest and prod home the rebound from close range.

Shettleston went for broke at this stage, but their concerted attacking ventures came to nothing as delivery after delivery into the visiting box seemed to find Talbot centre-back Mark Campbell.

If ex-Ayr United prospect Shankland 's introduction was tactically intended to relieve the pressure on Talbot's backline then the ploy worked a treat as the Ayrshire cracks began to pose more of an attacking threat.

Gormley cracked the upright with a shot with the outside of his right foot in 80 minutes, but it only delayed the inevitable as he then took a pass from Shankland out right and fired over a return ball that the teenager volleyed home.

The goal celebrations were not to the liking of Town skipper Reon Juskowiack, whose attempts to retrieve the ball from Boyd saw the young midfielder go down, sparking an angry exchange that culminated in whistler Craig Napier issuing a red card for Juskowiack and a yellow for the protesting Halliwell.

Any faint comeback hopes died with the defender's dismissal and 10-man Town were breached once again when the impressive Shankland broke clear on the right and drew Halliwell off his line before squaring the ball for Gormley to net the simplest goal he'll probably score this season.

The Talbot frontman said: "Shettleston are my local team as I only stay a couple of minutes up the road so I was desperate to score with so many acquaintances of mine in the crowd.

"It was a tough test for the younger guys, but one they all passed with flying colours and I fancy they will all be better players for this cup experience.

"Mark coming on as a substitute made a terrific impact and he and Graham Wilson (injured) are making the competition for forward line places intense and nobody can rest on their laurels ... or else."

Bitterly disappointed Town gaffer Kelly did not think his players had given Talbot a thorough examination of their cup-winning credentials and was dismayed over Juskowiack's dismissal.

He said: "We had too many players below their best if truth be told and that's a source of regret, but good luck to Talbot from here on.

"Their player has tried to keep the ball away from Reon after the third goal and he has only shouldered him away in retrieving it so how the referee can adjudge it to be violent conduct is totally beyond me."

Musselburgh Athletic, beaten in the 2011 final by Auchinleck, are also in the semi-finals after overcoming Penicuik Athletic 2-0, while Linlithgow Rose's 2-1 defeat of Camelon has secured a quarter-final date with Yoker Athletic.

Holders Hurlford and Pollok will try again this week to clinch a last-four spot after their game was postponed.