AUCHINLECK Talbot assistant Alan McLuckie has hailed the impact made by the club's new signings as they got their season off to a perfect start.

The Beechwood Park side got their campaign up and running on Saturday with a 2-0 win at home to former West of Scotland Football League (WoSFL) Premier Division champions Darvel.

The match had been locked at 0-0 at half-time, but a superb finish from new addition Ross Clark around the hour mark turned the tie.

Luke Gillies added a second five minutes later to make sure all three points stayed at Beechwood in the East Ayrshire derby.

McLuckie told Talbot's own media team: “I’m delighted. You always want a good start so after coming away with three points, we’re over the moon.

“It was a good performance all over the 90 minutes. The team did well so we’re very happy.”

(Image: Madison Taylor)

And the club's new additions came in for high praise, particularly Clark, who notched on his competitive debut.

McLuckie continued: “Clinically, in the first half, we could have been a wee bit better.

“The guys came good in the second half. Ross Clark scored an excellent goal with his wee burst of pace away from the centre back and his finish.

“We know he can score goals so it was great for him to get one here on his debut.

“They [the new signings] have all done well,. They’re still learning how we want them to play but they’re young guys who want to learn and want to listen – they’ll do well here.”

But there was little time to bask in the victory for the Talbot assistant, with thoughts quickly moving to the club's next fixture - a tough trip away to newly promoted Johnstone Burgh tonight (Tuesday).

McLuckie commented: “There's no givens in this league. Every game you’ve got to turn up and be bang at it.

“Every team's got positives about them so we need to go to Johnstone Burgh and take the confidence there.”

Tonight's game at Keanie Park kicks off at 7.30pm.