MATCHES

Auchinleck Talbot v Bonnyrigg Rose

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Report

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

There’s a new name on the South Challenge cup as Talbot recovered from a shaky start to come from behind to beat Lowland League winners Bonnyrigg Rose at Falkirk.

Talbot found themselves a goal down after only 8 minutes. McCracken conceded a free kick just outside the penalty area after wrestling Hunter to the deck and there was nothing Leishman could do but watch as CURRIE fired it over the wall and into the back of the net via the inside of the left hand post.

Bonnyrigg were guilty of slack play a few minutes later when their defender tried to let a ball run out for a goal kick only for Stafford to nick in & steal it and pull it back for Shankland who fired a volley well over under pressure.

Stafford did well in the 12th minute when he charged forward before releasing it to Boylan on the right wing. He swept a good ball across the face of goal but there were no takers and it ran behind for the goal kick.

In the 25th minute Bonnyrigg caught the Bot defence napping with a good ball up the left wing that found Turner racing free and he swept an early ball into the centre which McPherson intercepted at the near post.

Bonnyrigg missed a good chance to double their lead in the 29th minute. Martyniuk played it down the line to find Turner in space and he pulled it back straight into the path of Hunter who met it 15 yards out but sclaffed his shot well wide of the right post.

The Bot put together a neat move in the 32nd minute as Wilson & Boylan combined down the left before Aiden squared it inside for Shankland but he was well challenged at the edge of the area and the ball broke off him and through for a goal kick.

Talbot drew level in the 35th minute thanks to a bit of luck. A cross from the right was headed back across goal by Shankland where it cannoned off the head of WILSON and past his keeper for an own goal.

The goal energised Talbot who moved onto the front foot for the remainder of the half but without really threatening the Rose goal.

A minute from the interval Bonnyrigg were forced into a change when Martyniuk limped off to be replaced by Young and shortly after the teams trooped off for the half-time break.

The Bot came flying out the traps at the start of the 2nd half and had a chance within a minute of the re-start. Hyslop’s diagonal ball found Healy down the right and his cross into the near post was headed into the side-netting by Samson.

Talbot did have the ball in the back of the net in the 49th minute but it didn’t stand. Healy lifted a ball in behind the defence to find Boylan and he lobbed it past the keeper but the assistant’s flag was already raised for offside.

Within a minute Talbot were back on the attack. Healy fed it out right to Samson and he whipped a dangerous ball across the face of goal that Wilson turned behind for the corner.

Talbot’s pressure was rewarded in the 52nd minute when they took the lead. Hyslop was caught inside the Bonnyrigg half and Talbot took the free kick quickly. Healy released it down the right to find Samson and he cut it back into the path of BRYAN BOYLAN who buried it inside the right hand post.

This sparked a response from Bonnyrigg and Leishman was called into action in the 54th minute when Hyslop’s mishit clearance fell to S Gray 19 yards out. He fired it on target but straight down the centre where Leishman tipped it over the crossbar.

Bonnyrigg made their 2nd change of the afternoon in the 59th minute with McGachie replacing Hall up front.

The game was now flowing from end to end with Talbot threatening down the left through Shankland and moments later Barrett speeding up the wing for Bonnyrigg but on both occasions the final ball was lacking.

Samson became the first player booked when he was cautioned in the 66th minute for a trip on Currie; resulting in a Bonnyrigg free kick 35 yards from goal. Currie took it and curled it over beyond the back post where Hyslop headed it behind. When the corner came over Leishman claimed it confidently.

Talbot now sprang onto the counter – a good early ball finding Samson racing down the right and he slung a great cross into the centre but unfortunately there was no one on hand for Talbot.

Bonnyrigg now made their final change with Brett replacing Turner.

In Talbot’s next attack Shankland fed the ball down the left toward Boylan. He managed to rob Rose’s right-back of it before angling a ball across the box that Samson just failed to reach.

Tucker made his first change in the 71st minute with Graham Wilson coming on for Boyd.

Talbot were caught daydreaming in the 74th minute at a Bonnyrigg shy. The ball was thrown into the unmarked Horne who slid a pass through for Barrett down the left of the penalty area but Stafford recovered quickly to get across and block the cross.

With 76 mins gone Talbot made their 2nd change with Glasgow on for Shankland.

As the clock ticked down Bonnyrigg pressed forward in search of an equaliser with Talbot looking to hit them on the break.

In the 84th minute a ball flighted up the right came off the top of Hyslop’s head and was heading toward McGachie on the right of the penalty area but McPherson read it and was quickly across to clear the danger.

A minute later McGachie met a ball into the box and laid it outside the area for Young to hit but he blazed his shot over.

Talbot won a free kick in a promising area in the 86th minute when Boylan was caught 18 yards out wide on the right but Glasgow’s ball in was cleared at the near post.

Play then switched to the other end where a high, hanging cross from the right touchline saw Leishman come to claim it beyond his back post but unluckily he collided with Stafford and it went behind for the corner.

The Bot now turned defence to attack as they successfully fielded the corner and broke swiftly to the other end where JAMIE GLASGOW pounced on a weak back pass to race through on goal, round the keeper and roll the ball into the empty net to put Talbot 3-1 ahead.

Tucker now made a final change with Robbie McCracken coming on for Healy.

Talbot saw the closing stages out without any problems to secure the win to the delight of the travelling fans.

An impressive display by Talbot against the side who won the Lowland League and will play in the SFL next season after breezing past Cowdenbeath in the play offs.

Next for Talbot is the season’s finale where they will take on Yoker Athletic a week on Saturday at Rugby Park looking to clinch their 14th Scottish Junior cup title and end the season with a cup double.

Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic – Andrews, S Gray, Wilson, Horne, Martyniuk, Barrett, Currie, Turner, Connolly, Hall, Hunter

Subs – Weir, Brett, Young, Stewart, McGachie, R Gray, Evans

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Boyd, Healy, Hyslop, Shankland, Samson, Boylan

Subs – Mason, Graham Wilson, Glasgow, Robbie McCracken, Heaney, Hewitt

The players gather round ‘Tucker’ for a pre-match team talk.

 

Some happy looking Talbot lads and lassies before kick-off.

 

Is that thumbs up for the game or for the pre-match pie?

 

Its Moe, Larry and Curly!!!

 

The Auchinleck Young Team out in force.

 

Some very ‘weel kent’ Talbot faces here.

 

These chaps are all ready for the big kick-off!

 

The players and officials walk out onto the field of play.

 

Big Andy is at full stretch in order to pluck the ball out of the air.

 

Bonnyrigg look to go on the attack but ‘Shankers’ sticks closely to his man.

 

Wilson and McCracken make sure there is no way through.

 

GOOOAAALLL!!! Bonnyrigg take an early lead in the final, as Currie fires a free-kick over the Talbot wall and…

 

…into the back of the net via the inside of the post. 1-0.

 

Currie and his team-mates race off to celebrate and silence the Black ‘n’ Gold faithful.

 

The Bonnyrigg players continue to go wild after opening the scoring.

 

If Big Neilly tells you to do something, you just do it!

 

With a break in the game, there’s always time to share a joke and a smile.

 

Healy really tries to get another Talbot attack started.

 

HOW DID HE NOT SCORE!!! Bonnyrigg miss a golden chance to double their lead but they can only fire the ball wide from very close range.

 

TALBOT PULL LEVEL!!! Shankland puts Talbot back in the game, as his header gets a helping ‘head’ from…

 

…the Bonnyrigg defence en route to the back of the net. 1-1.

 

‘Shanks’ jumps for joy after levelling the match.

 

Erm…I don’t think ‘Pee-wee’ and Healy are too impressed with your speech ‘Shankers’.

 

WIT-A-CHANCE!!! With your backside barely back in the seat for the second half, Samson goes extremely close to scoring but his close range low header can only hit the side netting.

 

Although it was a difficult angle and under pressure, Hyslop still manages to fire off a header but fails to find the back of the net.

 

TALBOT TAKE THE LEAD!!! The Bonnyrigg ‘keeper and defence are rooted to the spot, as they can only watch Boylan’s strike squeeze past them and into the back of the net. 1-2.

 

Shankland and Stafford go berserk but I think it got too much for Boylan after scoring Talbot’s second.

 

Victorious roars and smiles all round for Talbot after Boylan’s goal.

 

The players continue celebrating, as Boylan rightly receives the praise from his team-mates.

 

Has that player got a leg for an arm?

 

After going on a blistering run, Stafford brilliantly threads the ball through the Rose defence.

 

McCracken in an aerial battle…there’s only going to be one winner.

 

Boyd gets involved in a tussle for possession.

 

‘Gee’ goes racing up the park, while being roared on by Boylan.

 

Bonnyrigg scream for a penalty but their shouts are only in vain.

 

A little bit of ‘man-handling’, as the players battle for the ball.

 

Samson acrobatically flicks the ball on during an attack.

 

Who’s going to get to the ball first during this Matrix style moment in the game.

 

He’s behind you Keiran!

 

Steely eyed Glasgow pounces on a mistake by the Bonnyrigg defence and…

 

…rounds the ‘keeper and fires the ball into an empty net. GAME, SET AND MATCH!!! 1-3.

 

Glasgow points the way to the Black ‘n’ Gold faithful’s hearts, as he wheels away after scoring.

 

BLACK ‘N’ GOLD EUPHORIA!!!

 

Nothing quite like celebrating the goal that seals the game!

 

Win or lose, the players still show respect for each other after the final whistle.

 

A victory wave from Healy.

 

McPherson applauds the travelling supporters.

 

Stafford shows his appreciation to the Talbot fans in the stand.

 

These types of moments should always be shared with your family.

 

Wait for it…wait-for-it….

 

…Big Andy raises the South Challenge Cup, as Talbot win the trophy at the first attempt.

 

The ‘Mauchline Maradona’ raises the trophy for all the fans to see.

 

Chris Stafford gets his hands on the trophy.

 

SOUTH CHALLENGE CUP CHAMPIONS 2022 – AUCHINLECK TALBOT FC

 

Graham Wilson poses with the trophy with his family.

 

The men that won it for Talbot – Jamie Glasgow, Bryan Boylan and Mark Shankland.

 

Oscar proudly holds the trophy along with his dad Andy Leishman.

 

Cheshire cat grins all round, as Healy and McPherson pose for the camera.

 

Hold on…Wilson should be on the left and Stafford on the right. I knew I got it wrong. 😊

 

It’s a family affair, as both McCracken’s get their hands on the trophy.

 

LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN!!!

 

Utter mayhem! 😂

 

Healy…watch what your doing with Samson! We need him in two weeks time!

 

Talbot physio, Jamie Monaghan, gets his paws on the trophy too.

 

Mason and Stafford with the South Challenge Cup.

 

The Dynamic Duo! ‘Tucker’ and Allan show off the trophy to the camera, as they guided Talbot to yet another victorious cup final.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN

Details

Date Time Competition Season
May 22, 2022 15:00 SOUTH REGION CHALLENGE CUP 2021/22

Results

Team1st Half2nd HalfGoals
Auchinleck Talbot123
Bonnyrigg Rose101

Auchinleck Talbot

# Player Position Goals Assists YC RC
11Bryan BoylanForward1000
7Kieran Healy 15Midfielder0000
2Chris StaffordDefender0000
3Aiden WilsonDefender0000
14Graham Wilson 6Forward0000
10Keir SamsonForward0110
9Mark Shankland 12Forward0000
1Andrew LeishmanGoalkeeper0000
6Willie Boyd 14Midfielder0000
4Neill McPhersonDefender0000
5Craig McCrackenDefender0000
 Total 1110

Bonnyrigg Rose

Position Goals Assists YC RC
 0000

Venue

Away

Officials

REFEREE
Ross Hardie

League Table

PosTeamPPts
22040
32239
42436
51935
62435
72034
82233
92232

MATCHES

TEAM