Report

SPOT KICKS DECIDE THE OUTCOME

Report: Murray Steele, Photo’s: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

Talbot shaded the game but had to settle for a point a piece after a hard fought encounter with Clydebank.

The first chance of the afternoon went Clydebank’s way in the 10^th minute. Gallacher’s ball down the right found Samson racing in behind the defence but he was off balance as he hit it and sent it high and wide. Talbot’s first effort at goal came in the 19^th minute. Wilson passed it to Schoneville and he cut in onto his right foot and fired wide of the left hand post.

In the 22^nd minute the visitors were awarded a penalty. Lowe’s shot from the edge of the area was blocked and spun high into the air. When it landed it took an unfortunate bounce and hit McPherson’s arm and the ref pointed to the spot. LITTLE sent Armour the wrong way to put Clydebank ahead.

The Bot nearly responded immediately. A ball down the right was headed down by Thomson into the path of McAvoy and his first time shot took a slight deflection as it flew just over the bar. When the corner came McPherson met it at the back post but his header cleared the bar.In the 28^th minute Cairns and Wardrope clashed off the ball and when the dust settled the ref booked both players.

A minute later Talbot put together a good move down their left. Wardrope fed it forward to Gillies who swapped passes with Schoneville before bursting into the penalty area. He hammered a low shot on target that Clarke saved with his trailing hand to turn it wide. When the corner came over from the left it was delivered into the goal mouth where a Clydebank defender cleared from near the goal line.

In the 32^nd minute Clydebank were awarded a soft free kick out on the left. The ball was driven forward and came off the back of Kerr’s arm who was facing away from it but the ref deemed it handball. Lowe angled the free kick beyond the far post to find Niven but he couldn’t hit the target from a tight angle.

Action then switched to the other end where Schoneville whipped a great low ball across the face of goal which Truesdale managed to clear at the back post.

In the 33^rd minute Clark’s cross was met by McAvoy but he steered his header wide of target.

Three mins later Clark had his name taken for a late challenge on Carey resulting in a free kick 30 yards out. Little took it but sent his shot straight into the wall.

In the 38^th minute Sime lost out in a 50/50 outside the area and the ball broke into the path of Lowe. He arrowed a shot on target from 20 yards that skipped off Armour and went wide of the left post. When the corner came over to the back post McAvoy headed it out but only as far as Truesdale. He didn’t catch his shot cleanly but it skipped across the turf on target and Clark had to clear it inside the left hand post.

Two mins from the interval Lowe received a caution for a shove on Clark. Right on half time a goal keeping blunder gifted Talbot a penalty. There appeared no danger when a ball up the centre came into the area but Clarke fumbled it and it landed at the feet of Thomson. The keeper rushed out to make amends but only succeeded in up-ending Thomson for a stonewaller. EWAN THOMSON took it and crashed it inside the right post to send the sides in level at the break.

There were no changes at the interval but Clydebank made their first change early in the 2^nd half with McHugh replacing Carey in the 51^st minute.

In the 56^th minute a mishit defensive clearance landed at Clark who played it into the feet of McAvoy. He was caught by McHugh with Talbot winning a free kick 30 yards out. Wardope hit it short and square to Gillies whose shot was charged down.The visitors were fortunate not to be a man down two minutes later. Samson recklessly barged into Wilson flinging him into the wall in front of the stand but the referee deemed it only to be a yellow card offence.

The Bot came close on the hour mark. Wardrope robbed McGowan of it out on the left touchline and burst forward before pulling it back to Gillies. His low drive was blocked and came back to Sime at the edge of the area. His shot took a deflection and sailed just wide of the right hand post. In the 64^th min Clydebank threatened down the left. Little played it back to McHugh who sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal but with no takers in the centre it sailed wide and out for the goal kick.

Talbot now made a double change with Schoneville & Wardrope making way for Langan & Boyd.The Bot’s next attack saw Gillies whip over a good cross from the left which McAvoy headed wide of target.Clydebank now made a double substitution with Niven & Little being replaced by Mackenzie & McGonigle.

With 69 mins played Sime received a yellow card for a foul on Samson. In the 76^th minute Boyd did good work out on the right but his final pass for McAvoy had too much on it. With 12 mins remaining Talbot made a triple change with McAvoy, Thomson & Gillies making way for Mitchell, Nimmo & Boyle.

The Bot came close in the 81^st minute. Mitchell’s corner from the left came over beyond the back post where McPherson got up to head it back down on target. Clarke managed to block it inside his left post and held it at the 2^nd attempt. In the 84^th minute Clydebank made further changes with Samson & Gallacher going off to be replaced by Mulcahy & Biggar.

Two mins later Talbot had a half chance on the counter. A ball over the top found Mitchell haring down the left but he took a heavy 1^st touch that took him to the bye line and his final cross was overhit.As the game moved into added time Talbot very nearly claimed all 3 points. Boyle’s ball over the defence found Boyd in the left of the penalty area. He cut in onto his right foot and brought a good stop from Clarke who touched his shot over the bar.

Deep into added time Kerr received a caution when he pulled back Lowe as he burst forward. In the final action of the match Langan’s pass released Mitchell in space down the left. He drilled it low across the face of goal where an incoming defender cleared it over the bar. Nothing came of the resultant corner and both sides had to settle for a point.

Next up for Talbot it’s back to midweek league action when they host Drumchapel United on Wednesday night.

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Schoneville, Wilson, McPherson, Kerr, Sime, Wardrope, McAvoy, Thomson, Gillies

Subs – Nimmo, Mitchell, Boyd, Langan, Boyle, Slooves, McIntosh

Clydebank – Clarke, Niven, Gallacher, Cairns, Little, Truesdale, Samson, McGowan, Syme, Lowe, Carey

Subs – Ross, Mackenzie, Mulcahy, McGonigle, McHugh, Biggar, Black