Report

SECOND HALF NO-SHOW COSTS TALBOT DEARLY

Report: Murray Steele, Video: Lee Conn. Photography: Craig McGhee.

Talbot failed to show up after half-time and paid the price as they slumped to a home defeat against Darvel.

The visitors had the first effort of the match in the 5^th minute. A long diagonal pass found Murphy on the right and he took a good first touch to kill it and cut inside but scuffed his shot well wide from 18 yards.

On a day of few clear cut chances Talbot had a half chance to take the lead in the 7^th minute. Boyle slid a pass through to Thomson down the left channel and his cross found Boyd beyond the back post where he volleyed it into the side-netting.

In the 11^th minute a ball over from the left found Boyd 8 yards out with his back to goal but he was well marshalled and unable to turn and get his shot away.

Sixteen minutes in and McShane switched it out to the left to find Wilson in space but his ball in was gathered at the near post by Glavin.

Talbot’s next attack saw the win a free kick 40 yards out for a foul on Boyd but Talbot failed to make anything of it – Wardrope’s ball in being cleared and Darvel then breaking up field through Moore whose cross hit Slooves in the arm resulting in a Darvel free kick wide on the right. McShane floated it over and Darvel thought they’d taken the lead when Wilson met it and guided a header back across and into the net but the stand side assistant’s flag was up early for offside.

The opening goal arrived in the 27^th minute and it went Talbot’s way. The Bot were awarded a free kick midway in Darvel’s half for a foul on Smith. Wardrope took it and passed it down the right channel to find Boyd whose cross was headed home by EWAN THOMSON.

Two mins later a ball from the left found Smith 16 yards out and his low drive was held by Leishman.

McPherson did well in the 36^th minute when Darvel countered down the right through Moore with Neil able to match his run allowing Glavin to gather it.

Darvel caught Talbot out a few minutes later with a long ball over the top that found Moore down the left. He squared it across to Wilson who fired wide of target.

In the 41^st minute it was all square. Ferguson spotted Glavin off his line and let fly with a wind assisted effort from 40 + yards. It cannoned off the crossbar and MOORE was first to it to drill the rebound home and send the sides in level at the interval.

Early in the 2^nd half Smith was harshly cautioned when he went over in the penalty area following a Bot corner from the right. The ref had a decision to make but it didn’t go Talbot’s way.

The 2^nd half was becoming increasingly scrappy and Bronsky had his name taken in the 54^th minute for a late challenge on Thomson. Talbot now made their first change with Armstrong on for Gillies.

On the hour mark the visitors took the lead with a goal eerily reminiscent of the one conceded late on against Pollok. A ball over the top found Moore down the left and he cut it back to FERGUSON who cut inside and curled a right foot effort inside the far post.

This proved to be his last involvement as he picked up a knock soon after and left to be replaced by Caldwell.

A few minutes later Talbot made a double switch with Boyd & Boyle making way for McMillan & Langan.

In the 72^nd minute Cairns picked up a long overdue yellow card for his umpteenth foul but Talbot failed to make anything of the set piece wide on the left.

Darvel now made a further change with Glasgow on for Murphy.

As the game moved into the closing stages Talbot made their final changes with Kennedy & Black coming on for Wardrope and Smith.

Darvel finished the game a man down when Cairns received a 2^nd yellow card for a professional foul on Black. The ref ought to have let play continue as Talbot were racing clear up the right but he whistled too early and Darvel went a man down and Talbot got the free kick in their own half.

Talbot huffed and puffed but never really looked like levelling and as the game headed into added time Kennedy picked up a yellow card for a challenge on Barbour with Darvel able to see it out and claim all 3 points.

A disappointing result but Talbot will need to dismiss it to the back of their minds as they’re back in action this Wednesday evening when they travel down the coast to face Troon at Portland Park.

Auchinleck Talbot – Glavin, Healy, Wilson, Slooves, McPherson, Boyle, Wardrope, Gillies, Boyd, Smith, Thomson

Subs – Park, Langan, McMillan, Armstrong, Black, Kennedy, Henry

Darvel – Leishma, Barbour, Syme, Bronsky, McShane, Murphy, Cairns, J Moore, Sideserf, G Wilson, Ferguson

Subs –  O’Halloran, Reilly, C Moore, Urquhart, Glasgow, A Wilson, Caldwell