Report

COMEDY OF ERRORS LEADS TO TALBOT DEFEAT.

Report Murray Steele. Photography Craig McGhee, Media Ross Newlands.

Talbot started brightly but faded as they fell to defeat against Meadow in their 2^nd pre-season friendly.

The game got off to a nondescript start with the first effort at goal not arriving til the 9^th minute. Scullion drilled a low shot on target from 20 yards which Barclay couldn’t gather but he recovered to block Nimmo’s effort from the rebound.

A minute later Scullion’s pass released Gillies down the left. He lifted over a good early cross which was headed behind at the near post by a defender.

The Bot took the lead with 12 mins on the clock. Thomson’s ball up the right saw Talbot 11 force a corner kick down the right. Gillies took it and delivered it into the near post where it was headed back out to the right touchline. MICHAEL WARDROPE gathered and he was allowed the time & space to cut inside onto his left foot and drill a low shot beyond Barclay’s right hand.

Gradually Meadow began to play their way into the game and had a chance to level in the 19^th minute. A counter-attack saw the ball pinged up the left to Caig who slid it into the box to find J Baird on the left side of the box. He fired it across goal but wide of the far post.

Kerr had his name taken in the 27^th minute when he pulled Caig down as he raced up the right. Miller took the free kick and fired it in low toward the near post where it was deflected back out to Caig who tamely volleyed it on target.

There wasn’t much happening in the final third but that changed in the 36^th minute when Meadow drew level. A ball was lifted down the right where Caig battled for a 50/50 ball with Kerr. CAIG came out on top and angled a lob from the right edge of the area over Brown to make it 1-1.

Meadow were now forced into a change with Meadow 2 off injured to be replaced by Wright.

The Bot ought to have regained the lead in the 39^th minute. Meadow 6 was caught in possession in his own half and Talbot 19 burst forward toward the box. He slid a good pass to his left to find Talbot 11 inside the area but he took one touch too many and the chance was lost.

A minute later Nimmo tried his luck from 20 yards – sending a left foot effort off target.

Talbot had a let off in the 41^st minute. The visitors won a free kick just wide of the box which Wright drove low across goal where Schoneville deflected it behind for a corner. Miller played the corner into the near post where Caig met it but his header came off the top of the bar.

As the half entered added time Talbot won a free kick 30 yards out for a shove on Talbot 19. Wardrope took it and curled it over the wall but wide of the right post and the sides went in level at the break.

Talbot made a triple change at the break with Talbot 12, Talbot 15 & McAvoy on in place of Nimmo, Talbot 11 and Talbot 19.

Within a minute of the restart Talbot had a half chance to take the lead. Gillies fed it onto Talbot 12 down the left & when he sped it low across the box it was met by McAvoy who side-footed it over the bar.

Two minutes later Talbot passed up a glaring chance. Clark won it deep in the Meadow half and surged forward to the edge of the area. When he was challenged it broke kindly to T15 in space inside the area but he fired wide of the right post.

In the 50^th minute Talbot saw another chance go a begging. Talbot 12 headed a ball into the path of Talbot 15 who was in behind down the left of the penalty area but snatched at his shot and sent it wide of target.

Down the other end Gallacher pulled the back into the path of Miller who steered a shot straight at Brown from 20 yards.

53 mins gone and McAvoy touched the ball inside to find Schoneville haring into the penalty area but he blazed his shot over the bar.

The Bot’s next attack saw Scullion pass it into the feet of McAvoy inside the area. He couldn’t shoot as the angle was too tight but fired it low into the near post towards Talbot 15 but a defender managed to cut it out.

On the hour mark Meadow made a double change with Trialist 18 & Gillespie coming on.

A minute later Caig managed to get away from Kerr down the left of the penalty area but Brown was quickly off his line to make the challenge.

Talbot now made a double change with Thomson & Langan on for Scullion & Gillies.

The visitors took the lead in the 67^th minute. A cross from the left was missed in the centre and came out to MEADOW 18 beyond the far post and he fired it low across goal to make it 2-1.

Two mins later Talbot fell further behind after conceding a soft goal. A ball up the left aimed toward Meadow 18 was guided back into his own box by McPherson. Brown picked it up rather than clearing it and the ref awarded an indirect free kick. It was shoved sort to CADDIS who fired it low into the net from 15 yards.

In the 71^st minute Kerr raced down the left and floated a cross into the centre. Barclay punched it clear where it came out to McAvoy at the edge of the box. He managed to hit the target but couldn’t generate the power to test Barclay.

With quarter of an hour remaining the ref puzzled the Bot support when he penalised Clark. Kerr had hit a good diagonal to pick him out on the right and he cut inside Gallacher into the area only for the ref to halt play and award Meadow the free kick.

A minute later Wardrope tried his luck from 20 yards with Barclay smothering his effort at goal.

In the 79^th minute Talbot pulled a goal back. TALBOT 12 angled a shot from the left of the area that seemed to creep home in slow motion after squeezing under Barclay.

The goal perked Talbot up for the closing stages. In the 84^th minute Clark got into the area down the right and tried to fire it low across goal but it was cut out at the near post.

With 5 mins remaining Talbot 12 had a half chance. He was found on the left of the penalty area but his right foot shot drifted wide of the left post.

As the game moved into added time Talbot squandered a good chance to level. Langan slid the ball into the box and into the feet of Talbot 12 but with only Barclay to beat he fired it low at the keeper.

Talbot are on their travels this Saturday as they travel east to face Linlithgow Rose.

Auchinleck Talbot – Brown, Clark, Schoneville, Kerr, McPherson, Gillies, Wardrope, Scullion, Nimmo, Trialist 19, Trialist 11

Subs – Trialist 12, Thomson, Trialist 15, Langan, Hewitt, McAvoy, Muir (gk)

Irvine Meadow – Barclay, Trialist 2, Gallacher, Trialist 4, Trialist 5, Trialist 6, E Baird, Caddis, Caig, Miller, J Baird

Subs – Kinnaird, Wright, Trialist 15, Davidson, Anderson, Trialist 18, Gillespie, Trialist (gk)