A tired looking Talbot didn’t bring their A game to their final home game of the league campaign but did just enough to see off Troon and collect all 3 points to ensure a 2nd place finish.

The game got off to a sluggish start and the first effort on target didn’t arrive until the 8th minute. Gillies caught Gallagher 25 yards out and Dunlop took the free kick sending it over the wall and straight down the centre where Armour helped it on over the bar. Troon had made the brighter start and had a half chance after 12 mins. Jamieson floated a cross over to the back post which Schoneville managed to head clear. It came out to Viviani who squared it across for Jamieson to hit but he got no purchase no it. In the 17th minute Clark broke inside into the Troon penalty area and saw his final shot blocked behind for a corner which came to nothing.

Talbot ought to have taken the lead in the 22nd minute. Nimmo hit the bye line and pulled a cross back right onto the head of McAvoy who met in front of goal but his header hit off Burgess from close range. With 31 mins gone the visitors took the lead. Jamieson sprung forward and released it out wide right to Viviani. He angled it across the penalty box to find ALLAN in space and he placed it home from close range. Within a minute Troon squandered a good chance to double their lead. Viviani got away on the right and powered in a shot from a tight angle. Armour parried it out and it came straight to Jamieson who took a fresh air swipe at it 12 yards out

In the 33rd minute Fulton had his name taken for a foul on Clark. It proved an expensive foul in more way than one for the visitors as Langan angled the ball out beyond the left post where McPherson headed it back across goal for ALEX NIMMO to sweep home from close range to level the score.

The remainder of the half ebbed and flowed but with neither side offering any real goal threat and the sides went in a goal apiece at half-time.

Troon made a change at the start of the 2nd half with Hood on for Ferguson.

The visitors made a strong start to the 2nd half and won a free kick in a dangerous area after Schoneville impeded Viviani just wide of the area. Gallagher played it short to find Dunlop but his shot went high and wide. In Talbot’s first attack of the 2nd half Clark looked to be fouled but the ref waved play on. The ball broke out to Nimmo wide on the right who floated a cross under the bar which Burgess claimed. Two Troon players going for the same ball gifted the ball to McAvoy just outside the penalty area and he tried to thread a pass through to Boyd but got a touch too much on it and Burgess was quickly off his line to smother it.

In the 54th minute Talbot won a free kick 25 yards out in a central position. Langan stroked it out to the right to find McAvoy whose powerful hit was parried by Burgess. It came back out to Langan but he wasn’t able to keep his header down and it sailed over the bar. With 64 mins gone Talbot won a corner down the right. When it came in the visiting defence failed to clear their lines and it came out to Boyd 12 yards out but his low drive was blocked in the crowded 6-yard area.

In the 66th minute Talbot made their first change with Mitchell on for Boyd.

Troon then had a chance to regain the lead. Allan turned smartly before sliding a pass through to find Viviani on the right of the penalty area. He hit it low on target but Armour was well positioned to turn it wide. This proved a crucial save as Talbot moved down the park and took the lead within a minute. The Troon defence were posted missing as LUKE GILLIES got in behind down the left and carried it into the box before slotting it past Burgess and inside the right post to put Talbot 2-1 ahead.

Talbot now made a further change with Boyle on for Langan.

With quarter of an hour remaining Troon were awarded a free kick 30 yards out when Boyle impeded Dunlop. He took the free kick and passed it down the right wing to find McMurdo in space. He squared it into the box where it was cleared.

Troon now made a double change with Black & Fulton on for Allan & Gallagher.

The Bot had a good chance to kill the game off in the 83rd minute. Sime switched it out right to Clark who cut inside his man before hitting a good ball across the 6-yard area which found Gillies in space. He cut it back across into the path of Nimmo who met it 8 yards out but didn’t get enough on his side-footed finish which was cleared from the goalmouth. It came out to McAvoy 16 yards out who fired just over the bar.

Five mins from time Talbot made a double switch with Gillies & Nimmo making way for Kerr & McCluskie.

Troon kept at it and came close to an equaliser in the 87th minute. McMurdo swept over a good cross into the near post which Jamieson met but it was more a case of the ball hitting him rather than the other way round and it sailed wide of the left post. The visitors came closer still in the final minute. Black’s cross was blocked behind by Schoneville and when Dunlop’s corner came into the near post area McCloskey met it unopposed but missed a sitter – his header from 3 yards clipping the top of the bar on the way over.

Talbot saw out added time without any further alarms to secure the win and 2nd place.

The Bot now complete their season this Saturday when they travel through to Newlandsfield to face Pollok.

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Schoneville, Wilson, McPherson, Langan, Sime, Gillies, McAvoy, Boyd, Nimmo

Subs – Mitchell, McCluskie, Darnbrough, Kerr, Boyle, Wardrope

Troon – Burgess, McCloskey, Smith, Dunlop, Jamieson, Gilroy, Morrison, Allan, Viviani, Ferguson, Gallagher

Subs – McMurdo, Devenny, Black, Hood, Fulton, McNally, Harkins