Report

POINTS ON THE BOARD FOR HARD WORKING TALBOT.

Report Murray Steele, Video Lee Conn

Talbot got back to winning ways with a well-deserved away win up at Gartcairn thanks to two 2^nd half goals.

The Bot had a chance in the 3^rd minute when Boyd played it through for Thomson on the right but his effort at goal was blocked by Gartcairn’s keeper.

In the 8^th minute Glavin was alert to the danger when he raced out his box to clear a ball over the top and defence then moved into attack as Gillies raced free on the left and drilled it low into the near post trying to find Thomson but the keeper managed to cut it out.

The game was highly competitive, if a bit scrappy, with very little to choose between the sides and little goalmouth action in the opening spell.

In the 19^th minute Talbot won a free kick in a promising area when Gillies was fouled just outside the area. Wardrope took it and got it on target but it lacked the power to trouble the keeper.

A minute later the home side came close to the opener. Their no.6 lifted a dangerous cross over from the right that was volleyed against the crossbar from 6 yards out.

Wardrope had his name taken in the 28^th minute when he took one for the team – halting Gartcairn’s pacy winger as he broke upfield.

Talbot came close to the breakthrough in the 38^th minute. Gillies forced a corner and when Wardrope played it into the centre it was only headed out as far as Langan. He was unable to get his shot away but it broke back to Smith whose low drive was turned round the right post by the keeper.

A minute later Wardrope played a one-two with Gillies down the left before firing over the bar from 20 odd yards.

The home side ended the half strongly and a minute before the interval no. 11 cut in off the left and squared it across to no.7 whose shot took a deflection as it headed just wide of the left post. When the corner came over Glavin punched it clear, catching his team-mate Thomson in the process, and play was halted to allow treatment and shortly after the ref signalled the end of the half.

Talbot started the 2^nd half positively and within 2 minutes of the restart Langan drove forward before firing a shot straight at the keeper.

Two minutes later Thomson tried his luck from 30 yards and his deflected effort was held by the goalie.

The pressure was mounting and in the 50^th minute Thomson gathered on the right and slipped it into the path of Smith whose low shot from the edge of the box flew straight at the keeper.

The bulk of the crowd were travelling through from Ayrshire and weren’t slow to voice their disapproval when Smith was blatantly tugged back as he raced forward but nothing was given.

Finally Talbot’s pressure was rewarded when they took the lead in the 55^th minute. Wardrope’s shot from the left edge of the box took a deflection and came back off the left hand post and out to EWAN THOMSON who hammered it into the far corner to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

Within a minute of scoring Thomson became the 2^nd Bot player booked when he was penalised for a shirt tug. Gartcairn now made a change with no.14 on in place of 10.

Talbot threatened again in the 59^th minute as Langan moved forward and shifted it out left to find Gillies. He swept a good cross into the centre but it didn’t break Talbot’s way in front of goal.

In the 64^th minute Healy whipped a great cross over to the back post but there was no Bot player to take advantage. The defence only partly cleared their lines and it fell to Langan 15 yards out but he didn’t catch his shot cleanly.

Gartcairn’s no.8 received a booking in the 66^th minute for going through the back of Boyd as he tried to break up the wing.

The home side hadn’t offered much in the 2^nd half but nearly grabbed a leveller in the 67^th minute. A counter-attack saw them sweep downfield where it was played into the feet of their no. 9 down the right of the penalty area. He fired it low on target but Glavin did well to block and when the rebound came out Slooves reacted quickly – sliding in to clear before no. 14 could pounce.

In the 69^th minute Gartcairn 5 was guilty of a blatant push on the back of Smith that went unpunished and then to add insult to injury, Smith was cautioned for dissent.

Wilson received a yellow card in the 71^st minute for a trip on no.11.

The home side were lucky not be a man down a minute later. Thomson was racing down the left when he was crudely taken out by Gartcairn’s no. 4 who sent him flying. The Gartcairn player escaped with a yellow card but had to have his head bandaged up as Thomson’s studs caught him when he sent him airborne.

Talbot had a chance to double their lead in the 74^th minute. Wardrope’s cross from the left found Thomson free at the back post but he steered his header wide of the post.

In the 76^th minute Smith gathered on the left of the penalty area and cut in past no.5 who caught him. The ref pointed to the spot and ROSS SMITH gave the keeper no chance – sending him the wrong way as he tucked it inside the right post to make it 2-0.

Two minutes later Langan slid a pass through toward Smith who looked set to race in on goal but no. 5 recovered well to make a good clearing tackle.

In the 79^th minute a ball in behind the defence found Boyd down the left and his angled drive was held by the keeper.

With 10 minutes remaining McMillan came on in place of Smith.

Gartcairn had a half chance to pull one back in the 82^nd minute. Their no.11 got free on the right and fired a cross into the centre. The defence cleared but only as far as Gartcairn’s left-back who volleyed it wide of the right post.

Talbot’s next chance came in the 84^th minute. Thomson raced for the area before sliding to his right to find Boyd whose powerful shot was parried out by the keeper.

A minute later Langan had an opportunity when the ball was squared into his path 18 yards out but his shot flew over the bar.

In the closing stages Talbot made further changes with Black & Park coming on for Gillies & Thomson.

Talbot saw time out comfortably enough to secure all 3 points. Next week it’s back to Beechwood where Talbot host big spenders Darvel.

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

Subs – Park, Boyle, McMillan, Lennox, Black, Kennedy, Henry