Report

Leishman, Lyle, A.Wilson,Young,White,McDowall(G.Wilson 75),S.Wilson(Armstrong 45),Healy(Pearson 45),Shankland (Samson 45),Boyland(McKinlay 9),Glasgow(Kemp 45)

Talbot chalked up a resounding 8-1 victory over Irvine Victoria away from home in a one side pre-season friendly. It was a result many expected but fair do to the Vics who sat in for most of the game before Talbot upped the ante. Amazingly the home side took the lead in the seventh minute from a corner which Talbot failed to clear. A minute later the teams were level when Bryan Boylan chased down a through ball but as the ball headed for the net, Boylan was caught by the keeper and had to be replaced by Hamish McKinlay.  Talbot took the lead on the 19^th minute when Jack McDowall headed a cross into the path of Jamie Glasgow who swept the ball past Couser.  Five minutes later Talbot’s lead was extended when Kieran Healy tried his luck from 35 yards which flew over the head of the stranded Couser and into the net.  Credit to the Vics as they held a Talbot onslaught at bay and the only other thing of note in the first half was a yellow card for Steven White for verbals.

Talbot made a number of changes at the interval while Couser was replaced by centre half Ryan Singleton two minutes into the half after he asked to go off complaining of a shoulder injury. Soon after Leishman hammered the ball upfield which was touched on by the heel of Kemp into the path of Samson but he was quickly closed down before he could unleash a shot. The roles were reversed on 54 minutes when Samson left the Vics defense in his wake and his point perfect cross was lashed into the net by Calvin Kemp. Samson was unlucky to get on the scoreline a few minutes later when he again outstripped the home defense but his shot cannoned off the post.  He did get on the score sheet on the 69^th minute when a passing movement involving Adrian Wilson, Kemp and then Kier Samson made it 5-1. Graham Wilson replaced Jack McDowell on 75 minutes and it only took him six minutes to grab a goal when he volleyed a superb Samson cross past the makeshift keeper.

With six minutes on the clock Kemp was unlucky to see a decent drive slip past the post, but goal number seven was in the back off the net a minute later when Samson once again tormented the home defense and his cross was met by the head of Graham Wilson who nodded past Singleton. The final goal was once again crafted by Samson who set up Calvin Kemp who gave the keeper no chance.