Report

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot moved to the top of the table after a hard fought away win over the Buffs at a sunny, but bitterly cold, Abbey Park.
The Bot had an early chance inside the 1st minute when Shankland forced a corner down the left. He swung it to the back post where McCracken slid in to meet it but could only slide it wide of target.
A few minutes later the home side came close from a set piece. A corner from the right pinged across the face of goal with Talbot unable to clear their lines. It came to Kerr inside the 6-yard box but his attempt was blocked. The ball spun out to Monti on the right edge of the area and Leishman came off his line to punch his cross clear.
Frye picked up a caution in the 5th minute for a late trip on McCracken. Pope lifted the free kick into the box where Boyle headed it down & Steven Wilson ran onto it & flashed a shot just over the bar.
The game then went through a sterile phase with maximum effort from both sides but zero chances created.
The next chance came in the 17th minute when Talbot ought to have taken the lead. A quickly taken free kick saw Lyle chip the ball down the right to find Shankland inside the area. He hooked it 1st time across goal to the far post where Hyslop met it but from point blank range he sent his shot against the outside of the right post.
In the 22nd minute Kilwinning came close to opening the scoring. McGuinness’s cross came off Harvey’s head & travelled beyond the back post where Boylan volleyed it just wide of the right post.
Strain produced a good stop in the 24th minute to deny Shankland. Milliken’s cut back from the bye line found Shankland 12 yards out & he hammered a shot at goal which Strain parried away to safety.
Cashmore squandered a gilt edged chance to put the Buffs in front in the 32nd minute. Monti judged the bounce of the ball better than Boyle to latch onto a long ball up the right. He looked up & squared it across for the unmarked Cashmore who tried to pass it into the net from 15 yards but couldn’t beat Leishman who dived to his left to make the stop.
Kilwinning had the edge in possession but without threatening to breach the Talbot defence and it was the Bot who had the last chance of the half, a minute before the interval, when Boyle met Shankland’s free kick from the right to glance a header wide of the far post.
There were no changes at the interval but the 2nd half was only two minutes old before Talbot were forced into a change. McCracken pulled up injured & had to leave the field to be replaced by Young.
The Buffs next effort at goal came via a long clearance downfield from Strain. Monti got on the end of his punt down the left and lobbed a shot at goal that sailed just wide of the right post.
Already on a caution, Frye was fortunate to escape an early bath in the 56th min when he fouled Young conceding a free kick 35 yards out. Shankland swept the ball across to the far post where Hyslop climbed to head it down across goal. The ball was there to be swept home but no Bot player was on hand to take advantage & the defence scrambled it clear.
Tucker made his 2nd change on the hour mark with Graham Wilson on in place of Milliken. Kilwinning made their 1st change at the same time with Kemp replacing Cashmore in attack.
A minute later McGuinness spurned a clear chance to put the Buffs ahead. Monti gathered the ball on the left of the penalty area & turned it back straight into the path of McGuinness who steered a low drive just wide of the left post.
The game’s only goal came Talbot’s way in the 65th minute. Young laid the ball out left to send Graham Wilson free. He surged down the wing before pulling it back to the edge of the area to return the ball to Young. He created the space for himself to curl a shot that was heading inside the right post until Strain turned it round the post. Shankland whipped the corner into the heart of the 6-yard box where GRAHAM WILSON bulleted a header home from close range.
Three minutes later Graham Wilson had a good chance to put the game beyond doubt. Young’s pass found Hyslop out on the left & he sent an early pass inside to send Wilson through on goal but his low drive went straight at Strain.
Kilwinning made a 2nd change in the 72nd minute with Cairnie replacing the injured Kerr.
Talbot had another chance to put the game away when Steven Wilson’s pass split the defence to send Shankland clear on the left. He raced into the area but hit a tired looking effort straight at Strain.
Boyle received a harsh yellow card in the 76th minute when he was adjudged to have impeded Strain.
In the 77th minute Graham Wilson had an opportunity to grab his 2nd when Shankland sent him clear on the left. He could’ve carried on into the area but spotting Strain off his line he went for the early shot but scuffed it straight at the keeper.
The referee made a bizarre call in the 81st minute. Frye squared up to Harvey, shoving the Bot defender in the chest, but the ref cautioned the Talbot defender to the ire of the visiting support.
With 4 minutes to go both sides made their final change. Stevenson replaced Shankland for Talbot & Clark came on for McGuinness for the home side.
Talbot had some defending to do in the final minute when Boylan got to the bye line & angled a dangerous ball back across the face of goal. Hyslop came to Talbot’s rescue, clearing the ball from in front of goal.
Deep into injury time Frye finally received his dues; picking up a 2nd yellow for a crunching late tackle on Graham Wilson who was also booked for his reaction.
This was a tough, physical game with Talbot edging it to secure all 3 points and having gained top spot Talbot will need to be on their A game next week to stay there as they host in form Beith in the league.

Kilwinning Rangers – Strain, Coleman, McCloskey, Kerr, Maitland, Frye, Monti, McGuinness, Cashmore, Lewis, Boylan

Subs – Cairnie, Kemp, Hanvey, Clark, Agnew

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, Boyle, McCracken, White, Hyslop, S Wilson, Shankland, Milliken

Subs – Stevenson, G Wilson, McPherson, Young, Latta