A better day to be spectating than playing as the fans basked in Scotland’s warmest day of the year whilst the players suffered in what proved to
WULLIE CLEARS THE DANGER
be an entertaining pre-season friendly which ended all square.
Talbot got off to a shaky start when McPherson’s clearance went straight to Paterson. He swept it out left to find Lumsden whose ball across was cut out at the expense of a corner.
The Bot’s first attack saw Nimmo bundled over down the right wing. Gillies took the free kick and curled it into the centre where Binnie punched clear under pressure.
The opening goal came Talbot’s way after 5 mins. Schoneville won a corner down the left which Langan lifted over to the back post. McPherson met it and headed back across goal where Talbot 9 glanced a header inside the right post.
In the 13th min Thomson conceded a cheap corner down the left. When it came over Skinner powered a header goalward that was blocked and broke out to Paterson who tried to place it but saw his effort blocked.
A minute later Paterson tried his luck from 25 yards – thundering a shot on target but straight at Muir who gathered.
Talbot came close to doubling their lead in the 19th minute. Langan played it up the right to find Talbot 10 who held it up before finding Nimmo. He in turn fed it wide to Thomson who swept a good cross to the back post where Talbot 9 headed just wide.
LUKE MAKES THINGS DIFFICULT FOR THE ROSE PLAYER
On the half hour mark Talbot moved 2-0 ahead. A ball up the right found Nimmo inside the area and he floated a cross into the near post where Talbot 10 guided a header inside the left post.
Two mins later Rose almost pulled one back. Paterson’s shot from the edge of the box was tipped up onto the top of bar by Muir but came back down into play where Rae slid in but lifted it over the bar.
Four mins from the interval Linlithgow pulled one back. A corner from the left was met by a Rose player who powered a free header for goal. It was blocked but when the ball was played in low from the left THOMSON slid in to clear and diverted it into his own net.
In the 44th min it was all square. J Watson whipped a good cross in from the right touchline & PATERSON glanced a header home.
As the half moved into added time the home side passed up a good chance to take the lead. Lumsden’s ball across the face took a deflection and Muir was unable to gather. It broke to Rae 6 yards out but be blazed over.
The 2nd half saw both sides make multiple changes with McAvoy, Wardrope, Brown & 3 trialists coming on for Talbot and Linlithgow making 4 changes.
The 2nd half got off to a good start for Talbot when the Bot won a free kick 22 yards out after Greene fouled Talbot 19. Wardrope took it and curled it over the wall but wide of the left hand post.
ALI LOOKS TO PICK OUT A TALBOT PLAYER
In the 50th min Talbot would ordinarily have been down to 10 men. Langan dwelt on the ball and was robbed by Paterson who raced for goal. Langan chased back and hauled him down just outside the box. As it was a friendly the ref permitted Talbot to make a sub with Hanlon on for Langan. Paterson took the resultant free kick but sent it straight into the wall.
Down the other end Talbot won another free kick within shooting range after Talbot 15 was fouled. Boyle took it and steered a low shot on target which Binnie turned round his left post.
In the 58th min Smith got away from Hanlon down the left and cut it back across goal. McPherson cut it out but it came out to Paterson whose shot looked to have headed wide without anyone touching it but the ref gave the corner kick.
Linlithgow now made a further six changes.
The Bot had a chance on the break in the 63rd min. Talbot 19 turned and raced up the centre. He might have gone on himself but opted to feed it left to Talbot 14 who was closed down and had to settle for the corner.
Two mins later Thomson knocked in a good ball off the right to find McAvoy inside the box and he sent a low drive wide of the left post.
In the 69th min Linlithgow 14 cut in off the left and fired a right foot shot that Brown had to tip over the bar.
As the game wore on the home side pegged Talbot back forcing a number of corners and free kicks.
TALBOT’S TRIALIST HAS THE DEFENDERS ATTENTION
In the 81st minute Greene had a chance to win it for Rose when he met a corner from the right at the near post but nodded over.
With 4 mins to go Talbot nearly gifted a later winner. There looked to be no danger when McPherson passed it back to Brown but a lapse in concentration saw it roll under his foot. He managed to retrieve it but tried to dribble it round the advancing Rose forward rather than clearing it and Talbot were grateful that there was no harm done other than a corner.
Late on Talbot made a final change with Hewitt on for Boyle.
With a minute to go Talbot who’d been 2nd best for most of the 2nd half had a late chance to steal it. A foul on Talbot 15 saw the Bot win a free kick wide on the right. When it was played into the centre the Rose defence failed to clear their lines and the loose ball fell to McAvoy who spun and shot wide of the left post.
Next up Talbot are back in midweek action when they host Ardrossan Winton Rovers on Wednesday night.
Linlithgow Rose – Binnie, Thomson, Skinner, Paterson, McMullan, Rae, Lumsden, Berry, Devine, McCracken, J Watson
TALBOT’S TRIALIST CENTRE FORWARD TRIES TO OUTFLANK THE ROSE PLAYER
Subs – H Thomson, Thom, Greene, D Watson, Trialist, Sneddon, Smith, McMartin, Allan, Kennedy, Lamont, Maguire
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