KYLE MAKES THE TALBOT FANS SMILE

Report: Murray Steele, Photo’s: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

Talbot’s winning run continued as they leapfrogged Troon into 3^rd place after a hard fought away win over a Shotts side battling for league survival.

The Bot couldn’t have asked for a better start – taking a quick lead in the 4^th minute. The ball broke off Thomson into the path of KYLE MCAVOY who strolled through on goal before slotting it home to put Talbot 1-0 ahead. The home side looked for an immediate response and Richford tried his luck from 20 yards – firing over the bar.

In the 10^th minute Armour was called into action. Gordon’s deflected shot from the edge of the area forced him to turn it wide of the right hand post. When the corner came over Meikle got his head to it but Armour again did well to make the stop and then reacted quickly to deal with a follow-up effort.

The rock hard pitch wasn’t conducive to any kind of football but Talbot put together a slick passing move with quarter of an hour gone. A series of one-twos saw the Bot race up the left and into the penalty area where Nimmo laid it back to Gillies who saw his shot blocked.Three mins later Talbot won a set piece in a promising area after a foul on Nimmo. Gillies took it but lifted it well over the bar. In the 20^th minute Gracie raced down the left and fired a dangerous low ball across the 6-yard area which Schoneville managed to clear.

Talbot’s next attack saw the Bot win a corner down the left. Wardrope delivered a good ball into the goal mouth which was cleared out to Thomson at the edge of the area and he saw his low drive blocked by a defender. Shotts then had an opportunity from a free kick just outside the penalty area. Richford was caught as he went to volley it resulting in a free kick 25 yards out. Richford took it himself and found the target with a low drive that was comfortably dealt with by Armour.

Slack defensive play from Talbot gifted Shotts their next opening. The ball was given away to Sexton out wide on the right. He hit a good early ball across to pick out Gracie in space on the left of the box but he failed to hit the target. In the 29^th minute Talbot came close to doubling their lead. McAvoy won a free kick out by the right corner flag and Gillies curled a great ball across and beyond the far post where Sime headed it back across goal. In a crowded 6-yard box McAvoy hooked it for goal and it came off the base of the left post with the keeper well beaten and Shotts then survived a scramble in the goal mouth.

With 31 mins gone Shotts’ keeper had his name taken for dissent. The home side know how to utilise the long throw and this resulted in their leveller in the 33^rd minute. The ball was hurled into the area from the left and although cleared out it came to Richford who squared it across to GORDON who placed a low drive inside the right post.

Three mins later Shotts passed up a good chance to take the lead. A corner from the right wasn’t dealt with and broke kindly to Duffy who blazed it over from 10 yards. The goal had transformed Shotts and they had another chance to move ahead in the 38^th min. A ball in from the right wasn’t cut out and was allowed to come across to Gracie in space on the left of the area. He fired it low on target where Armour saved with his legs before Wilson cleared it.

Thomson had picked up a knock and had tried to continue but 5 mins from the interval he limped off to be replaced by Mitchell. In first half injury time the hosts had another good chance to take the lead. A long shy from the right was only partially cleared and when it was played across the area it found Richford 10 yards out. He looked favourite but Armour was quickly off his line to narrow the angle and make the block and the teams went in level at the break.

The 2nd half got off to an even start though the first near thing went the way of Shotts. Once again it came from a long throw. When the ball came in from the left Small head flicked it on and it came off Gillies and off the outside of the right post. When the in swinging corner came over Armour managed to tip it away. The Bot’s first meaningful attack of the 2^nd half came in the 54^th minute. Mitchell chipped it down the left to find McAvoy inside the area and he fired it across goal looking for Wardrope but it had too much on it for him.

Moments later Schoneville swung over a good cross from the left and McAvoy was harshly penalised as he challenged for it in the centre. Shotts now made their first change with Evans on for Small. In the 56^th minute Sime whipped over a great low ball off the right which forced Byrne to side-foot it wide of the far post. However, Talbot wasted the subsequent corner.

On the hour mark Gordon received a yellow card when he took one for the team – bringing Wardrope down as he looked to break forward. A minute later Talbot gifted Shotts the lead. Kerr misplaced a pass toward Wardrope allowing Gracie to nick the ball. He raced into the area and played it across to EVANS who tapped it home from a suspiciously offside position but the flag stayed down and Shotts moved ahead.

Talbot had a half chance to level in the 64^th minute. McAvoy raced into the area and had a chance to take it on his left but cut inside onto his right foot and was crowded out. In the 67^th minute Kerr hit a good pass through to Nimmo inside the box but he was beaten to it by Thomson. Talbot were now on the front foot and Boyle saw a decent effort blocked en route to goal.

Shotts now made a double switch with Craig & Anson coming on. Talbot also now made a double change with Nimmo & Boyle making way for McPherson & Boyd. The Talbot changes proved the more decisive of the two and the Bot levelled in the 72^nd minute. Wardrope played it down the right to find Boyd inside the area. He angled a shot across goal past the keeper that came back off the right post and out to KYLE MCAVOY who tucked the rebound away to make it 2-2.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot had a half chance to take the lead. A shy from the right was met by Boyd who played it into Mitchell. He laid it off to Gillies who volleyed over the bar. A minute later Talbot did regain the lead. McAvoy outpaced Meikle down the left before playing it into the path of AUSTIN SIME who passed it into the net to put Talbot 3-2 ahead.

Shotts now made their final changes with Anson & Barnes on for Byrne & Richford. Talbot had a chance to kill the game off in the 80^th minute. Wardrope moved down the right before releasing Kerr on the overlap. He swung a cross into the near post where McAvoy met it but sent his header wide of the left post.

In the 83^rd minute McAvoy fed it to Boyd who appeared to be being held by Craig. He managed to wriggle free and went for goal from 20 yards – sending a low shot wide of the right post. Talbot now made their final change as Wardrope left the field injured to be replaced by Langan. Langan was involved soon after coming on as he went for goal from 20 yards and saw his shot deflected for a corner. When Mitchell’s corner came in from the right Sime met it and his head flick was heading in until cleared off the line by Meikle inside his right hand post.

With 3 mins to go McAvoy lifted the ball across to find Mitchell inside the area. He cut inside and hit and fired a shot on target but it flew straight at Thomson. As the game moved into added time there was enough time for a chance at either end. Firstly Schoneville broke forward and found McAvoy inside the box and his drive was well saved by Thomson.

In the dying seconds Shotts had a chance to snatch a point when a ball over the top found Evans free down the left of the area. He tried to place it into the far corner but Armour made a crucial save getting a hand to it to turn it wide of his left post and there was barely enough time for the corner to come over before the final whistle blew.

Another good win on the road for a makeshift Talbot line-up. The Bot are back in action this Saturday when they face St Cadocs at Beechwood.

Shotts Bon Accord – Thomson, Torrance, Byrne, Eley, Meikle, Gordon, Sexton, Duffy, Small, Richford, Gracie. Subs – Craig, Evans, Macdonald Mulvanney, Anson, Barnes (gk)

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Kerr, Schoneville, Wilson, Sime, Boyle, Gillies, Wardrope, McAvoy, Nimmo, Thomson. Subs – Boyd, Mitchell, Langan, McPherson, Clark