Scorers Connor Boyd, Nathan Lennox, Bryan Boylan
Competition: Friendly
Auchinleck Talbot v Penicuik Athletic
Auchinleck Talbot v Johnstone Burgh
MATCH REPORT – MURRAY STEELE
PHOTOGRAPHS – courtesy of CRAIG McGHEE
“MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT”
Talbot edged out Johnstone Burgh 3-2 at a sunny Beechwood in the Bot’s final preseason fixture.
The Bot made the perfect start taking the lead via a spectacular strike in the 3rd minute.
KIERAN HEALY picked up in midfield and surged forward before hammering a left footed drive from 25 yards that flew in off the underside of the bar.
A few minutes later Smith was unfortunate when he wriggled past a few challenges on the right of the penalty area only to see his final ball across goal cut out.
Burgh had their first good chance in the 10th minute. Dorrans clipped a good ball down the left to find McKenzie racing in behind the defence. He beat Henry to it, taking it wide of target before squaring it into the 6-yard area where Slooves cleared.
It was all square after 14 mins. There seemed no danger when Langan lost possession just inside the Bot half but MCKENZIE eased past Healy’s challenge and drove forward before firing an unstoppable shot inside the right hand post.
The goal lifted the visitors and two minutes later they won a free kick 30 yards from goal. Dorrans took it and curled it over the wall but wide of the right post.
Burgh were having a good spell and had another chance in the 19th minute. Esplin cut the ball back from the right into the path of Dorrans 20 yards out who tried to place it inside the left post only for Henry to turn it round the post.
In the 27th minute Talbot won a shy out in the right that McMillan hurled into the centre. McGowan failed to claim it and Smith managed to force the corner. When Healy delivered it into the centre McGowan flapped at it but Talbot weren’t able to capitalise.
Just after the half hour mark Smith met a ball up the left and laid it off inside to Boyd who fired wide of goal from 20+ yards.
Esplin had his name taken in the 32nd minute for a late challenge on Thomson.
Within a minute Talbot moved back in front. A shy down the left was worked into Smith who burst down the left of the penalty area before squaring it across for FRASER MCMILLAN to tap home at the back post.
Talbot’s next chance came soon after when the Bot won a corner down the left. When it looped over McCracken met it but steered his header over the bar.
Smith had a good chance to put Talbot two clear in the 35th minute. Menzies misjudged the bounce of the ball allowing Smith to get in behind him and race through one on one but the keeper came out on top – getting down to save Smith’s low drive.
Four minutes from half-time Wharton had his name taken for dissent.
A minute before the interval Langan played Boyd in down the right and his ball across goal was cleared behind by Boland. Once again McCracken met Healy’s corner but couldn’t generate the power to test McGowan.
Down the other end Burgh won a corner down the left that was delivered to the far post where Henry had to touch it away before it was cleared.
The half ended with Boland receiving Burgh’s 3rd caution of the evening for a trip 35 yards out. Healy took the free kick but blasted it well over in the final action of the half.
Tucker made a triple switch during the break with McPherson coming on for Park and Lennox on for Langan and Glavin on for Henry.
Burgh levelled for the 2nd time in the 53rd minute. The visitors won a free kick 30 odd yards out which Dorran clipped into the left of the area. A Talbot player got to it but in trying to clear, headed it across the face of goal leaving BROPHY with the simple task of turning it home from close range.
Burgh now made a triple change with Wharton, McCann & McKenzie making way for Paton, McDonald & Brady.
The visitors were now on top and had a half chance to take the lead in the 58th minute. Healy conceded a free kick wide on the right for impeding Boland. Dorrans delivered it into the centre where it was headed clear but came out to Brophy 19 yards out who drilled a shot wide of target.
Burgh now made a further change with Brown on for Boland.
In the 62nd minute Talbot had a chance to regain the lead. McMillan’s arrow like shy from the right found McCracken in the box but he steered his header wide of target.
Both sides found themselves a man down in the 67th minute. Dorrans and Lennox tangled off the ball and after an intervention from the assistant, the referee sent both players to the clubhouse.
Talbot now made further changes with Black and Trialist no. 16 coming on for Thomson & Boyd.
In the 72nd minute Burgh threatened the Bot goal when Brady played it to McDonald on the left and he cut in on his right foot and fired just wide of Glavin’s left post.
Talbot now made a final change with Trialist no. 17 on for McMillan.
Talbot’s no. 17 had a decent effort in the 79th minute. Smith ran across the box from right to left and the ball broke to the trialist in space on the left and he sent a right foot effort just wide of the far post.
Talbot grabbed a late winner in the 86th minute. A good passing move ended with the ball being switched out to McPherson on the right wing. He got to the bye line and placed a cross onto the head of Talbot’s no.17 who placed his header inside the left post to make it 3-2.
There was time for one more booking, with Healy receiving a caution for a trip late on, but Talbot held out for the win.
Auchinleck Talbot – Henry, Park, Wilson, Slooves, McCracken, Healy, Langan, McMillan, Boyd, Smith, Thomson
Subs – Black, Lennox, Boyle, Trialist, Trialist, McPherson, Glavin
Johnstone Burgh – McGowan, Boland, Crooks, Wharton, Menzies, Esplin, McCann, Dorrans, Brophy, McKenzie, Simeon
Subs – Brown, Paton, McDonald, Gillespie, Brady, Fletcher, Scott
Catrine Amateurs v Auchinleck Talbot
Auchinleck Under 20’s represented the club at Catrine when they took on the local amateur side in the Stephen Wise Mental Health Awareness Charity Cup on Sunday at Riverside Park.
Tranent v Auchinleck Talbot
Auchinleck Talbot v Whitletts Victoria
MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT & Photos courtesy of CRAIG McGHEE
Talbot ran out comfortable winners in their opening preseason friendly and might have hit double figures with a little luck.
The Bot hit the woodwork for the first time in the 14th minute. Langan whipped over a free kick from the left that Hannah couldn’t gather and it was retrieved by McPherson. He cut it back into the path of Boyd whose low drive rattled the base of the left post.
Talbot came close again in the 22nd minute. Hannah’s attempted clearance was blocked and the ball spun across the face of goal. Boyd got on it and switched it to his left before firing a shot on target but straight at the keeper.
Whitletts only real threat of the afternoon came in the 24th minute. A long shy found its way to Walker on the left of the area and his curling cross was headed behind by McPherson. The corner was taken short then crossed into the near post where Talbot’s trialist keeper missed it but the ball was swept to safety.
Boyd was denied the opener in the 26th minute. Talbot’s no.10 held it up well down the left before crossing to the far post where Boyd’s net bound volley was blocked behind off Murphy.
Talbot took the lead in the 29th minute. A ball up the left pinged off a defender’s head and fell nicely for CONNOR BOYD in the centre and he stroked it past the keeper to make it 1-0.
Ten minutes later he came within a whisker of doubling Talbot’s lead. He showed good pace to burst clear down the left before cutting inside on his right foot and placing a shot for the far corner that hit off the post.
On the stroke of half-time Talbot came close again. Boyle switched it out to Healy on the wing and his cross found Boyd in the centre but his header was turned over the bar by Hannah.
Tucker made 7 changes at the break with Glavin, Black & Schoneville making their debuts along with Armstrong, McCracken, Wardrope and a trialist.
From the off the 2nd half was one-way traffic and Talbot nearly doubled their lead in the 53rd minute. Black played Boyd in down the right and his cut back across goal was turned just wide of target off a defender.
Talbot moved 2-0 ahead in the 57th minute. Boyd played it wide left to find no.8 who swept a dangerous ball across the box that broke to MICHAEL WARDROPE who dragged a shot in off the right post.
In the 63rd minute Talbot grabbed their third. Boyd let a shy from the left come across him before turning and driving for the box. He was halted just outside but the loose ball fell to no.18 who fired a low shot into the bottom corner.
With 20 minutes remaining Talbot won a penalty when Schoneville burst into the area and was up-ended by the keeper. Unfortunately, he landed awkwardly, picking up a nasty injury and had to be helped off the field with Langan returning onto the field. Wardrope took the spot kick but blazed it way over.
Twelve minutes from time Talbot made it 4. Black’s low ball across the face of the area was cut out but it came straight to Talbot’s no.18 whose low drive took a deflection en route to the back of the net.
In the 81st minute Black nearly added his name to the score sheet. He tried his luck from a tight angle only to see it go across the goal line and back off the right hand post.
Five minutes from time Talbot grabbed their 5th goal. A cross from the left found CONNOR BOYD unmarked in the centre and he nodded home.
A minute later Talbot’s no. 8 won a free kick just wide of the area when he was obstructed as he made for the box. Wardrope swept it in at pace and CRAIG MCRACKEN glanced a header into the far corner to make it 6-0.
In the final minute Talbot added a 7th goal. Talbot’s no. 10 cut into the box off the left and dribbled his way past a couple of challenges. He was finally halted but it broke straight to RUARIDH LANGAN who passed it into the net to complete the scoring.
A good work-out for a new look Talbot team with the only downside to the afternoon being Schoneville’s injury and everyone at Beechwood will wish him a swift recovery.
Auchinleck Talbot – Trialist, Healy, Wilson, McPherson, Slooves, Boyle, Langan, Trialist, Boyd, Trialist, Lennox
Subs – McCracken, Schoneville, Armstrong, Wardrope, Black, Trialist, Glavin
Whitletts Victoria – Hannah, Berry, Murphy, Brown, Wylie, Dempsie, Walker, McCracken, Baird, McColm, Kerr
Subs – Holland, Alexander, Hood, Caldwell, Pope, Johnston
Auchinleck Talbot v Penicuik Athletic
After what seemed an endless wait Talbot finally returned to action at Beechwood & it was worth the wait as Talbot ran out convincing winners over Penicuik, with the fans being treated to 7 goals in total.
Talbot got off to a muted start and it was the visitors from the east who shaded the early exchanges without ever threatening to breach Talbot’s defence.
The first effort on target came in the 14th minute when Glasgow laid the ball back to Healy and he drilled a powerful shot at goal from 20 yards that Watt had to parry.
The game really sparked into life in the 21st minute when Glasgow came close twice within a minute to breaking the deadlock. Firstly, his dipping shot from the edge of the area clipped the crossbar and shortly after his low right foot drive smacked off the base of Watt’s right post with the keeper well beaten.
Penicuik made a change after 25 minutes when Watson came on in place of Young.
Two minutes later Talbot took the lead. Samson charged down a clearance from the left-back and Shankland chased it down to the corner flag. Nifty footwork left the defender chasing shadows before he looped a cross to the back post where JACK MCDOWALL steered a header down & across and beyond the keeper.
The Bot came close to extending their lead in the 35th minute. Wilson cut the ball back from the left to find Shankland whose half volley from 18 yards flew just over the bar.
The visitors hadn’t offered much threat in the final third but they did have an opportunity to level after 36 minutes. A cross in from the left was headed clear by Wilson but only as far as Kateleza who lashed a powerful strike wide of target from 16 yards.
Play then switched to the other end where Shankland found Lyle in space down the right. He hung a cross over to the far post where Samson met it but couldn’t direct it on goal from a tight angle.
The last chance of the half came in the 42nd minute. Shankland evaded a couple of challenges before slipping a pass through to Glasgow. He turned his man & fired on target but straight at Watt and so Talbot reached the interval a goal ahead.
Tucker made a raft of changes for the start of the 2nd half with Shankland, Glasgow & Armstrong making way for Boylan, Robbie McCracken & White.
The changes almost paid off immediately with Robbie McCracken nearly doubling Talbot’s lead. His shot from a tight angle caused Watt an anxious moment as the keeper turned it round his left post.
A minute later McCracken had another effort on target when Watt dived low to his right to save his effort from 20 yards.
It was all Talbot now and the Bot had a penalty appeal waved away in the 52nd minute. McDowall’s cut back found Boylan on the left of the area and his fierce drive was blocked en route leading to a shout for hand ball.
Talbot did double their lead in the 54th minute courtesy of a wonderful strike from a set piece. Lamb upended McDowall as he raced forward resulting in a free kick 35 yards out. KEIR SAMSON stepped up and curled an unstoppable shot over the wall that flew inside Watt’s left hand post to make it 2-0.
Penicuik tried to respond and Reid tested Hewitt in the 58th minute with a well struck effort from 30 yards that he held low to his left. The visitors now made a double change with Kateleza & Edwards making way for Furness & Hope.
Before the subs had a chance to look at the ball Talbot extended their lead. McDowall pounced on a slack pass midway inside the Penicuik half, carrying it forward before releasing BRYAN BOYLAN on the left & he slotted it past the keeper to make it 3-0.
In the 64th minute Talbot won another free kick within shooting range when Boylan was fouled 30 yards out but this time Samson’s effort went just too high.
Talbot now completed their changes with youngsters Murphy & Smith from the development squad replacing Samson and McDowall.
The visitors pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute following a good passing moved which ended with REID racing onto a pass in behind down the left & coolly passing the ball beyond Hewitt.
However any hopes of a comeback proved short-lived as Talbot added to their lead in the 75th minute. Lamb, who was anything but meek, caught Boylan late inside the area & the ref pointed to the spot. WILLIE LYLE stepped up and his spot kick sent the keeper the wrong way to put Talbot 4-1 ahead.
Talbot had to play out the closing ten minutes a man short after McPherson took a heavy knock and couldn’t continue.
Penicuik took advantage of the extra man to exert some pressure on Talbot and forced a string of corners in succession which Talbot successfully defended.
With 2 minutes remaining Penicuik reduced the leeway with a well-constructed goal. Finnie flighted a good ball over the defence to find TANSEY inside the area & he smashed his shot past Hewitt to make it 4-2.
Talbot weren’t quite finished though and completed the scoring with the final kick of the game. Boylan’s tenacity saw him win the ball out on the right and his cut back from the bye line was met by KIERAN HEALY who lashed it first time inside the keeper’s left post.
A good win and performance from Talbot who will be back in action next Saturday when they host Clydebank in a tough opening fixture to the league campaign.
Auchinleck Talbot – Hewitt, Lyle, A Wilson, McPherson, C McCracken, Armstrong, McDowall, Healy, Glasgow, Samson, Shankland
Subs – Boylan, R McCracken, White, Smith, Murphy
Penicuik Athletic – Watt, Baptie, Young, Edwards, Kateleza, Tansey, Neave, Lamb, Collins, Forbes, Reid
Subs – Watson, Furness, Finnie, Hope
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
Neilston v Auchinleck Talbot
Talbot held on to the Hugh Blair Trophy after a tousy battle with hosts Neilston at Brig O’ Lea park on Saturday. It was a match that saw both keepers being void of any saves to make as both sides nulified each other which resulted in a poor game overall.
Playing down the slope Neilston were the quickest out the traps forcing three corners in the opening five minutes, but these were well dealt with by the Talbot defence, On 8 minutes Talbot won their first corner which was cleared into the path of Bain but his speculative shot was well past the goals.
Neilston were dealt a blow on 16 minutes when their experienced defender Doyle had to go off with an injury he had picked up after a tussle with Samson, and was replaced by Haggerty who had just featured in the Development match an hour earlier. Two minutes later the first clear cut chance fell to the home side when a cross into the box by Bulger was missed by the Talbot defence but although managing to fashion an opening Jones miss hit his effort and it trundled into the hands of Leishman,
Neilston keeper Digney took a sore one on 27 minutes when he collided with McDowall as both players had an eye on the ball when Shanland whipped in a superb cross. A minute later Talbot looked to have taken the lead when Craig McCracken headed a Shankland corner off the underside of the bar where it looked to be well over the line before being cleared by Halliday. With no official linesmen in place the referee waved play on.
The game decended into a door midfield battle after this with both sides defending well, but failing to create many chances. The last real bit of action was when Shankland again found the head of McCracken but his diving headed went a couple of feet past the post.
At the start of the second half Talbot replaced Healy, Pearson, Boyd, Samson and McDowall with Robbie McCracken, White, Glasgow, Boylan and Armstrong. While the home side swapped McLaughlan with Fletcher.
The second half was hardly started when the first talking point emereged when McPherson and Brophy both went for a loose ball which resulted in the Talbot man picking up a yellow card as the Neilston player went through a series of rolls and screams, before playing on minutes later, much to the disgust of the travelling support.
Ten minutes into the second half Boylan cut down the right wing before sending in a delightful ball which was missed by a couple of Talbot players who actually got in each others way. Willie Lyle was next in the book when he swept the feet from Haddow as the player tried to set up an attack. Things were now getting fiesty with R. McCracken and Stirling squaring up to each other, and minutes later the Talbot youngster was in the book after fouling Loughlin.
Shortly after Boylan and Bain split the home defence with a break down the right wing but when the cross came over White was unable to stear his header toward the target. The breathrough came in the 72 minutes thanks to some neat play by Boylan where he picked the ball up in the box before smashing it past the keeper and a number of players.
This was to be the last real action of any note as Talbot weathered a late Neilston comeback where tension again rose with Brophy going into the book for mouthing after Fletcher had the ball in the net but he was well offside.
All in it was a good win in a match with few chances, but no doubt it was a good work out by both sides.
Leishman, Bain, Lyle, McPherson, C.McCracken, Healy, Pearson. Boyd, Samson, Shankland, McDowall. SUBS: R.McCracken, White, Glasgow, Boylan, Armstrong, Hewitt.
