Competition: Friendly
Kello Rovers v Auchinleck Talbot
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
Johnstone Burgh
Auchinleck Talbot v Rossvale
Neilston v Auchinleck Talbot
Irvine Meadow v Auchinleck Talbot
Talbot shot themselves in the foot after squandering a two goal lead against a spirited Meadow side who must have thought Christmas had came early after they were gifted all three goals.
Talbot were on easy street early in the first half thanks to goals by Dwayne Hyslop and Bryan Boylan, but right on half time Andy Leishman spilled a harmless shot in front of goals and ex-Talbot player Mick Reilly slotted home the loose ball.
Half way through the second half Meadow were level when Dillan Young failed to deal with a hefty punt up the park and another ex-Talbot man Dylan Pooler nipped in to stroke the ball past Leishman and into the net via the post. Like the first half Meadow were to score again with the last kick of the ball when a corner kick was handled in the box and Liam Miller sent Leishman the wrong way with the spot kick.
Along with gifting goals Talbot’s finishing was under the spotlight with Jack McDowall squandering too great chances, while Mark Shankland was unlucky with two dead ball efforts, one crashing off the post in the first half, while the home keeper was forced into a superb save in the second.
Only a friendly match, but with the season start in the horizon Talbot will have to up the ante in their next game.
Annbank United v Auchinleck Talbot
Talbot travelled to Annbank to take on the local United in the first of their friendly matches. The game was played in a surreal atmosphere as fans were banned due to Covid-19 restriction meaning only club officials were present.
The match was by as a contest in the first half as Talbot racked up a 3-0 lead, and after a flurry of substitutions in the second half they added another two goals to finish with an impessive 5-0 victory.
The first goal came through clever lead up work when Neil McPherson chipped a superb pass up the wing to Mark Shankland. He in turn showed great skill by bringing the ball down and flashing a wicked left foot cross in front of the home keeper. Unfortunately for the goalie he collided with his own player leaving an unmarked JAMIE GLASOW to bundle the ball into the net.
Goal number two came about due to a powerfull run up the left wing by Jack McDowall who left a number of Annbank players in his in his wake leaving him time to pick out the shaved head of STEPHEN WILSON who had all the time in the world to stear the ball past the keeper.
Goal of the game fell to MARK SHANKLAND who latched onto a brilliant through ball by Jamie Glasgow and after bamboozling a crowd of Annbank players who were expecting him to pass the ball, he set himself up to wrong foot the keeper and send a stunning drive from just inside the box into the net,
There was a number of changes during the interval and after just being intoduced to the proceedings BRYAN BOYLAN made it 4-0 when a speculative long ball from the wing wasn’t cleared by the home defence which fell into the path of the striker. The former “Buffs” hitman needed no second chances as he did well to kill a difficult loose ball leaving him time to pick his spot in the left hand side of the goal.
The game was over as a contest soon after when a Hamish McKinlay corner found the head of GRAHAM WILSON at the front post, where he glanced the ball high into the net away from the clutching hand of the keeper.
All credit to the “Bankies” who put up a decent display which was lead by former Talbot player Robert Love. The Confernce side did give the Talbot defence some food for thought, and proved to be difficult opposition in parts of the game.
TALBOT: Leishman, Lyle (R.McCracken), A.Wilson, Young (C.McCracken), McPherson (Healy), Hyslop (Armstrong), McDowal (G.Wilson), Shankland (McKinlay), Glasgow (Boylan), Pearson (White), S.Wilson)
Auchinleck Talbot v Bo’ness United
Talbot surrendered a two goal lead and will definately rue the raft of chances they missed throughout the game. Mark Shankland put Talbot ahead after 13 minutes with a 25 yard thunderbold and two minutes later Gordon Pope hooked a volley high into the net from eight yards. Bo’ness who had landed with eleven players and a substitute keeper pulled a goal on the stroke of half time when a shot deflected off Craig McCracken and past Leishman.
The second half had Talbot bossing most of the game with no end result and as the game drew to a close Willie Lyle had the misfortune to see another shot go past Leishman for the second own goal.
Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson (S.Wilson) Smith, McCracken, McDowell (White), Hyslop (Donovan), Kemp (G.Wilson), Shankland, Waite.
Photographs by Paul Flynn.
Auchinleck Talbot v Craigmark Burntonians
Craigmark were late opponents after Blantyre Vics had to call off and all credit to them as they proved a hard nut to crack, even going in at half time 1-0 up. The visitors were short of a goalkeeper and were helped out by our own Brian Hewitt who produced at least five top drawer stops in the first half. He looked to be continuing the trend in the second half until Dwayne Hyslop got his head to Calvin Kemp header. Talbot took the lead when Steven White found himself in space in the visitors box and slipped the ball past Hewitt. With minutes remaining Graham Wilson got onto another Kemp cross to finish the scoring.
Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Trialist, Trialist, McDowall, Shankland, McCracken, Trialist, Kemp, Waite. SUBS: Harvey, G.Wilson, White, McPherson, Hyslop
Penicuik Athletic v Auchinleck Talbot
Talbot travelled to Penicuik to take on the local Athletic in the Adam Montgomery Memorial Trophy with five trialists making the journey as players leaving and wedding commitments had left the squad rather threadbare. However with the odds slightly against them Talbot returned to Auchinleck with the trophy and a resounding win over senior opposition under their belts.
Talbot were behind after 9 minutes when Wayne McIntosh drilled the ball past Leishman, but the Bot were on equal terms when Bald spilled a speculative lob into the box and Calvin Kemp swept the ball into the net. Before half time a good cross into the home area by McDowall was well controlled by trialist David Waite who hooked the ball past Bald.
In the second half the game was put to rest when Craig McCracken dribbled through the home defence and knocked a low cross to the near post where trialist Thomas Donovan prodded over the line. With Talbot well ahead the game was put to bed when Mark Shankland fired a low shot past Bald which finished the scoring.
Leishman, Harvey, Lyle, McPherson, Trialist, White, McDowall, Armstrong, G.Wilson, Trialist , Kemp. Trialist, Trialist, Hyslop, Shankland, McCracken.
