Competition: WEST OF SCOTLAND CUP

Report: Jim McAuley, Photo’s: Craig McGhee, Media, Ross Newlands.

TALBOT HEAD FORTH

Talbot progressed into the next round of the West of Scotland Cup with an expected victory over a side thirty nine places below them, but it proved to be a turgid affair where Talbot squandered numerous chances as they huffed and puffed against a side who were to lose an own goal, receive a red card and forced into a keeper change late on in the game.

The start of the match saw Talbot first out of the traps when in only two minutes into the game a clearance by Armour flew over the the Forth defence where Thomson latched onto the loose ball, but his shot nestled into the hands of the keeper

A minute later some head tennis at the edge of the visitors box came to fruition when a McAvoy back header landed at the feet of Thomson but a block by McGuigan saw the ball squirm into the path of BOYD where he steered the ball past Orr to put Talbot in the lead.

As the fans settled down for the coming onslaught Forth were back in the game on the 11th minute when a searching run towards the Talbot defence saw McGill slip the ball to Hill who’s smart flick landed at the feet of Caig just inside the box but Wilson made a clumsy challenge that lead the referee to point to the spot. The kick was taken by HILL who made no mistake when he hammered his shot right down the centre of the net.

Four minutes later McAvoy did everything right when picking up a pass from Syme he cut into the box and with the keeper beaten his shot slipped past the post. In the 16th minute he had a half chance when he latched onto a Gillies cross but once again his effort went past the upright.

The striker must have been wondering what he had to do to score when on the 19th minute a poor pass by Boyd saw Elliot allow Gillies to get in front of him where the wingers resulting cross was blasted over the bar from a few yards, with the goal at his mercy

Seven minutes later another chance came his way when a knock on by Boyd fell to McAvoy who escaped the clutches of Tobin but Orr did well to smother his shot, however the big keeper seemed to be in considerable pain after his exploits.

The game descended into a middle of the park battle with little joy on both sides. It took till the 44th minute for a chance to be fashioned from a Thomson corner Boyd narrowly headed past the post.

Just before the half time whistle Gillies started and finished a move via a pass from Syme but this saw him shoot into the legs of Orr.

Proceedings were hardly re-started when a long ball was hammered down the right hand wing which McAvoy headed onto the path of Boyd who after controlling the ball swept it into the box which DOCHERTY managed to steer past his own keeper.

Paterson found himself in the book after a pull on Boyd and this was to affect the visitors chances later in the game.

Shortly after the fans were  entertained with the highlight of the game when a mazy run by McPherson who after a one two with Thomson just put a shot over the bar with Orr rooted to the spot.

On the 51st minute Tobin was booked late tackle on Syme, and four minutes later the same player glanced a Hill free kick over bar.

Talbot extended their lead on the 58th minute when an Armour bye kick was headed on by McAvoy to Thomson who slipped a pass to GILLIES who shot through the legs of Elliot and although Orr got his fingers to the ball it slipped past the inside of the post.

In the 60th minute Forth replaced McGill who was not the best pleased with Donald, and four minutes later Paterson was red-carded for a second yellow.

However Forth proved they were not out of the contest and when a punt from Slooves was headed back towards the Talbot defence, Hill thundered a shot from 25 yards that Armour had to tip over the bar.

At the 73 minute mark Talbot had the ball in the net when Syme and Gillies combined and as the ball was swept into the net by Boyd the linesman flagged for offside.

Three minutes later another goal was disallowed when the referee gave a foul against Boyd claiming he went into his challenge unfairly on the keeper.

Forth replaced Elliot and Neilson for Shand and McMurray while Talbot made a triple change with Wardrope Nimmo and Boyle replacing Langan, Syme, and Thomson, while minutes later Mitchell replaced the struggling Orr in the Forth nets.

With 12 minutes left on the clock Walker and Abed entered the fray by swapping with Gillies and McAvoy but by that time the game was over as a contest, where Talbot did all the probing around the visitors box, but it was Donald who had the last say in this dull affair when he flashed a shot past Armour’s goals.

With Johnstone Burgh at home next week in the league and the same side proving the opposition in the next round of this trophy, Talbot will need to cash in on the chances that come their way in both matches as the opposition will prove to be a lot tougher.

FORTH WANDERERS 1: Orr, 2: Docherty, 3: Neilson, 4: Tobin, 5:McGuigan, 6:McDonald, 7: Hill, 8: Paterson, 9: Caig, 10: Elliot, 11: McGill. SUBS: 12: Shand, 14: McMurray, 15, Donald, GK| Mitchell

TALBOT Armour, McPherson, Schoneville, Wilson, Slooves, Langan, Syme, Gillies, Boyd, McAvoy, Thomson. SUBS: Nimmo, Abed, Walker, Wardrope, Boyle, Kerr, Clark.