WEST OF SCOTLAND CUP – Page 5 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Auchinleck Talbot v Gartcairn FC

Talbot welcomed their first ever visitors from the town of Airdrie to Beechwood Park and after a tough ninety minutes played in driving rain they did what was expected of them by running out 3-1 winners against a side who sit a division below them. Granted Gartcairn are no mugs as they are pushing for promotion for the top division and had just knocked Lowland League side Tranent out of the Challenge Cup. Talbot had made a couple of changes for this match with Keiran Healy replacing Neil McPherson, Ally Park in for the cup-tied Ali Boyle and a start for young Aaron Mason up front.

The visitors threw down the gauntlet early doors and in the opening minutes former Motherwell and Ross County player Darren Smith made a telling run down the left but his cross into the box was easily cleared. Five minutes later goalkeeper Cowie got lucky when a routine passback from Moss saw him harassed by Mason into kicking the ball straight at Graham Wilson who elected to pass to Mason rather than try a cheeky lob which most of the crowd were expecting.

In the 16th minute Mick Wardrope did well to clear a Gartcairn free kick but Eley was quickest to react by whipping the ball back into the box where Stafford mishit the ball into the feet of Johnstone who managed to get the ball on target but it proved to be an easy save for Fisher. The game got bogged down in the middle of the park with both sides producing some great defending which no doubt proved to be a bit too frustrating for former Hearts youth player Jordan Love who collected the only yellow card of the game when he was late with a tackle on Craig McCracken. McCracken then nearly got himself onto the score sheet in 30 minutes when he got his head to a Wardrope corner forcing Cowie into parrying the ball off the goal line where McCracken managed to react the quickest but hooked the loose ball into the side net. Shortly after Love and McCracken clashed again with the Talbot defender on the deck holding his face but the veteran striker was spared a second yellow by referee Paul Timmons.

With the game heading for the interval Johnstone ghosted through Talbot midfield where his pass to Moss saw the big defender cross a poor ball into the danger area which came off Staffords head and into the path of Johnstone who’s first time volley from the edge of the box took the paint off the top of Fisher’s crossbar. Talbot were quick to reply and an Aiden Wilson long ball up the wing was headed into the path of Park by G.Wilson and his toe poke to Wardrope produced a side foot shot that came off the crossbar and onto the path of G.Wilson who headed tamely into the hands of Cowie.

With the visitors buoyed by their opening forty five minutes they opened the second half by flinging all kinds of long balls into the box which were putting a bit of pressure on the Talbot back line. However a long throw-in by Smith was headed away by McCracken which was pounced upon by Griffiths who was quickly tracked down by Park. Finding himself in a bit of bother he elected to pass backwards but accidentally passed the ball into the path of Mason who skipped away from Moss to thunder the ball past Cowie from 20 yards right on the 50th minute. All credit to Gartcairn who looked to have equalised when Smith got himself behind the Talbot back line but Fisher got his body in front of Smith’s shot but the referee had already whistled for offside.

There was a flurry of substitutions by both sides as the game progressed and the changes were quick to take effect when on 70 minutes Ross Smith was the target of a Ballantyne throw-in. The youngster managed to get the ball to the foot of Wardrope who dinked a cross onto the head of Park and his slight touch eased the ball past Cowie’s finger tips and into the top of the net. If Talbot thought the game was over then they were sadly mistaken when minutes later Gartcairn were back in the game when a Talbot attack was broken up as Bulgor launched a 49 yard pass into the path of the unmarked Smith who in turn found substitute Burns and the former Stirling Albion striker made no mistake sending the ball past Fisher.

This was the last we were to see the visitors as an attacking force as Talbot started to control the match with Mick Wardrop curling an effort past the post while Ross Smith collected a Samson pass in the box and although he managed to get away from his marker he shot well past the goals. With the 90 minutes fast approaching Talbot’s best move of the game merited their third goal when the ball was worked from wing to wing involving Smith, Lennox and Armstrong ending in a Wardrobe cross being headed into the net by Ross Smith. Soon after the referee’s whistle ended the match that on the whole Talbot deserved to win.

Fisher, Stafford, A.Willson (Ballantyne), Healy, McCracken, Armstrong, Taylor (Lennox), Wardrope, Mason (Samson), G,Wilson (Smith), Park (Sinnamon)

SPONSOR MAN OF THE MATCH AWARDS:

The Boo Boys award went to Craig McCracken and was presented by Bob Harvey

Old Crocks MOM was Craig McCracken and presented by Kieran Houston.

Eddie Smith & Friends picked Michael Wardrope as their MOM and Andy Leishman picked this up on Michael’s behalf from Alistair Smith & Tristen Stirling

Loons Supporters Club MOM was Michael Wardrope and was picked up by Kieran Healy and presented by Alex Tanner

Jimmy Ferguson & Friends chose Gareth Armstrong as their MOM and this was presented by Aaron Lindsay

The Mauchline BC award was presented by Billy Eaglesham and won by Craig McCracken.

Match Ball Sponsor – Emerald Contracts.

Gartcairn FC

Ryan Sinnamon

Marc Fisher

Auchinleck Talbot v Glenafton Athletic

MATCH REPORT JIM McAULEY. PHOTO’S SARA JANE HOY>

Talbot had made several changes to the side that had drawn with Rob Roy the week previous with new keeper Marc Fisher replacing the injured Andy Leishman while Aiden Wilson returned to the defence, Keiran Healy found himself on the left of midfield while the home support were introduced to young Ross Smith’s first start. The visitors were unchanged from the side that had gained a point at Darvel.

The game had all the hallmarks of a riveting cup match with it being a derby and the fact that the Glen’s were on the crest of a wave after reaching the Junior Cup semi final, but in reality it turned out to be a 90 minute endurance test where a penalty shoot-out was the correct way to find a winner.

Talbot started on the front foot when Taylor broke down the right wing and his pass to Wardrope was swept towards Samson but Currie managed to get a toe to the ball at the expense of a corner. Wardrope provided a quality ball from the corner which was headed clear by Rowe but it was picked up by Stafford who found Healy whose side footed cross into the box was headed towards goal but Markey managed to push the ball away with both hands in a save made for the camera’s.

On the 11th minute the supporters in front of the pie hut erupted when Taylor squirmed his way into the box where he looked to be barged to the ground by Murphy but referee Gary Hanvey waved play on and the loose ball was hooked away by Moffat. Talbot were getting plenty of joy down the right side and this time McCracken hooked a teasing ball into the Glens box where Samson got his head to the ball but it flew well past the post.

Route one nearly undid the visitors when Fisher put his laces through a passback which Samson managed to nod the ball into the path of Smith but Currie managed to get a leg in front of Smith’s resultant shot on goals. On the 25th minute Taylor treated the fans to a bit of magic when he left three Glens players in his wake, picked out Samson whose first time cross looked promising but Moffat headed out the danger area but the loose ball fell to Wardrope who dragged his shot well past the target.

The visitors had hardly been in the game but on the 30th minute Caldwell fashioned a one-two with Moffat but he was stopped in his tracks by McCracken, and moments later they should have been in the lead when O’Kane slid a great through ball to an unmarked Caldwell who in turn picked out Kerr who had all the time in the world to score but his shot was blocked by the legs of Fisher and the ball flew over the bar for a corner

With the match heading for the interval Ross Smith was unlucky not to score when Wardrope found him loitering outside the visitors box and the youngster showed his skills when he turned Rowe only to see his shot palmed over the bar by Markey. However it was the visitors who were to have the last say in the first half when a long speculative cross was headed into the path of O’Kane but his shot was blocked by McPherson.

The second half started with O’Kane and Kerr being replaced by Kemp and S.McKenzie for the visitors no doubt to put some zing into the Glens attack but for the opening part of the half it was Talbot who were doing the pressing although rarely troubling the visitors goalkeeper with McCracken heading a Wardrope free kick tamely past, while Healy rattled a shot well over the bar. On the 65th minute Shankland and new signing Sinnamon were introduced to the fray at the expense of Smith and Healy and soon after Mason replaced Wardrope. Shankland soon had a chance to make a name for himself when a mistake by the impressive Pettigrew let Samson drive into the box where his cut back was launched over the bar by the substitute.

Talbot’s last change came in the way of Boylan on for Taylor as they tried to grab that all important winner, but as the clock ran down it was Glenafton who seemed to go for the jugular after Moffat should have done better when he smashed a loose ball well over the bar, while substitute McMullen’s netbound 30 yard screamer took a swerve near the end of its trajectory and flew harmlessly past the post.

The game moved on to penalties with referee Mr Hanvidge selecting the Bank End for the shoot out where Talbot had the luxury of missing two penalties as the Glens found keeper Marc Fisher in great form where he saved three out of the four spot kicks that were taken against him. It was a decent win considering Talbot move into the next round of the competition, but on the downside the team has went 180 minutes without hitting the back of the net.

GLENAFTON: Markey, Caldwell, Pettigrew, McKee, Paton, Kerr, Murphy, Moffat, O’Kane, Currie Rowe. Subs. S. McKenzie, C. McKenzie, McMullen, Nisbet, McFadzean, Kemp. TALBOT: Fisher, Stafford, A.Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Taylor, Wardrope, Samson, Smith,Healy. SUBS: Shankland. Boylan, Mason, Sinnoman, Crawford, Ballantyne, Fairbairn.

Talbot v Glenafton Man Of The Match Awards

Also thanks to Brian Paterson (Emerald Contracts) our match ball sponsor.

Top Left. Anchor Bar – Lee Bealing presenting to Marc Fisher , Top Right. Cassels Family – Tommy Cassels presenting to Marc Fisher Middle Left. Dennis Gray & Friends – Lynda Walker daughter of Dennis Gray. Linda at one point assisted in our catering unit. Middle Right. In Da Hut Fitness – Stafford who accepted the award on behalf of Mark Shankland . Bottom Left. Loons – Andrew McPheators presenting to Marc Fisher. Bottom Right. Mauchline BC – Aaron Lindsay & Janice Logan presenting to Marc Fisher . Very Bottom. Sandra White presenting to Marc Fisher

Ross Smith

SPONSORED BY: SD Bathrooms Irvine. Billy Blackmore.

POSITION: Midfield

JOINED TALBOT: January 2023

D.O.B: 14/10/2003

TALBOT DEBUT: Cambuslang Rangers, 14th January 2023, PDM Premier Division 3-1

FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL: Broxburn Athletic, 4th February 2023, South Challenge Cup 4th Round 7-0

FORMER CLUBS: Kilmarnock U18’s, Kilmarnock, Stranraer (Loan), Irvine Meadow, Auchinleck Talbot U20’s

Auchinleck Talbot v Johnstone Burgh

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT. PHOTO’S FROM travelandmixpixsmugmug.com

Talbot edged past Johnstone Burgh in a 2^nd round tie where the referee took centre stage with a display of staggering ineptitude.

The visitors settled quickly and had the Talbot defence breached in the 11^th minute when Connor slide a pass out to Cruden on the right and he fired a dangerous ball across the face of goal that Leishman held with Miller hovering.

On the quarter hour mark McCracken lifted a ball over the top towards Samson. It was slightly over hit but Cameron made a meal of it at the edge of his area, dropping it before managing to gather at the 2^nd attempt.

Burgh nearly took the lead in the 17^th minute. McPherson’s slack pass was pounced on and played through to Connor inside the area. He was forced wide by Leishman and played back to Gillespie at the edge of the area. He was crowded out and it broke to Crooks whose shot took a huge deflection and looked to be floating in until Leishman got across to his right to make the stop.

Two minutes later the visitors had another chance. They won a free kick out wide on the left and Brophy hit an in swinger toward the back post where Cruden just failed to connect.

In the 21^st minute the visitors were awarded another free kick – this one 30 yards out following a challenge by Ballantyne. Brophy took it again but this time his ball in was headed clear by McPherson.

Against the run of play Talbot opened the scoring in the 22^nd minute. Wardrope gathered out on the left and floated a good ball into the area to find Shankland. He controlled it on his chest and went for goal but his effort was blocked. It fell to Samson who also saw his shot blocked but it proved 3^rd time lucky as it fell to MARK SHANKLAND who rammed it into the roof of the net.

In the 28^th minute Talbot were awarded a free kick which was taken short and worked out left to Graham Wilson. He chipped it into the left of the area for Samson but it was fractionally overhit and Cameron was able to gather.

The referee, who certainly couldn’t be accused of being a homer, made the first of many dubious calls in the 32^nd minute. A ball down the right saw Samson in a race for it inside the area with the keeper and he slid in to make the challenge and the ball broke off the keeper and out to Shankland who stroked it into the empty net. However, the ref decided that Samson had fouled the keeper and booked Samson.

Two minutes later the ref again awarded Burgh a free kick in a dangerous area. Brophy swung it in from the left and it skimmed off McPherson’s head and behind for the corner. When the corner came in it was cleared but only as far as Gillespie who drilled a shot on target from 22 yards but straight at Leishman.

In the 37^th minute Leishman had his name taken for dissent.

A minute later Millar won a corner on the left when his cross was blocked. Brophy hit an inswinger that Crooks got his head to. It hit a defender and Talbot were able to clear.

The Bot came close to doubling their lead in the 40^th minute. Shankland played it through toward Samson who was just beaten to it by Andrew. However, Samson showed great persistence and closed Andrew down blocking his attempted clearance. The ball spun to Wardrope at the edge of the area and he steered a half volley just wide of the left hand post.

Talbot finished the half strongly and won a free kick 30 yards out following a foul on Boylan. Wardrope shoved it down the line to Stafford whose cross into the back post was met by Samson who headed it back across into the goal mouth. The defence were only able to clear it to Shankland but his shot was blocked behind for the corner and Burgh held on til the half-time whistle.

The 2^nd half was only 5 minutes old when the ref had the Bot support up in arms twice in succession. Talbot looked to be denied a penalty when Samson was obstructed inside the box as he tried to race onto Shankland’s through pass and when Burgh failed to clear their lines Graham Wilson was up-ended just outside the box but to the disbelief of all & sundry the ref gave the free kick to Johnstone Burgh.

The visitors almost levelled matters in the 52^nd minute. Connor spread play out right to find Brady on the overlap and when he squared it across Crooks met it 20 yards out and fired a low drive just wide of the right post.

In the 56^th minute Ballantyne picked up a yellow card for dissent after the referee awarded a free kick out on the left. Brophy curled it into the back post where Millar headed it over the bar from close range.

Talbot’s next attack saw Boylan whip a good ball across the face of the area. There were no takers in the centre but Park retrieved it on the left of the box. He cut it back to Samson who managed to turn his man but saw his shot blocked en route to goal.

Johnstone Burgh made a change in the 69^th minute with Donaldson on for Cruden.

Yet another refereeing call went against Talbot in the 71^st minute. McPherson met a cross into the Bot area and headed it up into the air. McCracken followed up and headed it clear just outside the box but the referee penalised him for winning a header and gave Burgh a free kick in a great area. Gillespie took it and his shot clipped the outside of the wall and was deflected just wide of target.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot thought they had killed the tie off with a 2^nd goal. Shankland laid the ball off to Boylan as he burst forward on the right and when he was challenged it fell to Samson who steered it across goal and into the far corner but the standside linesman raised his flag and the goal was chalked off.

In the 78^th minute Talbot made a triple substitution with Shankland, Samson and Graham Wilson making way for Taylor, Mason and Aiden Wilson.

McCracken had his name taken in the 81^st minute when the ref awarded Johnstone Burgh their umpteenth free kick inside the Bot half and two minutes later he was joined in the ref’s notebook by Taylor who was penalised for preventing Burgh from taking a quick throw in which should have went Talbot’s way in any case.

Four minutes from time the impressive Connor strode forward into space but his shot from 25 yards didn’t trouble Leishman as it sailed well over.

Two minutes from time Taylor did well down the right cutting into the box but his cut back didn’t have enough on it and the defence were able to clear.

In the final minute of regulation time Burgh won a free kick out wide on the left. Gillespie swung a good ball over but Leishman proved equal to it.

Into injury time Talbot came very close to nabbing their 2^ndtwice in quick succession. Firstly Wardrope fed it to the right to find Boylan whose low drive was spilled by the keeper before a defender lashed the rebound behind. When the corner came in Burgh failed to clear their lines and it came to Taylor on the right who whipped a great cross to the back post. The ball broke into the path of Wardrope 8 yards out and his goal bound effort was deflected over the bar by a defender.

Despite there being no injuries to speak of the referee managed to add 5 minutes on at the end but just when it looked as though the floodlights would need to come on he finally blew up for full time.

A hard fought cup tie against tricky opponents made all the tougher by Burgh’s 12^th man who left the field to a chorus of jeers from the Bot support.