Competition: McBookies Super League
Cumnock Juniors v Auchinleck Talbot
Auchinleck Talbot v Rutherglen Glencairn v
MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
It was déjà vu time for the Talbot support as Talbot won 2-1 with a last minute winner for the 3rd week in succession to claim all 3 points against Rutherglen Glencairn.
The Bot were facing into the gale force wind in the 1st half but it didn’t seem to hinder them early on with the Bot making all the early running.
The first chance came in the 4th minute. Armstrong won the ball midway inside the Glencairn half & fed it down to the left to Boylan. He whipped a low ball across goal which Samson just failed to connect with in front of goal.
The visitors had a chance on the counter-attack in the 9th minute. Talbot failed to make the most of a free kick & Rutherglen broke up field through Leyden who trundled a weak shot on target from outside the area.
A minute later Talbot were back in attack. Boylan’s cutback found Glasgow in the area but he mishit his shot across goal. Stephen Wilson retrieved it & played it back to Lyle whose fierce drive was blocked inside the 6-yard area. It came out to Stephen Wilson who slipped it across to Boylan & his shot produced a top save from McLellan who tipped it over the bar but bizarrely the ref awarded a goal kick.
Talbot had the ball in the back of the net in the 11th minute. Samson squared it to Boylan inside the area & he buried it beyond the keeper but the linesman’s flag went up and the goal didn’t stand.
The Bot kept pressing & forced a decent stop out McLellan on the quarter hour mark. Pope flighted a free kick into the box that Armstrong met and McLellan touched his effort over the bar.
It looked only a matter of time til Talbot made their pressure count but the home support were stunned when Glencairn took the lead against the run of play in the 16th min. McRobbie did well out on the left, holding the ball up before releasing it inside to LEYDEN who charged into the box & blasted a shot inside Leishman’s left post.
Talbot’s heads didn’t go down & they came close to levelling in the 22nd minute. Boylan raced clear on the right & fired it across the face of goal where Samson was inches from connecting.
Glencairn were happy to sit in & Talbot were seeing plenty of the ball but not able to make it count.
With 39 minutes gone Samson had a half chance when he surged down the right into the penalty area but he fired his shot into the side-netting.
The visitors were forced into a change soon after with Kerr being replaced in defence by Chrystal.
Talbot ought to have levelled in the 40th minute. Boylan dinked a cross in from the left that Samson met in front of goal but he headed over the bar from 4 yards out and Glencairn saw the half out to go in a goal ahead.
With the wind in their sails, Talbot pegged Glencairn back right from the start of the 2nd half as they shot toward the Beechwood Road end.
In the 52nd minute McLellan kept Talbot out with a fine save. The Bot won a free kick out on the left when Lachlan obstructed Glasgow. Glasgow took the free kick & it was curling inside the left post until the keeper dived to turn it round the post.
It was now all Talbot but Rutherglen were defending resolutely & frustrating was growing amongst the Bot support.
Eventually, Talbot’s pressure told & they drew level in the 63rd minute. Samson’s shy from the right came into the area where Boylan hooked it across goal & STEPHEN WILSON bundled it home from close range.
This proved to be his last involvement as Tucker made a double switch with Wilson & Glasgow making way for Shankland & Hyslop.
Rutherglen hadn’t offered much going forward but gradually came out their shell & McRobbie forced a save out of Leishman when he angled a shot in from wide on the right that Leishman held at his left post.
In the 69th minute a ball over the top found Weir racing into the penalty area but Lyle recovered to get back & slide it behind for the corner.
Down the other end Talbot forced a series of corners which ended with McLellan dropping the ball under pressure from Hyslop but the referee awarded a soft free kick in favour of the keeper.
Talbot came close to taking the lead in the 74th minute. Armstrong was fouled just outside the area resulting in a free kick wide on the right. Shankland delivered it into the box where Armstrong glanced a header to the back post where Hyslop slid in to meet it but sent his shot wide.
Rutherglen now made two changes with McKay replacing McRobbie & then Gormley coming on for Weir.
With 10 minutes remaining Talbot nearly moved in front. Shankland cut in off the left & his shot was deflected behind. His first corner was headed behind by a defender and his 2nd attempt was curling in under the crossbar until McLellan turned it over.
The visiting keeper came out on top again in the 84th minute. Talbot won a free kick down the left that Pope flighted into the box. McCracken headed it on target & McLellan stretched to tip it over the bar.
Tucker now made his final change with McDowall on for Glasgow.
Just when it looked as though Glencairn were going to cling on for a point Talbot struck late to secure the win. Pope angled a good cross in from the left & KEIR SAMSON did the rest; glancing a header inside the keeper’s left post to put Talbot 2-1 ahead.
Deep into injury time Talbot almost added to their lead. Boylan cut inside off the right & arrowed a shot for the far corner that the impressive McLellan tipped around his right post.
A hard shift but 3 valuable points for Talbot as they keep pace with the Buffs. Next up for Talbot is a Tuesday night visit to Townhead to face a rejuvenated Cumnock.
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, White, Stephen Wilson, Glasgow, Boylan, Samson
Subs – Shankland, McDowall, Hyslop, Aiden Wilson, Young
Rutherglen Glencairn – McLellan, Lachlan, McGregor, Donaldson, Kerr, Hewitt, Mitchell, Leyden, Weir, McGuire, McRobbie
Subs – Gormley, McKay, Chrystal, Cochrane, Wingate
Rossvale v Auchinleck Talbot
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
Talbot left it late again but succeeded in claiming all 3 points in an incident packed encounter that saw the referee send off 4 players; with Rossvale finishing the match with 8 men & Talbot reduced to 10.
The Bot got off to the perfect start and took the lead with only 2 minutes gone. Armstrong lifted in a cross that Samson met in the centre & his glancing header was deflected wide of target off a defender. Shankland lifted the corner over & DWAYNE HYSLOP met it to nod Talbot into the lead.
The home side weren’t discouraged & Rossvale had a chance to test the Talbot defence in the 4th minute when McCracken conceded a free kick out on the right. It was angled in toward the far post where Hyslop did enough to glance it behind for the corner. When the corner came over it came to Higgins beyond the back post & and he fired a volley on target that Leishman blocked at his left post.
Talbot now raced onto the counter-attack with Shankland releasing Stephen Wilson & he in turn swiftly switched play to free Samson down the left. He drilled a low ball across the face of goal but it was just behind Graham Wilson in the centre & Niven swept it out for a shy.
Talbot were soon back on the attack & Stephen Wilson did well to win the ball deep in Rosssvale’s half before drilling a low ball across the face of goal but there were no takers in the centre.
The next chance also came Talbot’s way. Pope’s ball over the top found Graham Wilson pacing clear down the left & Healy met his cross beyond the far post but blasted it high & wide from a tight angle.
Samson missed a glorious chance to double Talbot’s lead in the 10th minute when he raced clear of the defence into the box but fired his shot straight at the keeper.
Rossvale showed their own attacking intent two minutes later. A diagonal ball released Leadbetter down the left & he skipped past Armstrong before firing a ball across goal that Leishman tipped away to safety.
Talbot were soon back on the front foot & came close to moving two clear in the 16th minute. Graham Wilson slid a pass through to send Samson through on the keeper & he attempted to pass it under Donnelly but it caught the keeper’s heels.
Within a minute Talbot hit the woodwork when Shankland jinked in off the left & curled a right foot shot off the face of the crossbar.
The first of the afternoon’s dismissals came after 27 minutes. Graham Wilson played it early to release Samson down the right & as he raced toward the penalty area he was tripped by Donnelly who had raced out his area. The referee had no choice but to send the keeper packing & Higgins took over in between the sticks.
Strangely, the red card seemed to knock Talbot out their rhythm & it took until the 36th minute before they tested the makeshift keeper. Shankland stepped in off the left & fired a low shot on target that Johnstone parried & he just managed to gather at 2nd attempt before Samson could prod it home.
Rossvale levelled in the 39th minute. McCracken was beaten to the ball outside the box by McNab who broke down the right before cutting it across goal where MGONIGLE knocked it past Leishman.
Two minutes later Talbot thought they’d restored their lead. Hyslop played it into Graham Wilson & he in turn found Shankland on the left of the area. He passed it into the opposite bottom corner of the net but the goal was chalked off by a debatable call from the assistant ref.
In the final action of the half Rossvale conceded a cheap corner down the left. Shankland curled it beyond the far post where Pope headed it back across goal but Graham Wilson couldn’t keep his header down & so the sides went in level at the break.
Talbot started the 2nd half positively up to a point; that point being the final third. Rossvale were pinned back deep in their own half but Talbot failed to find the necessary quality in their final pass or crosses to test the keeper.
The Bot did have a clear chance to regain the lead in the 58th minute. Pope angled a cross to the back post where Hyslop cushioned a header back across goal that Graham Wilson met 6 yards out but he blasted his shot over the bar.
In the 62nd minute Rossvale found themselves two men down. Johnstone slid in late on Hyslop. It looked like a caution would suffice but the ref went straight to the top pocket and sent him off.
The game exploded in the 67th minute with both sides seeing a player sent to the clubhouse. McGonigle was guilty of a shocking challenge on Healy who then lashed out in retaliation & off they both went.
Down to 8 men Rossvale were left with little option but to pack their defence & McNab was sacrificed to make way for Alexander.
The game re-started with a Bot free kick which Shankland shoved wide of the wall into the path of Graham Wilson. He crosssed it to the far post where Hyslop headed it back across goal & Shankland fired a shot at goal that was blocked in the crowded goalmouth.
Talbot seemed to have left the shooting boots at home. In the 72nd minute Samson raced up the right & swept over a cross that Hyslop headed down into the path of Shankland but he tugged his shot wide of target from the edge of the area.
Two minutes later Talbot had a penalty shout. Pope fired a ball across goal where Graham Wilson went over in the centre. The ref waved play on & it came to Shankland who blasted it into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Tucker now made a double switch with Shankland & Samson making way for Boylan & Glasgow.
In the 76th minute Graham Wilson had a half chance when he found himself in space 18 yards out but failed to test Higgins who stopped his shot with his outstretched foot.
The match officials took centre stage again in the 78th minute. Armstrong pinged over a cross from the right that Boylan met with his head. Higgins threw himself to his right to claw the ball away with Talbot claiming the ball was well over the line before Higgins scooped it back out but the referee dismissed Talbot’s appeals for the goal.
Talbot were camped out about midway inside the Rossvale half but the longer the game wore on the less likely it looked that they’d manage to find a winner; with crosses either being over hit or not beating the first man & shots either being blocked by a wall of defenders or sailing harmlessly high or wide.
Just when it looked as though Talbot had run out of steam the Bot grabbed a late winner from an unlikely source. NEIL MCPHERSON steered a left foot shot from the edge of the area that came through a ruck of players & into the back of the net.
It wasn’t over yet though & Talbot had one last bit of defending to do deep into injury time. The referee awarded a dubious offside call against Graham Wilson just inside the Rossvale half allowing them one final chance. The free kick was floated straight down the centre where Niven glanced a header on that was floating toward the top right hand corner until Leishman touched it over to ensure Talbot left with all 3 points.
A frustrating afternoon for Talbot who made heavy work of it for spells in the 2nd half but will be relieved to have ground out a valuable away win. Next up for Talbot it’s back to Beechwood where they host Rutherglen Glencairn in the league.
Rossvale Juniors – Donnelly, McDowall, Leadbetter, Niven, Bradley, McGrath, Higgins, Johnstone, McNab, Slattery, McGonigle
Subs – O’Sullivan, Giffin, Alexander, Biggar, Brennan
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Armstrong, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Healy, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Samson, Shankland
Subs – Boylan, Glasgow, White, A Wilson, Young
Auchinleck Talbot v Benburb
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
Talbot continued with their assault on the league leaders with an emphatic 5-0 win over league strugglers Benburb.
They went 2-0 ahead in the opening five minutes when poor defending gave Gareth Armstrong to pick out Kier Samson who glanced a header into an empty net.
A few minutes later Mark Shankland increased the lead when he scored from the spot. Talbot continued to dominate and some stout defending and a goalkeeping display of the highest order kept Talbot at bay
In the second half it was business as usual as Talbot went on the hunt for more goals. Their third one came from the head of Dwayne Hyslop, and then a brace by Kier Samson who was a constant thorn in the Benburb defence.
Kier had the honour of scoring Talbot’s 100th competitive goal this season and going by Talbot’s recent expoits, its not to say we could score another 100. However next league match is away to Rossvale.
Auchinleck Talbot v Beith Juniors
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
A 2nd half surge saw Talbot race through the gears & put Beith to the sword as the Bot started the new year in style with a 4-0 win.
The first purposeful attack of the match saw Stephen Wilson play a one-two with Boylan outside the area & attempt to run onto the return pass. He tumbled over in the area but the ref waved away his appeal.
The opening spell was highly competitive but neither side had anything to show for it other than an exchange of corners.
It looked like Graham Wilson had got in behind Beith’s defence in the 14th minute when he raced onto Samson’s pass but a marginal offside call went against him.
The Bot threatened Beith’s goal in the 19th minute. Sheridan was penalised for barging over Graham Wilson 35 yards out & Stephen Wilson swept in a good free kick to the back past. Beith couldn’t properly clear it & it came to Lyle on the touchline. Graham Wilson met his cross & looped a header beyond the far post where Samson dinked it back into play before it was bundled behind for a corner.
In the 22nd minute both sides came close in quick succession. Firstly, Christie slid a pass through toward McKenzie that forced Leishman off his line to smother at the striker’s feet. Leishman then launched a counterattack when he hurled the ball out to the right to find Samson racing away. He sped down the touchline before firing a cross beyond Sheridan that Graham Wilson met on the stretch 6 yards out but he couldn’t keep his shot down.
Two minutes later Talbot had a lucky escape. Ramsay squared the ball to Wilson just outside the penalty area and his shot was travelling on target before taking a major deflection & speeding just wide of the left post.
The first booking of the afternoon came in the 29th minute when Graham Wilson cut inside Wilson who obstructed him resulting in a caution for Beith’s midfielder & a Bot freekick 20 yards out that Talbot failed to make the most of.
Graham Wilson came close to breaking the deadlock when he met Aiden Wilson’s cross but glanced his header wide of the left post and a minute later he was inches from connecting with Boylan’s low ball in from the left at the near post.
Talbot’s next effort came in the 35th minute. Beith failed to deal with Samson’s long throw & the ball broke to Boylan 20 yards out & he stroked a shot narrowly past Grindlay’s right post.
Boylan was soon involved again. He raced onto a ball over the top & burst into the area only to take a heavy touch & was forced wide by Grindlay. He retrieved the ball at the byline and cut back in field before trying a shot from a tight angle that was blocked.
With 40 mins gone Boylan had his name taken for a late challenge on Ramsay.
In the closing minutes of the half the visitors were forced into a change when Sheridan limped off to be replaced by McMahon and that was it for a keenly contested 1st half.
The 2nd half was only 6 minutes old when Talbot made the crucial breakthrough. Stephen Wilson ploughed past a couple of weak challenges down the left. It fell to Boylan inside the area & he pulled it back & across to KEIR SAMSON who stroked it past Grindlay from 15 yards.
The goal galvanised Talbot who began to push Beith back in search of a second.
Beith made a 2nd change, in the 59th minute, when McLean replaced McKenzie.
Talbot made their first change in the 64th minute with Shankland coming on for Boylan and Beith soon completed their changes with Prior replacing Ramsay.
The next goal was going to be pivotal & it went Talbot’s way in the 71st minute. McCracken was caught as he burst forward resulting in a free kick 30 yards out. With everyone anticipating a direct shot, Shankland instead slid a pass wide of the wall to GRAHAM WILSON & he steered a left foot shot across Grindlay to make it 2-0.
With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot nearly added a third. Aiden Wilson carried out of defence before finding Graham Wilson in the centre of the pitch. He hooked it over his shoulder to release Samson who outpaced the defence but was unable to beat Grindlay who raced off his line to make the block.
Tucker now made a further change with Healy on for Samson & the switch paid off as Talbot extended their lead in the 76th minute.
Shankland lifted a cross over from the right that was retrieved on the far side by Healy. He whipped it back over where Shankland met it on the volley & his shot back across goal squirmed past Grindlay & GRAHAM WILSON followed up to rifle it home from close range.
With 10 minutes remaining Talbot made their final change when Lyle was forced off injured to be replaced by White.
Talbot were sitting comfortably & looking to add to their tally which they nearly did in the 82nd minute. Docherty swept the legs from Shankland resulting in a free kick out on the right. Shankland delivered the free kick across the face of goal where Graham Wilson just failed to connect with his head.
Five minutes from time & Talbot cut open the Beith defence again. Shankland gathered on the left & played a great ball across to find White free on the right of the area; however he didn’t catch his strike cleanly & McGlinchey cleared from the goalmouth.
The goal wasn’t long delayed though & a minute later Talbot completed the scoring. Shankland cut in off the left & swept over a cross. Two Beith defenders went for it & only succeeded in getting each other’s way as they knocked it straight to GRAHAM WILSON who tucked it home from close range to complete Beith’s misery & his own hat-trick.
Another excellent home win for the Bot who are back on cup duty next Saturday as they travel through to Kilwinning to face the Buffs in the West.
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Boylan, Samson
Subs – Shankland, McDowall, Healy, Pope, White
Beith Juniors – Grindlay, McGlinchey, Milliken, Docherty, Sheridan, Wilson, Christie, Frize, McIlroy, McKenzie, Ramsay
Subs – Noble, McLean, McMahon, Prior, Zaliska
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy v Auchinleck Talbot
Auchinleck Talbot v Kilbirnie Ladeside
MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
The Bot fans got an early Christmas present as Talbot brushed aside Ladeside to narrow the gap at the top.
The visitors made the brighter opening but had nothing to show for it but for a long range McGuinness effort straight at Leishman within the opening minute and Talbot showed them the way to goal when they took the lead in the 13th minute.
Graham Wilson surged through midfield before sending it right to STEPHEN WILSON who knocked it round Mitchell, gathered it on the other side & slotted a low shot past Hughes inside the right post.
Minutes later C Hughes came to the Blasties rescue. Shankland’s reverse ball sent Glasgow through & he drilled it across goal where Hughes stretched to turn it behind.
Talbot came close to doubling their lead in the 24th minute. Hyslop won a 50/50 & knocked it on to Glasgow who raced clear of the defence before firing a shot just wide of the right post.
A minute later the Blasties threatened at the other end. Mitchell cut in past Stephen Wilson & prodded a shot straight at Leishman from the edge of the area.
Kilbirnie gave Talbot a scare when they won a free kick out on the stand side. It was angled deep beyond the far post where Mitchell climbed to head it back across goal & it had to be cleared behind for the corner.
A swift passing move by Talbot saw the Bot work the ball down the right between Glasgow & Stephen Wilson before it was laid back to Lyle. He slung a high cross beyond the far post where Shankland volleyed off target.
The next goal was going to be crucial & it went Talbot’s way in the 41st minute. Glasgow’s cross field ball floated over O’Byrne & was gathered by Shankland on the left of the area. He promptly squared it for GRAHAM WILSON to side-foot it home from 12 yards to put Talbot 2 goals ahead.
Kilbirnie pressed hard to try & grab a goal back & McGuinness blasted a shot at goal from 30 yards that was blocked en route to target. It fell to Mitchell on the left & he lobbed over a cross that Leishman couldn’t take under the challenge of Dickie but he recovered swiftly to smother the ball & Talbot went in 2-0 ahead at the interval.
Talbot made a change during the break with Healy replacing Shankland.
The game could have been done & dusted 4 minutes into the 2nd half. McPherson pinged a ball out from the back to find Graham Wilson & he switched it into the path of Glasgow who burst into the area but he slid his shot just past the right post.
Two minutes later the Bot came close again. Healy found Stephen Wilson speeding clear down the right & he hammered a shot over the bar.
The visitors now made a change with McLaren replacing Muir.
Against the run of play the Blasties pulled a goal back after 57 mins. Slack defending allowed MITCHELL the chance to stab a shot at goal that came off the foot of the post & he followed up to slam home the rebound.
Talbot responded in the best way, regaining their two goal cushion within a minute. Stephen Wilson whipped over a dangerous cross that flew across the face of goal. Healy retrieved it at the by line & floated a cross onto the head of DWAYNE HYLSOP who nodded home from close range.
On the hour mark Talbot turned defence into attack. Leishman easily gathered a Ladeside corner before bowling the ball out to McCracken. He carried it up the right before switching play to Graham Wilson on the opposite wing. He tried to square it across to McCracken who’d continued his run into the area but it was cut out.
With 20 minutes remaining Tucker made a double switch with Graham Wilson & Glasgow making way for Samson & Boylan.
Samson was involved not long after joining the fray. Stephen Wilson’s persistence paid off when he robbed C Hughes & knocked it out to Samson. He cut inside onto his left foot & angled a shot across the keeper & wide of the far post.
It was game over in the 77th minute when O’BYRNE met a cross from the right & shanked his clearance over his keeper and into his own net to make it 4-1.
The dust hadn’t settled before Talbot grabbed their fifth. Hughes took fractionally too long dealing with a back pass & was closed down by BRYAN BOYLAN who blocked his clearance & rolled it into the empty net.
With six minutes remaining Kilbirnie snatched a late consolation effort. Mitchell looked to be caught as he nicked inside Armstrong & Talbot stopped as though expecting a free kick. MITCHELL played on & let fly from 20 yards & his shot skimmed off the surface & bobbled over Leishman’s outstretched arm to complete the scoring.
Another good home win for the Bot who are back on their travels next Saturday when they visit Cumbernauld to face Rob Roy.
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Glasgow, Shankland
Subs – Boylan, Samson, Healy, White, Young
Kilbirnie Ladeside – K Hughes, Woods, Mitchell, C Hughes, O’Byrne, McGuinness, Finlay, Muir, Craig, Dickie, Ramsay
Subs – McVey, Longworth, Scullion, McLaren, Wilton (gk)
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
Troon FC v Auchinleck Talbot
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
Auchinleck Talbot v Kilwinning Rangers
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
