SCOTTISH CUP – Page 5 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

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Auchinleck Talbot v Coldstream FC

MURRAYS REPORT

Coldstream is barely in Scotland and The Streamers were barely in this year’s Scottish cup as the Bot swept them aside to book their place in Monday’s 1st round draw.

Talbot got the quick start they’d been looking for and won a penalty in the 5th minute. Taylor fed the ball to Samson who cut inside Gay and burst into the area. His square ball across goal was intercepted but came straight back to him and when Fox up-ended him the ref pointed straight to the spot. KIER SAMSON took it himself and coolly sent the keeper the wrong way as he passed it inside the right hand post.

Two minutes later and Talbot doubled their lead with a well-worked goal. Armstrong’s pass found Wardrope who in turn fed it into the feet of ROSS TAYLOR who turned smartly before sending a curling shot beyond the keeper from 25 yards to make it 2-0.

The early goals had all but settled the tie and Talbot began to knock the ball about content to keep possession.

Sixteen minutes in and Talbot added a third. The defence managed to head Ballantyne’s cross clear but Talbot regained it and Armstrong squared the ball into the path of ROSS TAYLOR who hit a low drive from 20 yards that Turnbull got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.

Coldstream tried to rally and created a half chance in the 19th minute. Windram did well on the left wing and hit an early ball into the area that Aitchison laid back toward Ingram but his shot was blocked away.

Talbot came close twice in short order in the 23rd minute as they forced a string of corners. From the 2nd corner Glasgow tried an acrobatic half volley that looked to be rocketing into the top of the net until it cannoned off the head of a defender and over the bar. Wardrope took the next corner short and angled it back into the path of Stafford who clipped a shot just over the bar.

Leishman had been spectating for the most part but was called into action in the 27th minute. Brannan hit an accurate long diagonal ball to find Windram on the left edge of the Talbot area. He drilled a low powerful shot on target but straight at Leishman who had his near post covered.

Talbot kept pressing and had half a chance in the 36th minute when Taylor swept over a dangerous cross from the right toward Samson but he opted to go for the scissor kick rather than with his head and failed to make contact.

A minute later Glasgow brought a good save out of the keeper when he danced past Brannan’s challenge inside the area and fired a shot back across goal from a tight angle that Turnbull did well to stop.

As the half drew to a close Wardrope tried his luck from 18 yards but it lacked the power to test Turnbull and then Taylor pounced on a loose ball following a Bot corner but sent his curling shot over the bar with the Borderers able to hang on to go in 3 down at the interval.

Talbot made a change early in the 2nd period with Crawford coming on for Stafford in the 50th minute.

Two minute later Talbot had a chance to extend their lead. The Bot won a free kick out on the right touchline for Gay’s foul on Armstrong. Wardrope flighted it over toward the back post where Wilson met it but he sent his header over the crossbar.

Coldstream had a decent chance to pull one back in the 55th minute when Aitchison bulled his way through the centre of the Bot defence. The ball broke out wide right to Briggs in space but he failed to take advantage – pulling his shot across goal and wide of the far post.

The visitors defence weren’t doing a great job of guarding their goal and Talbot nearly added a fourth in the 58th minute. Crawford clipped a good ball in behind the defence for Glasgow to chase and he cut it back to find Wilson racing onto it but Turnbull did well to turn his shot away.

The chances were falling thick & fast and Talbot had another go in the 61st minute. A shy from the right was met by Wilson who laid it into the feet of Glasgow who steered a left foot shot wide of goal from the edge of the box.

Two minutes later Talbot came close again. A neat passing move ended with Samson being released down the left. He beat Brannan on the outside and stood a cross up to the back post where Ballantyne glanced a header wide.

In the 66th minute Talbot made a double swap up top with Wilson & Samson making way for Mason & Boylan. The visitors also made a change with Bullen limping from the field after suffering cramp to be replaced by Wright.

68 mins in and Talbot’s pressure told as they added a fourth. McCracken hit a good ball down the right to find Mason speeding in behind the defence and as Glasgow went to meet his cut-back he was bundled over from behind for Talbot’s 2nd penalty of the afternoon. ROSS TAYLOR slotted it away low to Turnbull’s left to complete his hat-trick.

Coldstream now made a further change with Paterson on for Briggs.

Talbot grabbed their fifth goal of the afternoon in the 71st minute. Glasgow sent an early ball over from the left to find Boylan inside the box who appeared to be fouled by the defender; however, he kept his feet and got away from him and fired a shot that Turnbull blocked at his near post but he could do nothing to prevent BRYAN BOYLAN passing the rebound into the empty net.

Talbot now made their final change with McPherson coming on for McCracken.

It was nearly six for Talbot soon after when Mason did well out on the left to nip in and rob the ball from Brannan as he tried to let it run out for a goal kick. He angled the ball back into the path of Glasgow who swept a shot just over the crossbar.

Talbot got their sixth goal in the 81st minute. Mason gathered it on the left before cutting in field and driving towards the box before releasing it to JAMIE GLASGOW whose low side-footed effort managed to sneak past Turnbull who got his hand to it but couldn’t prevent it trundling home.

Five minutes from time Boylan almost added to Talbot’s tally. A good early ball in behind found Boylan racing free on the right. He tried to hit it across the face first time and when the defence cut it out it came straight back to him, only this time he cut onto his left foot and fired a shot for the far corner that Turnbull turned round the post.

Three minutes from time Talbot completed the scoring as they grabbed their seventh of the afternoon. Wardrope slipped a good pass into the feet of Crawford who sped forward down the right before squaring it to the unmarked AARON MASON who passed it inside the left hand post to make it 7-0.

A good afternoon’s work for Talbot who did what they had to. Next week its back to league action as Talbot travel through to Springburn to face Petershill.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Ballantyne, Healy, McCracken, Armstrong, Wardrope, Taylor, Wilson, Samson, Glasgow

Subs – Boylan, Mason, Crawford, McPherson, Park, Halliday

Coldstream – Turnbull, Brannan, Fox, Gay, Hume, Heugh, Bullen, Ingram, Briggs, Windram, Aitchison

Subs – Taylor, Wright, Bonnington, Whitehead, Paterson, Ainslie

Coldstream FC

Jamie Ballantyne

Sponsor: Cameron Torrance; Isla McCurdy

BIO:

Jamie initially started his career at Rangers as a youth, prior to a move to Ayr United where he captained their u20’s for two seasons. He would then go on loan to Girvan FC where he won the league, prior to joining Benburb for their championship winning season.

Jamie then made a return to first team league football with Annan Athletic, before again returning to non league football.

Ross Taylor

SPONSOR: Jim McCluskie, Dorethy Lawrence

BIO: Ross joined Talbot in July 2022 after leaving Morton. He played the previous season on loan to Kilbirnie Ladeside where he became a fans favourite playing at right back. He has been a teenage sensation since joining Talbot and celebrated his Scottish Cup baptism by grabbing a hat-trick against Coldstream

Ally Park

SPONSORED BY:

POSITION: Defender/Midfield

JOINED TALBOT: July 2011. July 2022

D.O.B: 11/01/1990

TALBOT DEBUT: Cumnock Juniors (Away), 27th July 2011, Ardagh League Cup 5-0

FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL: Ashfield (Home) 5th November 2011, WJFA Premier League 9-1

FORMER CLUBS: Rangers U20’s, Hibs U20’s, Clyde, Auchinleck Talbot, Glenafton Athletic, Beith Juniors.

Lewis Crawford

SPONSORs: Loons Supporters Club

The 22 year old 6ft right or left back joins as a free transfer from Lowland side Broomhill and has been training with Talbot for the last three weeks, which gave Tucker the chance to run the rule over the player before offering him a contract.

Lewis has had experience in the SPFL and the lower leagues starting his career at Dumbarton U17’s and Clyde U20’s. He was released by Clyde in July 2018 and spent a season at Petershill before making the move to the SPFL with Dumbarton. He spent over a year with the “Sons” which included a loan spell at Rossvale and an appearance at Pittodrie in 2020 when Dumbarton narrowly lost out to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup.

In September 2020 he left Dumbarton to play with Linlithgow Rose for a season and then Broomhill who were managed by former Talbot legend Davie Gormley.

Michael Wardrope

SPONSORED BY: The Late Tommy Griffin Jnr.

POSITION: Midfield

JOINED TALBOT: March 2022

D.O.B: 17/12/96

TALBOT DEBUT: Bonnyton Thistle (Home), 26th March 2022, WOSL Premier Division 3-0

FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL: Glenafton Athletic (Home), 5th November 2022, WOSL Premier Division 3-1

FORMER CLUBS: Ayr United 17, Ayr United (13 appearances), Glenafton Athletic (Loan), Kilwinning Rangers, Ardrossan Winton Rovers (Loan), Hurlford United, Irvine Meadow.

Auchinleck Talbot v Hearts of Midlothian

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

Auchinleck Talbot v Hamilton Academicals

The Talbot Young Team out in force before the big kick off.

The teams and the officials run out onto the pitch in front of a packed Beechwood Park.

A couple of very happy Hamilton chaps before the kick off.

The Young Team look on, as Hamilton fire in the cross.

Hamilton try to go on the attack but Aiden Wilson makes sure the ball doesn’t get threaded through.

Hamilton wonder what could have been, as they squander a great chance.

McPherson makes sure the danger gets cleared.

HAD TO BE, SURELY!!! Kieran Healy finds himself in acres of space right in front of goal but fails to properly connect with the ball and to find the back of the net.

Boylan does his best to break free with the ball.

All eyes on the ball for Jamie Glasgow, as he fires the ball up the park.

WHAT-A-CHANCE!!! ‘Shankers’ cross finds Glasgow at the back post but his sliding shot gets batted away by the Hamilton ‘keeper.

Bryan Boylan does his best to keep hold of the ball and find a way through.

OFFSIDE! Boylan is deemed to have been offside, as he races through on goal.

Wilson watches, as Mark tries to muscle out his opponent for possession.

‘Tucker’ and Allan look on from the sidelines, while Boylan tries to keep the ball in play.

A chance for Hamilton but ‘Gee’ makes sure the route through gets blocked.

OUCH!!! Glasgow takes a sore one while racing away with the ball.

The Black ‘n’ Gold conga line keep their eyes firmly on the ball, as Hamilton go on the attack.

Robbie McCracken sticks closely to his man, as the Talbot faithful pack the terraces.

It may be two against one but Mark Shankland still takes them both on but…

…gets bundled over, as he tries to skip past them.

A couple of young Talbot fans take a break from watching the action at half-time.

Two Talbot fans made the trip from Perth to watch the big game and were happy with the half-time scoreline.

Boylan shouts for the foul, as Hamilton feel frustrated after giving away a free-kick.

Big Neily, again, makes sure the danger gets cleared.

Samson gets set to come on, as ‘Tucker’ discusses tactics with his bench.

Gareth Armstrong wins the header inside the box, where something special was about to happen…

GOOOAAALLL!!! UNBELIEVABLE JEFF!!! Armstrong’s header lets the ball fall to the feet of Graham Wilson, where he fires off a powerful low strike that…

…smashes into the back of the net putting Talbot into the lead. 1-0.

No caption required to describe this image.

Samson sticks to his man and makes sure his opponent is facing away from goal.

Craig McCracken tries to race away but gets stopped in his tracks by a great tackle.

Samson makes it look easy, as he skips past one opponent and then…

The goalscorer, Graham Wilson, uses his pace to break away and go on the attack.

Neil and Kieran look on, as Gareth wins the ball and starts another attacking move.

May be a slight height difference but I know where my money is going.

Hamilton try their luck from distance but it fails to trouble Andy Leishman.

Another chance for Hamilton but Neil and Craig make sure the ball doesn’t get through.

Jack McDowell stands his ground and races down the park.

Final chance for Hamilton, as they find space in front of goal and send a great header towards goal where…

…although Leishman makes sure, the ball sails harmlessly over the crossbar.

Jamie does his best to encourage his team-mates from the sidelines during the closing minutes of the game.

The anxious Talbot bench look on, as ‘Gee’ keeps hold of the ball in order to run down the clock.

And it’s not just the Talbot bench that are looking anxious while Graham keeps hold of the ball.

WHAT-A-RESULT!!! The final whistle gets blown and Talbot can finally begin to par-ty!

Bryan and Jamie can’t stop smiling after helping Talbot to achieve another big scalp in the Scottish Cup.

Jack and Bryan continue to celebrate the victory under the glorious Beechwood floodlights.

The Talbot Young Team ‘gie it laldy’ after the final whistle.

Big Neily shows off his dance moves in front of the adoring Black ‘n’ Gold faithful.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS NATCH REPORT

Talbot once again made a mockery of the bookies odds with another giant-killing win at Beechwood park as they deservedly beat Hamilton Accies to book their place in the 4^th round draw of the Scottish cup.

The Bot made a slightly nervy start and Accies forced a couple of corners in the opening minutes but both deliveries were poor and sailed straight behind for goal kicks.

Glasgow had his name taken in the 4^th minute for a late challenge in midfield.

Hamilton had a half chance in the 6^th minute. A bout of heady tennis ended with the ball breaking to Ryan on the right of the area but his half volley under pressure sailed over the crossbar.

Talbot showed they weren’t just there to make up the numbers in the 8^th minute when they carved out a great opportunity to take the lead. Robbie McCracken clipped a ball up the right to release Glasgow and his cross to the far post found Healy in space 8 yards out but he didn’t connect cleanly and his left foot shot trundled straight at the keeper.

In the 11^th minute Talbot caught Hamilton cold on the counter-attack. An Accies corner from the right was headed clear by Armstrong and Talbot swiftly broke up the pitch. Shankland swept a great cross in from the left which Glasgow met beyond the back post and Hilton did well to turn his volley round the left hand post.

Talbot had settled well after the early wobble and it was the Bot who threatened again in the 26^th minute. Robbie McCracken’s pass sent Boylan clear on the right and he crossed it to the far post where Shankland headed it back down into the path of Graham Wilson whose shot was deflected behind off Stirling.

Hamilton hadn’t offered much but the visitors did have a clear sight of goal in the 29^th minute. There appeared to be a foul on Glasgow in the build-up but the ref waved play on and Hamilton worked it to Ryan inside the area but his low drive was smothered by Leishman.

The Bot fans were up in arms in the 33^rd minute when Boylan was taken out late as he flicked the ball on. The ref played advantage but when the move broke down no card was produced for what had been a cynical foul and the referee didn’t make himself any more popular a minute later when Stirling bowled Glasgow over near the touchline and no foul was given.

Talbot won a set piece 35 yards out in the 35^th minute following handball by Shields. Shankland swept the ball into the heart of the area where it was headed clear. The ball came straight to Armstrong at the edge of the area and he met it on the half-volley; firing on target but straight at Hilton.

A minute later Glasgow’s ball up the right forced Hilton to race out of his box to beat Shankland to the ball and fire it out for a shy.

As the half drew to a close it was Talbot who were pushing forward. Armstrong did well to win the ball then released a good early pass for Boylan. He raced forward down the left but Want got back to deny him with a perfectly timed slide tackle and the sides headed in goalless at the break with Talbot the happier of the two camps.

Hamilton were quickest out the blocks at the start of the 2^nd half and it took Leishman at his best to prevent them moving ahead in the 46^th minute. Munro cut in off the right and let fly from 20 yards and his shot was heading into the roof of the net but for Leishman stretching to touch it away. The ball came out to Ryan on the corner of the 6-yard area and he looked set to smash home the rebound but Leishman again rose to the challenge; blocking his low drive with his outstretched leg to complete a fantastic double save.

Accies tails were up and for the first time they pressed forward but the Bot defence gave nothing away.

Talbot made the first change in the 57^th minute when Samson came on in place of Glasgow.

In the 59^th minute Talbot nearly found a way through on the counter. Shankland won the ball in the tackle and sent a good early ball out to the right towards Samson who was haring into the box but Shields did well to cover his run and usher it back to the keeper.

Beechwood erupted on the hour mark when Talbot took the lead. The Bot won a shy out on the right which Samson launched into the area. Armstrong flicked it on at the near post and GRAHAM WILSON ran onto it and coolly sidefooted it past Hilton to make it 1-0.

Accies were rattled and there was a hint of desperation about Ryan’s effort at goal in the 62^nd minute when he fired a left foot shot well off target from distance.

The visitors made a change in the 63^rd minute with Redfern making way for Moyo and the sub had an early chance to make an impact. Hamilton won a free kick on halfway which was floated up to the edge of the penalty area. Talbot failed to clear it and the ball broke to Moyo 20 yards out in space but his angled drive went wide of the right hand post.

Hamilton were struggling to cope with Talbot at set plays and in the 66^th minute another shy from the right caused them problems. This time the defence managed to partially clear it but only as far as Graham Wilson whose fierce drive from 20 yards looked to be heading on target but was blocked by Martin’s head.

Two minutes later Samson surged up the right touchline evading two lunging challenges before sliding the ball toward the near post and the waiting Boylan but it was cut out by an Accies defender.

Talbot now made a 2^nd change with Boyd coming on to replace Shankland.

In the 73^rd minute Hamilton made their 2^nd change with Virtanen on for Martin and six minutes later the sub was in the ref’s notebook for a late challenge on Boylan.

With 10 mins remaining Samson did well wide on the right to burst free and his attempted ball across the face won Talbot a corner. When the corner came in Hamilton could only clear it out to the edge of the area where Boylan met it but he was falling back as he hit it and sent his shot over the bar.

Hamilton had a half chance in the 84^th minute when Moyo’s back-heel flick found Ryan in space 20 yards out but his shot went well wide of the right hand post.

As the game neared its conclusion Hamilton appeared bereft of any ideas and Talbot fans began to believe that another SFL scalp was there for the taking.

With 3 minutes remaining Talbot made their final sub with McDowall coming on in place of Boylan.

The visitors had one final half chance to level in the final minute of regulation time. Moyo rose to meet a cross from the right but his header looped up and over the bar and his frustration boiled over in injury time when he was fortunate only to be shown a yellow card for a two armed shove off the ball.

The Bot fans were made to wait for it as the ref added on 5 minutes of injury time but finally the final whistle went and the celebrations started – at least in the home end – those Accies fans who hadn’t left early headed for their own dug out to tongue lash their management team.

A fantastic display by Talbot who worked their socks off from first to last and now have Monday night’s 4^th round draw to look forward to for their efforts. Next week it’s back to Beechwood on league duty when Talbot host Benburb.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Robbie McCracken, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Healy, Armstrong, Graham Wilson, Boylan, Shankland, Glasgow

Subs – Hyslop, Samson, Boyd, Mason, Lyle, McDowall, White, Stafford, Hewitt

Hamilton Academical – Hilton, Popesu, Stirling, Martin, Ryan, Want, Hughes, Mimnaugh, Munro, Redfern, Shields

Subs – May, Virtanen, Hamilton, Smith, Mullin, Winter, Moyo, Matheson