SCOTTISH CUP – Page 8 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Hearts Of Midlothian v Auchinleck Talbot

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Auchinleck Talbot v Ayr United

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Stephen Wilson, Armstrong, White. Hyslop, Graham Wilson, Glasgow: Subs – Samson, Shankland, McIlroy , Hewitt, Waite, Kemp Ayr – Doohan, Higgens, Rose, Harvie, Geggan, Docherty, Murdoch, Crawford, McDaid, Moore, Moffat. Subs. Smith, McGuffie, Bell. Ferguson, Hilton, McCowan, Hare-Reid. The razzamatazz of televised Scottish Cup football hit Beechwood Park with a bang as Talbot entertained high flying Ayr United in a David and Goliath encounter of epic proportions. This was to be the ultimate Auchinleck fairytale for the Talbot faithful but in reality the Bot deserved the win, which set them up with another trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts.

The match started with what was expected with Ayr dominating possession, but Talbot had started with a five man midfield which seemed to nullify any Ayr attacks. As the game wore on the Bot started to come into the match and were unlucky when Graham Wilson’s turn and strike was rightly called offside much to the dismay of the 1,700 Talbot supporters crammed into a capacity Beechwood Park. The first half seemed to drift away as both clubs made some decent scoring chance the best falling to Moffat who flashed a shot wide of Leishman’s post. Ayr were hit with a blow on 36 minutes when Andy Geggan was taken off injured and replaced by Liam Smith. The second half had a wee bit more bite in it and this was proved by yellow cards to Gareth Armstrong and Andy Murdoch. Talbot made three substitutions in six minutes replacing Graham Wilson, Steven Wilson and Jamie Glasgow with Sean Mcilroy, Mark Shankland and Kier Samson. This was a brave move by the coaching staff introducing three strikers but it paid dividends when Samson was upended outside the box which gave Mark Shankland to pinpoint the unmarked Craig McCracken who headed the ball past Doohan. The remaining game seemed to take an eternity for the Talbot and their fans but when the final whistle went the team that day had recorded the biggest victory in their entire history.

Fraserburgh FC v Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot’s remarkable record against Highland League opposition continued as they battled to a deserved away win at Fraserburgh to book their place in the last 32 of the senior cup where the Bot have earned an all Ayrshire tie with Ayr United.

Fraserburgh won a couple of early corners but nothing came of them. Talbot’s first attack saw Stephen Wilson burst forward before releasing it out right in an attempt to find his brother Graham but Leask was swiftly off his line to beat him to it.

Neither side had really settled & the game sped along at a frantic pace with both sides surrendering possession on a regular basis.

The referee reached for his notebook in the 20th minute when he booked Hay for a blatant trip on Graham Wilson as he broke into the Fraserburgh half. Pope angled the free kick to the far side of the box where it broke to McCracken on the right edge of the box. He tried to fire a low ball across goal but it was cut out by a defender at the near post & went behind for a corner. Glasgow knocked the free kick into the near post where Stephen Wilson’s effort at goal was blocked. It came back out to Glasgow who drilled a shot across the face of goal & wide of the right post.

Talbot’s next attack saw Lyle make tracks down the right & swing a good cross into the centre. Christie was caught late as he cleared it resulting in a booking for McIlroy.

McIlroy was involved in Talbot’s next attack when he raced to the bye line before cutting a cross back toward Graham Wilson who bulleted a header wide of the left post.

Shortly after, Talbot had a half chance when a poor clearance came straight out to Hyslop who volleyed it wide from 22 yards out.

Graham Wilson became the 2nd Bot player cautioned when he was penalised for a tussle with Macdonald in the 32nd minute, with the Broch midfielder making the most of the situation.

Talbot were having the best of it without creating too much and the game’s next half chance fell Talbot’s way in the 41st minute. McIlroy forced a corner down the left which Glasgow swept deep beyond the far post. Hyslop guided a header back across goal where McIlroy nodded it goal ward past the stranded Leask but there wasn’t enough on it & the keeper recovered to gather on the goal line.

A minute from half-time and the home side were reduced to 10 men. Pope played it down the line into the feet of Graham Wilson. He shielded the ball from Hay before turning his marker who hauled him to the deck. The ref awarded Talbot the free kick & sent Fraserburgh’s left-back for an early bath for a second yellow card. Glasgow took the resultant free kick & curled it low into the near post. Stephen Wilson got a touch on it & looked to have flicked it home but Hay managed to hook the ball clear off the goal line to ensure the sides went in level at the break.

Talbot started the 2nd half in sprightly fashion & carved out a good chance within a minute of the re-start. Graham Wilson gathered on the left & held off the challenge of Dickson before slipping a pass through for Glasgow who shot wide of the right post.

A minute later Talbot threatened again. McPherson flighted a free kick into the penalty area where Hyslop headed it back across goal & Cowie had to head over his own bar to concede the corner.

Talbot kept the pressure on & it looked as though Stephen Wilson was poised to head Talbot into the lead when Graham Wilson’s cross found him free at the back post but he lifted his header over the bar from 5 yards out; however, it wouldn’t have counted in any case as the assistant had raised his flag for offside.

Fraserburgh had offered very little going forward but tested the Talbot defence in the 52nd minute. An angled ball from right to left nearly found its way through to Barbour but McCracken did well to cut it out & cushion a header back to Leishman.

The action then immediately switched to the other end where it looked as though McIlroy was set to break through on goal but Leask read the danger & hared off his line to clear.

McCracken had his name taken in the 53rd minute for what looked to be an innocuous challenge.

Fraserburgh made the 1st change in the 54th minute when Campbell came on in place of Johnston.

The deadlock was broken in the 59th minute and it was a goal not only worthy of winning any game but a strong contender for goal of the round. A shy from the left came into Graham Wilson who flicked it inside into the path of STEPHEN WILSON who rocketed an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

It could have been game over two minutes later. Graham Wilson raced through the centre of the defence but with only Leask to beat he drilled his shot just wide of the left post.

Tucker now made a change with Samson replacing McIlroy up top.

Fraserburgh had produced nothing in the final third yet they nearly levelled in the 63rd minute from a set piece. They won a corner down the left & when it came over Christie floated a header goal ward but Stephen Wilson was on the right post to clear.

A second goal for Talbot would’ve ended the contest & Graham Wilson had a great chance to grab it in the 69th minute. Samson did well outside the area, swivelling free of his marker before releasing Glasgow down the right. He burst into the area & pulled it back across goal where it landed at the feet of Graham Wilson 15 yards out but he lifted his shot over the bar with Leask stranded in no man’s land.

Pope became the 4th Talbot player cautioned when he conceded a free kick 25 yards from goal in the 78th minute. Cowie took the set piece but made a hash of it; curling his shot well over the bar.

In the 83rd minute Pope surged up the left & slung over a cross that Samson met at the near post; diving to meet it & send a header wide of target.

Young then picked up a caution for the home side for a late challenge on Hyslop.

The game was becoming stretched & Talbot twice had the opportunity to catch the home side on the counter-attack. On both occasions Talbot broke down the left & had Stephen Wilson free at the back post but couldn’t find the final ball.

With a minute remaining Tucker made a further change with McDowall coming on for Graham Wilson.

There was one final moment of drama when Fraserburgh almost produced an equaliser a minute into added time. The Bot defence were caught out by a ball over the top that found Davidson inside the area & he steered a 1st time shot from 15 yards that came back off the base of Leishman’s right post before Lyle put it behind for a corner which Talbot successfully defended.

Fraserburgh threw men forward deep into injury time but it was too little too late & Talbot held on to claim the win. A fantastic achievement for the Bot who have now made the 4th round of the senior cup for the 2nd time in their history. Next week it is back to the defence of the Scottish Junior trophy when Talbot travel through to South Lanarkshire to face Blantyre Vics.

Fraserburgh – Leask, Dickson, Hay, Cowie, Christie, Macdonald, Davidson, Young, G Buchan, Johnston, Barbour

Subs – C Buchan, Harris, Campbell, Butcher, Combe, Simpson

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McCracken, McPherson, Stephen Wilson, Hyslop, Glasgow, McIlroy, Graham Wilson, Armstrong

Subs – Samson, McDowall, White, Kemp, Waite, Harvey, Hewitt

Fraserburgh FC

Auchinleck Talbot v Cove Rangers

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

The bookies don’t often get it wrong but Talbot made a mockery of their long shot odds as they maintained their unbeaten record against Highland League opposition; defeating high-flying & high spending Cove Rangers to reach the 3rd round of the senior cup.

Talbot started a little nervously and weren’t helped when the referee produced a harsh early yellow card for Harvey after only 3 minutes. There wasn’t much in the way of goal mouth incident in the opening exchanges with play largely confined to midfield.

The first effort at goal came in the 12th minute after Talbot won a corner on the left. Glasgow lifted it beyond the far post where Hyslop climbed to head it back across the area. It came to Glasgow on the left edge of the area & he curled a right foot shot off target.

Cove’s first effort at goal came in the 16th minute. Park clipped a neat chip into the box where Brown met it; hooking the ball over the bar from 12 yards out.

Talbot had a wonderful opportunity to take the lead in the 20th minute. Armstrong’s slide rule pass opened the defence sending Kemp racing through one on one with the keeper but McKenzie came out on top on this occasion with Kemp’s shot cannoning off the chest of the keeper as he advanced off his line.

Their keeper was called into action again a minute later when Talbot won a free kick out on the right. Pope bent a cross in under the bar that McKenzie claimed confidently.

Talbot had hit their stride now and were having the best of it and threatened the Cove goal again in the 26th minute. A ball down the right found Wilson racing free inside the area & he managed to take it round the keeper and head for the bye line. He floated a cross over that McIlroy headed home from close range but the linesman had spotted the ball had drifted behind before he crossed it and awarded a goal kick.

Masson became the first of numerous Cove players to enter the ref’s notebook when he received a caution in the 32nd minute for a needless barge into Stephen Wilson.

The Cove keeper was much the busier of the two & was called upon again in the 34th minute when Glasgow dinked a ball over the defence to find McIlroy racing through on the left of the area. However, McKenzie had spotted the danger & was quickly off his line to make the block & put it behind for a corner. Talbot kept the pressure on, forcing 3 corners in quick succession, but the Cove defence stood up to it.

In a rare Cove attack Park won a corner down the right when his cross deflected behind off Glasgow. Park drilled the corner in at pace & Leishman could only parry it away. The ball bounced out to Masson who launched a wild shot over the bar & nearly over the houses behind the goal.

A promising Talbot break was ended in the 39th minute when Watson took out Kemp after the Talbot man side-stepped him, resulting in a Bot free kick and a booking for Cove’s centre half.

The free kick was floated into the area where Hyslop nodded it on into the goal mouth where it was smashed clear.

Beechwood erupted when Talbot took the lead in the 41st minute. McIlroy laid the ball off into the path of STEPHEN WILSON & he strolled through before smashing a powerful drive that McKenzie got both hands to but couldn’t prevent sailing beyond him & inside the far post.
The celebrations had barely died down when Talbot almost doubled their lead. A shy from the right was thrown into the feet of Kemp 25 yards out & he turned before drilling a shot just wide of the left hand post.

Soon after, the ref blew for half-time & Talbot trooped off deservedly in front to the delight of the vast majority of the crowd.

The second half was only four minutes old when Park became the latest Cove player booked for a late tackle just inside the Talbot half.

The visitors were handed a way back into the game in the 52nd minute when they were awarded a soft penalty decision. McPherson was adjudged to have brought down Brown as he was set to shoot & the ref booked the Talbot man & pointed to the spot. MEGGINSON took the spot kick & his low drive beat Leishman who guessed the right way & got a hand to it but couldn’t prevent it sneaking inside the right post. In a fit of petulance Megginson chose to celebrate the equaliser by running up the sidelines & taunting the Bot support.

The goal gave Cove a boost and two minutes later they had a half chance to take the lead. Milne cut inside off the left wing into the area & fired a shot over the bar.

Cove then picked up a two for one booking deal. Ross receiving a caution for shoving his arm into Wilson’s face & Brown joining him in the book for protesting against the decision.

The Cove crime count mounted in the 57th minute when Megginson received a yellow card for a late challenge on Hyslop and Yule should have joined him a minute later for a blatant trip on Wilson but this time the ref kept his cards in his pocket.

The visitors now made a change with Ferguson coming on for Masson.

Talbot had settled again after the disappointment of the equaliser and threatened the Cove goal on the hour mark. Armstrong evaded a couple of challenges before slipping the ball through to Kemp on the right of the area & his fierce low ball across goal just eluded McIlroy in the centre. The defence failed to clear it properly & the ball came out to Lyle. Talbot’s captain isn’t renowned for his goal scoring but he let fly from 30 yards & hit a daisy cutter that flew just wide of the right post.

Talbot made the crucial breakthrough in the 61st minute. McIlroy gathered it on the right & played it into CALVIN KEMP who skipped past a couple of challenges before lashing a low shot beyond McKenzie & into the bottom corner.

Cove now made their second change of the match with Macrae replacing Brown up front.

Another goal for Talbot would’ve put the Bot firmly in command & they nearly got it in the 67th minute. Kemp lifted a ball over the defence to find McIlroy in space down the left. He held it up before cutting it back across the area where Kemp had continued his run & slid a shot just past the right hand post.

A minute later and it was very nearly all square. A swift Cove counter-attack saw the ball played to Megginson inside the area. Leishman did well, diving low to his left, to keep out his strike but Macrae looked odds on to tuck home the rebound only for Lyle to appear from nowhere & make a crucial goal line clearance to block Macrae’s shot.

Action then switched to the other end where Kemp’s chip found McIlroy inside the area but his shot at goal was blocked off a defender.

Wilson received a yellow card in the 73rd minute when he caught Ross as he was clearing the ball up field.

Talbot continued to push forward and their next attack saw Glasgow race past Milne & break into the Cove half. He played it out wide to Kemp who angled the ball back to Glasgow who’d continued his run into the area but he was stretching as he hit it & could only send a low drive straight at McKenzie.

Tucker made a double substitution in the 80th minute with Samson coming on to make his debut in place of Kemp & White replacing Glasgow.

Cove gave the home fans a bit of a fright in the 82nd minute when Macrae held off the challenge of Harvey on the right of the penalty area but he fired his shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.

As the game reached the closing 5 minutes Talbot had two good chances to put the game beyond Cove. In the 87th minute White joined the attack & released a good ball through to Samson on the right of the area & he stabbed a low shot narrowly past the left hand post.

A minute later Talbot caught Cove out with a well worked counter. McIlroy carried it forward before releasing it to Samson on the left of the area. He skipped in past Redford & with only McKenzie to beat tried to pass it into the net but side-footed it just wide of the keeper’s right post.

In the final minute of regulation time Talbot nearly paid the price for failing to kill off the tie when Cove came close to a late equaliser. Park sent in a ball from the right that Hyslop failed to cut out. The ball landed at the feet of Yule 15 yards out & he cracked a low drive off Leishman’s right post.

However, that proved to be Cove’s last chance & Talbot saw out the remaining injury time with no alarms to claim the win.

A very good team performance from the Bot whose opponents sit atop the Highland League having won 9 out of 9 in their own league.

Next up for Talbot it is back to the defence of their Scottish Junior title as they face Lesmahagow next Saturday at Beechwood.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, McPherson, Stephen Wilson, Hyslop, Glasgow, McIlroy, Kemp, Armstrong

Subs – Samson, McDowall, McCracken, White, Waite, Hewitt (gk)

Cove Rangers – McKenzie, Redford, Milne, Ross, Watson, Kelly, Park, Yule, Megginson, Brown, Masson

Subs – Ferguson, Macrae, Milne, Macleod, McCafferty (gk)

Keir Samson

SPONSORED: Bert & Mary Samson

POSITION: Striker

D.O.B: TBA

JOINED TALBOT: 2018

Keir signed for the Talbot in October 2018. He started his career in the Stranraer youth development rising to their Under 20 side where he was loaned to Cumnock Juniors in Ferbruary 2016. He spent three months at Townhead Park before returning to Stranraer in May. He was loaned back to Cumnock in July 2016 where he remained until his loan expired in May 2017. He joined Cumnock in July 2017 on a permanent basis before moving to Talbot.

Cove Rangers v Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAYS REPORT
Talbot recovered from a shaky start to earn a hard fought replay against Cove Rangers in this 2nd round Scottish cup tie.

The Bot made the worst possible start when they conceded a soft goal after only 5 minutes. McIlroy attempted to hook the ball up field but shanked it back toward his own penalty area. It landed at the feet of MEGGINSON whose snap shot from 20 yards skipped off the surface past Leishman & inside the right post.

Talbot’s first meaningful attack came in the 7th minute. Glasgow swept a deep corner over from the left which Armstrong nodded back across the 6-yard area where McIlroy prodded the ball wide of target.

The Bot had shaken off the early goal & had a decent chance to level matters in the 10th minute. McIlroy won it in the air to flick it on into the path of Graham Wilson. He shoved it through to Glasgow who burst into the area but toe poked his shot straight at McCafferty.

McIlroy was inches away from restoring parity in the 14th minute. Glasgow whipped over a great cross from the left & McIlroy met it in the centre & sent a volley goal ward that clipped the top of the bar.

Cove’s McCafferty had a good day in nets but made his one & only blunder in the 22nd minute. Stephen Wilson lifted the ball down the right to find Graham Wilson on the wing & he lofted a high cross into the centre. McCafferty came for it & missed it & it came to Hyslop who headed for goal but he didn’t get enough power behind it & McCafferty had recovered to gather the ball.

Talbot won a free kick within shooting distance in the 27th minute after Graham Wilson was barged in the back. Glasgow took it but skied his effort well over the bar.

Megginson became the 1st player in the book when he picked up a caution on the half hour mark. He should have received it for going through the back of Harvey as he shepherded the ball out of play but having got away with only a free kick against him he proceeded to talk his way into the book.

Talbot had a lucky escape in the 35th minute when Cove nearly doubled their lead. Yule swung a cross over from the right that landed right on the head of Brown who ought to have scored from 6 yards out but steered his header onto Leishman’s right hand post.

Graham Wilson had a half chance for Talbot in the 38th minute. McIlroy gathered on the left of the area & touched it inside to Wilson who burst through on goal but the ball broke away from him & McCafferty was quickly off his line to smother it.

The home side won a free kick 35 yards from goal in the 40th minute. The ball was flighted into the centre where Watson rose to head it but he didn’t make a clean connection & it looped harmlessly straight to Leishman.

The referee appeared of the view that football is a non-contact sport & handed out a very soft yellow card to McIlroy in the 42nd minute for an innocuous aerial challenge.

The final chance of the half came Talbot’s way a minute from the interval. Stephen Wilson was fouled by Ferguson as he raced clear on the right & the ref awarded Talbot the free kick 30 yards from goal. Pope took this set piece & aimed it for the far top corner but Yule was well-positioned in front of the back post to head it clear and so Talbot left the field a goal down at the break.
Cove started the 2nd half sharply & carved out an early chance in the 50th minute. A good passing move ended with Ferguson sliding the ball to Brown on the right side of the area but he hit a weak effort at goal from 10 yards.

Talbot picked up their 2nd booking of the afternoon in the 56th minute when Graham Wilson received a caution.

Leishman came to the rescue a minute later. Yule raced onto a ball down the left of the area & knocked it wide of the advancing Leishman. He retrieved it near the bye line & back-heeled it into the centre where Megginson drilled a low shot at goal that Leishman saved with his feet.

Talbot’s first effort of the 2nd half came in the 64th minute. Hyslop gathered out on the right & angled it back into the path of Stephen Wilson whose shot glided past a crowd of players & wide of the right post.

Tucker now made a change with Kemp coming on in place of McIlroy.

Kemp’s first involvement came soon after joining the fray when he was cynically up-ended as he raced forward inside the Cove half; resulting in a booking for Scully.

Hyslop took the free kick & his effort clipped off the wall & went behind for a corner. Glasgow whipped the corner into the near post where it was headed behind for a 2nd corner. This time he hit it deep & again it came off a Cove head for Talbot’s 3rd successive corner. When this one came over the defence headed it out but only as far as Stephen Wilson who hammered a shot from the edge of the area. His shot was blocked by Watson’s arm & the referee immediately pointed to the spot. GRAHAM WILSON stepped up & looked the coolest head in the pitch as he sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-1 in the 68th minute.

Teams are often at their most vulnerable soon after scoring & so it proved for Talbot who had a lucky escape two minutes after equalising. Yule raced away down the right & pulled a dangerous ball back across the box. Megginson dummied it leaving Masson in space 15 yards out but he side-footed it just wide of Leishman’s left post.

McCafferty denied Talbot the lead with a super stop in the 73rd minute. Kemp robbed Kelly of the ball outside the area before cutting in off the left & firing a right foot screamer that the keeper tipped wide of the left post.

Cove’s keeper came to his side’s aid again a few minutes later. Glasgow showed a great burst of pace to surge straight into the penalty area & through on goal. He attempted to prod it past the advancing keeper but McCafferty was able to block.

Action then switched to the other end where Brown stretched out a leg to get on the end of Masson’s cross & steer a shot just wide of the left post.

As the game entered the closing stages Talbot were looking the more likely side. Graham Wilson broke into the penalty area in the 87th minute but was blocked by a wall of players before he could get his shot away.

Glasgow took one for the team in the 89th minute. Megginson looked set to race deep into the Talbot half before Glasgow tugged him back & received a caution for his trouble.

As the game moved into injury time Talbot pressed forward and nearly snatched a late winner. Firstly Armstrong sent Graham Wilson away down the right & McCafferty had to parry away his effort. Shortly after, with virtually the last kick of the ball, Kemp thundered a shot from the right edge of the area that forced an acrobatic stop from the keeper who flew to his right to push it away.

A fine performance from Talbot who gave as good as they got & nearly nicked the win right at the end. Next week it’s back to Beechwood for the replay with both sides playing for the chance to face Fraserburgh in the 3rd round.

Cove Rangers – McCafferty, Yule, Redford, Ross, Watson, Kelly, Ferguson, Scully, Megginson, Brown, Masson

Subs – Strachan, Milne, Macleod, Carnie, Ellis

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, McPherson, Armstrong, Stephen Wilson, Hyslop, Graham Wilson, McIlroy, Glasgow

Subs – Shankland, Kemp, McDowall, McCracken, White, Samson, Hewitt

Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/8246/cove-rangers-1-auchinleck-talbot#ixzz5UaFc7iKw

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Cove Rangers

Wick Academy v Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

The long, winding road north paid off for Talbot as they booked their place in the 2nd round of the William Hill Scottish cup thanks to a 2-1 win over Wick in a feisty encounter.
Talbot made a strong start to this tie, pegging the home side back in the opening minutes as they forced a string of corners. The closest they came to threatening the Wick goal was when Glasgow swirled a corner to the back post where Hyslop just failed to get on the end of it.
Wick gave the Talbot defence something to think about in the 3rd minute when they launched a swift counter down the right. Henry lifted a great ball down the right to find Allan & he paced beyond Pope before cutting the ball back across goal where McPherson cleared.
Two minutes later Wick came close to opening the scoring. A shy from the right found Allan inside the area & he hooked the ball back to Halliday who steered a half volley just wide of the right post.
The home side could have been a man down within 6 minutes. There seemed nothing in it when M Steven clashed with Graham Wilson out by the touchline; however as Wilson lay on the turf Steven appeared to stamp on him but neither the ref nor his assistant picked up on it.
Talbot’s first effort at goal came in the 9th minute. Graham Wilson’s head flick found Kemp on the left & he released it to Glasgow whose effort landed on target from 18 yards but lacked the power to trouble McCarthy.
Henry had his name taken in the 16th minute for a late challenge on Stephen Wilson. Glasgow took the resultant free kick & bent it across goal & beyond the far post where Pope met it but he fired his shot back across goal and wide of the left post.
The referee enraged the vocal travelling support in the 22nd minute. Harvey slid in & looked to have won the ball cleanly but the ref had other ideas & awarded Wick a free kick 25 yards from goal. Manson took it & whilst he got it up & over the wall it was never dipping quickly enough & sailed over Leishman’s bar.
Talbot won a free kick, and picked up a booking in the 25th minute. The free kick was awarded for a foul on Glasgow out on the left but before it could be taken the ref cautioned Graham Wilson for an earlier clash with Steven. Glasgow took the set piece & flighted it into the near post where Graham Wilson beat McCarthy to it but couldn’t keep his header below the bar.
The Bot put together a good move in the 31st minute when they moved the ball quickly to find Hyslop on the right of the area. He lifted a cross into the centre where Glasgow steered a header over the bar.
A minute later Kemp sped clear down the right & drilled it low across the face of goal but it had just too much pace on it for Glasgow to reach it.
The opening goal came in the 38th minute & it is one Wick’s keeper would like to forget. Graham Wilson nodded the ball down to find Lyle on the right & he hoisted a cross into the heart of the area. McCarthy came out to claim it but only patted the ball straight to JAMIE GLASGOW who coolly lobbed the ball over the stranded keeper to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Two minutes before the interval Talbot were back on the attack when McPherson carried the ball up the right before pinging it onto the head of Graham Wilson. He flicked it on to Glasgow who fired over the bar from 20 yards.
Right on the stroke of half-time Wick ought to have levelled the score. Talbot’s defence were caught flat footed by a ball dinked up the centre allowing Allan to break through. He controlled it 1st time inside the box but pulled his shot wide of the right post and so Talbot went in ahead at the interval.
Tucker made a change during the half-time break & when Talbot re-emerged McDowall was on for White.
Talbot started the 2nd half brightly & nearly unlocked the Wick defence a minute after the re-start but Kemp just failed to latch onto a pass in behind the defence.
Hyslop had his name taken in the 48th minute when he was slightly late in a 50/50 challenge on the half-way line.
A minute later he was joined in the book by Henry who received a caution for petulantly kicking the ball away.
Kemp had a chance to double Talbot’s lead in the 53rd minute. A counter-attack saw Talbot sweep up field where Graham Wilson laid the ball into the path of Kemp. He burst into the area past the defence but his final touch took it away from him & McCarthy raced off his line to smother the ball.
The action then immediately switched to the other end as Wick broke into the Talbot penalty area down the left. Leishman did well to block MacAdie’s shot but the ball came out to Henry on the left & he sent a low ball across goal which HALLIDAY side-footed home from close range to level the score.
Talbot responded in the best manner possible to this setback as they re-gained the lead within a matter of minutes. A good passing move saw the ball worked to McDowall on the right of the penalty area. He took a wild swipe at it but the ball broke back to him and his 2nd shot was deflected across the area. Glasgow touched it into the path of STEPHEN WILSON who hammered a left foot shot from 15 yards inside the right post to put Talbot 2-1 ahead.
The home side weren’t done though and forced Leishman into action in the 64th minute. MacGregor latched onto a ball in behind the defence & pulled it back to the edge of the area where MacAdie drilled a low shot straight at Leishman.
Tucker now made a double switch with Hyslop & Graham Wilson making way for Armstrong & McIlroy.
McCarthy prevented Talbot extending their lead with a top class save in the 67th minute. McIlroy cushioned a header down into the path of Kemp who let fly from 18 yards only to see the keeper acrobatically tip his shot over the bar. When the corner came over it was retrieved by Stephen Wilson who laid the ball back to Pope who was halved by a crude challenge from G Steven. The referee immediately produced a straight red and Wick were left to face the remainder of the match a man down. Glasgow took the resultant free kick but fired over the bar from 25 yards.
With twenty minutes remaining Wick made a change with Hughes on in place of MacAdie.
Talbot’s next attack came from a blunder in the home defence. Manson gifted the ball to Glasgow down the right & he sent Lyle clear on the overlap. He fired a great ball across the 6-yard area between defence & keeper but no one could get on the end of it.
The Bot were on the attack again in the 74th minute. Wick only partially cleared a shy from the right and the ball came out to Pope outside the area where he smashed a shot just over the bar.
Wick now made a further change with MacNab replacing MacGregor.
Another goal would’ve settled it but Talbot couldn’t convert their chances to kill the tie off.
Kemp went on a surging run through the centre & slipped it wide left to find Glasgow racing into the area but he took a heavy 1st touch and it broke away through to the keeper.
Henry, already on a booking, was a tad fortunate when he took Glasgow down with a tackle from the back but the referee contented himself with awarding Talbot the free kick. Pope took it & went for goal but his effort failed to trouble McCarthy.
Talbot had a golden chance to end the tie in the 80th minute. Glasgow skipped across the penalty area before releasing a pass to find Kemp free in space on the left. He carried in on goal & tried to bend a shot past the advancing McCarthy but the keeper made a good stop to deny him.
Within a minute Talbot were back on the attack with McIlroy finding Glasgow on the right who sent a low ball into the near post where McDowall bundled it wide under pressure.
In the 83rd minute a shy into the area found Kemp on the right edge of the box. He managed to turn his marker & go for goal but his curling effort went wide of the right post.
Wick now played their final card with Gunn coming on to replace M Steven.
With 3 minutes remaining the referee produced one of the more bizarre decisions you’re likely to see this season. Leishman was fouled in the air as he gathered a floated cross into the box but rather than re-starting the game with a free kick to Talbot once Leishman had been treated, the referee ordered a bounce up at the edge of the penalty area. Fortunately, nothing came of it & the ball ran through to Leishman.
Glasgow came very close to his 2nd of the afternoon in the 88th minute. McIlroy played it out to Kemp on the left & when his cross came over it found Glasgow in space inside the area. He took his time & stepped inside Manson before firing a low shot past McCarthy that was cleared off the goal line.
Talbot kept cool heads in the closing stages & retained possession well to see the game out. The final whistle saw the Bot team cross over to the enclosure to celebrate the win with the travelling support.
Next up for Talbot it is back to cup duties but this time in their defence of the Scottish Junior cup where they host Forfar West End at Beechwood next Saturday.