SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP – Page 12 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Hurlford United v Auchinleck Talbot

Talbot produced one of their best performances of the season to leapfrog Rob Roy in the table and keep pace with leaders Pollok.
The Bot might have taken the lead as early as the 5th minute. Pope delivered a good ball in behind the defence to find S Wilson but the ball came to him at an awkward height & he knocked his shot well past the post.
Two minutes later, Leishman came to Talbot’s rescue. McKenzie’s long diagonal ball sailed over Pope to pick out Sawyer just inside the box. He rolled the ball back across to Aitken whose low drive was heading inside the left post until stopped by Leishman’s legs.
In the 17th minute Milliken slid a great pass through to S Wilson on the right of the penalty area. He took a touch before firing for goal & McGuire got across to block it behind for the corner. Young whipped the corner straight along the 6-yard line where HYSLOP ran onto it to power a header beyond Brown.
McGuire became the 1st player booked when shown a yellow card for a late challenge after 19 mins.
Talbot were looking threatening and came close to adding to their lead in the 23rd minute. Milliken gathered a ball down the right & laid it back to Wilson. He whipped over a 1st time cross toward Hyslop which he just failed to connect with in the centre.
Boyd paid the price for a fractionally mistimed challenge when he was booked for a 50/50 tackle out on the stand side touchline.
McGoldrick launched Talbot’s next attack with a perfectly weighted ball down the right to send Milliken scampering clear. He fired a dangerous ball across goal but there was no one in the centre to take advantage.
Steven Wilson looked like he would have to come off injured after 38 mins when he was caught late by McMenamin. The ex-Nock player was cautioned for the challenge but after a bout of treatment he was able to continue.
As the half drew to a close Talbot twice came close to extending their lead. Shankland’s pass sent Milliken racing free down the left & he forced a fine stop from Brown who turned his powerful drive past the post for a corner. McGoldrick met Young’s corner just inside the front post and his flick was heading into the net until Carter cleared it off the line, and the half finished with Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Talbot raced out the traps at the start of the 2nd half and carved out a couple of chances within the opening minutes.
Firstly, Hyslop sped down the left & swung a ball to the far post to S Wilson who saw his shot on target blocked away by a defender. A minute later, Pope blocked McKenzie’s attempted pass and the ball spun to Milliken who cut in off the left wing before swerving a shot wide of the left post.
Talbot took a firm grip on the match when they doubled their lead after 53 minutes. Milliken challenged for a long ball down the centre and as he went up with Boyle the ball came back to HYSLOP. He strode onto the loose ball, cutting inside onto his right foot before lashing an unstoppable shot past Brown into the roof of the net.
Teams are often at their most vulnerable just after scoring & Rob Roy nearly pulled a goal back immediately. The Bot defence were caught out as the visitors played it in behind for Aitken but Leishman had read the danger & was quickly off his line to beat the winger to it.
Rob Roy made their 1st change in the 59th minute with Gallacher coming on for Aitken and a minute later Talbot made their 1st switch with G Wilson on in place of Shankland.
Talbot were looking comfortable and very nearly added another goal in the 68th minute. Pope let fly from long range & Brown was relieved to see his shot race just wide of the left hand upright.
Rob Roy made a further change after 70 minutes when Mackie replaced Watt up front.
Two minutes later Brown produced a top save to deny Pope. He pounced on a poor touch from McKenzie & surged into the box before drilling a low right foot shot that was heading inside the right post until Brown dived full length to tip it wide.
Young’s corner had the Rabs defence in a fankle & when they failed to clear their lines, G Wilson pounced on the loose ball, only to see his shot blocked by Finnigan.
Boyle had his name taken with quarter of an hour remaining for taking out S Wilson as he broke down the right. The free kick was within shooting range, and Young tapped the ball to the side for Pope to belt a low drive on target that Brown held at the 2nd attempt by his left post.
Rob Roy now made their final change with Martin on for McGuire.
Mackie had a half chance to reduce the deficit in the 79th minute. Talbot’s defence made a meal of clearing their lines allowing Mackie the chance to shoot from just inside the penalty area but he blasted his shot over the bar.
Hyslop was inches from his hat-trick moments later. Milliken fired a great ball across goal which he just failed to connect with a few yards out.
Talbot’s next effort at goal came from Young. Pope dinked a free kick into the area which Butch ran onto it but he lifted his volley over the crossbar.
Tucker now made a further change with Gillies on in place of Milliken.
Gillies almost made an immediate impact. Pope rolled the ball into his feet to send him one on one with the keeper, only for Brown to make a great save to his left to keep out Davie’s shot. The rebound hit off Boyle and looked set to spin into the net for an o.g but Boyle recovered well to hook the ball off the goal line.
Lyle came close in the 85th minute when he lashed a shot just over the bar from outside the area and 2 minutes later G Wilson saw his header from Pope’s cross clip the bar as Talbot piled on the pressure.
With 2 minutes remaining Talbot again nearly scored. G Wilson sent Boyd through on the right and rather than shoot he opted to slide it across goal for Gillies. He stretched out a boot but slid his shot just wide of Brown’s right post.
Deep into injury time Talbot had one final chance. Pope laid the ball out to Gillies who hammered a low shot on target which Brown parried away. It came straight to G Wilson but it bounced up & hit him on the arm, and the ref awarded a free kick.
This was a very impressive display by the Bot, especially in the 2nd half as they pegged Rob Roy back for long spells and but for a good display by Brown Talbot would have won by a more convincing margin.
Next up for Talbot is an away trip to Shettleston whose confidence will be high after their thrashing of Petershill.

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, White, Boyd, Young, S Wilson, Milliken, Shankland, Hyslop

Subs – Gillies, G Wilson, Love, Findlay
Rob Roy – Brown, Finnigan, McKenzie, Carter, Boyle, Whelan, McGuire, McMenamin, Sawyer, Watt, Aitken

Subs – Gallacher, Barr, Martin, Mackie, Murdoch (gk)

Craig McCracken

SPONSORED BY: Powmillon Projects and Surveying Services. Cathy Jamieson

DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER

JOINED: 2016

D.O.B: 22/04/1996

TALBOT DEBUT: Shettleston (Away), 5th March 2016, League 0-0

FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL: Hurlford United (Home), 29th October 2016, WJFA Premier League 2-0

FORMER CLUBS: Ayr United U20’s, Auchinleck Talbot (Loan), Ayr United (7 appearances), Auchinleck Talbot, BSC Glasgow (Loan), Auchinleck Talbot.

Carnoustie Panmure v Auchinleck Talbot

Talbot Missed Penalty — From the spot, Pope’s penalty gets saved by the Carnoustie ‘keeper.

Talbot booked their place in the last 8 of the Scottish to become the 7th West region side to make this season’s quarter-finals.
Tucker had tinkered with the line-up with Butch switching into the centre of midfield and Hyslop and Latta out wide.
The Bot got off to the perfect start when they took the lead after 4 minutes. Talbot won a free kick midway inside Carnoustie’s half for a foul on Hyslop. Pope knocked it down the left where Milliken held it up before feeding it back to Pope. He released Milliken in behind the defence & his ball across the 6-yard box was swept home by HYSLOP at the back post.
Talbot dominated the early exchanges but were caught on the hop in the 9th minute. When Latta’s cross failed to beat the 1st man inside the Panmure box, the home side broke swiftly down the other end where Scott was up-ended just outside the box, resulting in a yellow card for White. However, Carnoustie failed to make anything of the set piece & the ball into the centre was easily cleared.
Young came within a whisker of doubling Talbot’s lead in the 11th minute. Millar headed Pope’s hanging cross behind for a corner on the right. Milliken’s ball in was headed clear but only straight out to Young 20 yards out. He side-stepped a challenge before guiding a left foot shot that beat Cormack, cannoned off the right post back onto the keeper but somehow it didn’t go in.
The next effort at goal also came Talbot’s way. S Wilson raced onto a ball down the left and squared it across to Hyslop who drilled a shot over the bar from 20 yards.
Lyle won a corner down the right in the 23rd minute and this time Pope went across to take it. He whipped a dangerous in swinger into the centre where Buggins headed clear.
McGoldrick joined White in the book in the 25th minute. Carnoustie’s liveliest player, Scott, cut in from the left only for McGoldrick to bring him down just outside the penalty area. Once again though, Carnoustie failed to make anything of the opportunity as McCabe hit a tame effort on target that Leishman easily saved.

Talbot Goal 2 — Straight from the corner, Gordon Pope’s ‘cross’ heads towards goal and slips through the ‘keepers hands at the back post. 0-2.

Talbot had a slice of luck in the 28th minute & capitalised to the full. Latta’s pass down the right appeared to be over-hit but it came off McGeehan & went behind for the corner. POPE took the corner & bent it to the far post where it flew over Cormack & straight into the net to put Talbot 2-0 ahead.
With a two goal cushion Talbot were content to sit on their lead, with Carnoustie huffing & puffing but carrying no threat in the final third.
The referee came to the home side’s rescue in the 40th minute with a bizarre decision. Milliken nicked the ball past Millar inside the area & was promptly tripped. It was a stonewall penalty but the ref thought it occurred outside the box, booking Millar and awarding Talbot a free kick right on the line. Young swept the free kick low across goal but the runners at the front post just failed to connect & the defence were able to clear.
Carnoustie made a change at the start of the 2nd period with Simpson on for McGeehan.
Talbot had an early opportunity to put the game beyond Carnoustie. Buggins was deceived by the bounce of the ball & beaten to it in the air by S Wilson who headed on into the path of Milliken. He was clear on the right & flashed a powerful drive across goal & just wide of the far post.
The referee had a decision to make in the 51st minute. Milliken hooked the ball over his shoulder to send S Wilson racing through the centre into the box. He appeared to be fouled but the ref turned down the penalty appeal.

Talbot Goal 1 — With nobody in front of him, Hyslop can only but score for Talbot, as he keeps his eye on the cross. 0-1.

down the penalty appeal.
Having denied Talbot one stonewaller & another strong appeal, the referee then awarded Talbot a very soft penalty in the 56th minute. Boyd swept the ball out to the right where S Wilson collided with MacDonald at the junction of the box. It was debatable whether it was a foul or inside the box, but the ref pointed straight to the spot. Pope, normally so reliable from the spot got it wrong for once, hitting a poor penalty which Cormack saved to his right.
Carnoustie made their 2nd switch after 61 minutes with Gray coming on in place of Smith.
Despite the missed penalty, Talbot looked comfortable in their lead with Carnoustie offering little threat.
Talbot put together a good move in the 68th minute. Milliken combined well with S Wilson down the left before racing clear & cutting the back into the area. Latta ran onto it 16 yards out but took a fresh air swipe.
Carnoustie got a toehold back into the game in the 73rd minute. Gray was allowed too much time & space just outside the box and his deflected shot sailed past Leishman to pull a goal back for the home side.
Tucker made a double switch in the 77th minute replacing the front two of S Wilson & Milliken with G Wilson & Shankland.
Roberts had his name taken in the 78th minute for a late challenge.
Both Talbot subs were involved in the 79th minute as Talbot came close to re-gaining their two goal cushion. Boyd fed the ball down the left to G Wilson whose cut back found Shankland inside the area but his shot drifted just wide of Cormack’s left post.
The game had opened up with both sides eagerly searching for the next goal and Carnoustie came close to levelling matters in the 83rd minute. A counter-attack saw Cook racing forward from midfield and he let fly from 25 yards, with Leishman smothering his low shot to his left.
A minute later McDonald tried his luck from distance, firing a long ranger on target that went straight at Leishman.
Talbot then went straight down the other end and put the game to bed. G Wilson’s head flick sent SHANKLAND strolling free of the defence & he coolly slotted the ball past Cormack into the bottom corner to put Talbot back in control.
With two minutes remaining Tucker made his final change with Gillies replacing Young.
Buggins picked up a silly yellow card in the final minute when he kicked the ball away at a Talbot free kick.

Action 1 — In front of the viewing crowd, Milliken tries to find a way through the Carnoustie defence.

Deep into injury time Carnoustie grabbed a late consolation goal. Sloppy defending by Talbot saw them concede a penalty and BLACK sent Leishman the wrong way to pull it back to 3-2.
It was too little, too late though for the hosts and soon after the ref sounded the final whistle to confirm Talbot’s place in the quarter-finals.
Not a classic game by any means, but Talbot did enough to book their passage so job done. Next up for Talbot is a crucial top of the table league clash as Rob Roy visit Beechwood.

Carnoustie – Cormack, MacDonald, McGeehan, Millar, Buggins, Roberts, Cook, Black, McCabe, Smith, Scott

Subs – Simpson, Gray, Craig, McIlravey
Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, White, McGoldrick, Boyd, Young, Latta, Hyslop, Milliken, S Wilson

Subs – G Wilson, Gillies, Shankland, Love, Johnstone

Photographs by Edwin Flynn

Carnoustie Panmure v Auchinleck Talbot

Auchinleck Talbot v Cumnock Juniors

On paper this Scottish tie looked a potential banana skin for the Bot, with an in form Cumnock visiting Beechwood hoping to get one over on their rivals, but fortunately the tie was decided on grass not paper, and proved to be less problematic than many anticipated.
Cumnock have a miserable record at Beechwood but looked keen to rectify this as they made the stronger start.
In the 6th minute Watt turned Milliken out on the touchline & hared up the right into the penalty area where his cross was blocked behind by McGoldrick.
Talbot’s 1st chance to test the Nock defence came after 8 minutes. Woods clipped Wilson’s heels resulting in a Bot free kick out on the left. Pope swept it over to the far post where Hyslop climbed to meet it but bulleted his header over the bar.
The 1st close call of the afternoon came in the 17th minute. Esplin’s long diagonal ball caught the Bot defence out & sent Malone running in behind on the left; however, he failed to make the most of it, drilling a low shot across Leishman but wide of the left post.
Talbot hadn’t carved out a decent chance but gave Cumnock a lesson in clinical finishing when they opened the scoring after 22 minutes. Young cushioned a header into the path of WILSON who strode clear down the right side of the area before sliding a shot by Johnson into the back of the net.
Having gained the lead Talbot nearly gifted Cumnock a way back into it within a couple of minutes. McGoldrick tried to be too clever, and backheel the ball off Scott, surrendering possession out on the left touchline. Scott switched the ball into Malone inside the Bot area & he rolled it into the path of Burns who fired a tame effort straight at Leishman.
Malone had a half chance in the 25th minute. Johnson hoofed the ball downfield and Pope headed it clear. It came out to Hyslop but he took one touch too many & Malone nicked in to drive a shot wide of target.
Talbot put the Nock defence to the test on the half hour mark. Milliken laid the ball off to Wilson who in turn fed it out wide to Pope. He surged into the area & cut onto his right foot only to see his shot blocked. The ball came back to Pope & his 2nd effort spun off a defender & behind for a corner. Young whipped the corner into the near post where Watt headed it behind and it was déjà vu time from the 2nd corner as Young’s corner was heading in at the near post only for Watt to again to put it behind. On the 3rd attempt, Young curled it deep to the back post where Johnson threw himself backward to tip it away for another corner. Cumnock survived the siege and at the 4th attempt managed to clear their lines.
In the 34th minute, Cumnock won a free kick out on the left for a foul by Hyslop. The ball was delivered at pace into the centre where McGoldrick headed it clear. The ball came out to Watt outside the box who hit it 1st time but he drilled his shot straight at Leishman.
Crawford became the 1st name in the ref’s notebook in the 35th minute for a late challenge on Milliken & he was joined two minutes later by Pope for a foul on Watt.
The 2nd goal was going to be crucial and Talbot nearly doubled their lead in the 40th minute. Pope swept a great free kick over from the left right onto the head of Hyslop who was denied the goal by Johnson who produced a top save to tip it over the bar.
Young fired the corner into the near post where Watt sliced it straight behind for a 2nd corner. Young went deep with the 2nd corner and found the head of Hyslop who saw his effort cleared off the line.
The decisive moment in the match occurred on the stroke of half time. Eslin fouled Hyslop 25 yards out, right of centre, in the perfect area for a left footer to have a go at goal. POPE stepped up and curled a beauty inside Johnson’s left post which the keeper could only stand and admire to send Talbot 2-0 ahead at the interval.
Two goals adrift, Cumnock desperately needed an early goal back & they came out the blocks quickly after the interval. Malone showed good feet inside the Bot penalty area to turn Latta & create space but he over cooked it & after failing to take several chances to shoot he fell to the turf, unsuccessfully looking for a penalty.
Down the other end Talbot created an opening when Hyslop fed the ball out to Milliken on the right. He cut inside to create space on his stronger left foot but curled a weak shot straight at Johnson.
Hyslop saw yellow in the 52nd minute for a late challenge on Scott; he took the free kick himself but although he lifted it over the wall he hit it straight at Leishman.
Both sides made changes in the 54th minute. Love came on in place of Gillies for Talbot & Cumnock made a double switch with Lyndsay on for Crawford & McNeil replacing Scott.
Love almost made an immediate impact when he beat Johnson to a ball up the left wing, however having knocked the ball past the keeper, Lundie was there to cover and clear the danger.
Wilson had a decent effort at goal on the hour mark. He turned smartly on the right and fired just wide of target.
A minute later, Cumnock came as close as they would to scoring. McNeil met Watt’s long ball & headed it perfectly into the path of Malone. He looked set to score but Leishman was off his line like greased lightning to spread himself and make the block.
Play then immediately switched to the other end where Milliken had a good chance to kill the tie off. He found himself in space on the left of the area and fired a shot beyond Johnson but also wide of the left post.
Talbot were unlucky a minute later. Latta surged in from the right & played it into the feet of Milliken. He laid it back to Latta whose drive was deflected into the path of Love who saw his shot deflected just past Johnson’s right post.
Young whipped the corner right across the face of the 6-yard area but there were no takers.
Leishman, having a quiet game over all, produced a top class save to keep Talbot two goals ahead in the 73rd minute. Malone was challenged as he hit a shot and the ball spun kindly into the path of Burns whose low drive looked net bound until Leishman dived to his left to touch it wide of target.
With time running out Cumnock made their final change with Downs coming on for Esplin.
Talbot came within an inch of putting the game out of sight in the 76th minute. Love won a corner out on the left and when the ball came over Hyslop nodded it off the top of the bar with Johnson well beaten.
Two minutes later the Nock keeper prevented Milliken from adding a third for Talbot. He darted in from the right and powered a left foot shoot across goal which Johnson did well to save low to his right.
Cumnock pushed players forward in a last gasp attempt to pull a goal back but were caught on the counter with 10 minutes remaining. Love was racing clear down the right until rugby tackled by Downs who received a booking.
Young passed up a good chance to extend Talbot’s lead in the 81st minute. He played a good one-two with Love inside the area but couldn’t beat Johnson who made the block. The ball came out to Love but again Johnson made the save.
With 5 minutes remaining Tucker made a double switch with Hyslop & Graham Wilson making way for Shankland & Steven Wilson.
As the game moved into injury time Cumnock were reduced to 10 men. Downs sent McGoldrick crashing with a late challenge & having already been booked he made the short walk to the dressing room.
Talbot took full advantage of the extra man, adding a late 3rd goal deep into added time. Shankland switched the ball out to Young on the left & he floated a cross down the right of the box where Latta stretched to cut it back across goal for LOVE to slide it home.
A good win for Talbot, which books their place in the last 16 of this season’s Scottish. Next up for Talbot is a trip to Glasgow to face Pollok.

Talbot – Leishman, Latta, Pope, McGoldrick, White, Boyd, Young, Hyslop, Gillies, G Wilson, Milliken

Subs – Shankland, Love, S Wilson, Cochrane, Lyle

Cumnock – Johnson, Woods, Crawford, Lundie, Murphy, Montgomery, Scott, Esplin, Malone, Burns, Watt

Subs – Lyndsay, Downs, Lowe, McNeil, Nixon

Auchinleck Talbot v Cumnock Juniors

Kinnoul v Auchinleck Talbot

TALBOT’S EIGHTSOME REEL
Talbot cruised into the next round of the Scottish Cup winth a resounding 8-2 victory over Perth minnows Kinnoull. Even though the game was blighted with torrential rain a decent crowd had turned up at Tulloch Park and with the pitch getting the thumbs up after a 9 am inspection the scene was set for the Junior games equivalent of a David and Goliath fixture.
It took Talbot just 9 minutes to get themselves on the scoresheet when Mark Shankland robbed a defender to set up Bryan Young who fashioned some space after some nifty footwork before whipping in a wicked cross which was nodded past the keeper by the unmarked Graham Wilson.
Two minutes later it was 2-0 when Graham Wilson slid the ball past the keeper after Bryan Young once again turned provider when he picked up a long ball from Gordon Pope and hit a low cross in front of Wilson who made no mistake.
The home side after the initial Talbot “blitzkrieg” seemed to have steadied at the back but in was short lived when persistent pressure by Talbot saw the home side down 3-0 after Shankland and Young worked a short corner and Young’s cross was toe-poked through the keepers legs by Gordon Pope after the Kinnoull defence failed to clear..
Mark Shankland got on the scoresheet on 28 minutes when a GrahamWilson made a driving run into the box wand his pin point cross into the box was picked up by Hyslop who passed into the path of “Shankers” and he rifled the ball into the net.
Just before the interval Graham Wilson made it 5-0 when he poked the ball into the net after a crafty 1-2 with Paul Hyslop.The relief on the home sides players faces showed signs of shell shock a they had come to terms that they could be on a hiding of epic proportions.
Kinnoull to their credit came out for the second half with a gung-ho attitude and got the first of their consolation goals a quarter of an hour after the interval when Andy Leishman rolled a ball to Steven White but he misread the speed of the ball and was forced to make a block with his legs where the loose ball landed at the feet of Jamie Gill who passed the ball into the net from 20 yards to make it 5-1.
Talbot made it 6-1 when Gordon Pope went on a mazy run into the box where picked out Hyslop he found Lee Cochrane at the edge of the box and his cross was bicycle kicked over the keepers head by Graham Wilson to give the striker his hat trick. With the game coming to an end Lee Cochrane worked a bit of magic at the home side bye line where he left his marker for dead and his low cross was flicked into the net By Dwayne Hyslop
Kinoull pulled a goal back when the referee adjudged that Steven White had pulled down a player in the box, and although it seemed soft the big Kinnoull substitute Steven Harris made no mistake from the spot.
With time running out the scoring was finished by Hyslop when he was left unmarked to head a David Gillies cross into the net. I was a result that was expected and it was a good display on a rain sodden pitch in terrible conditions.

Tranent v Auchinleck Talbot

Match Report by Murray
Talbot returned to winning ways to advance past Tranent in the Scottish but were made to work for it by an impressive home side.
The Bot started strongly and nearly took the lead in the 4th minute from a corner on the left. When the ball came in McGoldrick thumped a header on target that Inglis did well to save. Young tried to prod home the rebound but couldn’t force his shot home in a crowded goal mouth.
A minute later the Bot threatened again. Young fed the ball out to Love in space on the left of the area and Inglis did well to block away his low drive on target.
After the frenetic opening the game settled down and the home side gradually began to play their way into it, without really threatening the Talbot goal.
It was the Bot who came close again after 16 minutes. Tranent looked vulnerable at set pieces and McGoldrick again managed to get a free header on a corner, this time from the right, but he sent it wide of target.
Wilson became the 1st name in the ref’s notebook when he was cautioned after 23 mins for a late challenge in midfield.
A rush of blood from Inglis gifted Talbot a penalty in the 25th minute. The keeper raced off his line to reach a ball down the left he was never favourite to win and all he succeeded in doing was up ending Wilson inside the box. POPE stepped up and coolly waited on the keeper moving before sending the ball the other way to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Tranent responded positively to falling behind and put together a good move in the 27th minute. Smith, Tranent’s best player on the day, sprayed a good pass out right to find Manson on the wing & he swept a low ball across the face of goal which Lyle cleared at the back post.
Tranent’s 1st real effort at goal came on the half hour mark. Slack marking from Talbot at a shy allowed Murray a bit of space 25 yards out and he fired just wide of the right post.
The home side were growing in confidence but lacked any cutting edge in the final third and Talbot saw out the remainder of the half quite comfortably. A minute before the interval Talbot had a half chance to grab a 2nd goal. White laid the ball off to Love just outside the area but he couldn’t keep his half volley under the bar and Talbot went in a goal up at the interval.
The Tranent manager’s half-time pep talk certainly fired the home side up and from the start of the 2nd half they took the game to Talbot.
The first threat to the Bot defence came in the 48th minute. McMillan slid the ball out right to Manson. He fired a dangerous cross to the back post where Lyle dived full length to head clear.
Talbot had an opportunity down the other end in the 51st minute when they won a free kick 35 yards from goal following a Tranent hand ball. Wilson swerved his shot over the wall but it just didn’t come down in time and flew over the crossbar.
For all Tranent’s passing their clearest chance to date came via a long punt out from their keeper. Inglis launched it down the left toward Fisher. Hyslop appeared to be in control of the situation but was easily out-muscled by the Tranent winger who broke into the box before firing into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Talbot had a real let off in the 55th minute. Pope’s slack pass out from the back was intercepted and lobbed in behind the defence. McMillan ran onto it and lifted it over the advancing Leishman only for his lob to come off the face of the bar allowing Lyle to clear.
With Talbot having come off 2nd best after the interval it wasn’t a great surprise when Tucker made changes, making a double substitution in the 57th minute with Milliken on for Wilson and Latta replacing Hyslop.
However, the home side continued to have the best of it and tested Leishman on the hour mark.
A shy from the right was worked inside to Smith who found himself in space just outside the box but he drilled his low shot straight at Leishman.
The same player had another couple of chances in quick succession, but simply repeated his earlier effort, hitting the target from outside the area but each shot going straight down the throat of Leishman who comfortably held them.
It had been a while since Talbot had crossed the halfway line but Love had half a chance in the 65th minute. He did well initially to break into the box from the right wing but couldn’t test the keeper from an acute angle and Inglis made an easy save by his near post.
The home side made a loud penalty appeal in the 67th minute. Inglis hoofed a long ball down the right that flew over the Bot defence. Manson raced onto the end of it and tumbled under a challenge but the ref saw nothing wrong with it and waved play on.
Pope picked up Talbot’s 2nd caution of the afternoon when he was shown a yellow card on 69 mins for conceding a free kick.
The free kick was switched out to the left where Fisher whipped in a cross that Manson headed over the bar under pressure.
Tranent now made their 1st change with Hawkins on in place of Miller.
The home side had a glorious chance to equalise in the 74th minute. Yet again, Talbot were caught out by a route one ball from Inglis. He launched a ball down the right that found Manson in space on the right. He had time to look up and pick out a cross to the far post to find the unmarked Fisher. It looked on for a header but instead he attempted the volley and Leishman saved it inside his near post.
Tranent now made a further change with Beaton coming on for Wojtowycz.
With 10 minutes remaining both sides committed their last subs, Shankland replacing Love up top for Talbot and Flynn coming on for Fisher.
Talbot nearly added a 2nd that would have killed the tie off in the 81st minute. Pope’s free kick was floated to the far corner of the box where Campbell won it and headed back across goal but wide of the far post.
With 5 minutes remaining Shankland burst free on the right and raced into the area but he didn’t compose himself and blazed his shot wide of the left post.
Talbot finally ended Tranent’s hopes with two minutes remaining. White was fouled out on the left and this time Pope played the set piece into the near post where YOUNG glanced a header beyond Inglis to put Talbot 2-0 ahead.
Talbot might have even extended their lead in the final minute. Milliken sped clear on the left before squaring it to Shankland. He had the space to shoot but instead opted to roll it back to Milliken allowing Gordon to intercept.
This was a hard fought cup tie and Talbot will be relieved to have made it through at the 1st time of asking. Next up for Talbot it is the first home game for a good while as Hurlford come visiting in the league.

Tranent – Inglis, Patterson, Wojtowycz, Gordon, McKenzie, Miller, Manson, D Smith, McMillan, Murray, Fisher

Subs – Hunter, Hawkins, Smeaton, Beaton, Flynn

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Campbell, Boyd, Young, White, G Wilson, Love, Hyslop

Subs – Shankland, Milliken, Latta, S Wilson, Cochrane

Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/7003/tranent-talbot-2-1#ixzz3qeDRPmnb

Tranent

Graham Wilson

SPONSORED: George Wilson (Australia), Kevin Moran

POSITION: Striker

JOINED TALBOT: July 2012

D.O.B

COMPETITIVE DEBUT: 11/08/2012 v Glenafton (Ardagh Cup)

BIO: Talented left footer who signed for Cumnock from Bonnyton Thistle Boys Club. Graham became a regular at Townhead and scored twice after coming off the bench in Cumnock’s 3-0 extra time win over Thorton Hibs in the 2008 Scottish Cup semi final. Graham did make an appearance in the final coming on as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat by Bathgate.
He later joined Dumbarton but after only 5 appearances he returned to Cumnock where he helped our bitter rivals hang on to their Premier League mantle.