| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |  Pollok | 27 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 46 |
| 5 |  Largs Thistle | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 44 |
| 6 |  Auchinleck Talbot | 24 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 43 |
| 7 |  Cumnock | 28 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 41 |
| 8 |  Darvel | 23 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 38 |
| 9 |  Benburb FC | 27 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 38 |
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
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.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
Meadow park proved a happy hunting ground once more for Talbot as the Bot edged out Rob Roy to book a place in this season’s Scottish Junior final where they will face Yoker at Rugby Park.
Talbot made a positive start and won a corner in the 2nd minute when Bell blocked Glasgow’s cross. Glasgow aimed the corner to the far post where it was just nicked off the head of the waiting Graham Wilson.
An early goal always helps and Talbot obliged by taking the lead in the 4th minute. Glasgow gathered on the right and played it into Samson whose head flick was met by GRAHAM WILSON who controlled it on his chest before rolling the ball past Smith to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
The early momentum was with Talbot and Samson did well to force a corner down the left. Glasgow pinged it into the near post where the defence failed to clear their lines. It came to McPherson with his back to goal and he headed it across the area where Samson met it but headed off target under pressure.
In the 10th minute Baber spread a good ball out right to find Truesdale racing down the right of the penalty area but his ball across was blocked behind for the corner.
Persistence paid off for Samson in the 14th minute when he chased down Graham Wilson’s ball down the left & managed to nick a corner off Walker. Glasgow swung it into the goal mouth where McCracken managed to beat Smith to it in the air but his header went over the bar.
The Bot’s next attack saw Healy hit a slide rule pass out to Glasgow on the right and the defence did well to cut out his dangerous ball across the 6-yard area. Rob Roy then sprang onto the counter when Scott gathered deep in his own half before racing up field toward the Talbot box before releasing a pass to Young who ought to have equalised but fired past the left post from a good area.
Rob Roy were forced into an early change in the 19th minute when Arbuckle limped off to be replaced by McPherson.
The next goal was going to be crucial and it went Talbot’s way in the 21st minute. A shy from the right was helped on into the area by Glasgow where Graham Wilson was bundled over by Baber’s clumsy challenge. MARK SHANKLAND took the spot kick and sent Smith the wrong way to put Talbot 2-0 ahead.
Rob Roy came close to pulling one back in the 32nd minute. An early ball up the right found McPherson just inside the penalty area and he hit an angled drive across goal that just went beyond the far post.
The Rabs had another opportunity in the 40th minute. Truesdale squared it inside to Scott and he teed it up for Young 16 yards out but his shot took a deflection and went behind for the corner.
A minute later Young had his name taken when he petulantly shoved McCracken over the advertising hoardings as Talbot’s centre half ushered the ball behind for a goal kick.
Three minutes before the interval Talbot nearly killed the tie off with a 3rd goal. Glasgow’s flick sent Samson free on the right and he pulled it back across the face of goal. The defence couldn’t clear and Shankland nipped in and fired a shot from close range that Smith did well to turn round his left post.
Play was switching from end to end and Leishman was called into action in the 44th minute when Young skipped past a challenge on the right of the area and tried to find McPherson at the near post but Leishman managed to turn it behind.
The half ended with Talbot back on the attack as Samson strode clear on the right and swung a tempting cross over which Shankland met and steered goal ward but Smith dived low to his right to claim it.
Talbot would have hoped to keep it tight at the start of the 2nd half but those plans came undone when Rob Roy pulled a goal back two minutes after the restart. They were awarded a free kick in the Bot half which Truesdale flighted into the area. McPherson met it & guided a header out left where SCOTT met it on the volley and gave Leishman no chance with a drive across him and into the far corner.
The Bot responded to this setback and had a chance to restore a two goal cushion in the 52nd minute. Shankland played a good ball inside to find Glasgow who in turn squared it to Healy in space and he fired past the right post from 20 yards.
Armstrong had his name taken in the 56th minute for a challenge on Bell.
The game was ebbing & flowing and Talbot’s next attacks saw Graham Wilson release Shankland down the left. He swept it into the centre trying to find Samson but it didn’t break for him and the defence were able to clear.
The Bot’s next chance came in the 62nd minute when Shankland whipped over a good cross from the right to find Graham Wilson beyond the far post. He steered it 1st time back across goal where Healy met it but glanced his header off target.
In the 66th minute Rob Roy had a chance to test Leishman when they won a free kick 23 yards out following McCracken’s handball but Scott lashed it well over the bar.
Two minutes later they had another set piece opportunity when they won a free kick in more or less the same spot. This time Truesdale hit but sent his shot straight into the wall.
With 20 minutes remaining Talbot had a half chance to kill the game off. Stafford played it up the wing to find Glasgow and he turned it inside to find Shankland. He laid it off early to Samson and he fired a shot across goal but wide of the right post.
Rob Roy made a change in the 76th minute with I Gold coming on in place of Bell.
Rob Roy’s McPherson picked up a caution in the 78th minute for a shove on Graham Wilson.
Talbot now made their first change with Mason coming on for Shankland and a few minutes later Hyslop replaced Glasgow.
In the 85th minute Cairns had his name taken for dissent.
The Bot had a nervy moment in the 86th minute. Armstrong lost out in a 50/50 inside the Rabs half and Rob Roy quickly broke forward through Truesdale who spread it out to Scott on the left of the area. He drilled a shot on goal but Leishman was equal to it and smothered it at his right hand post.
With 2 minutes remaining Rob Roy made their final change with S Gold replacing Scott.
Rob Roy threw bodies forward as the game moved into injury time but couldn’t breach the Talbot defence. The one half chance they had came from a short corner worked to Truesdale at the right edge of the area but he snatched his shot high & wide of target and Talbot were able to see it out to book their place in the final.
A hard fought win for the Bot who now move onto Monday night’s visit to Darvel which is a real 6 pointer and could go a long way to deciding the outcome of the title race.
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Armstrong, Healy, Graham Wilson, Samson, Shankland, Glasgow
Subs – Boylan, Crawford, Mason, Hyslop, Robbie McCracken, Hewitt
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy – Smith, Walker, Bell, Baber, O’Halloran, Cairns, Truesdale, O’Kane, Arbuckle, Young, Scott
Subs – Gordon, Kelly, S Gold, I Gold, McPherson, Ross, Murdoch
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.
SPONSORED BY: Jim New.
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.
MURRAYS REPORT
Talbot dug deep to earn themselves a place in the semi-finals of the Scottish coming from a goal down to beat Shotts at Hannah Park.
The hosts took the game to Talbot aided by a stiff gale at their back that left Talbot struggling early on.
Talbot couldn’t really get out the bit in the opening exchanges and Ritchford’s long throw ins were causing the Bot defence problems.
Having weathered the early onslaught Talbot fell behind in the 12th minute to a frankly ludicrous penalty decision. A corner was swept over from the left that Leishman gathered under pressure. He then got into a tangle with Ritchford as he got to his feet and to the amazement of all & sundry the ref booked Leishman and gave Shotts a penalty which MARTIN tucked away.
The home dug out thought they’d doubled their lead in the 19th minute when one of Ritchford’s hurled throw-ins was nodded into the path of Burns at the back post but he’d wandered offside and the goal didn’t stand.
Shotts continued to press and ought to have moved two ahead in the 22nd minute. Talbot conceded a corner down the left and Watt’s delivery found McGeough free at the back post but he headed over from a good position.
Gradually Talbot began to find their feet on the gluey surface and came close in the 24th minute when Healy’s ball in from the right broke out to Boyd who steered a shot just wide of the right hand post from the edge of the area.
Shotts most effective weapon was Ritchford’s shies and he caused Leishman an uncomfortable moment on the half hour mark when the Bot keeper came to punch one clear only to flap it behind for a corner.
A minute later Talbot passed up a good chance to level. Glasgow laid the ball off to Graham Wilson who returned it 1st time to send Glasgow racing clear of the defence. He continued to the edge of the area before lifting a shot over the advancing keeper but it sailed just over the crossbar.
McGeough had his name taken in the 36th minute for preventing Talbot from taking a quick shy.
Five minutes before the interval Talbot drew level. The Shotts defence failed to clear a ball in from the left and BRYAN BOYLAN crashed a shot home from 10 yards out to make it 1-1.
Talbot could have went in a goal ahead at the interval as they twice came close in 1st half injury time. Aiden Wilson won a corner down the left that Glasgow took and his cross was met by McCracken whose header had the keeper beaten but was headed off the line by a defender. Talbot kept the pressure on & Glasgow burst into the box down the left edge before firing a shot just over the bar in the closing action of the 1st half.
Talbot had the wind at their backs in the 2nd half and it was the home side’s turn to be pushed back.
Three minutes into the 2nd period Sutherland picked up a yellow card for a late lunge on Glasgow.
Just as Shotts had done in the early stages Talbot won a series of corners but had nothing to show for it. In the 52nd minute Glasgow’s corner from the left was fumbled by Murdoch as he went for it but no one was close enough to take advantage.
In the 53rd minute Armstrong won the ball inside the Shotts half and played it early up toward the area where Crawford handled it to prevent Talbot getting in behind. He was cautioned but Talbot didn’t make the most of the set piece with Glasgow firing well over the bar from 20 yards out.
Shotts now made a change with Cassells coming on for Watt.
Talbot were turning up the pressure and nearly went in front in the 57th minute. Glasgow got to the bye line down the left and his pull back was met by Graham Wilson whose shot was deflected behind for a corner. When the corner came over McCracken met it only to see his header come back off the crossbar. Talbot kept the pressure on and moments later McCracken had another chance when a cross from the left found him in space at the back post but this time he didn’t make a clean contact allowing Murdoch to make the save.
Armstrong had his name taken in the 59th minute for a challenge on half-way.
Shotts hadn’t offered much since the interval but did go on the attack in the 63rd minute. Cassells won a free kick just wide of the penalty area which he lifted beyond the far post. Crawford retrieved it and cut it back to the edge of the area where Cassells directed a low drive straight at Leishman.
Andy then launched it quickly down field where Boylan looked to be fouled by Sutherland as he raced to get on the end of it but the referee waved play on.
The Bot struck the woodwork for the 2nd time in the match in the 67th minute. Glasgow’s free kick from the left was met by McCracken who steered a header off the base of the post with the keeper beaten.
Shotts now made a 2nd change with Chalmers coming on in place of McGeough.
In the 70th minute Shotts were reduced to 10 men. A ball over the top caught the defence out allowing Boylan to race in on goal. Murdoch came racing out of his area and when Boylan clipped a shot at goal the keeper batted it away. The linesman’s flag went up immediately and after consulting with him the ref produced a red card to the keeper for handling the ball outside the area and awarded Talbot the free kick in the dee. Shotts now had to sacrifice Murdoch to bring on their substitute goalie Cameron and his first job was to pick the ball out of the back of his net.
Graham Wilson took the free kick and his shot clipped the top of the wall and spun high into the air. With the defence frozen the only one to react was CRAIG MCCRACKEN who prodded it home from close range to make it 2-1.
Tucker now made a double switch with Graham Wilson & Glasgow making way for Samson & Mason.
The two subs combined together in the 80th minute when Samson released Mason down the right and his low ball back across the face of goal was bundled just wide of his own goal by Evans. The referee then booked Muir for a foul committed on Samson in the build-up.
Talbot had a chance to kill the tie off in the 82nd minute. Cameron’s weak goal kick was intercepted by Boylan and fed to Samson on the right of the area but he fired it straight at the keeper.
Cassells became the latest Shotts player booked when he received a yellow card in the 83rd minute for a late challenge on Stafford.
With 5 minutes remaining Shotts had a chance to level. Cassells won a free kick out on the left which he delivered into the centre where Faulds sent a free header over the bar.
Three minutes from time McCracken received a caution for a challenge just inside the Bot half.
It should have been game over in the closing minutes when Talbot passed up two good chances in quick succession. Samson got free on the right and swept it across goal where Boylan met it 6 yards out but his shot was blocked by the keeper. The rebound came to Mason a few yards out but with the goal gaping he fired wide of the far post.
This could have proved costly as deep into injury time Talbot conceded a cheap corner down the left and when it came over Faulds met it but glanced it well wide of target.
Soon after the final whistle blew with Talbot through to the last 4 where they will face Rob Roy. Next up for Talbot it’s back to league duty when they host Kilwinning on Wednesday night.
Shotts Bon Accord – Murdoch, Sutherland, Muir, Crawford, Faulds, Martin, Evans, McGeough, Burns, Ritchford, Watt
Subs – Cassells, Kindlan, Chalmers, Meikle, Cameron
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Armstrong, Boyd, Healy, Boylan, Graham Wilson, Glasgow
Subs – Samson, Mason, Hyslop, Robbie McCracken, McDowall, White, Hewitt
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
The fans were well entertained in this thrilling cup tie as for the third time this season Talbot came from behind to beat Meadow and claim their place in the Scottish Junior quarter-finals.
Talbot got off on the wrong foot and fell behind after only 6 minutes with the first real attack of the game. McCloy stole a yard on Aiden Wilson and whipped a cross into the near post where WARDROPE steered a header off the underside of the bar that spun back over the line.
The Bot’s first threat came in the 12th minute when Armstrong found Glasgow in space on the right. He played it first time into the near post where McLennan dived to head it past his own post.
It should have been all level in the 16th minute when Talbot spurned a great opportunity to equalise. McCracken’s long diagonal picked out Glasgow down the left & he skinned Findlay before lifting a cross straight onto the head of Samson who headed it straight at Waters from 5 yards out.
It was then Meadow’s turn to threaten the Bot defence when Connor Boyd managed to wriggle past a couple of challenges. He broke free down the left & slid it across the face of goal but there was no support in the centre.
The visitors had the next shot on target on the half hour mark. The ball broke to Connor Boyd 25 yards out & he drilled it on target but straight at Leishman.
Talbot came close to levelling in the 38th minute. Aiden Wilson’s deep cross found Boylan at the far post & Waters produced a good stop to keep it out at his left post before Willet bundled it behind for the corner.
A minute later the Meadow keeper was back in the thick of it. Glasgow won the ball and slid a pass through to Boylan on the left. He skipped inside onto his right foot and lashed a shot at goal that Waters tipped over his crossbar.
Talbot ended the half on the attack. Boylan did well out on the right and swung over a cross to the far post toward Samson who claimed that his shirt was being held as he tried to reach it but the officials weren’t interested and Meadow went in a goal to the good.
Tucker’s half-time team talk did the trick & Talbot came out all guns blazing at the start of the 2nd period. Within a minute of the re-start Graham Wilson was denied by Waters as he let fly from 18 yards only to see the Meadow keeper parry his effort away.
A 2nd goal would’ve left Talbot with a mountain to climb and Meadow had a half chance in the 48th minute to double their lead. Connor Boyd was in space on the right edge of the area but couldn’t beat Leishman from a tight angle with Andy turning his shot wide of the left post.
Talbot squared the tie in the 55th minute. Armstrong slipped the ball into the path of the overlapping Aiden Wilson whose low cross into the centre was converted by GRAHAM WILSON to make it 1-1.
In the 58th minute Talbot had a half chance to take the lead. Stafford’s cross found its way to Aiden Wilson in a bit of space inside the area but he lashed his shot well over the bar.
Having fought their way back into it Talbot found themselves facing a spot kick in the 59th minute in what must surely be a contender for softest penalty award of the season. A shy from the right was thrown into Wardrope who crumpled to the ground under the flimsiest of challenges from Armstrong. Not only did he fall over at the slightest pretext it looked to be a foot or so outside the penalty area but the ref pointed to the spot and MCLENNAN made no mistake from 12 yards to put Meadow back in front.
Talbot dusted themselves down and were back on the attack in the 61st minute when they won a free kick 35 yards. Glasgow hit it into the area where it broke into the path of Healy who fired a shot just over from 15 yards.
Meadow made the game’s first change in the 64th minute when Graham Boyd was replaced by McNab.
In the 67th minute Aiden Wilson swung a cross beyond the far post which Stafford headed back across goal. Waters came for it & dropped it but unfortunately no Bot player was close enough to take advantage & the defence were able to clear it out for a shy. The shy was taken quickly to Aiden Wilson who lifted a cross toward the far post where KIER SAMSON glanced a header beyond Waters inside the left post to make it 2-2.
It was then Meadow’s turn to exert some pressure when they forced a couple of corners in quick succession but Talbot withstood the inswinging deliveries.
Meadow made their 2nd change in the 71st minute with McCloy going off to be replaced by McKie.
The first card of the afternoon appeared in the 72nd minute with ex-Bot midfielder Faulds receiving a caution for a challenge on Glasgow.
Talbot had a let off in the 79th minute when Meadow broke and the ball was passed out to McNab in space on the left of the area. He lifted a cross towards the far post which Wardrope managed to head wide from a yard out.
Tucker now made a double substitution with Healy & Boylan making way for Mason & Hyslop.
It looked next goal the winner & Talbot nearly grabbed it in the 81st minute. Glasgow cut in off the left & powered a right foot shot on target which brought out a top save from Waters who dived to his left to turn it wide of the post.
Two minutes later Talbot won a free kick in a good area after Faulds bundled Armstrong over 22 yards out. Armstrong clipped it toward the far post but Meadow defended it well & were able to clear.
The woodwork came to Talbot’s rescue in the 86th minute when Meadow broke down the left. The ball was played into the near post where McNab’s shot from a tight angle hit the right post. The rebound came back to him but his follow up effort was blocked by Leishman.
This proved to be pivotal as Talbot went down the other end and went in front for the first time. Glasgow’s cross from the right saw Mason bundled over in the area as he went to meet it but the referee waved play on. The ball came out to Graham Wilson & he chipped a cross toward the back post where CRAIG MCCRACKEN rose to head it home off the underside of the bar. This proved to be his last involvement as he’d taken a knock and was replaced for the closing stages by Lyle.
Meadow pushed hard in the closing minutes – piling bodies forward to snatch an equaliser – but Talbot held firm for the win and will now face a trip to Shotts Bon Accord in the last 8. Next up for Talbot it’s the senior cup where for the first time in Beechwood’s history Talbot will host top flight opposition when they face Hearts.
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Armstrong, Healy, Graham Wilson, Glasgow, Boylan, Samson
Subs – Mason, Hyslop, McDowall, Boyd, Robbie McCracken, Lyle, Hewitt
Irvine Meadow – Waters, Whyte, Willet, Slooves, Findlay, McLennan, Faulds, Wardope, G Boyd, C Boyd, McLoy
Subs – McNab, McKie, McMillan, McLaughlin, Sivewright, McFadyen, McLean
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
MURRAY’S REPORT
Talbot returned to winning ways at the start of 2022 with a 2-0 win away at a rain soaked Dalmellington.
Craigmark were up for it and they made the early running without being able to test the Talbot defence. The first chance of the match came Talbot’s way in the 7th minute when Glasgow slipped a pass into the path of Samson who burst into the box but over-carried it & Johnson came off his line to smother it.
Leishman was called into action in the 14th minute when Boyle cut the ball back to Cherrie who hammered a shot on target from 25 yards that flew straight at the Talbot goalie.
The home side would have grabbed the opener in the 23rd minute but for a great reflex save. Aiden Wilson conceded a free kick wide on the right which Newton delivered toward the back post. McCrum met it to power a header on goal that Leishman managed to turn behind for the corner.
When the corner came over Talbot cleared it and countered through Glasgow who was hauled to the ground by Lamont who received a caution. Healy drilled the free kick into the box where Graham Wilson flicked it on to Samson racing in behind the defence. He looked set to score but Johnson pulled off a good stop to deny him.
Talbot were slowly gaining the upper hand and threatened the Craigmark goal twice in a minute. Firstly, Boylan did well down the right before squaring it across the area to Glasgow whose side-footed effort was deflected wide of the right post. When the corner came over it found Aiden Wilson at the back post and his effort came back off the woodwork.
In the 32nd minute Talbot had another chance to take the lead. A poor goal kick by Johnson was headed in behind the home defence allowing Samson a clear run on goal. He took it round the keeper and tried to pass it into the net but Kirkwood was on hand to clear it off the line.
Next to try their luck was Healy who brought out a decent save from Johnson in the 37th minute when the keeper dived to his left to save his shot from just outside the area.
A minute later Talbot passed up a good opportunity. Boylan raced free down the left & cut it back into the path of Graham Wilson who misjudged it and got the ball stuck between his feet and the chance was lost.
In the 39th minute Graham Wilson fed the ball out to Boylan on the left and he surged forward before cutting inside and blasting a shot across goal and wide of the left post.
Talbot kept pushing but to no avail and half-time came at just the right time for a Craigmark side under increasing pressure.
The 2nd half started where the 1st had left off with Talbot on top and the Bot were inches from taking the lead in the 49th minute. Glasgow’s shot for goal was blocked but the ball spun into the path of Graham Wilson 25 yards out and he cracked a shot off the crossbar with the keeper well beaten.
Robbie McCracken had his name taken in the 52nd minute when Connelly turned him and he hauled him back.
A minute later Talbot were back on the attack. Graham Wilson’s diagonal ball clipped off the top of Lamont’s head but still found its way out to Boylan in space on the right. He clipped it into the near post for the run of Samson who tried to slide it in but saw his effort deflected behind for the corner.
Craigmark made the game’s first change in the 57th minute when Tan left the field to be replaced by Ryan Caddis.
Talbot’s next chance came in the 59th minute following a Craigmark corner. Connelly crossed it in from the right only for Armstrong to head it clear and Talbot to break quickly up field. The ball was switched out to Boylan on the right but his cross was headed clear at the near post.
Johnson had been having problems with his goal kicks all afternoon and he bodged another in the 63rd minute, forcing one of his defenders to rush a pass back to him which the keeper gathered just inside the area, resulting in an indirect free kick to Talbot. As customarily happens, the referee couldn’t get the defensive wall to retreat the full distance and when the ball was touched off to Graham Wilson his shot was blocked by a defender only a few yards away.
Johnson now received a yellow card for time-wasting and was joined in the book moments later by Stafford who was penalised for a foul on Connelly.
Unfortunately, by this time torrential rain was falling which not only made life difficult for the players but isn’t ideal for match reporting either as it rendered my notepad all but illegible leaving me falling back on my dodgy memory.
At some stage Hyslop came on in place of Robbie McCracken.
The deadlock was broken in the 71st minute. Armstrong won a corner out on the right which he took himself. He fired it low into the near post where it was cleared out to the edge of the area where GRAHAM WILSON lashed an unstoppable shot beyond Johnson to put Talbot 1-0 in front.
Talbot now made another change with McDowall coming on for Boylan.
The game was made safe in the 81st minute when Talbot doubled their lead. Craig McCracken swept over a good cross from the right which JAMIE GLASGOW stooped to meet in front of goal and head past the keeper.
Tucker now made a final change with Boyd on in place of Glasgow.
As the game headed into added time Talbot almost added a third. The ball broke to Craig McCracken inside the penalty area and he drilled a shot at goal from 15 yards out that Johnson did well to keep out.
A good win in atrocious conditions and the prize for Talbot is a place in the 4th round of the Junior cup where they host Irvine Meadow next Saturday.
Craigmark Burntonians – Johnson, Newton, Smith, Kirkwood, Lamont, Cherrie, Boyle, McCrum, Adam, Tan, Connelly
Subs – Smith, McKay, Boyd, Hill, R Caddis, D Caddis (gk)
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, Robbie McCracken, Craig McCracken, Armstrong, Healy, Graham Wilson, Boylan, Samson, Glasgow
Subs – McDowall, Boyd, Hyslop, Lyle
