SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP – Page 6 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Auchinleck Talbot v Irvine Meadow

VERY EARLY GOAL!!! With the game not long started Meadow take the lead, as a close range header fails to hit the back of the net but…

…the ball falls kindly for Meadow and they manage to bundle the ball home. 0-1.

Glasgow and Samson get ready to pounce but the defender clears the danger.

SO SO CLOSE!!! Keir Samson finds space inside the box and sends a very powerful header towards goal however…

…the ball is fired straight at the ‘keeper and thankfully for Meadow, he keeps hold of the ball.

Boylan does his best to race away from ex-Talbot player Kyle Faulds.

Jamie Glasgow gets stopped in his tracks, as the crowd look on.

Synchronicity is obviously the key to get your point across to the referee.

CLOSE AGAIN FOR TALBOT!!! The Medda ‘keeper pulls off a great save in order to stop Boylan from scoring from very close range.

Bryan Boylan tries his luck from distance but fails to find the back of the net.

The Talbot bench closely watch the action, as ‘Gee’ evades a challenge.

McCracken keeps his opponent at arms length while going on the attack.

Talbot come straight out the traps at the start of the second half and Graham Wilson goes close from inside the box.

The steely eyed Glasgow skips past his man and races down the park.

Faulds has a dig for Meadow but Craig McCracken blocks the way through.

TALBOT PULL LEVEL!!! ‘Gee’ gets onto the end of a great cross and coolly slots the ball home. 1-1.

Aiden Wilson goes for the spectacular from the edge of the box but…

…he can only vent his frustration, as he watches the ball sail over the bar.

MEDDA REGAIN THE LEAD!!! Meadow get awarded a penalty and they are spot on with sending Andy the wrong way and firing the ball home. 1-2.

Samson takes a tumble while winning the aerial battle.

TALBOT PULL LEVEL AGAIN!!! Samson rises the highest inside the box and finds the back of the net with a great looping header. 2-2.

Big Andy gets a big fist to the ball and clears the danger.

And moments later he does the exact same thing again to stop Meadow.

GOOOOAAAALLLL!!! And the comeback is complete! Talbot seal their place in the next round, as Craig McCracken fires a cracking late header into the top corner of the net. 3-2.

Graham and Craig are in Cheshire Cat mode after the final whistle, as they celebrate a very good victory.

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 12^th 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 16^th 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 38^th 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 2^nd 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 2^nd goal would’ve left Talbot with a mountain to climb and Meadow had a half chance in the 48^th 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 55^th 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 58^th 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 59^th 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 61^st 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 64^th minute when Graham Boyd was replaced by McNab.

In the 67^th 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 2^nd change in the 71^st minute with McCloy going off to be replaced by McKie.

The first card of the afternoon appeared in the 72^nd minute with ex-Bot midfielder Faulds receiving a caution for a challenge on Glasgow.

Talbot had a let off in the 79^th 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 81^st 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 86^th 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

Craigmark Burntonians v Auchinleck Talbot

An early chance for Talbot but the Craigmark ‘keeper bravely gathers the ball at the feet of Samson.

Jamie Glasgow does his best to muscle his way past his opponent.

CHANCE!!! Craigmark go for the spectacular but fail to find the back of the net.

HAD-TO-BE, SURELY!!! Craigmark find space inside the box and fire a powerful header towards goal where…

…Big Andy pulls off an unbelievable save in order to deny them.

CHANCE FOR TALBOT!!! Although under pressure, Glasgow still has a go at goal from close range but he can only send the ball wide of the post.

Samson manages to skip past the ‘keeper and goes chasing after the ball where he then…

…has a dig from an awkward angle but his shot gets blocked by the defender.

PENALTY…MAYBE??? While racing into the box, Boylan gets out muscled for possession and gets bundled over.

ANOTHER TALBOT CHANCE!!! ‘Gee’ goes for glory from the six yard box but he can’t find a way through the two Craigmark defenders.

WHAT-A-CHANCE!!! With an open goal in front of him, Keir Samson slides in and fires the ball towards the gaping net but…

…he fails to score, as the Craigmark defender does enough to deflect the ball wide…just.

Armstrong leaves his man tumbling onto the deck, as he races up the park.

Talbot get awarded an in direct free-kick, while Craigmark show their frustration over the decision.

From the resulting in direct free-kick, ‘Gee’ can only fire the ball into the red ‘n’ white wall.

McCracken fires the ball up the park, while getting shoulder barged from his opponent.

UNBELIEVABLE GOAL, JEFF!!! Talbot finally make the breakthrough via a ‘reeker’ of a strike from Graham Wilson from outside the box, which leaves the ‘keeper rooted to the spot. 0-1.

Craigmark look deflated, while the Talbot players and fans go wild after Graham’s thundering strike.

Jamie’s smile says it all, as the players continue to celebrate Graham’s goal.

SEALED WITH A GLASGOW KISS!!! Talbot make sure of the win, as Jamie finds the back of the net via a diving header from close range. 0-2.

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 7^th 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 14^th 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 23^rd 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 32^nd 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 37^th 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 39^th 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 2^nd half started where the 1^st had left off with Talbot on top and the Bot were inches from taking the lead in the 49^th 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 52^nd 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 57^th minute when Tan left the field to be replaced by Ryan Caddis.

Talbot’s next chance came in the 59^th 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 63^rd 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 71^st 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 81^st 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 4^th 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

Craigmark Burntonions v Auchinleck Talbot

Carluke Rovers v Auchinleck Talbot

Kieran Healy lobs the ball forward during another Talbot attack.

Talbot try to win the ball back inside the box but Healy gets fended off by the defender.

WHAT-A-CHANCE!!! Jamie Glasgow finds himself free inside the box but his slotted shot only finds the bottom of the post.

And after missing that great chance, Jamie gives the other post a good kicking in frustration.

Armstrong manages to win this aerial battle.

TALBOT TAKE THE LEAD!!! Kier Samson gets on the end of a Glasgow cross and heads the ball into the back of the net. 0-1.

It’s high fives all round, as Samson gets congratulated by his team-mates after scoring.

In a blink of an eye, Talbot come very close to doubling their lead but Samson’s close range header gets cleared off the line by the Carluke defence.

Another Talbot attack gets started, as ‘Shankers’ fires the ball down the park.

TALBOT GO CLOSE AGAIN!!! Kieran Healy very nearly makes it two for Talbot but his powerful looping header can only smack off the crossbar instead.

WHAT-A-STRIKE!!! From outside the box, Carluke fire a sensational shot through the Talbot defence that…

…smashes into the back of the net, leaving Big Andy rooted to the spot. 1-1.

No wonder the Carluke players went absolutely berserk after levelling the score via an unbelievable strike.

‘Whitey’ still shows them how it’s done, as he fires the ball on from the middle of the park.

POSSIBLE PENALTY??? While challenging for the ball in the air, Steven White possibly gets shoved by the defender. What do you think?

ANOTHER GREAT CHANCE!!! Jamie Glasgow goes extremely close to scoring but his close range shot fails to find the back of the net.

Gareth Armstrong goes on a great run up the park, as he skips past his opponent.

Steven White watches his close range looping header get saved by the ‘keeper but it wouldn’t have counted anyway, as the linesman flags for offside.

Armstrong has a lot on his shoulders, as Aiden Wilson battles for the ball above him.

CHANCE YET AGAIN!!! Jamie Glasgow finds himself with a free header inside the box but, again, fails to find the back of the net.

While going on a great run into the Carluke box, Shankland gets bundled over just outside it.

Jamie and Steven discuss the situation, while listening to what the referee has to say.

Although there is bodies everywhere, Samson manages to rise the highest and get his head to the ball but the ball goes agonisingly wide of the post.

GOOOOAAAALLLL!!! Talbot regain the lead through a screamer of a shot from Aiden Wilson and although the ‘keeper does his best (and the ball may have took a wee deflection), there was no way the ball was going to be stopped. 1-2.

Aiden Wilson gets congratulated after putting Talbot back into the lead.

After getting to his own rebound, ‘Gee’ smashes the ball into the top corner of the net from close range but the lineman deems him to have been offside. Should the goal have stood?

Graham and Jamie argue their case about why Gee’s goal should count.

Carluke rue a missed opportunity to equalise through a mistake in the Talbot defence but at least Big Andy and Neily can have a laugh about it.

With the game nearing it’s end, Leishman gathers the ball from the air to make sure Talbot see out the victory.

A Talbot victory in the Scottish Junior Cup means a very happy Talbot supporter.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

Talbot booked their place in the 3^rd round draw of the Scottish Junior cup thanks to a 2-1 away win over Carluke; the final score being a lot tighter than many would have anticipated and an inaccurate reflection of a game Talbot could & should have won a lot more comfortably.

The first of Talbot’s many efforts at goal came in the 6^th minute when Shankland played Hyslop in down the left & he angled a shot across goal and over the crossbar.

The home side tested Talbot’s defence in the 8^th minute when they won a corner down the right. Dailly hit an in swinger into the centre that Armstrong headed to safety.

Two minutes later Talbot had Carluke’s defence at full stretch when Shankland sent Hyslop free down the right. He swept a good cross over to the back post which Kane had to put behind. When Shankland’s corner came over toward the back post Brown was at full stretch to tip it away.

The Bot came close to opening the scoring in the 18^th minute. A flurry of quick passes ended with Glasgow racing clear of the defence to race through on the keeper but his shot clipped the base of the right hand post and spun out for a goal kick.

The opener came in the 23^rd minute when Glasgow did well to turn Neossi out on the left before swinging over a cross that KEIR SAMSON nodded inside Brown’s right post to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

Within a minute Talbot nearly added a second. Samson’s cross from the right was put behind for a corner which Shankland delivered deep beyond the far post where Samson guided a header back across goal that was cleared off the line.

Samson was involved again in the 27^th minute. He met McPherson’s flighted pass & nodded it down into the path of Glasgow who returned the ball back to Samson who’d continued his run. He got free down the right of the penalty area & lobbed a shot over the bar.

A 2^nd goal would have killed the game and Talbot were unfortunate not to double their lead in the 29^th minute. Stafford swung over a good cross from the right which Healy ran onto & glanced a header for goal that cannoned off the right post with the keeper well beaten before a defender put it behind for the corner. When Shankland’s corner came in Brown got a hand to it but could only clear it out as far as Glasgow whose low shot from 16 yards was deflected wide by the keeper’s outstretched left leg.

Talbot had another half chance in the 31^st minute when Wilson was blocked just wide of the penalty area resulting in a free kick. Shankland took it & went for goal but fired it into the side-netting.

The game should have been out of sight & Talbot were made to pay for their missed chances in the 34^th minute when Carluke equalised out of the blue. The home side were awarded a free kick out on the left that Dailly crossed into the centre. It was cleared but fell into the path of SMALL 22 yards out & he hammered an unstoppable shot to Leishman’s left to draw Carluke level.

The goal knocked Talbot out their rhythm for a spell but they recovered and had a great chance to regain the lead in the 42^nd minute. Samson raced clear on the right & played a great ball into the near post where Glasgow looked set to score but Kane did well to deflect his side-footed shot just wide of the left post.

In the closing seconds of the half Armstrong picked up a caution for a mistimed challenge on Neill.

The 2^nd half soon settled into a pattern of attack v defence with Carluke intent on holding out for penalties.

Talbot’s first effort of the 2^nd half came in the 52^nd minute when Armstrong set up Shankland at the edge of the area and his shot was parried away by the keeper.

In the 56^th minute Wilson swung over a good cross for Hyslop to attack but he got his angles wrong and glanced his header wide of target.

Carluke’s goal was leading a charmed life and the travelling support were beginning to wonder if it was not going to be Talbot’s day when the Bot again struck the woodwork on the hour mark. Glasgow’s low drive had the keeper beaten but it clattered the left post and the score remained tied.

Brown had made a good step earlier with his leg to deny Glasgow and he did the same again to Shankland in the 62^nd minute; stretching out his right leg to deflect away his low drive from 20 yards.

Two minutes later Talbot won a free kick in a good area after Douglas Frame clipped Shankland just outside the area with Carluke’s centre-half booked for the challenge. Shankland took it himself but got too much on it & it didn’t dip quickly enough.

Carluke were clinging on by hook or by crook and in the 68^th minute Murphy received a yellow card for time-wasting.

In the 70^th minute Talbot won a corner down the left when Wilson’s cross was blocked by Small. Shankland delivered it to the far post where Samson just failed to get on the end of it.

Finally, Talbot’s pressure paid off in the 74^th minute. Samson’s long shy from the right was only partially cleared by the defence & it fell to AIDEN WILSON 20 yards out whose half volley skipped off the surface & flew past Brown to put Talbot 2-1 ahead.

Both sides now made changes with McDowall on for Hylsop for Talbot and the home side bringing on Jamieson & Lawlor for Murphy & Neill.

With 11 minutes remaining Talbot made their 2^nd change of the afternoon with Graham Wilson replacing Samson up top.

Graham Wilson had the ball in the back of the net in the 83^rd minute but the goal didn’t stand for some unfathomable reason. Wilson met Healy’s cross from the right & steered a header onto Brown’s right post & reacted quickest to fire the rebound home. However, the assistant’s flag went up and after a consultation with the ref the goal was chalked off.

For all Talbot’s dominance a single goal lead is precarious and Talbot’s support had a nervy moment in the 84^th minute when White knocked the ball to Leishman who took his eye off it and let it run away from him before McPherson managed to clear.

In the closing stages Talbot made a final change with Robbie McCracken coming on for Shankland and Talbot able to see the game out to claim the victory.

Next up for Talbot it is another away day but this time back to league duty as they travel through to Petershill park on Wednesday night to face Rossvale.

Carluke Rovers – Brown, Kane, Murphy, Douglas Frame, Neossi, Goodall, Small, Steven Frame, Smith, Neill, Dailly

Subs – Wilson, O’Reilly, Jamieson, Lawlor, Jessimer

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, White, Armstrong, Healy, Hyslop, Glasgow, Shankland, Samson

Subs – Lyle, Graham Wilson, McDowall, Boylan, Robbie McCracken, Hewitt (gk)

Chris Stafford

SPONSORED: Colin Mitchell, Ashley Gardiner (Event Vocally)

BIO: Chris was on loan from Greenock Morton FC until the end of the 2022 season, and then joined the club at the start of the 2022/23 campaign. He started his career at Celtic Community Academy and Johnstone Boys Club before moving to Morton in 2013. He moved to the Morton reserves in 2019 where he had loan spells at Johnstone Burgh and Cumnock.

Auchinleck Talbot v Montrose Roselea

Early in the match, Jamie Glasgow threads a neat pass through the Montrose defence.

‘Pee-wee’ shows his determination to win the ball in this hefty challenge.

‘Big Neily’ watches, as Willie Boyd gets another attack motoring for Talbot.

TALBOT OPEN THE SCORING!!! The Montrose defender and ‘keeper do their best to stop the strike but Dwayne Hyslop’s thunderbolt can’t be stopped and it smashes into the back of the net. 1-0.

‘Pee-wee’ gives a satisfied look, as Robbie McCracken shows his delight after seeing Dwayne score the opener.

Samson goes chasing and tries to muscle past his opponent.

Keir Samson goes for the spectacular but the defender gets to the ball first and clears the danger.

Talbot get a goal disallowed, as while Robbie McCracken’s diving header finds the back of the net, the linesman deems the corner to have went behind first.

Aaron Mason goes on a big run with the ball up the middle of the park.

No way through, as Aiden Wilson heads the ball away from danger.

SAMSON YET AGAIN!!! Glasgow watches, as Samson gets onto the end of his low cross and prods the ball home from close range. 2-0.

It’s high fives all round, as Keir gets congratulated by his team-mates.

Keir goes hurdling over the Montrose defence.

With the goal at this mercy, Samson tries to unleash a shot but the Montrose defender blocks the strike with a last ditch sliding tackle.

GOOOAAALLL!!! Talbot make it a threesome, as ‘Pee-wee’ finds the back of the net via another thunderous strike from the edge of the box. 3-0.

Nae wonder Dwayne is all smiles after scoring his second goal of the game.

Right on half-time, Jamie Glasgow has a dig from just outside the box but his shot sails high over the bar.

Now…that’s the look of a defender that’s determined to win the ball and clear the danger.

Glasgow uses his pace to skip in-between and race away from the two Montrose players.

The ‘gaffer’ looks on, while Robbie McCracken tries to fight for the ball on the touch line.

WIT-A-CHANCE!!! Aiden Wilson finds himself with acres of space inside the box and directs a precise header towards goal but…

…he can only watch with disappointment, as the ball goes wide of the goal.

It’s a five star Talbot wall, as they make sure Montrose don’t find a way through via their free-kick.

Craig McCracken makes his comeback after being out injured of late. WELCOME BACK SIR!!!

A very proud moment for young Cody Hastings, as he makes the step-up from the U20 squad to come on as a sub for the first team.

OH SO CLOSE!!! ‘Shankers’ goes very close to scoring but his close range strike goes straight into the ‘keepers arms.

Craig McCracken uses his strength to muscle his way down the park.

Montrose get a consolation goal near the end of the match, as the ball lands nicely for them to smash the ball home from close range. 3-1.

The Montrose players are all smiles after scoring, while Talbot look dejected after not keeping a clean sheet.

Right at the death, young Cody Hastings very nearly scores on his debut but his long range effort goes agonisingly wide of the post.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

Talbot cruised into the next round of the Scottish Junior cup after a comfortable win over their North region opponents.

Montrose Roselea were forced into making an early change when Watson limped off after only 8 minutes to be replaced up front by Alberts.

The opening goal came in the 13^th minute. Robbie McCracken played a good ball up the right to find Samson & he squared it across the penalty area. Mason touched it back into the path of DWAYNE HYSLOP who hammered a shot inside the right post from 15 yards.

Three minutes later Talbot very nearly doubled their lead. Healy chipped the ball forward to Mason who let fly from outside the area & his shot rattled back out off the left post with the keeper well beaten.

Talbot were knocking it about well, looking to stretch their opponents, who were content to sit deep.

The home support thought Talbot had added their 2^nd in the 23^rd minute. Glasgow’s cross from the right was headed behind for a corner and when Mason’s corner came over Robbie McCracken dived to meet it beyond the far post to bullet a header home but the assistant flagged that the corner had swerved out then back in.

Mason then tried his luck from distance – trying to place it from 25 yards with McCormack making a comfortable save.

Talbot’s 2^nd goal arrived in the 31^st minute. Craig McCracken pinged an accurate diagonal ball over the defence to find Glasgow haring down the right. He slid it into the near post where KIER SAMSON touched it home from close range.

Montrose’s defence was being stretched constantly & Davidson did well in the 36^th minute to prevent Samson getting his shot away; sliding in to put it behind for a corner.

The next effort at goal came from Glasgow when Craig McCracken’s pass found him on the left & he fired wide of the right post from 25 yards.

Three minutes before the interval Samson found Robbie McCracken on the overlap & Stephen turned his ball across goal behind for the corner. Mason whipped the corner over where Hyslop met it in front of goal but he glanced it wide of the far post.

A minute from half time Talbot added their 3^rd goal. Samson raced free down the left and burst into the area before cutting it back to DWAYNE HYSLOP who planted it into the bottom corner.

With the tie effectively over Talbot dropped down a gear in the 2^nd half but still made & missed quite a few chances. The first of which came in the 48^th minute when a shy from the left was gathered by Samson who raced into the area & hammered a shot just over the crossbar from a tight angle.

Talbot’s next goal threat came in the 58^th minute. Glasgow’s cross from the right found Healy at the back post and his diving header back across goal was well saved by McCormack.

Tucker now made a double switch with Hyslop and Samson making way for McDowall and Shankland.

Roselea were caught out by a short corner down the left when Mason pulled it back to Shankland on the left edge of the area and he fired it just wide of the right hand post.

Wilson had a great chance to get his name on the score sheet in the 67^th minute. Robbie McCracken’s cross found him in space at the back post but he steered his header across goal & wide of the left post.

McPherson had his name taken in the 71^st minute for a foul on Garnham just outside the area. Alberts took it but never troubled the goal – sending it comfortably wide of the right post.

McDowall picked up a knock and the sub was substituted with Hastings making the step up from Talbot’s development squad to make his debut.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot had another good chance to add to their lead. Robbie McCracken arrowed in a good cross that Healy ran onto but he bulleted his header over the bar.

Two minutes later Mason hit the woodwork for the 2^nd time when he cut in off the left & drilled a shot that clattered off the base of McCormack’s right hand post.

Mason had another opportunity moments later when he ran onto Boyd’s ball over the defence. He checked inside and fired for goal but his shot went straight at the keeper.

The procession of chances continued for Talbot and Shankland spurned a good chance in the 84^th minute when he met Mason’s cut back 6 yards out but side-footed it straight at McCormack.

Hastings then had a go at goal from 20 yards – pulling his shot wide of the left post.

Roselea grabbed a late consolation in the 88^th minute. Beedie gathered outside the area & threaded the ball through to ALBERTS who fired past Leishman.

Talbot ended the game back on the front foot forcing a series of corners but couldn’t add to their tally and the game finished 3-1.

Next up Talbot are back in league action at Beechwood where they host Cumbernauld United next Saturday.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Robbie McCracken, Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Healy, Boyd, Hyslop, Samson, Glasgow, Mason

Subs – Shankland, McDowall, Hastings, Watt, White, Hewitt

Montrose Roselea – McCormack, Davidson, Taylor, Reoch, Stephen, Thomson, Greig, Garnham, Watson, Beedie, Soutar

Subs – Rae, Bailey, Jamiesion, Alberts, Gill, Tweed