SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP – Page 6 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

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