SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP – Page 9 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Auchinleck Talbot v Forfar West End

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAY’S REPORT

Talbot weren’t quite at their best but did enough to see off the challenge of Forfar West End to progress to the 3rd round of the Scottish Junior cup.
The Bot got off to a strong start & only the woodwork prevented Talbot from taking the lead in the 6th minute. Clark up-ended Glasgow 25 yards out receiving a yellow card in the process. Shankland took the free kick & his effort crashed off the face of the bar with the keeper well beaten.
The next effort at goal came in the 11th minute. Harvey pinged an accurate diagonal ball to find Glasgow on the left of the area. He cut inside his marker & fired a shot on target that Thain batted away.
Talbot opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Pope lifted a ball into the area to find SEAN MCILROY. His 1st touch broke off Clark back into his path & he slotted a low shot under the advancing Thain to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Two minutes later Forfar’s keeper came to their rescue. Armstrong played a well-weighted ball up the right toward McIlroy. He raced clear of the defence but Thain sped out his box to clear it out for a shy.
It was all Talbot at this stage & Pope nearly added to Talbot’s lead when he let fly from long range but his shot skidded wide of the right post.
Harvey had Talbot’s next effort in the 23rd minute. Talbot won a corner out on the right that Shankland lifted to the far post. The Forfar defence cleared it but only as far as Armstrong who returned it out to Shankland on the wing. He curled a cross beyond the far post where Harvey slid in to fire it just wide.
The visitors hadn’t offered much but they did put together a slick move in the 32nd minute. A series of passes ended with Wilson cutting the ball back to Montgomery who drilled a shot straight at Leishman from 15 yards.
Five minutes later they had another attempt at goal. Thain launched it down the centre where A Walls headed it on into the path of Batchelor who hit it 1st time for 20 yards but angled his shot well wide of target.
Talbot ought to have doubled their lead in the 39th minute. The Forfar defence couldn’t clear a corner & the ball was played back out to Shankland. He swept an inch perfect cross over which Hyslop met 5 yards out but he glanced his header wide of the far post.
Two minutes later Talbot came close again from a corner. Shankland’s corner found Hyslop & he hooked it back across goal. It broke to McIlroy whose low drive was deflected wide of goal. When the 2nd corner came in Armstrong met it beyond the back post but his shot on goal was blocked.
Allan became the 2nd Forfar player in the book when he picked up a caution in the 43rd minute.
Hyslop had a half chance to put Talbot two ahead in the 44th minute. Pope flighted a free kick over to the back post where Hyslop powered a header over the bar.
Talbot paid the price for failing to take their chances when the visitors levelled with the last kick of the half. Montgomery picked up on the left of the area & squared the ball inside. BATCHELOR ran onto it & his shot took a massive deflection off McCracken to send Leishman the wrong way & send the sides in level at the interval.
Talbot started the 2nd half as though they meant business and twice in as many minutes were denied by fine saves from Thain. The keeper produced a top stop to dive low to his left to deny McIlroy when he turned & fired at goal and a minute later he spread himself well to block Glasgow’s net bound volley.
Lyle came to Talbot’s rescue in the 51st minute. Batchelor showed quick feet to dance into the Talbot area & create the space to get his shot away but Lyle dived in to block his shot away to safety.
Armstrong failed to make the most of a half chance in the 57th minute. Stephen Wilson lifted it up the centre to find McIlroy with his back to goal. He held it up before releasing it out to Armstrong in space on the right but he fired well wide of the left post.
Talbot regained the lead in the 59th minute thanks to a defensive howler. C Walls got in his keeper’s way inside the box & as they collided SEAN MCILROY was perfectly placed to roll it into the empty net.
Petrie conceded a free kick in the 65th minute for a late tackle on Stephen Wilson 25 yards out. With everyone anticipating a shot Shankland slid the ball wide of the wall to find Pope on the overlap & he crashed a shot over the bar from a tight angle.
The Bot’s next attack saw Pope sling a cross over to the far side of the area where Armstrong cushioned it down into the path of Glasgow. He tried to side-foot it home but a defender succeeded in blocking his shot at goal.
Both sides now made a change with McDowall on for Armstrong & Kemp replacing A Walls for the visitors.
The change immediately paid off as Talbot extended their lead in the 72nd minute. Shankland lifted a cross beyond the back post where McDowall headed it back across goal. HYSLOP met it in the centre & glanced a header beyond Thain.
In the 76th minute Talbot made a further change with Kemp coming on for Glasgow.
The game appeared to be over but the visitors had other ideas & reduced the leeway with 10 minutes remaining. They won a free kick out on the left which was angled into the centre where McMahon glanced a header off the bar. When the rebound came out MCMAHON reacted quickest to prod it home from close range.
Tucker made Talbot’s final change in the 83rd minute with White on in place of Shankland.
Talbot finally killed the tie off in the 85th minute thanks to a superb finish. McIlroy flicked a ball on into the path of CALVIN KEMP on the left 30 yards out. He hit it 1st time, lifting a shot over the stranded keeper & into the roof of the net to make it 4-2.
Two minutes later Talbot nearly added to their lead. Kemp’s cross was headed off his own bar Robertson & when it rebounded out McDowall hammered a shot at goal that was deflected just wide.
In the closing stages Talbot picked up two late bookings, firstly Kemp for kicking the ball away & then White for a trip on Montgomery but there were no further chances for either side & Talbot saw the game out for the win.
Not a vintage display but a deserved win & Talbot now return to league action next Saturday when they host Glenafton.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, McCracken, Stephen Wilson, Armstrong, Hyslop, McIlroy, Shankland, Glasgow

Subs – Kemp, McDowall, White, McPherson, Hewitt (gk)

Forfar West End – Thain, C Walls, Robertson, Clark, McMahon, Allan, Petrie, Wilson, Batchelor, Montgomery, A Walls

Subs – Hart, Reynolds, Weir, Kemp, George

Auchinleck Talbot v Hurlford United

Auchinleck Talbot boss Tucker  Sloan won his sixth Junior Cup – and his 25th trophy as club manager – in the most dramatic of fashions at Rugby Park last night. Trailing at the end of 90 minutes, his cup specialists scored twice in time added on to win the old trophy for the 12th time in the club’s history.

As another multi-trophy-winning manager might have said: “Football, bloody hell.” Sloan, however, could only say: “Wow! I thought we had lost it, but we found a way to win and I have never been involved in as dramatic a finish.”Even in victory, he had time for his former team-mate Darren Henderson, the Hurlford manager, who admitted: “I am still scratching my head as to how we lost that. But, fair play to Talbot, they have done this before to better teams than us and, if you cannot defend crosses, you lose.“I could not have asked for more from my players but this is the biggest kick in the teeth I’ve ever had. We are a small club but we gave the best a real game today.”As Sloan admitted, in the first half, United had bullied Talbot, going in front in four minutes after Ross Robertson – as he did in 2014 – won then converted a penalty. It was all Hurlford thereafter but, in 37 minutes, Talbot levelled when Gordon Pope’s deep free-kick was dinked back into the danger zone by Stephen Wilson for an unmarked Dwayne Hyslop to head home.Indeed, Talbot, having barely been in the game, might have led at the break but a Graham Wilson header was cleared off the line.In 54 minutes, Talbot’s Jamie Glasgow ran 50 metres but, with Graham Wilson unmarked and screaming or the square pass, he shot and the chance was lost. Wilson was clearly unhappy as he berated his team-mate.“We had started the second half well and maybe if we had scored then it might have been easier. However, credit to Hurlford, they made us work for it,” said Sloan.That missed chance seemed to come back and bite Talbot in 63 minutes when, with a handful of players waiting for a whistle which never came, Paul McKenzie kept playing, gathering the loose ball to drive past Pope and fire Hurlford back in front.Thereafter, Talbot appeared to run out of ideas before Sloan went to his bench and the inspired introduction of Mark Shankland and Gareth Armstrong. The changes took some time to work but, as the match moved into time added-on, they struck.Shankland’s corner from the left was nodded home by Graham Wilson and, from nowhere, Talbot had a lifeline. And how they grasped it.Time ticked on into the third added minute and Talbot won themselves another corner, this time from the right-hand side. Again, Shankland’s delivery was spot-on and the other substitute, Craig McCracken, pictured inset, rose to head home what, two minutes before,  had seemed the least likely of winners, to take the cup to Auchinleck for the 12th time.As veteran football writers in the press box were only too ready to tell their younger colleagues, that’s what Talbot do in the Scottish: they find a way to win the thing and they keep on doing it.Shankland certainly did his bit – he had to, having been in the shadow of brother Stephen, who was a member of the Scottish Amateur Cup-winning Shortless team just a couple of weeks ago.But that’s the Talbot way. When it comes to the Scottish Junior Cup, nobody does it  better………

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Lochee United v Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

Talbot have a knack for finding their A game on the big occasions and so it proved again as the Bot conjured up a 2-0 away win to power past Lochee and book their place in the Scottish cup final.
The large crowd was basking in the sunshine and had extra time to enjoy the warm weather as kick off was delayed to allow late comers entry into Thomson Park.
When the game did kick off Talbot took the initiative from the off with the home side content to sit deep & look to hit Talbot on the break.
The opening exchanges were frantic, with every ball being fiercely contested, but few clear cut chances being created.
Talbot fell foul of the referee twice in the opening quarter hour, firstly White receiving a caution for a shirt tug on Deasley & then Stephen Wilson receiving a yellow card for a tackle on Kirk on the touchline.
Having set out his stall with two early cards it was no surprise when a 3rd yellow card was waved in the 18th minute, this time it was Lochee’s Webster who had his name taken for a late challenge on Pope.
In the 23rd minute the ref levelled it up at 2 bookings a piece when he cautioned Smith for tripping Glasgow. Pope took the free kick & flighted the ball to the far post where Hyslop climbed to head it for goal, forcing Fotheringham to tip it over the bar.
The next effort at goal came in the 25th minute. McIlroy gathered out on the left wing & his low cut back came out to Stephen Wilson who fired a low drive wide of target.
Talbot should have been a man up in the 31st minute. Deasley chased a long ball over the top but was beaten to it as Leishman came out to gather just inside the area. Deasley went in with studs showing & caught Leishman in the midriff as he took the ball but to the disbelief of the visiting support the referee only booked him.
It was attack playing defence as Talbot pegged Lochee back & Talbot’s next chance came in the 35th minute when Lyle made the bye line & swept a deep cross to the far post where it glanced off the top of Graham Wilson’s head & over the bar.
Talbot’s next move saw Hylsop lay the ball out to Stephen Wilson on the right & his cross just flew over the head of Graham Wilson at the back post.
Next to show for Talbot was Glasgow who went on a mazy run inside the Lochee half before sending it out wide to release Stephen Wilson. He raced to the bye line & tried to cut it back for McIlroy but Fotheringham came off his line to cut it out.
The Lochee goal led a charmed life in the closing 5 minutes of the half as Talbot pressed hard for the opening goal. Lunan came close to putting the ball in his own net when he nodded Glasgow’s left wing cross just over his own bar in the 40th minute. When Glasgow’s corner came over from the right Hyslop powered a header on target that Fotheringham did well to touch over the bar.
When the next corner came in it broke to Hyslop on the left of the area & he was desperately unlucky to see his net bound effort blocked in the goal mouth by a defender. The ball pinged back & forth before breaking to Lyle in space 15 yards out but he shanked his effort high & wide.
Stephen Wilson then went on a lung bursting run surging past 3 Lochee players into the box but he couldn’t find the final ball.
On the stroke of half-time Talbot had a golden opportunity to level the tie. Graham Wilson’s reverse ball sent Pope free in the box & when his cut back came to Glasgow he looked favourite to score but he leant back as he hit it & lifted his shot over from 12 yards and so the sides went in goal less at the interval.
Talbot started the 2nd half as they’d finished the 1st, on the front foot, and creating chances.
In the 47th minute Graham Wilson headed the ball down into the path of Glasgow who burst into the area but blazed his shot over the bar.
McIlroy then came close to opening the scoring in the 50th minute. Lyle pinged a ball over the defence which McIlroy glanced goal ward off the back of his head. It had Fotheringham beaten but dropped just over the bar to land on the top of the net.
A minute later Talbot passed up a great chance to score. Pope whipped a great cross over from the left to find Harvey free in the centre but he glanced his header wide of the far post.
It was all out attack with Lochee hanging on by a fingernail. Twice in as many minutes Glasgow sped past McNally & crossed into the box. The 1st time his ball was easily cut out but his 2nd cross had the defence at full stretch, Lunan doing well to head it clear.
The pressure was telling & McComiskie had his name taken on the hour mark.
Talbot kept asking questions & in the 61st minute McIlroy was nearly through. A ball down the centre was headed past his own keeper by Lunan & McIlroy tried to get to the loose ball only to be pulled up for a shove, although it looked like 2 Lochee defenders had blundered into one another.
It was getting to the stage where the Bot faithful were beginning to wonder if it was going to be one of those days & those doubts would only have grown in the 62nd minute when once again the Lochee goal survived a major scare. Graham Wilson met a ball in the centre 6 yards out with his back to goal & laid it back to McIlroy. His low strike was blocked by a defender 7 spun out right to Glasgow who was closed down before he could get his shot away.
Having completely dominated Talbot could have found themselves a goal down in the 65th minute. In a rare attack, Deasley got away down the right & slung a dangerous low cross into the near post which McPherson knocked just wide of the post.
Pope became the latest name in the ref’s notebook when he was cautioned in the 68th minute for a professional foul to halt Deasley’s progress.
Talbot’s next effort at goal came in the 70th minute. McIlroy’s headed the ball on into the path of Hyslop who did well to adjust his feet to direct a volley on goal that flew straight at Fotheringham.
Deasley, who ought to have walked for his assault on Leishman, escaped a stick on 2nd yellow card in the 71st minute. He crumpled in the box with no one near him looking for a penalty but the ref failed to caution him for simulation.
Tucker now made a change with Shankland coming on for Graham Wilson.
Leishman gave his opposite number a scare in the 72nd minute when he launched a long ball down the centre. The bounce of the ball initially beat Fotheringham & it looked like it might go straight in but the keeper recovered well to gather at the 2nd attempt.
Talbot finally got the reward for their play merited in the 76th minute when they took the lead. Glasgow gathered the ball out on the left & curled a cross over into the centre where DWAYNE HYSLOP bulleted a header past Fotheringham to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
The celebrations had barely died down when Talbot doubled their advantage. Shankland hoisted a cross over to the back post where Kirk headed it behind for the corner out on the right. Shankland whipped the corner across the 6-yard area where ROSS HARVEY stretched out a foot to direct it inside the right post to put Talbot 2-0 in front.
Lochee tried to respond and they won a free kick out on the left when Lyle pulled Lawson back with Talbot’s captain receiving a caution for the offence. The free kick was hit deep beyond the far post where Kirk headed it back across goal. The ball was partially cleared but came out to McComiskie at the edge of the area who fired well over the bar under pressure.
With two minutes remaining Talbot threatened to nab a 3rd on the counter-attack to put the tie beyond any doubt. Glasgow paced away down the right & squared it across the area where Shankland was waiting but Cameron made a crucial interception; stretching out a leg to turn it behind for the corner.
Talbot saw out the closing stages without any problems & the final whistle was greeted by a huge cheer from the large travelling support who gave great backing throughout.
A great win for Talbot who will face Hurlford in an all Ayrshire clash in the Junior cup final. Now, Talbot will face a hectic fixture schedule as the midweek games arrive thick & fast, starting with Wednesday night’s trip to Ardeer in the Ayrshire cup.

Lochee United – Fotheringham, Webster, Kirk, Lunan, Cameron, McNally, Lawson, Ritchie, McComiskie, Smith, Deasley

Subs – Davie, Stewart, Birse, Reid, Millar

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

Subs – Shankland, McCracken, Armstrong, Thomson, Hewitt

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Auchinleck Talbot v Lochee United

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAYS REPORT

Talbot paid the penalty for failing to convert a penalty as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Lochee that leaves the Bot down but not out.
Talbot started the game strongly and had a decent chance to take the lead after 4 minutes. Shankland robbed a Lochee player of the ball midway inside their half before feeding the ball onto Graham Wilson. He laid it out left to send Glasgow clean through but he drilled his shot straight into the side-netting.
The next goal threat came in the 14th minute when Shankland whipped a superb cross in from the left touchline that Lunan headed over his own bar.
Pope had an effort on target in the 18th minute. His first effort was blocked straight back to him & he fired a shot straight at Fotheringham on his weaker right foot.
Lochee hadn’t offered any real threat but they did give the home fans a nervy moment in the 23rd minute. Lawson knocked a dangerous cross in from the right that had Lyle in difficulties. He mishit his clearance, sending it out wide to Cameron who cut it across the area to McComiskie and his shot took two deflections before spinning behind for the corner.
The visitors were content to sit in and Talbot were struggling to make to any impression as the minutes ticked by without either keeper being called into action.
In the 39th minute Lochee gave the home fans a fright thanks to a long punt up the right. There seemed little danger but when Leishman came out to the edge of his area to take it, he misjudged the bounce of the ball as it spun past him but he did well to recover; diving back to take it.
Smith had his name taken in the 44th minute, not so much for his foul on Graham Wilson, as for an accumulation of offences.
In the final minute of what had been a fairly drab 1st half Fotheringham produced a save of the season contender to prevent Talbot taking the lead. White squared the ball across to Pope who let fly from 30 yards. His shot was screaming into the top corner until Fotheringham flew through the air to tip it over the bar, and so the sides went in all square at the interval.
Whatever Tucker said during the break perked the team up and Talbot came out all guns blazing at the start of the 2nd half. A nice passing move ended with Pope sending Shankland free on the left. He drilled it low first time across the face of goal where Lunan blazed it inches over his own bar.
Talbot were awarded a penalty in the 51st minute. Shankland whipped a corner in from the left & Harvey was pulled down as he tried to get on the end of it. The referee pointed to the spot and booked Lunan for the shirt tug.
Stephen Wilson stepped up to take the penalty but his spot kick was at a good height for the keeper and Fotheringham dived to his right to turn it away.
Undeterred by this setback, Talbot kept pushing forward and came close again a minute later. Glasgow cut in off the right & traversed across the area before firing a left foot shot that Fotheringham did well to turn past his right post.
It was all Talbot at this stage and the Bot threatened again in the 58th minute. Stephen Wilson out-paced Kirk & lifted a deep cross beyond the far post which Shankland met 1st time on the volley, only to see his shot blocked away by McNally.
Talbot had a let off on the hour mark. Cameron knocked the ball out left to find Lawson in space & his cutback went straight into the path of Deasley in front of goal but he snatched at the chance & mishit a tame effort straight at Leishman.
Graham Wilson had his name taken in the 63rd minute for persistent fouling.
Talbot’s next goal threat came in the 67th minute when Shankland gathered on the left & fed it back to Pope whose cross cum shot swerved just wide of the far post.
Tucker made a change in the 71st minute with McIlroy coming on in place of Graham Wilson.
The next opportunity for Talbot came via a corner kick. Shankland pulled the ball back to meet the run of Stephen Wilson & his low drive was blocked inside the 6-yard area by a Lochee defender.
Lochee now made a change with Birse replacing Deasley.
As the game moved into the closing stages Talbot kept pushing forward looking for a late winner. In the 85th minute Lyle went galloping down the right touchline before pulling the back across the area. Shankland latched onto it & attempted to curl a right foot shot into the top corner. It looked to be heading in but Lunan was in the right spot to deflect it over the bar off the top of his head.
In the 89th minute Talbot again came close. Glasgow turned smartly inside the area & drilled a low shot at goal. It took a deflection off McIlroy and with Fotheringham already going the other way it looked like it may be trickling into the net but the keeper recovered to dive to his left to smother the ball.
The Bot were back on the attack moments later. White powered a shot at goal from the edge of the box which was once again blocked by the head of Lunan. The ball span high in the air and Fotheringham had to help it over the bar.
The game looked to be heading for a stalemate but in the 2nd minute of added time a moment of defensive slackness allowed the visitors to snatch a late win. The Bot defence were caught square trying to play offside & BIRSE timed his run to race onto a ball chipped through the centre & slot it low into the bottom corner.
A tough one to take for Talbot and their fans but the tie is still far from over and Talbot will travel through to Lochee next Saturday with everything still to play for.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, McPherson, Stephen Wilson, White, Hyslop, Graham Wilson, Shankland, Glasgow

Subs – McIlroy, Pooler, McCracken, Armstrong, Hewitt (gk)

Lochee United – Fotheringham, Webster, Kirk, Lunan, Cameron, McNally, Lawson, Ritchie, McComiskie, Smith, Deasley

Subs – Davie, Stewart, Birse, Reid, Millar

Carnoustie Panmure v Auchinleck Talbot

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Auchinleck Talbot v Pollok

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Beechwood’s largest crowd of the season saw Talbot arguably produce their best performance of the season to brush Pollok aside 4-1 & march onto into the quarter-finals of the Scottish.
It took Talbot a little time to settle & the visitors made the early running. Leishman was called into action in the 4th minute when Wharton hurled a long throw into the goalmouth that he had to punch clear. The ball came back out to Wharton he drove it low across goal where Leishman smothered it.
A minute later Pollok won a free kick in a dangerous area when Gormley was caught just outside the right edge of the penalty area. Forde took it & whipped it up & over the wall but Leishman was well positioned & took it comfortably.
Talbot had another scare in the 8th minute when Rowan clipped the top of the crossbar as he swung an over hit cross over from the right touchline.
Gradually, Talbot settled & began to threaten the Lok goal. The Bot’s first real chance came in the 16th minute. Under pressure, Wharton intercepted McIlroy’s ball across the area & passed it back to Longmuir who was forced to handle it. The ref awarded Talbot an indirect free kick 6 yards out. Shankland touched it to Graham Wilson & his fierce drive was deflected over the bar off a posse of Lok players in the goalmouth.
Shankland lifted the corner over where Hyslop got a head to it & it came back out wide to Shankland on the right. He took it 1st time on the volley & Longmuir made an excellent stop to turn it round his left hand post. Shankland again took the corner & flighted it into the centre where Pollok failed to clear their lines. The ball broke to Stephen Wilson who was upended by Young as he tried to clear & the ref pointed to the spot. STEPHEN WILSON took the spot kick & placed it low inside the right post to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

Talbot’s next attack saw the Bot win a free kick out on the right after Graham Wilson was fouled by Gallacher. Shankland whipped the ball over & Stephen Wilson glanced a header wide of the far post.
Pollok had a half chance in the 24th minute courtesy of Wharton’s looping long shy into the area. It glanced off Harvey’s head & came to Forde 6 yards out but he couldn’t generate any power behind his header & Leishman saved easily.
Brash became the 1st man in the book in the 26th minute when he was guilty of a reckless tackle on Hyslop.
That proved to be the Lok midfielder’s last contribution as he limped off a few minutes later to be replaced by Little.
The Lok defence got into a fankle at a Bot corner kick in the 32nd minute. Shankland hit it deep beyond the far post where Stephen Wilson guided it back across goal. Gormley mishit his attempted clearance, shanking it on target, but fortunately for Lok it came to Longmuir who knocked it clear.
Talbot doubled their lead in the 42nd minute via a wonder strike from Pope. Hyslop gathered the ball on the right & squared it across to GORDON POPE 25 yards out & he hammered a drive past Longmuir to make it 2-0.
Both sides had chances late on in the half. Firstly, Talbot threatened to put the game beyond Lok’s reach. Pope lifted a ball up the left for Graham Wilson which he controlled before rolling it back toward Shankland just inside the area but he was leaning back as he struck it & lifted his shot over the bar.
In the closing seconds of the half Forde had a similar opportunity just outside the Bot penalty box but he also leant back as he hit it & scooped his shot well over & so Talbot went in two ahead at the interval.
Pollok made a change at half-time with McCluskey coming on for Wharton.

The Bot started the 2nd half brightly, playing on the front foot, looking for a 3rd goal to kill the tie off.
In the 49th minute Stephen Wilson headed Leishman’s clearance down into the path of Graham Wilson but he lashed his shot over from 25 yards.
Two minutes later the Wilson brothers combined again. Stephen lifted the ball down the right to find Graham in space & he squared it into the centre to find Shankland who curled a shot over the bar.
Pollok came close in the 53rd minute to pulling a goal back. Leishman came off his line to punch a corner clear but it came out to Little 20 yards out & his shot was sailing into the roof of the net until Leishman dived to his left to tip it round the post.
A swift Talbot counter in the 56th minute was abruptly ended by Niang when he tripped Graham Wilson just outside the box to end his surging run, resulting in a booking for the Lok defender. Shankland took the set piece & was inches away from extending Talbot’s lead as his shot cannoned off the postage stamp corner with Longmuir well beaten.
White became the 1st Bot player to receive a caution when he was booked in the 58th minute for obstruction as he broke up a Lok attack.
It could have been game over on the hour mark. Hyslop fed the ball to Stephen Wilson inside the box & he teed it up perfectly for Graham Wilson but he blazed it over the bar from 15 yards out.
Leishman produced his 2nd impressive stop of the afternoon in the 63rd minute to deny ex-Bot player Gormley. Little whipped in a good cross from the left that fell kindly for Gormley 12 yards out, he struck it well enough back across goal but Leishman reacted sharply to throw out his right hand to claw it away.
Shankland picked up a needless yellow card in the 65th minute for kicking the ball away.
Both sides now made a switch, firstly Tucker brought on Thomson to replace White & then Pollok brought on Hepburn in place of Forde.
Talbot’s next foray into the Lok box saw McIlroy power his way down the left & fire a shot from a tight angle that Longmuir had to block at his near post.

The Lok keeper kept their hopes alive in the 72nd minute when he prevented Graham Wilson from putting Talbot three ahead. McIlroy won the ball outside the area & played it into the feet of Shankland who in turn switched it 1st time to Wilson. He cut across on his left foot & angled a shot for a far corner that Longmuir blocked with his outstretched left leg.
Hepburn received a caution in the 76th minute for a frankly embarrassing dive; throwing himself to the deck in a desperate attempt to con a penalty.
A minute later Pollok won a free kick within shooting range. Rowan squared the ball for Young to run onto & he was caught by Thomson. Gormley took it but tamely passed it back to Leishman.
Talbot now made a further change with Glasgow coming on for McIlroy.
In the 83rd minute Pollok pulled a goal back. A corner from the left was played into the near post where YOUNG met it with a diving header to make it 2-1.
Talbot responded in the best possible way to this setback, immediately going down the other end, and restoring their two goal lead. Gallacher appeared to shove Graham Wilson in the back but the ref gave nothing. The ball broke to Shankland who sent it inside to JAMIE GLASGOW & he sped past the Lok defence before slotting the ball past Longmuir to make it 3-1.
Tucker now completed Talbot’s subsitutions with Faulds coming on for Shankland.
Two minutes from time Gallacher received a caution for a very late challenge on Graham Wilson.
Talbot completed the scoring in injury time. A great passage of football saw Talbot open the Lok defence to create an opening for Stephen Wilson. His low drive was blocked but it spun to JAMIE GLASGOW who passed it into the net to make the final score 4-1.
A very accomplished display by the Bot who thoroughly deserved the win as they keep their fine run of form going. Next up for Talbot it is back to league duties as they host Arthurlie at Beechwood.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, Harvey, S Wilson, Hyslop, White, McIlroy, G Wilson, Shankland

Subs – Glasgow, Thomson, Faulds, McCracken, Armstrong

Pollok Juniors – Longmuir, Niang, Byrne, Wharton, Gallacher, Brash, S McCann, Rowan, Forde, Gormley, Young

Subs – Hepburn, McCluskey, Little, Johnson (gk)

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Cumnock Juniors v Auchinleck Talbot

Talbot firmly put Cumnock in their place with a dominant display in their Scottish cup encounter at Townhead; routing the home side 5-1 to the delight of the majority of the crowd.
Right from the off Talbot looked the hungrier side & could have taken the lead inside 3 minutes. Pope lifted a ball down the left to McIlroy who laid it inside to Hyslop. He got the break of the ball & carried on into the penalty area where he lifted a shot over the bar from 16 yards.
The opener came in the 9th minute after a messy spell of play out on the right. The ball ricocheted around before being gathered by Glasgow who surged on a diagonal run before releasing the ball to the unmarked SHANKLAND on the left of the area & he coolly passed the ball across goal past Semple to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Talbot continued to press & put together a neat move down the left in the 16th minute. Shankland & Glasgow combined well before the move was abruptly ended by a late tackle from Lundie. Shankland took the free kick & curled a dangerous ball over beyond the back post that floated out for a goal kick.
The Cumnock keeper was put to the test in the 19th minute when Shankland gathered on the left, knocked it past Murray, and lifted a cross beyond the far post where Glasgow met it only to see his effort blocked by Semple.
Esplin picked up the game’s 1st caution, in the 21st minute, for a late challenge on Hyslop 35 yards from goal. POPE took the free kick & fired a low shot straight down the centre that slipped through the hands of Semple like a bar of wet soap to put Talbot two ahead.
Cumnock looked a team drained of belief and they nearly fell further behind in the 25th minute. Talbot won a corner which was whipped into the near post where Harvey directed it onto target only for Semple to dive & turn it round the right post.
Talbot were looking very comfortable in their lead but Cumnock slowly began to make some headway & their 1st real chance of the match came in the 36th minute. Anson managed to flick the ball over McPherson & it briefly looked like he would have a sight of goal but the ball ran away from him inside the box.
It was almost game over in the 40th minute when Talbot came close twice to adding to their lead. Pope sent Shankland free on the left of the Nock penalty area & he brought the best out of Semple who did well to turn his drive round the post. When the corner came over Hyslop rose to meet it & did everything right, heading it down, but a Nock defender fortuitously got in the way & the defence cleared.
For all Talbot’s dominance the game was thrown back into the balance 3 minutes before the interval when Cumnock pulled a goal back. Talbot were caught dreaming at a Cumnock shy & when the ball was thrown in from the right ANSON met it to guide a header low inside Leishman’s right post.
On the stroke of half-time Cumnock, much against the run of play, threatened to produce a leveller. Talbot were on the attack and Steven Wilson appeared to be bundled over 25 yards out but the ref waved play on. Cumnock swiftly countered & a ball over the top found Samson running into the Bot penalty area. He had a chance to go for the shot but chose to keep going & dallied on the ball too long before being dispossessed, and so Talbot left the field a goal to the good at the interval.
The Cumnock support had been offered a flicker of hope when they pulled a goal back but it didn’t survive long in a 2nd half where Talbot were in complete control from the off.
The Bot could have extended their lead in the 49th minute. Glasgow’s slide rule pass took the Nock defence out the equation to send McIlroy free on the right but his 1st touch proved too heavy & Semple raced off his line to dive at his feet to smother the ball.
Two minutes later Shankland tried his luck from distance. White’s header found him on space on the right & he drilled a shot on target that Semple parried away.
The pressure finally told & Talbot grabbed their 3rd goal in the 54th minute. Lyle lifted a cross into the centre which glanced off a defender’s head & came out to the left. SHANKLAND ghosted past Muir & arrowed a neat finish across goal & into the bottom corner to put Talbot in command.
Any hopes of a Cumnock fightback were ended on the hour mark when Talbot moved 4-1 ahead.
The Cumnock defence were unable to clear their lines & the ball pinged back & forth 30 yards out before falling to Shankland. He deftly chipped the ball through to GLASGOW who buried it low past Semple.
Cumnock now made a double substitution bringing on Hilton & M McKenzie.
Samson did well out on the right in the 63rd minute. He controlled a long ball over the top & whipped a dangerous cross over that Lyle had to head over his own bar.
Hyslop had his name taken a minute later for a late challenge, resulting in a Cumnock free kick 25 yards from goal. Samson took it but drilled his shot straight into the wall.
An incisive counter-attack almost saw Talbot add to their lead. Glasgow brought the ball out from the back & raced into the Nock half before finding Steven Wilson on the right. He crossed it first time into the centre where McIlroy bulleted a header for goal but it went straight at Semple.
Tucker now made his 1st change with Graham Wilson on for McIlroy.
Glasgow nearly nabbed his 2nd of the afternoon in the 70th minute. He latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area & sent a low shot skidding off the outside the right post with the keeper well beaten.
Talbot made their 2nd change in the 75th minute with Faulds replacing Hyslop in midfield and a few minutes later Tucker completed his changes when Thomson came on for Steven Wilson.
The scoring was complete in the 85th minute when Talbot added their 5th goal from an unlikely source. Glasgow spread the ball out to Shankland on the left & he fired a low ball across the face of goal which LYLE bundled home from close range.
As the clock ticked down the referee took pity on the hosts with a couple of sympathy vote decisions. In the final minute of regulation time Glasgow was clearly tripped in the penalty box but the ref waved play on & deep into injury time Crawford ought to have been shown a straight red for a crude challenge on Thomson but the ref only booked him.
A great derby win for Talbot to book their place in the last 16 of the Scottish. Next week it is back to league duty & an away day at Pollok.Cumnock – Semple, Muir, Ballantyne, Lundie, Murray, Crawford, Samson, Burns, Anson, Esplin, Montgomerie

Subs – S McKenzie, Hilton, M McKenzie, Hunter, Johnston (gk)

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, Harvey, S Wilson, White, Hyslop, McIlroy, Glasgow, Shankland

Subs – G Wilson, Faulds, Thomson, McCracken, Armstrong

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Cumnock Juniors v Auchinleck Talbot

Hill O’ Beath v Auchinleck Talbot

Talbot open the scoring, as Jamie Glasgow smashes home a low drive from inside the box. 0-1.

Jamie shows he’s got this tie licked after netting Talbot’s first.

‘Shanker’s’ fires a low pass across the face of goal, where ‘Gee’ thankfully gets onto the end of and prods the ball into the back of the net. 0-2.

Hill O’ Beath are reduced to ten men during the second half of the game.

From just inside the box, Glasgow tries his luck with a diving looping header.

Graham Wilson manages to pop up at the back post but sends his header wide.

The Talbot faithful fly the club’s colours, as ‘Pee-wee’ gets another attack motoring.

Ross and Neil show their anger after Stephen Wilson gets bundled over from a hefty challenge.

Jamie watches, as ‘Gee’ tries a wee volley from inside the box.

The Talbot fans man of the match, Steven White, muscles his way through the opposition in order to win back the ball.

Jamie Glasgow rues a missed chance for Auchinleck.

Andy Leishman pulls off a great save in the top left-hand corner to thwart the Hawthorns.

Jamie and Stephen look on in anguish, as both of them fail to get onto the end of Graham’s cross.

The Hill O’ Beath bench look on,as Jamie Glasgow gets stopped in his tracks.

The fans huddle for warmth in the very cold wind, as ‘Shanker’s’ hurdles himself over this tackle.

Graham Wilson gets brought down by a hefty tackle from behind and itis this challenge that results in the Hawthorns being reduced to ten men.

Hill O’ Beath come very close to pulling a goal back, as a close range header gets cleared off the line.

Stephen Wilson goes on a run up the middle of the park.

Another chance for the Hawthorns but this close range header goes agonisingly wide of the post.

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

Talbot fans of a certain age could have been forgiven for thinking the omens weren’t good for this Scottish tie as the last time Talbot travelled through to Keirs Park in blustery conditions it didn’t end well. This time however was a different story as Talbot bested their opponents & the elements to ease to a 2-0 win.
With the wind at their backs Talbot pushed the hosts back right from the off, with the Haws finding it difficult to get out of their half. The home defence was stretched as early as the 4th minute with Connors heading Lyle’s dangerous cross clear in the centre. Soon after, Talbot had their 1st effort on target when Glasgow met Hyslop’s cross but steered his header straight at Hall.
Stephen Wilson was unfortunate not to open the scoring in the 8th minute. A free kick was taken short & knocked back to Wilson whose curling shot had the keeper well beaten only to cannon off the woodwork.
The pressure told & a minute later Talbot took the lead. G Wilson fed the ball out to JAMIE GLASGOW on the right of the area & he took full advantage of the time & space to drill a low shot past Hall into the opposite corner.
The Haws didn’t have time to settle before Talbot doubled their advantage in the 11th minute. Shankland scampered down the wing before firing it across the face of goal where GRAHAM WILSON bundled it home at the back post.
Talbot were well in control & nearly added to their lead in the 18th minute. Hay’s attempted clearance was caught by the wind & blown back toward his own goal where G Wilson latched onto it & volleyed just wide of target from 18 yards.
The home side offered their 1st threat of the afternoon in the 21st minute. A long throw from the right was flicked across goal but there were no takers. Wright gathered it out on the left & swung a cross into the box which Watt headed wide of target.
Hill of Beath had an effort on target in the 25th minute. Harvey didn’t get much distance on a headed clearance & it came out to Schiavone who fired a low drive on goal which Leishman held.
The 1st booking of the afternoon came a minute later when HOB’s Leishman was cautioned for a foul on Graham Wilson.
A third goal would have ended the game as a contest & Talbot came close to grabbing it in the 33rd minute. White did well down the right & slung a cross into the box that the defence struggled to clear. It came out to Shankland on the left & he curled over a ball that Hyslop just failed to connect with in front of goal.
Wright became the 2nd Hill of Beath player booked when cautioned for a late challenge in midfield.
Talbot almost made the hosts pay from the resultant free kick with Pope’s delivery finding the head of Hyslop. He headed it back down to Glasgow whose 1st time effort flew just over the bar.
There hadn’t been too many close calls around the Talbot box but the hosts did come close in the 37th minute. Watt managed to turn McPherson just outside the box & his shot took a nick off McPherson & deflected just wide of Leishman’s left post. When the corner came over Dair met it & directed it on target but Leishman was well positioned to clutch it high inside his left hand post.
In the closing stages of the half Talbot twice came close to adding to their lead. Firstly, Shankland left Leishman in his wake before sliding the ball into the near post where Stephen Wilson was just beaten to it by Connors who stretched to knock it behind.
In the final minute of the half Graham Wilson raced clear down the left & drove a low ball across the face of goal which Stephen Wilson just couldn’t reach at the far post & so the sides went in separated by Talbot’s two early strikes.
The 2nd half was only 3 minutes old when Hyslop became the 1st Talbot player booked; cautioned for a late challenge on Grierson.
The referee made the wrong call in the 53rd minute. Under pressure, Dair slid the ball back to his keeper who picked it up, but the ref ignored Talbot’s appeals for an indirect free kick.
Even playing into the stiff breeze Talbot were having the best of it & carrying more of a goal threat. Hall came to his side’s rescue in the 54th minute when Graham Wilson got free down the right & carried it forward before drilling a powerful shot on target that the keeper held at the 2nd attempt.
Two minutes later the keeper produced a top class save to defy Shankland. A shy from the left bounced its way to Shankland outside the area & his half volley looked destined for the net til Hall dived full length to turn it round the post.
Talbot had a scare down the other end when Leishman misjudged a swirling cross from the left. He got a hand to it at the back post & clawed it away where it hit off Schiavone & went behind for a goal kick.
The home side made their 1st change on the hour mark with Denton coming on in place of Schiavone.
Hill of Beath’s slim hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow in the 68th minute when they were reduced to 10 men. Leishman went right through the back of Graham Wilson & the full-back was sent to the clubhouse for his 2nd yellow of the afternoon.
The Wilson brothers combined well together in the 70th minute, Stephen finding Graham on the right & Graham sliding the ball on through as Stephen continued his run; however Hall had spotted the danger & was quickly off his line to beat S Wilson to it.
Hill of Beath had a half chance in the 71st minute when they won a corner on the right. It was played into the near post where Elder headed it wide under pressure from Hyslop.
A minute later Talbot nearly made it three. Hyslop played in Glasgow down the right & he drilled it low inside the near post where Hall made another fine save; blocking with his feet.
Hill of Beath now made a further change with Mitchell replacing Hay & Talbot made their 1st switch with Armstrong coming on for Shankland.
Hay produced a good cross in the 80th minute when he flighted a ball in from the left but it sailed just over the head of Elder & went behind for a goal kick.
Tucker now made a 2nd change with McIlroy replacing Glasgow.
The home side had one final chance to narrow the gap in the 85th minute. A free kick from the right was angled to the back post where Elder powered a header wide from close range.
As the game moved into the closing stages Talbot made their final change with Faulds on for Hyslop.
Not a day for pretty football or the purist but Talbot got the job done & made light work of a tricky away tie. Next up for Talbot it is back to league duties where they end the year with the visit of Kilwinning Rangers.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn – Hall, Leishman, Grierson, Connors, Dair, Wright, Hay, Reid, Elder, Watt, Schiavone

Subs – Harrower, Allan, Denton, Mitchell, Morgan (gk)

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, Harvey, White, S Wilson, Hyslop, G Wilson, Shankland, Glasgow

Subs – McIlroy, Armstrong, Faulds, Thomson, Hewitt (gk)