Competition: SOUTH REGION CHALLENGE CUP
Auchinleck Talbot v East Kilbride Fc
MURRAY’S REPORT
In a game of few chances, Talbot did enough to see off a toothless East Kilbride side and book their place in the last 8 of the South Challenge cup.
The vistors started on the front foot but without offering much of a threat in the final third and the first clear chance of the game went Talbot’s way in the 9th minute when Currie fluffed a clearance straight at Boylan who opted to hit it early with the keeper well off his line but fired it well over the bar.
The Bot put together a good move in the 14th minute. Shankland showed composure before threading a pass out right to find Boylan. He switched play to the far side of the box where Healy hooked a cross back across goal and a defender just beat Mason to it to nod it behind. When the corner came over McCracken powered a header on target but it flew straight at Currie.
McCracken was involved again a few minutes later when he attempted to slide a ball into the path of Graham Wilson inside the area but it was just too firm and G couldn’t get on the end of it.
Graham Wilson picked up what appeared to be a harsh booking in the 21st minute. He went in fully committed to a 50/50 challenge as did the Kilby player but the ref awarded them the free kick and showed Wilson a yellow card. McLaughlin took the resultant free kick and delivered a good ball into the centre where MacDonald ran onto it but steered a free header well-wide of the left hand post.
Talbot broke the deadlock in the 25th minute. The Bot were awarded a free kick out wide on the left that Aiden Wilson took quickly and knocked it short into the feet of Shankland. He swept a pinpoint cross into the back post where BRYAN BOYLAN raced onto it to steer a shot home from 4 yards.
The visitors tried to hit back immediately and from the re-start worked the ball down the right where Allansan whipped a dangerous ball across that McPherson cleared.
Talbot nearly doubled their lead in the 27th minute. Graham Wilson gathered just outside the area and passed it into the feet of Shankland down the left of the box. He skipped past MacDonald and fired a low drive on target that was well saved by the outstretched boot of Currie.
In the 29th minute Talbot got in behind the Kilby defence again. Armstrong played it out right toward Boylan whose dummy created the space for Crawford to burst forward and fizz a good ball across the face of goal which Currie managed to hold onto.
East Kilbride weren’t having much joy in the final third. In the 36th minute McPherson, under pressure from McGuire could only clear it as far as McLaughlin in space on the left but when he swung a cross into the back post Bradley-Hurst came off his line to claim it.
The half petered out with Talbot under no real pressure and they went in a goal ahead at the break.
Tucker made a change during the interval and when the team came back out Wardrope was on in place of Graham Wilson.
The Bot made a good start to the 2nd half and within a minute of the re-start Wardrope got free on the right and his cut back almost found Shankland in the box.
Action then switched to the other end where Allasan paced away on the right and fired a low ball across goal that the Talbot keeper smothered.
A second goal would have settled it as Kilby didn’t look capable of coming back from two adrift and the Bot threatened to grab it in the 51st minute. A cross came off a defender and behind for the corner and when the corner came in Currie had to punch it clear. It came out to McPherson on the right and he chipped it into the path of Shankland 16 yards out who couldn’t have hit it much better on the volley but it arrowed straight at Currie who did well not to spill it.
Kilby’s only shot on target all afternoon came in the 52nd minute. A long throw from the right was only partially cleared and it fell to McLaughlin on the right of the box whose low drive was spilled by Bradley-Hurst but cleared by the defence.
East Kilbride made a change after 58 mins with McBeth coming on in place of Taylor.
Four minutes later Talbot made a double change up top with Shankland & Mason making way for Samson & Smith.
The spate of substitutions continued with the visitors throwing on Kirkpatrick and McHugh for Allasan and McGuire.
In the 68th minute Kilby were awarded a free kick 35 yards out for a foul by Wilson. B Hughes floated it over to the back post where McPherson had to head it behind for a corner. When the corner came into the near post Boylan headed it clear.
With 20 mins remaining Armstrong’s cushioned header found Wardrope inside the penalty area but his low drive was blocked en route by a defender.
The visitors had to make a change with quarter of an hour remaining when Lithgow limped off to be replaced by Miller.
Ten minutes from time Talbot twice came close in quick succession to putting the game beyond doubt. Wardrope’s ball into the area was flicked into Samson’s path by Smith and Currie produced a fine save with his feet to keep out his low drive. The ball came out to Healy at the edge of the area and his half volley was dipping under the bar until Currie tipped it over.
Talbot now made a final change with Taylor coming on for Healy.
The game meandered to a close without Talbot looking to be in any danger and the Bot saw the game out to win 1-0.
Next up for Talbot, weather permitting, it’s back to league business when high-flying Beith visit Beechwood under the floodlights this coming Wednesday.
Auchinleck Talbot – Bradley-Hurst, Crawford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Healy, Graham Wilson, Mason, Shankland, Boylan
Subs – Taylor, Smith, Samson, Wardrope, Lennox, Park, Ballantyne
East Kilbride FC – Currie, MacDonald, Taylor, Morgan, Lithgow, Thomson, McGuire, McLaughlin, Connell, B Hughes, Allasan
Subs – McBeth, Miller, Kirkpatrick, McHugh, R Hughes, McLean (gk)
Talbot v East Kilbride Man Of The Match Awards
Old Crocks – Gareth Armstrong presented by Billy Waddell.
John Liddell & Friends – Gareth Armstrong presented by John Haggerty.
H & V Commissioning Services, Galston – Gareth Armstrong presented by Richard Stewart.
Auchinleck Outdoor BC – Gareth Armstrong presented by President Kenny Lorimer.
Killie Travel Club – Joshua Bradley-Hurst picked up by Chris Stafford and presented by Jim Wilson.
Mauchline BC – Gareth Armstrong presented by newly elected President for 2023 Johnny Eaglesham.
Loons Supporters Club – Neil McPherson presented by Aaron Lindsay.
Corporate Sponsor) Leighton McBlain presented his award to Neil McPherson.
Match Ball Sponsor – Emerald Contracts.
Auchinleck Talbot v Broxburn Athletic
MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT. SARAH JANES PHOTO’S
Talbot hit a magnificent seven as they swept past Broxburn and into the last 16 of the South Challenge cup.
The game got off to a scrappy start but Talbot grabbed the lead in the 9th minute thanks to a wonder strike. Mason hit the bye line down the left & floated a cross into the near post that the defence managed to head clear. It came out to Wilson on the edge of the area & he knocked it back into the path of ROSS TAYLOR who curled a peach of a shot past the keeper from 25 yards
An injury to Park after a quarter of an hour meant an early change for Talbot with Park limping off to be replaced by Boylan who went up front with Wilson moving to left midfield.
In the 27th minute the visitors also made an enforced substitution with Wright coming on for the injured Clark.
Broxburn gave Talbot a fright in the 32nd minute. G Donaldson clipped the ball down the left to find Orru running in behind and McPherson did well to get across and clear his low ball across the area.
Two minutes later Blair was called into action when he had to tip Wilson’s dangerous cross away. Talbot kept the pressure on and Mason had a half chance on the edge of the area but pulled his shot across goal and wide of the right post.
In the 36th minute Talbot won a debatable free kick in a good area when Wright was penalised for a challenge on Mason. Mason took the free kick but couldn’t get it past the wall. 
Three minutes from the interval Broxburn had a decent chance to level it. A good ball over the top sent Orru clear down the left and when his cross came over Brass managed to nod it back down into the path of Henderson who blasted it over the bar from 15 yards out.
Down the other end Talbot the referee awarded Talbot a shy down the left when most in the ground thought it was Broxburn’s ball and Talbot nearly capitalised on it. The ball came to Boylan on the left and his high, floated cross was met by Samson who steered a header back across goal that Blair kept out at his right post.
Deep into added time Broxburn won a free kick near the bye line just outside the penalty area. Orru chased Donaldson’s ball down the left and succeeded in nicking it off McCracken as he tried to shield it out. McCracken hauled him down receiving a yellow card for the challenge but Henderson’s free kick wasn’t able to clear the 1st man and Talbot went off a goal ahead
Talbot came out on fire from the start of the 2nd half and doubled their lead within 2 minutes of the re-start. Wilson whipped in a good cross from the left that broke to AARON MASON inside the area. He played a one-two with Samson before drilling a low shot inside the right hand post to make it 2-0.
A minute later Henderson was fortunate to escape a yellow card when he cynically halted Wilson as he burst forward down the left.
Wilson nearly got on the score sheet in the 50th minute. Taylor’s ball found him on the left and he cut inside Sayers into the box before hitting a shot that looked to be heading into the roof of the net til it nicked off the top of B Donaldson’s head and over the crossbar.
It was now one-way traffic and it was no real surprise when Talbot went three ahead in the 55th minute. Stafford got free down the right and fired it across the 6-yard area where AARON MASON hooked it inside the right post for his 2nd of the afternoon.
Three minutes later and a slick passing move saw Talbot grab their fourth. Mason passed it into the feet of Wilson inside the area and he in turn laid it into the path of KIER SAMSON who ran through and passed it beyond the keeper into the net from close range.
Both sides now made multiple changes. Broxburn replaced Binnie, Henderson & Orru with Nimmo, Downie & Williamson and soon after Talbot made a double change with Shankland & Smith coming on for Mason & Wilson
Talbot came close to adding to their tally in the 65th minute. Samson raced down the right and squared it into the near post where Boylan’s side-footed effort was deflected just wide of target.
In the 69th minute Shankland sent Samson through on the right of the penalty area but he blazed his shot over.
With quarter of an hour remaining Wright had his name taken for kicking the ball away.
As the game wore on the weather worsened by the minute but the torrential rain didn’t dampen Talbot’s enthusiasm as they kept pushing forward looking for more.
The fifth goal came in the 81st minute. Shankland played a ball down the right for Samson and he cut it back across goal where BRYAN BOYLAN stroked it home from 6 yards out.
A minute later and Talbot added another. Shankland and Samson combined down the right again though this time Samson’s ball across goal was cut out for a corner. When the corner came in the defence only cleared it as far as Armstrong who played it into the feet of Smith who cut in on his right foot and drilled a low shot that the keeper managed to save but couldn’t prevent ROSS SMITH from reacting first to prod home the rebound
With five minutes remaining Talbot completed the scoring. Shankland lifted a ball in behind the defence for Samson to chase. Blair came rushing out his area to get there first and to clear but he played it out left to MARK SHANKLAND 40+ yards from goal who hit it first time – lobbing the ball over the keeper and inside the right post to make it 7-0.
Talbot had a chance to add another late on when Stafford burst into the area but his shot across goal went just wide of the right post.
A superb 2nd half display from Talbot as the Bot equalled their winning margin over Coldstream earlier this season. Next up for Talbot it’s back to league action when they host Pollok at Beechwood next Saturday.
Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Taylor, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Wardrope, Park, Wilson, Mason, Samson
Subs – Shankland, Boylan, Smith, Healy
Broxburn Athletic – Blair, Sayers, G Donaldson, Clark, McConnell, B Donaldson, Gillen, Binnie, Brass, Henderson, Orru
Subs – Wright, Nimmo, Douglas, Downie, Williamson, Gray, Donoghue
Ross Smith
SPONSORED BY: Craig Galloway, Ryan & Robert Smith
POSITION: Midfield
JOINED TALBOT: January 2023
D.O.B: 14/10/2003
TALBOT DEBUT: Cambuslang Rangers, 14th January 2023, PDM Premier Division 3-1
FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL: Broxburn Athletic, 4th February 2023, South Challenge Cup 4th Round 7-0
FORMER CLUBS: Kilmarnock U18’s, Kilmarnock, Stranraer (Loan), Irvine Meadow, Auchinleck Talbot U20’s
Auchinleck Talbot v Neilston
MURRAYS REPORT
It took Talbot a while to get going but in the end they ran out comfortable winners over Neilston in the South Challenge cup.
It was the visitors who made the early running and they had a chance in the 6th minute when MacKinnon swept a low ball in from the left. It broke into the path of Jones but he didn’t strike it cleanly and Leishman was able to save it by his left post.
In the 11th minute Neilston missed a sitter. Reilly got to the bye line and cut it back to Fletcher who looked certain to score but he bundled his shot wide of the left post from 6 yards out.
Talbot’s first meaningful move came in the 16th minute. A good move ended with Ballantyne on the left squaring the ball across the 6 yard area where it was cut out and cleared by the defence.
Neilston continued to have the upper hand without offering too much in the final third with play confined to the middle third.
In the 35th minute Crawford picked up a caution for a foul on Fletcher.
Thirty nine mins in and Talbot took the lead following their first shot on target. Shankland slipped the ball through for Aiden Wilson whose cut back was met by Graham Wilson 15 yards out. Hay dived to his left to parry his shot but the ball broke off MACKINNON and into the net for an own goal.
Three minutes later Mackinnon found himself in the ref’s notebook following a rugby tackle on Samson. Shankland took the free kick and whipped a dangerous ball over that flew off a defender’s head and went wide of goal for the corner. Shankland’s corner into the near post was headed clear but came out to Taylor who cut in onto his left foot only to see his shot blocked.
Talbot continued to press but Neilston held out and the Bot went in 1-0 up at the interval.
Talbot stepped it up a gear or two after the half-time break and had the visitors under pressure from the off and it paid off in the 51st minute when Talbot doubled their lead.
Taylor burst in off the right and played it into the feet of Samson inside the area. He returned it back and ROSS TAYLOR hammered a low drive past the keeper to make it 2-0.
In the 55th minute Talbot won a free kick in a good area. Crawford was caught late as he took a shot from just outside the box and the ref pulled it back for the free kick. Shankland stepped up but lifted it well over the bar.
A minute later Talbot were back on the attack. Shankland laid it out wide for Taylor and Hay had to claw his dangerous cross behind for the corner. The corner was taken short and Shankland hit an inch perfect cross to the back post but no Bot player was on hand to take advantage.
Moments later Talbot thought they’d grabbed their 3rd of the afternoon. Taylor gathered on the right and flashed it low across the face of goal where Samson turned it home from close range but was flagged for offside.
The goal was coming though and Talbot grabbed their 3rd on the hour mark. Taylor raced onto a ball over the top and raced past Doyle in the area before being hauled down for a stonewaller. MARK SHANKLAND took the spot kick and sent Hay the wrong way to make it 3-0.
Two minutes later Shankland had a half chance to grab another. Samson raced in off the left past Doyle and when he was challenged the ball broke out to Shankland at the edge of the area but he sent his shot well wide.
In the 64th minute Graham Wilson received a caution for a challenge on Halliday.
Neilston now made a double switch with Convery & Jones making way Henry & Haddow. Talbot responded with a double change of their own – Park & Graham Wilson being replaced by Boylan & Wardrope.
With 20 mins remaining Talbot found themselves a man down for the 2nd week in a row. Crawford took a heavy 1st touch and when Smith nipped in to claim it Crawford caught him and the ref produced a 2nd yellow card.
However, it was still Talbot looking the more likely to add to the score line and the Bot came close in the 72nd minute. Boylan robbed Reilly of the ball deep in the Neilston half before carrying it forward and hammering a shot that flew across goal and just wide of the right hand upright.
The Bot were back on the attack in the 76th minute. Wilson’s ball over the top found Samson racing free down the left. He darted into the box and cut it back toward Boylan but it had a shade too much pace on it.
Neilston now made a further change with Adam on for Reilly and Talbot made their final change with Mason replacing Shankland.
Eight minutes from time Talbot won a free kick out on the right touchline – wide of the penalty area. Wardrope fired a good ball over toward Boylan but a defender managed to head it behind for the corner.
In the final minute of regulation time Mason pounced on a loose ball in the Neilston half and slotted an early ball out right to find Boylan in space. He sped free down the wing but overhit his final cross.
Deep into injury time Talbot came close to making it four. A poor attempt at a back pass was intercepted by Samson inside the area but Hay did well at his right post to block the shot behind for a corner. When the corner came in it was only cleared as far as Ballantyne at the edge of the area who sent his shot over the bar in what proved to be the last chance of the match.
A good win for the Bot who travel through to the kingdom of Fife next Saturday to face Raith Rovers in the senior cup.
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, Park, McCracken, Ballantyne, Taylor, Graham Wilson, Samson, Shankland, Crawford
Subs – Boylan, White, Mason, Wardrope
Neilston – Hay, Halliday, MacKinnon, Doyle, Clark, Gallacher, Convery, Smith, Fletcher, Jones, Reilly
Subs – Henry, Adam, Davis, Haddow, Hamilton
Ali Boyle
SPONSORED BY: Brown Bros Printers
POSITION: Midfield
JOINED TALBOT: November 2022
D.O.B: 04/07/1999
TALBOT DEBUT: Kilwinning Rangers (Away), 9th November 2022, WOSL Premier League 6-0
FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL: Troon 9th December 2023, Home. Indigo Comms West of Scotland Cup. Won 4-1
FORMER CLUBS: Whitletts Victoria, Craigmark Burntonians.
Auchinleck Talbot v Craigmark Burntonians
Talbot took the lead early doors when first Shankland was unlucky to see his shot just dip over the bar and then Samson opened the scoring minutes later from inside the box. Craigmark proved they were not here to make up the numbers and Liam Caddis forced Leishman into a smart save.
Samson added his second goal when Wardrope made a lung bursting run down the wing and his cross into the box is tapped home by the striker. Craigmark early halved the deficit when Ryan Caddis shot for goal but Leishman was equal to the shot.
The first half finished 2-0 but minutes after the start Graham Wilson headed a Shankland cross past Dylan Caddis to end the game as a competition. Taylor made a change to proceedings when he came on and it was not surprising he got his goal when keeper Caddis brought him down in the box and the substitute made no mistake from the spot. The game was done and dusted when Mason got his head to a Wardrope corner giving Caddis no chance.
Nathan Lennox
SPONSORED BY: Loons Supporters Club, Allan Gardiner
JOINED TALBOT: July 2022
D.O.B: 31/03/2004
TALBOT DEBUT: Rossvale (Away), 24th September 2022, Scottish Junior Cup 2nd Round 4-2.
FIRST COMPETITIVE TALBOT GOAL, 16/12/23, v Vale of Leven, Scottish Junior Cup 4th Round. won 4-1.
FORMER CLUBS: Auchinleck Talbot u20’s
Auchinleck Talbot v Craigmark Burntonians
Jamie Ballantyne
Sponsor: Cameron Torrance; Isla McCurdy
BIO:
Jamie initially started his career at Rangers as a youth, prior to a move to Ayr United where he captained their u20’s for two seasons. He would then go on loan to Girvan FC where he won the league, prior to joining Benburb for their championship winning season.
Jamie then made a return to first team league football with Annan Athletic, before again returning to non league football.
