2015/16 – Page 5 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Irvine Meadow v Auchinleck Talbot

Kinnoul v Auchinleck Talbot

TALBOT’S EIGHTSOME REEL
Talbot cruised into the next round of the Scottish Cup winth a resounding 8-2 victory over Perth minnows Kinnoull. Even though the game was blighted with torrential rain a decent crowd had turned up at Tulloch Park and with the pitch getting the thumbs up after a 9 am inspection the scene was set for the Junior games equivalent of a David and Goliath fixture.
It took Talbot just 9 minutes to get themselves on the scoresheet when Mark Shankland robbed a defender to set up Bryan Young who fashioned some space after some nifty footwork before whipping in a wicked cross which was nodded past the keeper by the unmarked Graham Wilson.
Two minutes later it was 2-0 when Graham Wilson slid the ball past the keeper after Bryan Young once again turned provider when he picked up a long ball from Gordon Pope and hit a low cross in front of Wilson who made no mistake.
The home side after the initial Talbot “blitzkrieg” seemed to have steadied at the back but in was short lived when persistent pressure by Talbot saw the home side down 3-0 after Shankland and Young worked a short corner and Young’s cross was toe-poked through the keepers legs by Gordon Pope after the Kinnoull defence failed to clear..
Mark Shankland got on the scoresheet on 28 minutes when a GrahamWilson made a driving run into the box wand his pin point cross into the box was picked up by Hyslop who passed into the path of “Shankers” and he rifled the ball into the net.
Just before the interval Graham Wilson made it 5-0 when he poked the ball into the net after a crafty 1-2 with Paul Hyslop.The relief on the home sides players faces showed signs of shell shock a they had come to terms that they could be on a hiding of epic proportions.
Kinnoull to their credit came out for the second half with a gung-ho attitude and got the first of their consolation goals a quarter of an hour after the interval when Andy Leishman rolled a ball to Steven White but he misread the speed of the ball and was forced to make a block with his legs where the loose ball landed at the feet of Jamie Gill who passed the ball into the net from 20 yards to make it 5-1.
Talbot made it 6-1 when Gordon Pope went on a mazy run into the box where picked out Hyslop he found Lee Cochrane at the edge of the box and his cross was bicycle kicked over the keepers head by Graham Wilson to give the striker his hat trick. With the game coming to an end Lee Cochrane worked a bit of magic at the home side bye line where he left his marker for dead and his low cross was flicked into the net By Dwayne Hyslop
Kinoull pulled a goal back when the referee adjudged that Steven White had pulled down a player in the box, and although it seemed soft the big Kinnoull substitute Steven Harris made no mistake from the spot.
With time running out the scoring was finished by Hyslop when he was left unmarked to head a David Gillies cross into the net. I was a result that was expected and it was a good display on a rain sodden pitch in terrible conditions.

Greenock Juniors FC v Auchinleck Talbot

Talbot followed up last week’s impressive display with another fine showing, as they swept past Greenock 4-0 at a rain lashed Ravenscraig stadium.
The home side didn’t stand on ceremony, playing very direct football which almost paid off in the 5th minute. Munro found himself in space on the left of the area and hit the target but Leishman fell to his left to smother his effort. Talbot then went straight down the other end where Milliken bundled the ball home from Wilson’s cross but he’d moved too early & it was chalked off for offside.
Greenock came close to taking the lead in the 9th minute. White headed Munro’s cross out the box where it came to McGarrigle who ran onto it & fired a shot just wide of the left post.
Leishman was called into action in the 14th minute when Grana slid a dangerous ball across the face of goal toward Munro at the far post but Andy cut it out in the centre.
Talbot grabbed the opening goal in the 25th minute and never really looked in any trouble once they’d edged ahead. It came from a free kick out on the right which Young whipped into the centre where MCGOLDRICK thumped a header into the back of the net.
Six minutes later Talbot doubled their lead. Milliken won a corner out on the left and YOUNG repeated his feat from last year’s Hurlford semi-final; scoring direct from the corner kick.
It was all Talbot and the next chance came in the 33rd minute. Milliken cut the ball back across the face of goal where Wilson met it but it came at him too quickly for him to steady himself and hit off him and over the bar.
Talbot’s next effort at goal came about as a result of good work down the left by Milliken. He raced clear before cutting the ball to Young at the edge of the area and his shot flew just over the bar with McWilliams beaten.
Milliken ought to have put Talbot three ahead in the 42nd minute. Scott was short with a header back & Milliken raced onto it and it took it round the keeper but with the goal gaping he blasted it into the side-netting.
He made amends a minute later when he out-paced Doherty down the right and squared the ball to the unmarked WILSON who stroked it home to send Talbot in 3-0 ahead at the interval.
Both sides emerged unchanged for the 2nd half and Talbot continued where they’d left off; pushing forward to add to their tally.
The 1st meaningful attack of the half saw Young latch onto Leishman’s long clearance and hit a great early ball into the centre where Wilson was caught on his heels allowing Scott to clear.
Greenock weren’t at the races and it was no surprise when they made a change after 54 minutes, with McNeil replacing McBryde.
Cochrane almost extended Talbot’s lead in the 56th minute. Greenock’s defence managed to clear out a corner but Latta helped the ball back into the box where it fell at the feet of Cochrane. He attempted to pass it into the bottom corner but McWilliams produced a top save, diving to his left to tip it wide.
Three minutes later Cochrane again hit the target. McGoldrick went on a mazy run up the left wing and swung a cross into the centre which Cochrane glanced on goal but it lacked the power to beat the keeper.
Talbot made their 1st change in the 62nd minute when Love replaced Milliken up front.
Greenock hadn’t made any impression in the 2nd period but were given a good chance to test Leishman in the 63rd minute when awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box for a foul by White. Begley laid it off for McNeill to hit but he struck his low shot straight into the wall.
Soon after both sides made further changes, firstly Greenock brought Patton on for Docherty and then Tucker brought on Shankland in place of G Wilson.
McWilliams was tested in the 69th minute when Hyslop threaded a ball through the right to find Love inside the area. He hit it early and McWilliams saved to his left.
The keeper was being kept busy and made a crucial interception minutes later. Boyd’s pass sent Hyslop clear on the right and he fizzed a cross across the goal mouth which McWilliams cut out before it reached Love who was waiting for a tap in.
Talbot completed the scoring in the 75th minute. Boyd slid a perfectly weighted pass through to Latta and he knocked it across the face of goal where LOVE turned it home.
Tucker now made his final change with S Wilson coming on for Young and Greenock also made their last change with Lyden replacing Scott.
The sub was involved straight away as Wilson lifted the ball over the defence to send Love free on the left. He angled a shot toward the far post that had McWilliams beaten but Begley got there in the nick of time to clear off the line.
Love had another effort at goal in the 80th minute. He turned smartly out on the right and powered a shot just over the crossbar.
Greenock had an opportunity for a consolation effort in the 83rd minute. Brown saw his shot blocked back to him and he laid it back to Murray whose effort was deflected behind.
With 5 minutes remaining Doherty conceded a free kick out on the right for a foul on Shankland. He curled the free kick into the centre where it was headed clear, but only out as far as Latta who hammered a shot on goal that the keeper did well to parry.
A minute later the Bot had another chance from a set piece after Wilson was fouled just outside the penalty box. Shankland lifted it over the wall but it didn’t dip quickly enough and sailed over the bar.
In the final minute Talbot had one final chance to add to their lead. Shankland’s low drive from the right side of the area beat McWilliams only for Lyden to stretch out a leg to clear off the line. It came back to Shankland who opted to square it for Latta who sent his shot past the post.
Talbot won this cup tie convincingly and might have won by a wider margin. Next week Talbot are again on cup duty, as they travel through to Perth to face Kinnoull in the Scottish.

Greenock – McWilliams, McGarrigle, Doherty, Scott, Begley, T Docherty, Murray, Grana, Brown, McBryde, Munro

Subs – Lyden, Cunning, McNeil, Patton

Talbot – Leishman, Latta, Lyle, McGoldrick, White, Boyd, Young, Hyslop, G Wilson, Milliken, Cochrane

Subs – Shankland, Love, S Wilson, Gillies, Pope

Auchinleck Talbot v Hurlford

Match Report by Murray
The fans at Beechwood were treated to a seven goal thriller and a superb Bot comeback as Talbot edged out Hurlford in this league encounter.
From the outset this game was fiercely contested although neither side could make any clear cut chances in the opening spell.
The 1st test for either keeper came in the 11th minute. Creaney let fly from outside the box and his shot deflected off Lyle; however Leishman dived to his left to make the stop.
Milliken came close to the opener after 15 minutes. Wilson swept a cross in from the left which Milliken met in the centre. He headed it back & down the way it’d come but it lacked power & Brown saved to his right.
Another Wilson cross caused the Ford defence problems minutes later. It looked to be heading straight for White in front of goal until McLune intercepted to put it behind with a diving header.
Young fired the corner over to the far corner of the 6-yard box where Campbell powered a header back across that flew wide of the right hand post.
The opening goal arrived in the 19th minute and it came Hurlford’s way. Brown hoisted a long ball down the left over Talbot’s backline. R Robertson chased it into the box and Leishman came racing out to gather. He reached it before Robertson but couldn’t hold it and the ball broke out to CHISHOLM who had the easy task of slotting it into the empty net.
Losing a bad goal was a blow in itself but Talbot suffered a worse setback in the 25th minute. Campbell was caught late by Chisholm as he stretched to clear the ball & as he fell to the turf it became apparent that he’d picked up a serious injury. Campbell was carried from the field on a stretcher and Latta was brought on. This necessitated a re-shuffle with White moving back into defence & Hyslop into central midfield.
The referee produced a yellow card a piece on the half hour mark to Pope & R Robertson after they tangled off the ball.
The Bot were left with an uphill battle when they fell two behind in the 31st minute. Hurlford won a corner on the left when McKenzie’s long range effort deflected behind and when the corner went deep beyond the back post R Robertson climbed to head it goal ward & KEAN touched it home from close range.
Talbot needed an early riposte and it duly arrived in the 35th minute. Latta lifted a ball into the area that McKillen failed to deal with. It broke off the Hurlford man into the path of MILLIKEN who lashed a right footed shot high past Brown to reduce the deficit.
A few minutes later Latta met Pope’s cross from the left touchline but his header flew wide of the left post.
Kean squandered a good chance to extend Hurlford’s lead in the 40th minute when he met a free kick flighted in behind the defence. With Leishman stranded off his line all that was required was for him to hit the target but he didn’t make a clean contact and glanced his header well wide.
Talbot finished the half strongly and produced a couple of chances in the dying minutes of the half. McGoldrick raced half the length of the field before releasing the ball to Wilson and his reverse pass to Milliken was just a fraction too firm, allowing Brown to smother the ball at Milliken’s feet.
In 1st half injury time Pope squared the ball across to Boyd whose drive from 20 yards flew just wide of Brown’s right post.
Talbot may have ended the 1st half strongly but they got off on the wrong foot after the re-start. Within a minute they were caught out when McKenzie intercepted Young’s pass. He hit a long diagonal ball which Kean reached just before Leishman. The angle was too tight to attempt a shot and he squared it across goal where White cleared it to safety.
Hurlford restored their two goal advantage in the 48th minute. McGoldrick’s headed clearance was returned straight back into the Talbot box where it fell to BORRIS on the right of the area and his shot took a nick off Pope on its way into the net.
The visitors were forced into a change in the 53rd minute. C Robertson went over on his ankle and had to go off and within a minute Talbot took advantage of the extra man and pulled a goal back.
Young swept a cross in from the left and Wilson cushioned a header back toward Hyslop. He was sent tumbling as he ran onto it and the ref pointed straight to the spot. POPE proved as reliable as ever from 12 yards and slotted it down the middle as Brown dived to his right to make it 3-2.
Hurlford very nearly restored their two goal cushion within a minute. They won a corner out on the right which Talbot only cleared out as far as M Brown and his shot from the edge of the area was deflected just past Leishman’s left post.
C Robertson wasn’t fit to continue so Hurlford made their 1st change with G Mitchell coming on in his place.
The next goal was going to be critical and Talbot grabbed it in the 58th minute. Milliken used his pace to run at G Mitchell who was forced to concede the corner. Young lifted it to the far post where POPE ran in unchallenged to head home the equaliser.
Hurlford sensed the game slipping away from them and made their 2nd change in the 62nd minute when D Mitchell replaced McLune.
The momentum was now with Talbot and only a fantastic stop from Brown prevented the Bot from taking the lead in the 70th minute. Young whipped a cross into the centre which Hyslop headed down to Wilson. He had his back to goal but turned and hit it 1st time forcing a top save from Brown before McKillen completed the clearance.
Hurlford made their final change in the 72nd minute with McKenzie making way for Nisbet.
Talbot thought they’d taken the lead in the 73rd minute. McGoldrick met Lyle’s free kick at the back post and he climbed to power a header into the roof of the net, only for it to be chalked off for a dubious offside call.
The game was flowing from end to end and White picked up a caution in the 76th minute when he his foul ended a Hurlford counter-attack midway inside Talbot’s half.
Tucker now made his 2nd change as Love replaced Milliken.
Talbot had a let off in the 78th minute when the woodwork came to the rescue. The defence were caught out when a corner from the left was fired low into the near post where M Brown side-footed it against the right post.
He was unlucky there but was guilty of a bad miss in the 81st minute, again from a corner kick on the left. This time he had a free header at the near post but failed to hit the target.
Borris picked up a yellow card in the 82nd minute for dissent. He conceded a free kick for a foul on Young and then talked himself into the book. Pope took the free kick short to Young who returned it out wide to Pope. He swept a dangerous ball across the face of goal but no Bot player could get on the end of it.
Talbot grabbed the winner in the 84th minute. Love combined well with Latta out on the right creating the space for Latta on the overlap. He fired a superb cross beyond the back post where YOUNG met it to head back across goal and beyond Brown to make it 4-3 to Talbot.
Two minutes later Talbot had a half chance to put the game beyond doubt. Pope’s disguised pass sent Love free on the left and he cut inside before unleashing a ferocious shot which swerved just wide of the left post.
With one minute remaining Talbot made their final change with Shankland on for Wilson.
As the game entered injury time Talbot had another effort at goal. Young stole the ball from Borris inside the Hurlford half and cut in from the left and drilled a shot over the bar.
Talbot still had defending to do and in the 3rd minute of added time Borris had a late chance. He gathered the ball out on the right before skipping inside into the area and shooting for the near post. It looked as though Leishman had it covered but in any case McGoldrick was guarding the post and thumped it clear, and soon after the referee signalled time up.
This was Talbot’s best performance in a good while with the team showing great character to come back from two goals down to claim the 3 points. Next up for Talbot is another away day in the cup as they travel to Ravenscraig park to face Greenock in the West.

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Campbell, Boyd, Young, Hyslop, G Wilson, Milliken, White

Subs – Shankland, Love, Latta, Cochrane, Gillies

Hurlford – A Brown, M Brown, Creaney, McKillen, C Robertson, McLune, McKenzie, Chisholm, Kean, R Robertson, Borris

Subs – Nisbet, D Mitchell, G Mitchell, Cochrane, Blair

Tranent v Auchinleck Talbot

Match Report by Murray
Talbot returned to winning ways to advance past Tranent in the Scottish but were made to work for it by an impressive home side.
The Bot started strongly and nearly took the lead in the 4th minute from a corner on the left. When the ball came in McGoldrick thumped a header on target that Inglis did well to save. Young tried to prod home the rebound but couldn’t force his shot home in a crowded goal mouth.
A minute later the Bot threatened again. Young fed the ball out to Love in space on the left of the area and Inglis did well to block away his low drive on target.
After the frenetic opening the game settled down and the home side gradually began to play their way into it, without really threatening the Talbot goal.
It was the Bot who came close again after 16 minutes. Tranent looked vulnerable at set pieces and McGoldrick again managed to get a free header on a corner, this time from the right, but he sent it wide of target.
Wilson became the 1st name in the ref’s notebook when he was cautioned after 23 mins for a late challenge in midfield.
A rush of blood from Inglis gifted Talbot a penalty in the 25th minute. The keeper raced off his line to reach a ball down the left he was never favourite to win and all he succeeded in doing was up ending Wilson inside the box. POPE stepped up and coolly waited on the keeper moving before sending the ball the other way to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Tranent responded positively to falling behind and put together a good move in the 27th minute. Smith, Tranent’s best player on the day, sprayed a good pass out right to find Manson on the wing & he swept a low ball across the face of goal which Lyle cleared at the back post.
Tranent’s 1st real effort at goal came on the half hour mark. Slack marking from Talbot at a shy allowed Murray a bit of space 25 yards out and he fired just wide of the right post.
The home side were growing in confidence but lacked any cutting edge in the final third and Talbot saw out the remainder of the half quite comfortably. A minute before the interval Talbot had a half chance to grab a 2nd goal. White laid the ball off to Love just outside the area but he couldn’t keep his half volley under the bar and Talbot went in a goal up at the interval.
The Tranent manager’s half-time pep talk certainly fired the home side up and from the start of the 2nd half they took the game to Talbot.
The first threat to the Bot defence came in the 48th minute. McMillan slid the ball out right to Manson. He fired a dangerous cross to the back post where Lyle dived full length to head clear.
Talbot had an opportunity down the other end in the 51st minute when they won a free kick 35 yards from goal following a Tranent hand ball. Wilson swerved his shot over the wall but it just didn’t come down in time and flew over the crossbar.
For all Tranent’s passing their clearest chance to date came via a long punt out from their keeper. Inglis launched it down the left toward Fisher. Hyslop appeared to be in control of the situation but was easily out-muscled by the Tranent winger who broke into the box before firing into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Talbot had a real let off in the 55th minute. Pope’s slack pass out from the back was intercepted and lobbed in behind the defence. McMillan ran onto it and lifted it over the advancing Leishman only for his lob to come off the face of the bar allowing Lyle to clear.
With Talbot having come off 2nd best after the interval it wasn’t a great surprise when Tucker made changes, making a double substitution in the 57th minute with Milliken on for Wilson and Latta replacing Hyslop.
However, the home side continued to have the best of it and tested Leishman on the hour mark.
A shy from the right was worked inside to Smith who found himself in space just outside the box but he drilled his low shot straight at Leishman.
The same player had another couple of chances in quick succession, but simply repeated his earlier effort, hitting the target from outside the area but each shot going straight down the throat of Leishman who comfortably held them.
It had been a while since Talbot had crossed the halfway line but Love had half a chance in the 65th minute. He did well initially to break into the box from the right wing but couldn’t test the keeper from an acute angle and Inglis made an easy save by his near post.
The home side made a loud penalty appeal in the 67th minute. Inglis hoofed a long ball down the right that flew over the Bot defence. Manson raced onto the end of it and tumbled under a challenge but the ref saw nothing wrong with it and waved play on.
Pope picked up Talbot’s 2nd caution of the afternoon when he was shown a yellow card on 69 mins for conceding a free kick.
The free kick was switched out to the left where Fisher whipped in a cross that Manson headed over the bar under pressure.
Tranent now made their 1st change with Hawkins on in place of Miller.
The home side had a glorious chance to equalise in the 74th minute. Yet again, Talbot were caught out by a route one ball from Inglis. He launched a ball down the right that found Manson in space on the right. He had time to look up and pick out a cross to the far post to find the unmarked Fisher. It looked on for a header but instead he attempted the volley and Leishman saved it inside his near post.
Tranent now made a further change with Beaton coming on for Wojtowycz.
With 10 minutes remaining both sides committed their last subs, Shankland replacing Love up top for Talbot and Flynn coming on for Fisher.
Talbot nearly added a 2nd that would have killed the tie off in the 81st minute. Pope’s free kick was floated to the far corner of the box where Campbell won it and headed back across goal but wide of the far post.
With 5 minutes remaining Shankland burst free on the right and raced into the area but he didn’t compose himself and blazed his shot wide of the left post.
Talbot finally ended Tranent’s hopes with two minutes remaining. White was fouled out on the left and this time Pope played the set piece into the near post where YOUNG glanced a header beyond Inglis to put Talbot 2-0 ahead.
Talbot might have even extended their lead in the final minute. Milliken sped clear on the left before squaring it to Shankland. He had the space to shoot but instead opted to roll it back to Milliken allowing Gordon to intercept.
This was a hard fought cup tie and Talbot will be relieved to have made it through at the 1st time of asking. Next up for Talbot it is the first home game for a good while as Hurlford come visiting in the league.

Tranent – Inglis, Patterson, Wojtowycz, Gordon, McKenzie, Miller, Manson, D Smith, McMillan, Murray, Fisher

Subs – Hunter, Hawkins, Smeaton, Beaton, Flynn

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Campbell, Boyd, Young, White, G Wilson, Love, Hyslop

Subs – Shankland, Milliken, Latta, S Wilson, Cochrane

Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/7003/tranent-talbot-2-1#ixzz3qeDRPmnb

Greenock Juniors FC

Tranent

Cumbernauld Colts v Auchinleck Talbot

Match Report by Murray
Talbot’s senior cup adventure ended with a whimper as an out of sorts Bot side fell 2-0 to Cumbernauld Colts at Broadwood stadium.
There was an unfamiliar look to Talbot’s central defence with regulars McGoldrick & Campbell missing with White & Lyle stepping in to fill the breech.
It was the home side who offered the 1st threat when O’Neill burst past Latta and whipped a dangerous ball across the face of goal. Black met it beyond the far post but the ball hit him rather him hitting it and broke behind for a goal kick.
The 1st effort at goal came in the 7th minute. Broadfoot switched play out right to Duncan whose low cross was cleared by Lyle. It came out to Munn 25 yards from goal and he fired a shot well over the bar.
A minute later Talbot wasted a promising opportunity to take the lead. S Wilson beat Kirwan before squaring the ball across the box to Milliken 8 yards out. The shot looked on but he opted to pass it instead and the ball came back out to S Wilson who knocked it to the back post where Young saw his shot deflected behind.
The linesman turned a blind eye to a blatant handball in the 14th minute when Kirwan controlled it on his arm right in front of him but the officials waved play on.
The Bot fans were up in arms again four minutes later when they thought G Wilson had won a free kick just outside the box when sent sprawling by Duncan, only for the referee to book him for simulation & award the free kick to Colts.
Gradually Talbot began to push Colts back but were failing to make any clear cut chances and when one finally did arrive in the 28th minute it was wasted. Boyd slid a good pass out to Latta whose cut back found Milliken in space inside the area but he completely mis-kicked it.
Neither side had looked like scoring, at least until the 33rd minute when Young found S Wilson out on the right edge of the area and his low drive back across goal flew inches wide of the far post.
The referee had his work cut out in a spell of ill-discipline from the home side that saw them pick up 3 bookings in as many minutes. Broadfoot was 1st in the book for a heated reaction after Boyd had conceded a free kick and he was soon joined in the book by Munn and then Ballantyne, both for cynical fouls on G Wilson.
Talbot tested the Colts defence in the 39th minute when Pope played it into the feet of Hyslop on the left of the area. He attempted to drill it across the 6-yard box but his pass was cut out.
The Bot finished the half strongly but tellingly with no end product. In the 41st minute Milliken pulled the ball back into the path of S Wilson but he didn’t catch his shot cleanly and it sailed harmlessly into the arms of George. A few minutes later the same player saw his effort from just inside the box blocked by Kirwan and the sides went in locked at the interval.
The large travelling support were hoping for Talbot to step up a gear in the 2nd half but it was the home side who came out fired up. Two minutes into the half and the Bot defence was stretched when Ballantyne found space on the right & fired a dangerous cross over to the back post where Latta glanced it behind for a corner. Nothing came of the corner as Leishman was fouled when trying to claim it.
His opposite number didn’t cover himself in glory a minute later. Young fed the ball back to Pope who slung a high, hopeful cross into the goal mouth which George flapped at. The ball landed between the keeper & Oliver with neither taking responsibility for clearing it but with no Bot player to take advantage, Oliver recovered to hook the ball clear.
The game was becoming stretched with play moving from end to end and Talbot won a free kick in a decent area in the 53rd minute when G Wilson’s charge down the right flank was halted by Kirwan. Young flighted a decent ball across the 6 yard line where a Colts defender headed it out for a shy.
S Wilson failed to make the most of a half chance in the 55th minute. Ward headed out Pope’s cross but it came straight out to Wilson 16 yards out, however he delayed his shot and was closed down before he could hit it.
Colts made the 1st change on 57 minutes with Tilley coming on in place of Black.
Leishman had to produce a top drawer save to keep Talbot level on the hour mark. A Colts corner from the right was cleared but only as far as Broadfoot who jinked in off the right and fired a shot for the far post that Leishman tipped wide at full stretch.
Down the other end S Wilson tested George in the 61st minute when he rifled a low right foot shot on target that George saved in an unconventional manner; blocking it with his body as he fell to his left.
The 1st goal was going to be crucial and it came Colts way in the 64th minute. The Bot defence were caught flat at a ball down the right wing. Leishman opted to come out his box to clear but was never getting there and BROADFOOT was able to clip the ball past him from a tight angle into the empty net.
Talbot now made a substitution with Shankland on for Milliken.
O’Neill managed to get himself involved in a stramash with the Talbot bench in the 68th minute but it was a handbags at dawn affair and nothing came of it.
Talbot had a chance to test George in the 70th minute when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out. Shankland took it and curled it up & over the wall but whilst it had the accuracy it lacked the power to beat George who got across to his right to make the save.
A minute later Shankland had another opportunity. G Wilson laid the ball inside to him and he ran onto it at the edge of the box but fired his shot wide of the right post.
This was Talbot’s best spell of the match and they had a third chance in quick succession. Pope flighted a cross to the back post where S Wilson cushioned a header back across goal where his brother G Wilson met it but lifted his header over the bar.
It was now Colts turn to threaten and they had Talbot on the rack with a spell of pressure. Leishman did well to cut out Broadfoot’s ball across the face of goal after Broadfoot had got the better of Pope.
Colts then forced a succession of corners from the last of which Kirwan met it on the half volley at the back post and his shot flicked off Latta and just over the bar. When the next corner came in Talbot only partially cleared it allowing Tilley a shot at goal which Leishman blocked away.
Tucker now made a 2nd switch with holding midfielder Boyd making way for Love.
Love was involved soon after coming on when he ran onto a ball in behind Kirwan and passed it across to G Wilson in space just inside the box. He looked set to hit it but to the frustration of the Bot support he opted to back heel it to tee it up for Shankland and the move fizzled out.
Talbot’s last chance to salvage a draw came in the 86th minute. Love beat Kirwan and raced into the box and tried to fire it across the face of goal. It was blocked and came straight back to him on the right of the penalty area but he didn’t connect properly with his shot and it went tamely at George.
It was game over in the 88th minute as Colts doubled their advantage. O’Neill was allowed to carry the ball forward unchallenged before releasing it out right to find Broadfoot in space inside the area. He had the time and space to square it across goal for MUNN to bundle it home from close range and make it 2-0.
Colts now substituted the goal scorer with Munn making way for Grant.
No two ways about it, this was a very disappointing performance from Talbot who just never got going. There is no time to brood on it though as Tucker will have to lift the team for next Saturday’s trip to Tranent in the Scottish Junior Cup.

Cumbernauld – George, Duncan, Kirwan, Oliver, Ward, Broadfoot, Ballantyne, Munn, Selkirk, Black, O’Neill

Subs – Benton, Giles, Brown, Grant, Tilley

Talbot – Leishman, Latta, Lyle, Pope, White, Boyd, Young, Hyslop, Milliken, G Wilson, S Wilson

Subs – Shankland, Love, Cochrane, Gillies, Campbell, Johnstone

Arthurlie vs Auchinleck Talbot

Match Report by Murray
Talbot gained a valuable away win at Barrhead, though they made heavy work of seeing off Arthurlie in a bad tempered affair that saw the ref produce 3 red cards.
The first clear opening of the match came Talbot’s way in the 7th minute. White played a good ball out to Young on the left and he slid a dangerous ball across the face of goal which Milliken met in the centre, but he was challenged as he hit it and steered his side-footed effort straight at White.
Both sides were competing fiercely but with play largely concentrated in the middle third, there was little work for either keeper.
Talbot came within a whisker of opening the scoring in the 18th minute. Gillies was nudged in the air 30 yards out and Pope took the resultant free kick, curling a shot past the wall that clipped the left hand post.
Arthurlie threatened the Bot goal in the 21st minute. Palmer whipped in a dangerous low cross which Leishman gathered by the near post.
Two minutes later it was Talbot’s turn to threaten. A shy from the right found Gillies in behind and he cut it back for Young who looked set to stroke it home, only for Gair to stick out a leg to deflect it behind.
Gillies was harshly penalised on the half hour mark. He chased down Lyle’s ball and when White came out his box to clear, Gillies blocked his clearance. The ball spun out wide where Gillies gathered and turned Rushford but as he looked to shoot toward the open net the ref awarded a free kick to Lie, presumably for a foul on Rushford.
White had got lucky on his 1st foray outside the box but he came a cropper in the 35th minute. He came outside his box to beat Gillies to a ball in behind the defence, only for Gair to nod it back toward goal. He threw out an arm to stop it going past him leaving the ref little option but to send him off. There then followed a hold up whilst Lie readied their sub goalie before Cowie came on between the sticks, with Smith the outfield player sacrificed.
Talbot also made a change with Graham Wilson on in place of Gillies.
Cowie’s 1st test was dealing with the free kick White had conceded just outside the penalty area. Pope struck it and Cowie had a lucky escape as the free kick smacked off the inside of his right post and flew back across goal and out for a goal kick.
With the extra man Talbot looked to be in control and were doing most of the pressing but without looking like breaking through.
A minute before half-time Arthurlie almost caught Talbot out on the counter. The Lie defence did well to clear Lyle’s cross at the back post and quickly turned defence to attack as Rushford swept a diagonal ball across to Dallas who out-paced Lyle before drilling a low ball across the box which White cleared.
Milliken tested Cowie in the 45th minute when he cut inside onto his left foot and fired a low shot from 18 yards which the keeper held.
Deep into 1st half injury time the home side were reduced to 9 men. MacDonald was guilty of an outrageous tackle on Hyslop, going over the ball to leave the Bot midfielder writhing on the turf and the ref produced his 2nd red card of the afternoon. Fortunately for Hyslop he wasn’t seriously injured and was able to continue and the sides went in level at the break.
Talbot would’ve been hoping to make the extra men count straight away but made a sluggish start to the 2nd half and the first decent chance of the 2nd period fell Arthurlie’s way. Hyslop conceded a free kick 25 yards out and Dallas rifled it just wide of the right hand post.
Young was unlucky in the 50th minute. Hyslop fed the ball out wide to the overlapping Lyle and his cut back fell nicely for Young whose placed shot looked to be heading in until it hit off a defender and spun behind.
Arthurlie were camped deep in their half, content to let Talbot have the ball where it couldn’t hurt them, and it appeared to be paying off as Talbot enjoyed the lion’s share of possession without making much headway.
On the hour mark, an error from Pope saw him gift the ball to McGlinchey and the home side were able to break down field. The ball was switched out left to Dallas who looked set to burst into the box but McGoldrick did well to make the covering challenge.
In Talbot’s next attack Cowie surrendered a cheap corner when he lost the ball under Milliken’s challenge and Young took it quickly, sending it back to Pope who fired just wide of target.
Arthurlie made a change in the 65th minute when McTernan came on for Dallas and Tucker responded by making a double switch with Stephen Wilson and Shankland replacing Latta & Milliken.
Talbot finally made their possession pay in the 68th minute. Hyslop stabbed a shot on target that Cowie could only parry. The defence couldn’t clear their lines and Young hooked the ball across goal where it landed at S Wilson who was tripped as he cut across the area. The ball landed at Pope who drilled it into the net but the referee had already blown to signal a penalty. POPE took the spot kick and slotted it home to put Talbot 1-0 ahead. Cowie then foolishly gathered the ball and kicked it against Pope but for some reason the ref chose to ignore this.
Cowie got lucky in the 71st minute. Shankland cut inside from the left and fired a routine shot on target. It looked easy enough for the keeper but he made a real hash of it and was grateful to snatch it at the 2nd attempt.
A minute later G Wilson sped down the left and whipped a great ball across the face of goal. There were no takers in the centre but Talbot won a corner when Palmer swept it behind. When the corner came over Hyslop met it and flashed a header inches wide of target.
A 2nd goal would’ve settled matters and Shankland squandered a decent chance to grab it in the 76th minute. S Wilson made ground down the right before rolling the ball back to find him in space inside the area but he got underneath it and ballooned his shot over.
White picked up a caution in the 79th minute for a foul on McGlinchey.
Talbot were reduced to 10 men in the 81st minute. It all started with an innocuous aerial challenge in the Lie box where Campbell was a fraction late. He fell to the ground in a tangle of bodies and as he got up he was confronted by Palmer who appeared to shove him. Campbell reacted and after the ensuing stramash had settled down the referee sent Campbell off for raising his hands.
It ought to have been game over in the 84th minute. Shankland slotted the ball out left to find G Wilson whose fierce drive was brilliantly touched away by Cowie. It went out wide where S Wilson crossed it into the centre and G Wilson met it 4 yards out but directed his free header too near the keeper and Cowie was able to make a reflex stop to keep it out, at the expense of a corner.
When the corner came over it came out to Hyslop who steered a shot just wide of the left post.
Talbot very nearly paid for their wastefulness in front of goal when Arthurlie almost fluked an equaliser inside injury time. A corner kick into the box was only partially cleared and fell to McGregor. His shot took a hefty deflection and with Leishman going the other way it looked like creeping in, only for Andy to change direction and fling himself to his left to gather it on the line.
The Bot then went down the park and wrapped it up with a late second goal. G Wilson broke free on the right and squared it inside for SHANKLAND who let it run across him before firing a low shot past Cowie to make it 2-0.
No doubt Talbot deserved the points but they made life unnecessarily difficult for themselves and but for a good stop by Leishman in stoppage time might have dropped two points. Next up for Talbot is a trip to Broadwood stadium to face Lowland league side Cumbernauld Colts in the senior Scottish cup.

Arthurlie – White,Rushford, Palmer, Gair, Tart, MacDonald, McGlinchey, McGregor, Smith, Carroll, Dallas

Subs – Blakey, McTernan, Holmes, Burnes, Cowie (gk)

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Campbell, White, Young, Hyslop, Gillies, Milliken, Latta

Subs – G Wilson, S Wilson, Shankland, Love, Boyd

Petershill vs Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
Talbot’s visits to Petershill rarely produce good football and this was no exception to the rule as Talbot stumbled past a toothless home side to secure a place in the 2nd round of the West.
Just as last week, Talbot made the perfect start, opening the scoring within a minute. Two Peasies defenders went for the same ball and it spun to Wilson. He quickly lobbed the ball through to GILLIES on the left and his half volley squirmed through the grasp of Maltoni at his near post.
The Peasies keeper atoned somewhat for that blunder in the 6th minute when he produced a top save to prevent Talbot doubling their lead. Pope’s cross into the area found Young in space and he headed it back across goal, only for Maltoni to dive to his right to tip it away.
Gillies nearly added a second in the 13th minute. Hyslop powered a header through the middle which Gillies ran onto before lashing a first time shot narrowly over the bar with the keeper well beaten.
Petershill had offered nothing going forward but they almost equalised in the 21st minute. Daly met Bradley’s deep cross and headed it back down into the path of Craig who drilled a shot beyond Leishman that came back off the right hand post.
Hyslop then tried his luck from distance, cutting inside onto his left foot and firing just over the bar from 25 yards.
Daly became the 1st player in the book when penalised for sarcastically applauding the referee when awarded a free kick.
Maltoni produced another good stop in the 35th minute. Milliken beat F Chisholm in the air to nod it on for Wilson and he cracked a powerful drive on target that Maltoni punched over the bar. The referee then produced a yellow card for F Chisholm for his earlier late barge into Milliken.
The home keeper was called into action again in the 38th minute when Pope’s corner from the left found Gillies clear at the back post and Maltoni had to tip his header over the bar.
Hyslop had his name taken in the 42nd minute for a late challenge on Shields who certainly made the most of it to the ire of the visiting support. The half wound to a close without further incident and Talbot trooped off a goal to the good.
The 1st half hadn’t offered much by way of good football, with the ball careening around like a pinball, and fouls every other minute, but as it turned out it was the high point of the match, as the 2nd half was largely a non-event.
The 1st chance of the 2nd half, and the only real clear cut chance the Peasies had all game, came in the 53rd minute. Craig lofted a free kick out to the left where Stevenson headed it across into the middle. It came to Daly who steered a low shot on target that Leishman blocked with his leg.
Talbot were struggling to get going after the interval and it took until the 63rd minute before the first effort at goal when Young drove a shot wide of the right post from just outside the box.
Before hitting the shot, Young had been impeded by Shields and the referee booked the Peasies player for an accumulation of offences.
Petershill had a half chance in the 65th minute. Kennedy met a shy from the right at the edge of the area but under pressure could only stab a 1st time shot on target that was easily held by Leishman.
Petershill now made a change with Daw on for Shields and Talbot responded by bringing Shankland on for Gillies.
Brough was fortunate to escape a caution after 72 mins when he flattened Young with a late challenge.
Talbot made a double switch in the 74th minute with Stephen Wilson & Love coming on in place of Graham Wilson & Young.
Stevenson produced a decent effort from distance in the 77th minute that sped wide of the left post.
The Peasies played their last cards in the 80th minute with Lafferty & Davidson replacing McLean & Stevenson.
Although there was only one goal in it the home side never really looked like forcing penalties and with a minute remaining Love ought to have wrapped it up for Talbot. Pope’s header found Shankland in space on the left & he centred it for Love who raced through on the keeper but slotted his shot the wrong side of the right hand post.
Petershill were reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute when F Chisholm swiped out at Love and the ref produced a 2nd yellow for the Peasies right-back.
Deep into injury time Talbot had one final chance. A shy was thrown in behind the defence to find Love on the left of the penalty area. He tried to bury it in the far corner but pulled his shot across goal and wide of target.
This was a forgettable 90 minutes but Talbot got the job done and move on to next week’s league match where they face a trip to Barrhead to face Arthurlie, who always make it difficult at Dunterlie.