2016/17 – Page 6 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Beith v Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
It was honours even as Talbot & Beith shared 4 goals in this Scottish Cup preliminary round tie; leaving both sides to face off again next Saturday at Beechwood.
Talbot were shooting down the slope in the 1st half & it was the Bot who made the early running. The first effort at goal came when Lyle gathered Pope’s cross out on the right touchline. He fed it inside to Millken whose low drive went wide of target.
Milliken did hit the target soon after. He skipped past Sheridan down the left & fired at goal, but the keeper was well positioned & made a comfortable stop.
Talbot were temporarily reduced to 10 men in the 9th minute when Latta fell awkwardly after being fouled by McGlinchey. He went off for treatment on his shoulder but couldn’t continue & in the 12th minute Stevenson came on in his place.
This was a physically bruising encounter with neither side being afforded any time on the ball & more tackles being made than passes played.
McGlinchey came to the home side’s rescue in the 24th minute. Steven Wilson battled well to win the ball out on the right & looked to be fouled just outside the area. The ball broke loose to Stevenson who swept a dangerous low ball across goal that McGlinchey hooked clear inside the 6-yard area.
A minute later Milliken ought to have put Talbot ahead. Wilson sped away from Sheridan down the right before sweeping an early ball across the area. Milliken ran onto it but from 15 yards out he hoisted his shot over Grindlay’s crossbar.
Beith then came close at the other end. Christie managed to get on the end of McGlinchey’s deep cross & succeeded in heading it back for McLean but he fired wide of the right post from a good area.
Hyslop came close for Talbot in the 40th minute. Young squared the ball inside for him & he drilled a low shot just past the right post with Grindlay beaten.
With a minute of normal time remaining McGoldrick was in the right spot to block Wilson’s low strike from just outside the area as it headed goal wards.
Talbot took the lead in the 45th minute. Young sent Milliken free down the left & he returned it into the centre where YOUNG volleyed home to make it 1-0.
It looked like Talbot would head in a goal to the good at the break but Beith had other ideas and they drew level two minutes into injury time. McGoldrick headed a cross clear but it only came out to WILSON who managed to evade the challenge of Young before slotting a low shot inside the right post from 20 yards to make it 1-1.
With the advantage of the slope & the fillip of their late equaliser, Beith came out strongly at the start of the 2nd half and soon had Talbot under pressure.
McLean passed up a decent chance in the 49th minute. He beat offside to break free on the right but hit a tame shot at goal that Leishman easily saved.
Tucker made a switch in the 50th minute with Graham Wilson replacing his brother Steven.
McGlinchey tested Leishman in the 55th minute from 25 yards; drilling a low shot on goal that Leishman held.
Talbot created a half chance in the 58th minute. Wilson ran onto a ball in behind the defence & did well to hook it back across goal. Stevenson ran onto it & climbed above Docherty to get his head on it but his header went wide of the left post.
Sheridan had his name taken in the 61st minute. Wilson laid the ball down for Milliken who was breaking away from Beith’s centre half until wrestled to the ground.
Route one nearly paid off for Beith in the 65th minute. Grindlay’s long ball down the centre skimmed off the top of McGoldrick’s head & McLean raced onto it inside the area. He flicked it over Leishman but lifted it wide of the left post.
Beith took the lead in the 69th minute with a well-worked goal. Docherty started and finished the move; playing it out wide left to find McGowan on the touchline & when he slid it across the area DOCHERTY coolly passed the ball into the net.
Playing against the slope & a goal behind, it was literally an uphill struggle for Talbot & Beith were looking comfortable in their lead.
White had his name taken in the 78th minute for a shove on McLean and two minutes later McLean joined him in the notebook for a foul on Pope.
With time running out Tucker decided to throw caution to the wind, replacing Boyle with Pooler as Talbot went with three up front.
In the 84th minute Milliken raced free of the Beith defence down the right & fired a dangerous ball across goal but there was no support in front of goal to take advantage.
A minute later Talbot won a free kick just outside the Beith penalty area for a foul on Milliken. Young flighted it to the back post where Docherty headed it away but he got no distance on it & it fell for POPE who buried a shot inside the right post to level the score.
The final 5 minutes were nerve wracking for both sets of supporters. Firstly, Beith came close to snatching it when McLaughlin cushioned a header across goal from a corner. It came to Docherty but the ball broke off him & ran through to Leishman.
Down the other end, Milliken had a half chance to snatch a late winner when he burst into the box but he delayed his shot & the chance was lost.
As the game headed into injury time Beith won a couple of set pieces in the Bot half, allowing them to thrown the ball into the area but on both occasions Pope headed the ball away to safety.
Beith is never an easy place to visit, and most Talbot fans would have settled for a replay prior to the match. Now both sides will face off for the third time in a row with Talbot hoping for a similar outcome to the recent Ardagh semi-final at Beechwood.

Beith – Grindlay, MacDonald, Docherty, McLaughlin, Sheridan, Wilson, McGlinchey, Frize, McLean, Christie, McGowan
Subs – Collins, Watt, Burke, McPherson, Fisher, Martin, McBain (gk)

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Boyle, Latta, White, Hyslop, S Wilson, Milliken, Young
Subs – Stevenson, Pooler, Harvey, G Wilson, McCracken, Hewitt (gk)

aviary_1473095033444 — With five minutes to go in the first-half, ‘Butch’ gets onto the end of Milliken’s cross and, via a deflection, puts Talbot into the lead. 0-1.

aviary_1473097112050 — With people thinking Talbot were going to have the lead at HT, Beith thought otherwise. With the Talbot defence opened up, Jamie Wilson found some space and fired the ball into the bottom corner of the net. 1-1.

aviary_1473098907621 — Cue the wild celebrations from the Beith players after Wilson’s equaliser.

aviary_1473100892607 — With Talbot chasing the game, up steps Gordon Pope, who unleashes a thunderous shot towards goal and grabs the all important equaliser for Talbot. 2-2.

aviary_1473101310437 — The Beith players look on in despair, as Talbot celebrate the equaliser.

aviary_1473101486738 — ‘Fingers crossed’ this pass makes it!

aviary_1473101916833 — White tries to win back possession for Talbot.

aviary_1473102201168 — Milliken races into the box and tries a shot from close range.

aviary_1473102699654 — Andy Leishman keeps a close eye on the ball, as Beith try a long range effort.

aviary_1473102946876 — As the Talbot faithful look on, ‘Tucker’ dishes out the orders.

aviary_1473103645622 — Keir gets another Talbot attack going.

aviary_1473103836964 — Stephen White keeps the game going.

aviary_1473104207986 — Dylan Pooler gets beaten to the ball. Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Auchinleck Talbot v Beith Juniors

Arthurlie v Auchinleck Talbot

Talbot Goal 1 — From the near post, as the ball gets whipped in, Gordon Pope instinctively heads the ball backwards over the ‘Lie ‘keeper and into the back of the net. 0-1.

Talbot Goal 1 Celeb — Its all ‘Cheshire cat grins’, as Danny Boyle congratulates Pope.

Never a classic, but Talbot fought their way to a very impressive away win at Dunterlie Park, starting the league campaign with a 4-0 win over Arthurlie.
As often happens at Barrhead the game was fiercely competitive and the opening spell passed in a blur of challenges and heady tennis.
There was little goal mouth action; however Talbot converted their first real chance to take the lead in the 13th minute. Palmer conceded a free kick when he shoved Hyslop out on the touchline. Young whipped a good ball in which Wilson headed for goal. Hay produced a brilliant save to tip his header onto the bar but Latta reacted sharply to steer it across goal where POPE headed home from close range.
Talbot’s defence were playing well & Arthurlie were being afforded few opportunities to test Leishman. The Bot keeper was tested by Palmer’s hanging cross and got a hand to it but failed to clear & it came to McGregor on the right whose low ball into the centre was cleared.
Leyden had his name taken in the 27th minute for a late tackle on Milliken.
Talbot doubled their lead on the half hour mark. Pope flighted a ball down the centre over the defence. Wilson ran onto it inside the box, controlling it with his 1st touch but before he could hit it, MORRISON stretched out a leg to lift the ball over his own keeper to make it 2-0 to Talbot.
Arthurlie should have been two goals down & a man down in the 33rd minute. Leyden led with his elbow in an aerial challenge on Hyslop right in front of the referee who bottled the decision.
The onus was on the home side to press to reduce the deficit but it was Talbot who finished the half the stronger without managing to add to their tally and Talbot went in at the interval with a two goal cushion.
Arthurlie made a change at the interval with Smith coming on for Gribben & this seemed to lift the home side who made the early running.
They could have halved Talbot’s lead within a minute of the re-start. Leishman came to punch McGregor’s cross clear but only succeeded in knocking it straight out to Deas & his shot from 15 yards looked destined for the back of the bet but Leishman redeemed himself with a fantastic stop to his right.
Leishman was tested again in the 51st min when he came off his line to gather a cross into the centre & spilled it in a scrum of bodies but fortunately the ball was swept clear.
A minute later Talbot had a lucky escape. Deas met McGregor’s low cross into the centre & although he sclaffed his shot at goal, Smith managed to flick it on & the ball rolled just wide of the left post.
Talbot’s sluggish start to the 2nd half ended in the 54th minute when Hyslop latched onto a weak headed clearance just outside the area. He controlled it on his chest & fired a low shot on target that Hay saved low to his left.
Carroll missed a chance to pull Arthurlie back into it just shy of the hour mark. Leishman failed to claim a corner from the left & when McGregor headed it toward goal Carroll spun it on 6 yards out but fired the ball over the bar.
A third goal would’ve killed it & nearly arrived in the 63rd minute. Young forced a corner on the right & when Milliken delivered it into the centre Pope ran across his marker but glanced a header across goal & wide of the right post.
When the 3rd goal did finally arrive it was a classic, worthy of sealing any game, and an early contender for goal of the season. Milliken started the move playing it out wide left to Pope just inside the Lie half. He played it inside into the feet of Young who cleverly back-heeled the ball into the path of MILLIKEN who coolly placed it inside Hay’s right post from 20 yards.
Arthurlie made a change in the 72nd minute with Nimmo making way for Convery & Talbot soon made their 1st switch with the tiring Wilson being replaced by Stevenson.
The game was effectively over as a contest but Arthurlie had a chance to pull a goal back in the 78th minute. Deas won a free kick out on the right touchline & he whipped the ball across the face of goal and beyond the far post. McGregor gathered out on the left wing & cut it back to the edge of the area where Smith ran onto it but sliced his shot wide of the left post.
Stevenson had a great chance to open his Talbot account in the 84th minute. Leishman’s ball down the centre found Milliken racing onto it. Hay came out his box to stop the danger & Milliken tried to flick the ball past the Lie keeper. Hay succeeded in blocking it but the ball spun left to Stevenson. With the keeper stranded he could have carried on down the left into the area & tried to place it home but instead went for the early effort & sent it wide of the unguarded net.
Tucker made a double substitution in the 86th minute with Pooler & Thomson coming on in place of Young & Milliken.
Talbot completed the scoring in injury time. Boyle powered a header straight the centre towards POOLER at the edge of the area. He turned his marker & kept a cool head to slot the ball past Hay into the corner of the net.
A great start to Talbot’s league campaign and a good confidence booster ahead of a tough double header against Beith.

Talbot Goal 2 — Stevie Wilson races into the box with the ball, however, the defender lashes out at the ball too hard and sends the ball flying over his own ‘keeper and into the back of the net. Own goal! 0-2.

Arthurlie – Hay, Girvan, Palmer, Morrison, Gair, Nimmo, Leyden, McGregor, Carroll, Deas, Gribbens
Subs – Smith, Curren, Turner, Convery, Macklin

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, Boyle, Hyslop, Latta, White, S Wilson, Milliken, Young
Subs – Stevenson, Pooler, Thomson, McPherson, Hewitt

Talbot Goal 3 — Milliken finishes off a great passing move by Talbot and smashes the ball home from outside the box. 0-3.

Talbot Goal 4 — Dylan Pooler rounds off the scoring at the ‘death’ for Talbot, as he slots the ball into the back of the net from inside the box. 0-4.

Action 10 — As the ball gets headed back to the ‘keeper, ‘Mulky’ tries his best to sneak in and get a foot to the ball. Oh so close!

Action 3 — With Talbot on the ‘front foot’, Latta fires in a low cross into the Arthurlie box.[/caption[caption id="attachment_2964" align="alignleft" width="300"] All eyes on the ball, as ‘Butch’ sends the ball forward from the touchline.

Action 5 — With Talbot on the ‘front foot’, Latta fires in a low cross into the Arthurlie box.[/caption[caption id="attachment_2964" align="alignleft" width="300"] All eyes on the ball, as ‘Butch’ sends the ball forward from the touchline.

Action 7 — With the ball bouncing about inside the ‘Lie box, Dylan Stevenson tries to win it back for the boys in black and gold.

Action 12 — White, Hyslop and Latta discuss the past 45 minutes of play, as they head off for half-time.

Action 2 — As he chases the ball down, Stevie Wilson just gets pipped to it by the Arthurlie ‘keeper.

Action 4 — Keir Milliken shows his frustration, as the pass he was waiting on gets intercepted.

Action 6 — Hyslop loses possession, as the ‘Lie captain lunges into the tackle and wins the ball.

Action 1 — Another battle for possession ensues.

Action 8 — James rues a missed opportunity for Talbot.

Action 11 — ‘Tucker’ roars out the orders, as Lyle tries to get the Talbot engine going again.

Action 9 — OOH! OOH!! PICK ME!!! PICK ME!!! Photographs by PAUL FLYNN

Troon v Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot enjoyed a sunny evening at the seaside as the Bot defeated Troon at Portland Park to book their place in the last 4 of the Ardagh cup.
Talbot were the sharper team for most of the 1st half & should have opened the scoring as early as the 3rd minute. Steven Wilson fired a great ball in from the right to find Milliken in space inside the area but he lashed his shot over the bar.
MILLIKEN made no such mistake in the 11th min when he grabbed the opening goal. Stevenson’s ball through the centre parted the Troon defence & Milliken strolled through on goal & knocked it past Semple.
A few minutes later Talbot almost doubled their lead. Lyle’s cross into the area was only headed out as far as Young, who controlled it on his chest before laying it out to the left to find Steven Wilson. He raced into the area & fired for goal but his shot flew wide of the right hand upright.
Talbot were well in command & Hyslop came close in the 19th minute when he met Pope’s hanging cross & looped a header back across goal and wide of the right post.
The 2nd goal was coming & it duly arrived in the 21st minute. HYSLOP rose to meet Young’s corner from the left & he powered a header home at the back post.
Troon’s defence was almost breached again in the 25th minute. Steven Wilson nodded the ball on into the path of Milliken & Collins was at full stretch as he made a crucial sliding tackle to prevent Milliken going through on goal.
Stevenson won Talbot a free kick 30 yards from goal when he was shoved over by Spence in the 33rd minute. Graham Wilson struck it, and his shot flicked off the top of the wall before speeding just wide of the left post. When Young’s corner came over Hyslop met it but placed his header wide of goal.
Troon had offered little but it was game on when they pulled a goal back in the 39th minute. Moore played it into the feet of Robertson who traversed across the penalty area before sliding a pass through to MUIR who slipped the ball past Leishman to reduce the deficit and set up a competitive 2nd half.
The home side started the 2nd half brightly, keeping the ball well but without doing any damage in the final third. For all Troon’s early possession it was Talbot who were 1st to threaten when Hyslop sent Steven Wilson free down the left. He passed it to his brother & Graham’s low drive was heading on target until Chatham blocked it for a corner. Young delivered a dangerous ball across the 6-yard box where Pope had a chance to restore Talbot’s 2 goal cushion but he didn’t make a clean enough contact & glanced his header wide.
Talbot’s next chance came to Graham Wilson. Harvey lifted a free kick down the middle towards Steven Wilson which Collins headed clear. However, it came straight out to Graham Wilson in space just outside the box but he opted to hit it first time and blazed his shot way over the bar.
Robertson isn’t a great favourite of the Bot support partly due to his Jacques Cousteau antics over the years and he annoyed the travelling fans in the 57th min when he fell over rather easily to win a free kick 30 yards from goal. McKnight lifted it up & over the wall but it didn’t dip quickly enough.
Down the other end Milliken showed Collins a clean pair of heels before cutting it across the area but unfortunately for Talbot Stevenson couldn’t quite reach it.
Talbot played well for the most part but weren’t clinical enough in front of goal and squandered a real chance to put the game beyond Troon’s reach in the 65th minute. Young’s inch perfect pass sent Milliken free down the left & when he squared it across the area Steven Wilson should have buried it but he side-footed it past Semple’s right post.
The next attack from Talbot was a solo effort from Steven Wilson as he surged down the right leaving a couple of Troon players in his wake before knocking it round Armstrong & heading into the box. If he’d been able to beat Semple it would’ve been a goal to remember but Troon’s keeper denied him; getting down well to turn his low drive around the post.
With 20 minutes remaining both sides made a change, Forsyth replacing Nisbet for the home side & Thomson making his Talbot debut in place of Stevenson.
The referee wasn’t giving Talbot much & he seemed to be the only one in the ground who failed to spot McKnight’s shove on Milliken as they went for a high ball in the 79th minute.
Troon were throwing bodies forward, hemming Talbot in, making for a nervous closing spell for the visitors. They won a free kick out on the right in the 81st min when Pope fouled Moore & McKnight delivered it to the near post where Chatham ran onto it but placed his free header straight at Leishman.
Tucker now made a further change with Pooler coming on for Milliken.
There was a close call for Talbot in the 85th minute when a Troon corner was only headed out as far as Spence whose low drive from 19 yards flew just wide of the right post, with the aid of a slight deflection from Pope. When the 2nd corner came over it too was only partially cleared, coming out to Muir who fired a low drive on target that Leishman held inside his left post.
In the closing stages Thomson nearly added a 3rd for Talbot when he finished off a move involving Pooler & Steven Wilson by drilling a low shot to Semple’s left but Troon’s keeper produced a fine save to deflect it wide.
Troon kept pressing but couldn’t breach the Talbot defence & the Bot held on to seal a good away win.
Next up for Talbot is the start of the defence of their league title as they travel through to Barrhead to take on Arthurlie.

Troon – Semple, Chatham, Armstrong, McKnight, Collins, Spence, Nisbet, McCrea, Robertson, Muir, Moore
Subs – Forsyth, Harvey, Keenan, Strachan

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, Boyle, Hyslop, Young, Stevenson, G Wilson, Milliken, S Wilson
Subs – Pooler, McPherson, Thomson, Latta, Hewitt

Kello Rovers v Auchinleck Talbot

Auchinleck Talbot v Lugar Boswell

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

As they used to say on Police Squad, move along nothing to see here and that neatly sums up a very nondescript encounter.
Talbot started brightly enough & should have gone ahead in the 6th minute. Pope fired a good cross over to the back post which S Wilson volleyed over the bar from a decent position.
Two minutes later Hyslop forced a save out of Davis when he nodded Pooler’s cross on target; forcing the keeper to turn it wide. When the corner came over Hyslop ought to have scored but instead glanced a header wide of the far post.
G Wilson had Talbot’s next chance; heading wide of goal from Latta’s cross.
Lugar had barely crossed halfway but they almost snatched the lead in the 19th min. S Wilson’s weak header fell straight to Shankland whose shot from 25 yards slipped just past Leishman’s left post.
In Talbot’s next attack G Wilson played a superb ball across the area but with no Bot player in the centre it went to waste & Johnston bundled it behind for a corner. Pope swung it into the near post where it flew off McKnight’s head & out to the left wing. Hyslop gathered it & knocked it into the centre where DRUMMOND headed home from close range to put Talbot 1-0 ahead after 23 mins.
G Wilson missed a glorious chance to double Talbot’s lead in the 28th min. Milliken raced away from Kirkwood, who pulled up injured, and made his way down the right edge of the box. He squared it inside where Pooler dummied it, leaving G Wilson through one on one but he failed to beat Davis who dived to his right to turn his shot behind. When the corner came over Drummond met it only to see his header come back off the foot of the left post.
Lugar had a rare chance in the 36th min when Thomson got away down the right & fired into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Davis pulled off a top save soon after to deny G Wilson. Stevenson hit a good ball across the box to S Wilson who guided it across goal for his brother to head & G’s header was going in until Davis dived to tip it over the bar.
A minute before the interval Talbot squandered a gilt edged chance. G Wilson found Pope racing on the overlap & his low centre landed perfectly for S Wilson but he lashed it over the bar from 8 yards out.
Talbot started the 2nd half strongly and almost added to their lead within a minute. Stevenson whipped a good cross over from the right which G Wilson just failed to reach at the back post.
It was then a case of attack v defence as Talbot camped in the Lugar half but with little to nothing to show for their pressure.
Pooler had a good opportunity to open his Talbot account on the hour mark. Hyslop slid the ball through to him down the right & when he cut inside on his left foot he had plenty of space but shot tamely at the keeper.
Tucker made a double switch in the 67th minute with S Wilson & Milliken making way for White & Young.
Young was involved immediately, finding Stevenson racing free down the left. He pulled it back to the waiting Hyslop but he failed to hit the target, placing his shot wide of the right post.
Talbot’s 2nd goal arrived in the 72nd minute. G WILSON looked suspiciously offside as he ran onto Drummond’s lofted ball through the centre but the flag stayed down & he took one touch before coolly slotting it past Davis.
The Bot nearly added a scruffy 3rd goal in the 76th minute. Lugar conceded a free kick wide of their box which Young played in low to the near post. Wilson scuffed his shot but Pope reacted first to hook the ball across goal where Drummond got under it & headed over the bar from close range.
Lugar scarcely made a chance all night & on the rare occasions they were near Talbot’s box, failed to work Leishman. They had a half chance to pull a goal back in the 79th minute when Shankland headed the ball onto Clapperton inside the area but he pulled his shot well wide of target.
With the light failing fast the game just fizzled out and the final whistle was welcomed by all.
Next up for Talbot is an away trip to Kirkconnel to face Kello, knowing a win will secure their place in the quarter-finals.

Talbot – Leishman, Latta, Pope, McPherson, Drummond, G Wilson, Stevenson, Hyslop, S Wilson, Pooler
Subs – Young, White, Boyle, Kirkpatrick, Hewitt

Lugar – Davis, Ross, Kirkwood, McKnight, Robertson, Milligan, McQuade, Thomson, Wilson, Shankland, Johnston
Subs – McCorrison, Clapperton, Anderson, Black

Auchinleck Talbot v Cumnock Juniors

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

If ever a game fitted the clichéd game of two halves it was this derby encounter at Beechwood with Talbot dominating the first but Cumnock on the front foot in the 2nd half.
There aren’t many prisoners taken in derby games & Cumnock’s Muir was fortunate to escape an early caution when he went in very late out on the stand side.
The 1st effort at goal came in the 5th minute. Drummond slotted the ball through the centre to find Young & he took one touch before turning & firing just wide of the left post.
Cumnock came close in the 7th minute. Burns diagonal ball floated over Talbot’s defence to find McRobbie in behind. He took a touch & tried to pass it into the net but Leishman was quickly off his line to narrow the angle & make the block. The ball rebounded out to Montgomerie who laid it off for Anson but he ballooned his shot over the bar.
Johnston produced a top save in the 11th minute, diving full length low to his right, to tip Shankland’s low drive around the post. Nothing came of the resultant corner but Cumnock couldn’t clear their lines & Talbot worked the ball out to Shankland on the left who raced to the bye line & fired it across goal where Johnston palmed it away at his near post.
The opening goal came in the 14th minute and just as on Saturday’s trip to Wigtown it was a brilliant free kick that broke the deadlock. SHANKLAND was fouled 25 yards out & he produced another top drawer set piece, firing an unstoppable shot over the wall that flew inside the left hand post.
Talbot nearly doubled their lead in the 24th minute. Talbot won a free kick in the Nock half and with Cumnock anticipating a ball into the box, Young played a short ball out to the left to Pope who ran onto it & smashed a powerful drive which Johnston had to tip over the bar.
Cumnock’s keeper made another crucial stop two minutes later. Talbot put together a slick passing move inside the Nock penalty area as Shankland & Wilson switched it right to send Young through on goal. Butch fired on target but Johnston was quickly off his line & spread himself to make the stop.
The referee had plenty of writing to do after the half hour mark. Firstly he booked McRobbie for leaving a foot in late on a challenge on Latta and a few minutes later White was unfortunate to find his name taken after he appeared to win the ball in a 50/50.
Shankland had a half chance to grab his 2nd in the 34th minute. A ball over the top of the Nock defence found Shankland running clear into the right side of the penalty area. He controlled it with his 1st touch & opted to hit it early, trying to pass the ball beyond Johnston but Cumnock’s keeper made the save.
Boyle became the 3rd Talbot player to be carded when booked for clipping Esplin’s heels as he broke forward.
Shankland’s confidence was high after his early goal & he attempted an ambitious effort in the 39th min; meeting the ball out wide on the right & hammering a 1st time shot just over the bar.
Talbot kept pressing but couldn’t fashion any clear cut chances and the half ended with Talbot leading 1-0.
A 2nd goal would have left Cumnock with a mountain to climb & Talbot threatened to double their lead in the 50th minute. Latta knocked a good ball down the right which picked out the run of Wilson inside the area. He took it round Johnston but the angle was too tight for a shot & Cumnock’s keeper recovered well to dive at his feet & smother the ball.
A minute later it was Cumnock on the attack. Samson surged past White & raced to the bye line before firing a dangerous ball across the face of goal but there were no takers in the centre.
Talbot stretched the Cumnock defence on the hour mark. Wilson held the ball up down the right before releasing Latta on the overlap. He whipped a superb cross toward the back post where McKenna made a crucial clearing header.
Tucker made a double change in the 66th minute with Steven Wilson & White making way for Graham Wilson & Hyslop.
Two minutes later Tucker was forced into another change when Shankland went over on his ankle and couldn’t continue, with Pooler on in his place.
Cumnock were seeing a lot of the ball, without really doing anything with it in the final 3rd and this prompted the visitors to make their own double substitution in the 72nd minute with their two wide men, Samson & Montgomerie, being replaced by two trialists.
Cumnock finally made their territorial dominance pay in the 75th minute. It was a poor goal to lose from Talbot’s perspective; a long shy came over from the right which Leishman came for but couldn’t claim under pressure. He spilled the ball & it fell for ANSON who rattled it into the roof of the net from 8 yards out.
Two minutes later Cumnock had a chance to take the lead. A deep cross found no. 16 in space beyond the back post but he fired well wide of target.
Esplin had his name taken in the 84th minute when he went in with his studs showing in a challenge.
Graham Wilson spurned a good chance to put Talbot back in front in the 85th minute. Pooler held the ball up well on the right before shoving it to Milliken. He flighted a cross into the centre where Wilson was left with a free header but he powered it over the bar from 6 yards.
Cumnock made a late change with Wells on for McRobbie and then Latta received a yellow card in the 89th minute for a clumsy challenge on Esplin.
The final chance of the match came Talbot’s way deep into injury time. Wilson was fouled 30 yards from goal and he fired the free kick past the wall but narrowly wide of the left post with Johnston scrambling to get across.
All in all a draw was probably a fair result. Next up for Talbot is another home match as they host Lugar on Wednesday night.

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Boyle, Drummond, White, Young, S Wilson, Milliken, Shankland, Latta
Subs – Pooler, McPherson, G Wilson, Hyslop, Hewitt

Cumnock – Johnston, Wood, Muir, Crawford, McKenna, Esplin, Samson, Burns, Anson, McRobbie, Montgomerie
Subs – Wells, Trialist, Trialist

Wigton & Bladnoch v Auchinleck Talbot

Talbot failed to show up for the 1st half of this cup tie but were a team transformed after the interval & cruised to victory over their South of Scotland league opponents.
It was a case of Talbot flattering to deceive early on as the Bot got off to a short-lived flying start. In the opening couple of minutes Talbot forced a couple of early corners, from the second of which, McGoldrick glanced a header wide of target.
After this initial flurry, the 1st half became a frustrating affair for Talbot with Wigtown content to sit deep & look to break, and Talbot struggling to get through them.
In the 17th minute Young & Dunn had their names taken after a confrontation in the centre of the pitch.
In a half devoid of clear chances, Talbot’s main threat came from set pieces. Boyle got his head onto the end of Shankland’s free kick in the 28th minute but placed his header wide of the right post.
Talbot’s best chance of the half came in the 32nd minute courtesy of a quickly taken free kick. Young hit it in behind the Wigtown defence but Wilson took a poor 1st touch & it broke off him through to the keeper.
For the remainder of the half both sides huffed & puffed to no avail & the sides went in at half-time with neither keeper having made a save.
Talbot came out like a team transformed after the interval & as early as the 46th minute carved out a decent chance. Shankland laid the ball off to Wilson & he fired a low shot wide of the right post.
Millliken received a caution in the 53rd minute for a shirt tug on Dougan.
A minute later Young hit the target from 20 yards but his shot went straight at Roddie.
McIntyre then became the 4th name in the ref’s book when he was cautioned for a late tackle on Milliken.
The opening goal came in the 58th minute and what a strike it was. Richardson conceded a free kick 30 yards from goal for a foul on Wilson & SHANKLAND gave the keeper no chance; curling a superb strike over the wall & into the back of the net.
Tucker now made a change with White coming on for Pooler.
Talbot nearly doubled their lead on the hour mark. Milliken gathered out on the left & drilled it low across the goal mouth. The slightest touch would’ve put it in but Wilson just failed to connect at the near post.
It was all Talbot now & it was no surprise when the 2nd goal arrived in the 66th minute. A diagonal ball found Milliken out on the right & he swept a good cross into the centre. Shankland glanced a header on target and although Roddie parried it WILSON followed up to tap in the rebound.
Talbot’s next attack saw White burst forward before releasing Shankland down the left. He lifted a dangerous cross to the far post where Rennie headed behind. Shankland went across to take the corner & whipped it into the near post where Milliken fired over the bar.
Wilson had a chance to grab his 2nd in the 70th minute. He started the move sliding the ball out right to Latta who returned the favour, crossing it into the centre where Wilson headed on target but straight at Roddie.
The game was as good as over a minute later when Talbot moved 3-0 ahead. White burst into the area & fed the ball out to Shankland on the left. He cut inside McIntyre before chipping a shot for the far top corner. He saw his effort come back off the woodwork but Wilson gathered on the right & quickly crossed it back across goal where SHANKLAND headed home from 6 yards out.
With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot tested Roddie again. Shankland’s mazy run into the box ended when he was challenged by Richardson; however the ball broke back into the path of Wilson who drilled a low shot on goal which Roddie blocked.
Wigtown had a chance for a consolation goal in the 76th minute. They won a corner out on the left & the Bot defence were caught sleeping as they took a short one to Miller. He curled a cross over to the far post where Dougan rose unopposed but he lifted his header over the bar.
Tucker now made a double substitution with Young & Shankland making way for Hyslop & Drummond.
It should have been 4 for Talbot in the 81st minute. Latta angled a great cross in from the right touchline & Wilson looked a certainty to head it home but somehow he placed it the wrong side of the left post.
Wilson had another headed chance a minute later. This time the cross came from the opposite wing as Pope whipped the ball into the centre where Wilson glanced a header just wide.
The final goal came in the 83rd minute. Hyslop’s break from midfield was ended when Cluckie tripped him inside the area & the ref pointed to the spot. WILSON took it & confidently dispatched it to claim his 2nd of the afternoon & make it 4-0 to Talbot.
In the closing seconds Talbot had a final chance to add to their tally. Wilson headed Lyle’s ball down to the feet of Milliken, sending him clean through on the right but instead of shooting he tried to square it across the 6-yard box & the chance was lost.
In the end a comfortable enough win for Talbot who face a trip to Beith in the next round.
Next up for Talbot is their 1st home game of the season when they host Cumnock on Monday night.

Referee – Mike Taylor

Wigtown – Roddie, McIntyre, Rennie, Agnew, Richardson, Cluckie, Jones, Dunn, Jamieson, Dougan, Miller
Subs – Robertson, Lowe, Chilton, Rose, Gerrit, Whyte (gk)

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Boyle, Latta, Young, S Wilson, Milliken, Shankland, Pooler
Subs – McPherson, White, Drummond, Hyslop, G Wilson, Hewitt (gk)

Glenafton Athletic v Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

Talbot claimed a deserved share of the spoils at a rain soaked Loch Park but left it very late before grabbing an equaliser.
Talbot were 1st to show & won a corner inside a minute when Marlow blocked Latta’s cross behind. Shankland swung it over to the penalty spot where Drummond ran onto it but steered his header wide of McGarrity’s right post.
The home side very nearly took the lead in the 3rd minute. McGill played it into the area to find Andrew in space on the left & his shot across goal beat Leishman but came back off the foot of the post.
It was Talbot’s turn to hit the woodwork in the 8th minute. McChesney bowled Milliken over 30 yards out resulting in a free kick. Shankland whipped it up & over the wall only to see it clip the outside of the left post with McGarrity well beaten.
Talbot conceded a soft penalty at Muirkirk on Saturday and it was déjà vu for the visiting fans when Drummond was adjudged to have barged into Andrew just inside the penalty area. The ref awarded a penalty & DALLAS sent Leishman the wrong way to put Glenafton 1-0 ahead.
The game then became as dreich as the weather with nothing of note happening for a lengthy spell.
Pope received a caution in the 24th minute for a late challenge on Borris and was joined in the notebook 4 minutes later by Pooler. Talbot’s latest signing raced into the box onto the end of Young’s pass & opted to take it round McGarrity rather than shoot from a tight angle. He knocked it past McGarrity & went over but the ref judged it a dive & booked him, to the ire of the visiting fans who were looking for a penalty.
Glenafton’s McGill was cautioned in the 34th min for a late tackle & the Glens were then forced into an early change as Borris, who hadn’t recovered from an earlier knock, limped off to be replaced by Orsi.
From the resultant free kick McGoldrick flighted the ball down the right. The ball bobbled past a static Glens defence through to Young deep inside the area but his 1st touch let him down & it went out for a goal kick.
Andrew had a real opportunity to double the Glens lead in the 39th min. He was sent clean through on Leishman but he tried to lift it over him & Andy reacted quickly to make the stop. The home side finished the 1st half strongly but couldn’t add to their lead.
Tucker made a change at the re-start with McPherson making way for Wilson & Latta dropping back to right-back.
Wilson was only on the park 5 minutes before picking up a very soft caution for an innocuous foul. The Glens were awarded a free kick 30 yards out but Gray sent his shot straight into the wall.
Talbot carry a threat at set pieces & stretched the Glens defence in the 54th minute. A corner was taken short to Shankland & Drummond was a hair’s breadth from heading it home in the centre. Talbot kept the pressure on & Pooler came close as he turned McAusland & shot just past the right post.
It was Talbot making the running & Wilson nearly levelled in the 58th minute. Shankland played a dangerous ball in from the left for Young in the centre. He just failed to reach it but the ball broke out to Wilson who hammered a shot just wide of the left post.
Glenafton had fallen right out of it so it was no surprise when they made their 2nd change, McCann coming on for Dallas.
The home side had an opportunity in the 72nd minute. Park met Gray’s corner from the right but didn’t make the most of it, glancing his header wide of target.
McCann & Drummond had a coming together in the 74th min & both ended up in the ref’s book.
Tucker made a 2nd change with 11 mins remaining with Lyle replacing Pooler.
The referee made it one penalty a piece in the 82nd minute. The Glens were penalised for a foul at the back post from Shankland’s corner and Pope stepped up to take it but safe to say it wasn’t his finest effort from 12 yards as he lifted it way over the bar.
Credit to Talbot though, they kept going and produced another close call in the 86th minute. Milliken did well out on the left & fired it low across the area where Shankland turned his man before firing narrowly past the left post.
Just when it looked as though the Glens would hold on for the win, Talbot finally produced an equaliser. In the final minute Talbot won a corner on the right and when Shankland’s ball came across the 6-yard area, MCGOLDRICK met it to glance a header into the far corner.
A case of better late than never for Talbot, who now face the long trek south to face Wigtown in the preliminary round of the Scottish cup this Saturday.

Glenafton – McGarrity, McAusland, Marlow, Meikle, McChesney, Gray, Borris, Park, Dallas, Andrew, McGill
Subs – McCann, Orsi, Hunter, McAnespie, Lochhead

Talbot – Leishman, McPherson, Pope, McGoldrick, Drummond, White, Young, Pooler, Milliken, Shankland, Latta
Subs – S Wilson, Boyle, Lyle, Baird, Hewitt

Muirkirk Juniors v Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

Talbot kicked off their season with a 4-1 win at Muirkirk.
As expected this was a match Talbot largely dominated but Muirkirk fought hard & it wasn’t til the closing stages that Talbot turned their dominance into goals.
The Bot almost got off to a dream start inside a minute, when Shankland turned neatly in off the left flank & drilled a shot just over Stewart’s bar.
Muirkirk were being pegged back & the pressure told on the quarter hour mark when Talbot took the lead. Shankland saw a couple of shots at goal blocked before Campbell knocked it behind for a corner. When Shankland swept the corner across the 6-yard area, DRUMMOND was there to knock it home from close range.
Talbot would’ve been hoping for a 2nd goal to kill the tie off but Muirkirk were defending their box well & although Talbot were dominating the ball they weren’t carving out any clear chances.
Milliken did well in the 26th minute when he raced past McIntyre inside the area before cutting it back from the bye line. The ball sped across the face of goal but no Bot player was there to turn it home.
The next chance came when Pope played it down the left into the feet of Shankland. He skipped inside his man before steering a shot just wide of the left hand post.
Muirkirk hadn’t registered a shot at goal but they drew level in the 34th minute. The home side won a free kick out on the left which Hammill crossed into the box. Young headed it clear but it came back to Hammill & when he crossed it back in White nudged Burke over & the ref pointed to the spot. RUSSELL stepped up & confidently buried the penalty into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
Talbot nearly regained the lead 2 minutes later. Shankland swerved a cross in from the left which Drummond just failed to connect with in front of goal.
A good Bot move saw McPherson release Milliken down the right. He in turn fed it back to Latta who found Pooler inside the box. He laid it back to Young but Butch’s shot lacked power & Stewart easily held his shot.
Talbot should’ve gone in front in the 40th minute. Shankland outpaced McIntyre before swinging a cross to the back post where Milliken met it unchallenged but he headed it past the post.
In the final action of the 1st half, Milliken gathered the ball out wide on the left & hammered a low shot on target that Stewart parried away at his near post, and so despite Talbot’s dominance the sides went in level at the break.
The 2nd half saw Talbot start strongly, forcing a series of corners in the opening minutes as they hunted an early goal. Muirkirk coped well for the most part but Drummond had a good chance to net in the 50th minute when he met a cross in from the right but he scooped his shot over the bar from 8 yards.
Campbell became the 1st player booked when the Muirkirk winger was penalised for kicking the ball away.
Muirkirk made a change on the hour mark when Condon came on in place of Burke.
The sub was barely on the pitch when Talbot regained the lead. A good passing move saw Talbot work it from left to right where Milliken gathered out on the wing. He cut inside & curled it across the 6-yard area where YOUNG glanced a header home.
Two minutes later Talbot threatened again. McGoldrick charged up the left & played Shankland in behind the defence. He fired it low across goal where Milliken succeeded on flicking it on target but Stewart was in the right place to make the stop.
Milliken ought to have scored soon after. Leishman launched a long ball down the right which the Kirk defence failed to deal with. Milliken ran onto it but one on one with the keeper he chose the wrong option, trying to lift it over Stewart who plucked it out the air.
Drummond had his name taken in the 71st minute for a late challenge.
Muirkirk made their 2nd switch after 73 mins with Murtie replacing Burke.
Shankland was unlucky not to score in the 78th minute. He showed great vision 30 yards out when he spotted Stewart had strayed off his line & his attempted lob dipped just over the bar with the keeper struggling to get back.
Talbot made sure of the victory in the 82nd minute. Muirkirk won a free kick inside the Bot half which they played into the penalty area. McPherson cleared it long downfield and Stewart misjudged it, coming racing off his line to gather. He was never getting there & SHANKLAND took a good 1st touch to control it, allowing him the time to pass the ball into the empty net.
Wilson was booked in the 84th minute for a blatant trip on McGoldrick and Tucker now made Talbot’s only change with Oke on for Latta.
A minute later Talbot completed the scoring, thanks to a good advantage from the referee. Pope had his heels clipped but as the ball broke square inside to WHITE the ref allowed play to go on & he drilled a low strike inside the left post from 20 yards to make it 4-1.
With two minutes remaining Oke missed a good chance to add his name to the scoresheet. He found himself clean through on the right but pulled his shot wide of the right post.
A winning start for Talbot and they will be looking to keep it going when they travel to New Cumnock on Weds night to face Glenafton.