2017/18 – Page 2 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Auchinleck Talbot v Glenafton Athletic

Troon v Auchinleck Talbot

Girvan v Auchinleck Talbot

Kilwinning Rangers v Auchinleck Talbot

Kilbirnie Ladeside v Auchinleck Talbot

Hurlford United v Auchinleck Talbot

Auchinleck Talbot v Arthurlie

Ardeer Thistle v Auchinleck Talbot

Lochee United v Auchinleck Talbot

Auchinleck Talbot v Lochee United


April 27, 2024 14:00 N/A Arthurlie v Auchinleck Talbot


May 11, 2024 14:00 N/A Benburb v Auchinleck Talbot

Player	Appearances	Goals	Assists	YC	RC
Neill McPherson	38	1	0	3	0
Connor Boyd	38	17	6	4	0
Neil Slooves	37	4	0	3	1
Ross Smith	36	14	5	6	0

This year’s title chase looks like going right down to the wire & Talbot kept themselves in the hunt with a hard earned victory over local rivals Glenafton.
Talbot started the game brightly and tested McGarrity as early as the 3rd minute. McIlroy slid the ball through to find Glasgow on the right of the area & he drilled a shot on target that McGarrity saved low to his right.
Within a minute Talbot had another chance. McIlroy ran onto the end of a cross from the left touchline but headed wide of target.
The Bot kept the pressure up & were helped when the Glens conceded a needless corner kick. Glasgow whipped over an in swinging cross that the defence could only knock back out to him on the left. This time he fired a cross into the near post where Graham Wilson glanced it over the bar.
The Glens first chance came in the 7th minute. McPherson was deceived by the bounce of the ball when chasing a long ball down the centre. Andrew was able to nip onto the end of it & laid it back to McCann who blazed a shot over the bar.
Talbot grabbed the opening goal in the 8th minute. Graham Wilson sent the ball out to JAMIE GLASGOW on the left side of the penalty area & he took it past McAusland before drilling an angled shot back across goal & into the far corner.
Glenafton had an effort on targe within a minute of going behind but it was a routine save for Leishman as Andrew turned in the area & shot straight at him.
McChesney made an important interception in the 18th minute to deny McIlroy a free header. Graham Wilson whipped a great cross over from the left that was heading straight for McIlroy 6 yards out but McChesney was able to stretch & head it to safety.
The visitors came close to levelling in the 23rd minute. Cairns cross took a slight deflection & floated right onto the head of McCann whose header clipped the crossbar.
Talbot’s next chance came on 28 mins. Glasgow stole the ball just inside the Glens half & raced through the centre before releasing it to his right to find Graham Wilson inside the penalty area. He could have carried in on goal but opted to hit it 1st time & belted a shot straight at McGarrity.
Down the other end Talbot had a close call when Lynnas broke down the right & squared the ball into the near post where McCann met it unopposed only to trundle a shot wide of goal.
Lyle had his name taken in the 34th minute for a late challenge on Moore out on the touchline.
The Bot’s next half chance came in the 36th minute. Pope fired a low ball into the centre which Graham Wilson steered on target but McGarrity got down well to make the block.
Within a minute the Glens were all square. They broke down the right where Lynass sent the ball across the face of goal. DALE MOORE ran onto into beyond the back post & side-footed it on target. Lyle hooked the ball clear but the linesman signalled it had already crossed the line.
Talbot almost regained the lead in their next attack. Glasgow cut in off the left wing & curled a ball over to the back post where McIlroy stretched out his boot to get on it but couldn’t make a clean enough contact to steer it inside the left post.
Shortly before the break Cairns had his name taken for a rugby tackle on Stephen Wilson but there were no further chances and both sides went in locked at the interval.
The 2nd half got off to a sluggish start with neither side making much of an impression early on. In the 53rd minute McCann crumpled theatrically in the box looking for a penalty but all he received was a yellow card.
Talbot managed to exert some pressure and force a string of corners but the Glens rearguard held firm.
In the 61st minute the first changes of the evening were made. The Glens brought on Borris for Lynass & Talbot made a double switch with Shankland replacing McIlroy & Armstrong on for White.
Glenafton could easily have found themselves a man down in the 68th minute. Cairns caught Stephen Wilson late in midfield but having already booked the Glens full-back the ref kept his cards in his pocket.
The Glens completed their changes in the 69th minute with a double substitution. McCann & Moore making way for Dallas & McGill.
Talbot’s next opportunity came from a corner. Shankland rolled it back to Armstrong who in turn teed it up for Stephen Wilson. His low drive was blocked off a defender & spun out right to Shankland who hammered it across goal where it hit off Stephen Wilson at the near post & flew just wide.
In the 73rd minute another Talbot corner saw Shankland’s cross from the left find Pope in space at the back post. He headed it down & back across goal but no Talbot player had anticipated it & the Glens defence were able to clear.
With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot’s pressure & persistence finally paid off. MARK SHANKLAND gathered out on the left & cut in on his right foot before swerving a low cross cum shot across goal. Hyslop & Graham Wilson couldn’t quite reach it but neither could McGarrity & the ball nestled into the bottom corner.
Another goal would have settled matters & Talbot went looking for it. McPherson made a great break out of defence before releasing the ball to Glasgow on the left with Menzies scrambling across to turn it behind for the corner. When the corner came over to the back post Pope got his head to it but sent it just the wrong side of the post.
As the clock ticked down it was apparent that Talbot’s punishing schedule was catching up with them, making for a nervous closing spell for the Bot support. With three minutes to go Stephen Wilson went down with cramp and had to be replaced by McCracken.
With a minute to go Talbot had a scare when McGill swung a dangerous low cross over from the left wing. It skipped off the turf just before it reached Leishman but Andy got his handling spot on & smothered the ball with Dallas waiting to snap up any rebound.
The Bot saw out injury time without any alarms to hold on for a vital win. Now they have it all to do again on Wednesday night when they host Girvan in the league.

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

Subs – Shankland, Armstrong, McCracken, Faulds, Thomson

Glenafton, McGarrity, McAusland, Cairns, Menzies, McChesney, McKernon, Lynnas, Park, McCann, Andrew, Moore

Subs – Borris, Dallas, McKnight, McGill, Scott

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAYS REPORT

Talbot kept their hopes of the league title alive with a crucial away win over the Buffs in a tense encounter at Abbey Park.
The Bot couldn’t have asked for a better start; taking the lead with only three minutes on the clock.
Lyle forced a corner down the right & when Glasgow swung it across the 6-yard line DWAYNE HYSLOP raced in to bullet a header into the roof of the net.
Talbot’s tails were up & their next attack saw them win a free kick 40 yards from goal. Pope slid it through the left channel to try to pick out the run of McIlroy but it there was just too much on it & it sped out for the goal kick.
Kilwinning nearly levelled the match in the 10th minute when a ball in behind sent Frye clear down the right & he raced into the box before cutting it across goal. Lyle swiped at it but missed the clearance & the ball came to Nisbet whose low drive was pushed onto the right post by Leishman who gathered at the 2nd attempt.
A 2nd goal for Talbot would have given the Bot a healthy cushion & it nearly arrived in the 14th minute. Stephen Wilson made tracks down the right before drilling the ball into the near post where Graham Wilson flicked the ball just over the bar.
The game was toing and froing without either side looking too threatening; with play largely confined to midfield.
In the 34th minute Hanvey picked up what was to be a costly yellow card when he was penalised for a late tackle on Hyslop and a minute later Graham Wilson joined him in the ref’s notebook for a late challenge on McCloskey.
Talbot got themselves into a promising position in the 37th minute when Glasgow raced past Lewis as though he wasn’t there to get free down the left but his final ball was over-hit.
The Bot’s next attack saw Stephen Wilson burst down the right using his pace to get past Pettigrew who did well to recover and concede the corner. Glasgow’s corner came into the near post where Graham Wilson glanced a header across the area that was gathered out on the left by Pope. He swung a cross beyond the back post to Glasgow but his ball back across goal was blocked.
Two minutes before the interval McIlroy stole the ball off Pettigrew & sent it out to the overlapping Stephen Wilson. He whipped a great 1st time cross into the centre that Maitland did well to head away.
In the last minute of the half Talbot had one final chance to grab a 2nd goal. Hyslop was tripped by Maitland right on the edge of the area, resulting in a Bot free kick and a booking for the Buffs centre-half. Graham Wilson took the set piece & his shot clipped the top of the wall & flew over the bar & so Talbot went in one goal to the good at the interval.
The 2nd half was only 3 minutes old when the Buffs were reduced to 10 men. Hanvey tripped Glasgow as he raced up-field & the referee produced a 2nd yellow then red.
Far from hindering Kilwinning, going a man down galvanised them, and from then on it was the home side which made most of the running.
In the 51st minute Frye raced onto a ball down the right of the penalty area. Talbot were looking for offside but it wasn’t given & Frye drilled a shot to the near post which Leishman blocked.
A minute later the Buffs did have the ball in the net but this time the linesman did raise his flag & Nisbet who’d tucked the ball into the bottom corner had his celebrations cut abruptly short when the ref finally noticed the linesman’s flag.
Talbot were going through a sticky spell & the Buffs came close in the 53rd minute. Monti was allowed too much time & space outside the box & he carried it forward before placing a low shot on target that Leishman helped round the left hand post.
Talbot were back on the attack in the 56th minute when Glasgow cut in off the left wing before sending a reverse ball out to McIlroy on the wing. He made for the bye line & drilled a pacey ball across the face of goal but unfortunately there were no takers in the centre.
Kilwinning made a change in the 59th minute with Wardrope coming on in place of Winters.
Hyslop had a half chance in the 62nd minute to put the game beyond doubt. McIlroy won a corner on the right & when the ball came over Stephen Wilson helped the ball across to Hyslop but he didn’t make clean contact with the ball & his shot bobbled straight at the keeper.
Tucker made a change in the 67th minute with Shankland replacing Graham Wilson.
Having survived the earlier flurry of pressure, Talbot saw out the closing twenty minutes of the match without any major alarms, content to sit on their lead and with the Buffs unable to make any headway.
Five minutes from time Tucker made his 2nd switch with McCracken being thrown on up front to replace McIlroy.
In the final minute of regulation time Talbot had a good chance to double their lead. Shankland floated a diagonal ball to send Glasgow racing free down the right & he squared it across the area to find McCracken running in on goal. His 1st touch took him a little wide & as he bore down on goal Wardrope spread himself to block his effort from close range.
A hard earned 3 points for the Bot, who have dug deep to come back from the disappointment of Monday’s loss to Hurlford, winning two away games on the bounce to give themselves a fighting chance of the title. Next up for Talbot it is another away day, with a midweek excursion to the seaside to face Girvan.

Kilwinning Rangers – Wardrope, Coleman, McCloskey, Pettigrew, Maitland, Frye, Monti, Hanvey, Winters, Lewis, Nisbet

Subs – Wardrope, Whyte, McGuinness, Latta

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

Subs – Shankland, Pooler, Armstrong, McCracken, Hewitt

MURRAYS REPORT

Talbot suffered a frustrating loss at Blair Park due in no small part to leaving their shooting boots at home.
The opening spell was very scrappy with the ball careening up & down the pitch at breakneck speed.
The first opening came in the 8th minute when a shy from the right found Stephen Wilson inside the area. He turned away from his marker before toe-poking an effort wide of the right post.
Two minutes later McIlroy had a half chance in the Hurlford box. McPherson nodded the ball into the penalty area to find McIlroy breaking down the left. Sean got his shot away but it was blocked by Fisher & deflected over the bar. Shankland pulled the corner back to the edge of the box where Stephen Wilson curled a shot just over the bar.
Hurlford had barely mustered an attack but they took the lead against the run of play in the 18th minute. McKenzie gathered on the right & swung a cross into the centre which came off the back of the unfortunate CRAIG MCCRACKEN & sailed past Leishman.
Talbot pushed for the equaliser & had an opportunity in the 25th minute when Graham Wilson was obstructed outside the area. Shankland took the set piece but got too much on it & blazed his effort over from 22 yards.
The match should have been level on the half hour mark. Graham Wilson sped down the right past Mikilen & slid it across the face of goal. Shankland looked set to burst the net from 6 yards out but tried to pass it in, allowing Brown the chance to smother it.
The next Bot chance came in the 40th minute. Graham Wilson climbed to meet a ball down the centre & head it into the path of Hyslop whose low drive from 18 yards shaved the right post on its way past.
On the stroke of half time Talbot had another opportunity. Stephen Wilson gathered on the right & chipped the ball inside the area to find McIlroy. He lobbed the ball over the advancing Brown but didn’t get enough on it & the keeper was able to scramble back & retrieve the ball in the goal mouth and so Talbot went in a goal down at the interval despite having dominated proceedings.
Talbot started the 2nd half strongly, pressuring the Hurlford box but to no avail. Pope fired a good cross into the centre but there was no one on the end of it and a shortly after Graham Wilson slid a dangerous ball across goal that went a begging.
McCracken had his name taken in the 56th minute for an aerial challenge on McKenzie; with the Hurlford player milking the incident for all it was worth.
Tucker made his 1st change in the 59th minute when Glasgow came on for Shankland.
Talbot’s next chance came from one of the many corners they won. Glasgow lifted it into the area where Pope headed it just over.
Hurlford did have the ball in the back of the net in the 70th minute but Kean was clearly offside as he bundled Ferguson’s cross home from close range and the linesman was quick to flag.
Tucker now made a further change with Armstrong replacing White in the centre.
Talbot were camped in the Hurlford half but a combination of resolute defending and some poor final balls meant that they couldn’t convert their pressure into clear cut chances and then finally when they did create decent openings, Talbot failed to capitalise.
Hurlford were also doing their best to frustrate Talbot with some blatant time-wasting which went unpunished due to the laxity of the match officials.
In the 79th minute Graham Wilson rose inside the box to flick the ball down into the path of Armstrong but he couldn’t get his shot away and the ball was cleared.
With 5 minutes remaining Talbot missed a couple of chances in quick succession. Graham Wilson sent a ball across goal that came to McIlroy at the back post but he couldn’t force it home. The ball went out to Stephen Wilson who crossed it into the centre where Hyslop met it unopposed but his header from 6 yards crashed off the bar. Hyslop went for the rebound & tried to force it home in a packed goalmouth but the referee took the easy option, intervening to award a free kick to the home side.
The referee could easily have added 5 or 6 minutes on at the end for various lengthy stoppages & treacle slow substitutions but there was to be no Fergie time and a couple of minutes after the 90 he blew up for full-time.
A disappointing result for Talbot who now travel through to Kilbirnie knowing only a win will do if they are to have any realistic tilt at the league title.

Hurlford United – Brown, Fisher, Lidington, Mikilen, G Mitchell, D Mitchell, McKenzie, Watt, Kean, Robertson, Ferguson

Subs – Jenkins, Hodge, Agnew, Whitiker, Caddis

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

Subs – Glasgow, Pooler, Armstrong, Harvey, Faulds

MURRAYS REPORT

Talbot produced an accomplished display to cruise past a toothless Arthurlie side in this one-sided league encounter.
The first chance of the match went the way of the visitors. Harvey conceded a free kick for a foul on MacLennan but McBride made little of the set piece blasting well over from 25 yards.
From there on it was pretty much one-way traffic towards the Arthurlie goal and it was no surprise when Talbot took the lead after 8 minutes. Armstrong fizzed a low ball in from the right that broke into the path of STEPHEN WILSON who fired past Hay to put the Bot one ahead.
A few minutes after giving Talbot the lead, Wilson was caught late by Scanlon who received the first of his cards of the afternoon.
The Bot could have doubled their lead in the 16th minute. Daly ought to have cleared a ball down the right of the area but tried to shepherd it out of play for a goal kick allowing McIlroy to nick in & send it back across the face of goal. It came to Glasgow with his back to goal who wheeled round before firing over the bar from 8 yards.
Two minutes later the woodwork came to the rescue of the beleaguered visitors. Wilson was fouled 25 yards out and Shankland steered his free kick over the wall & wide of the helpless Hay but it came off the right hand post & was booted clear.
The procession of Talbot chances continued in the 22nd minute. Talbot pressure resulted in a succession of corners, from the 2nd of which Hyslop rose to meet Shankland’s cross & head it down back the way it’d come but it bounced wide of target.
Two minutes later the Bot came close again. Glasgow started the move on the left, switching it across to Lyle on the opposite wing and when the ball came back across the area Glasgow’s side-footed effort looked destined for goal but unfortunately it was inadvertently blocked en route by McIlroy.
For all Talbot’s dominance it could have been all level in the 27th minute when hesitant defending allowed Roulston the time & space to run onto a loose ball just inside the area & his low drive was deflected just past Leishman’s left post.
Talbot were soon back on the ascendancy and won a free kick within striking distance when Glasgow was shoved in the back. Shankland took it & struck a low shot wide of the wall that Hay pushed around his post.
Hyslop met the resultant corner & powered a header on target that Hay parried to safety.
The Bot threatened the Lie goal again on the half mark from another corner. Shankland lifted it into the near post where Armstrong floated a header goal ward with Hay forced to backpedal to tip it over the bar.
Leishman had been spectating for the most part but had to look smart in the 33rd minute when Lyle was a touch short with a passback; racing off his line to beat Marks to the ball & taking a knock in the process.
Talbot’s 2nd goal duly arrived in the 38th minute from a set piece. Scanlon conceded a free kick for a foul on Glasgow & Pope bent an in swinger over from the right that SEAN MCILROY took on his chest before placing a low shot past Hay to make it 2-0.
Scanlon’s afternoon came to an abrupt end in the 42nd minute when he received a 2nd yellow & an early bath for clipping the heels of Stephen Wilson as he raced forward.
The final action of the half saw Armstrong square the ball across to Pope who teed it up for Harvey & he hammered a shot just over the bar.
Two goals adrift & a man down, it was no surprise that Arthurlie made a change at the break, with McGoldrick entering the fray for a cameo appearance.
The 2nd half continued in the same vein as the 1st with Talbot on the front foot and the Lie defence were stretched again two minutes after the re-start. A good Bot move ended with Armstrong sliding the ball through to the overlapping Lyle & his dangerous cross into the centre was headed behind by Daly.
Talbot kept the pressure up & nearly added to their lead soon after from one of the many corners they forced throughout the 90. Shankland pulled the corner back to the unmarked Lyle & Hay did well to touch his chip over the crossbar.
The game was effectively over in the 51st minute when Talbot added a 3rd goal. McIlroy gathered down the left & held it up before releasing Pope into the area. He lifted a cross to the back post where Glasgow’s volley crashed back off the bar & DWAYNE HYSLOP reacted first to force it home from close range.
A minute later & Glasgow had an opportunity to put Talbot further ahead. He got free down the right but drilled his shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Hay prevented Stephen Wilson from adding to Talbot’s lead in the 55th minute. An Arthurlie corner saw Talbot race to the other end when Shankland sent Glasgow racing away on the counter. He fed the ball through to Wilson who nutmegged Daly to go through on Hay but the Lie keeper was quickly off his line to spread himself & make a good stop to block Wilson’s shot.
Tucker made a double switch in the 59th minute with Graham Wilson & McCracken coming on for McIlroy & Hyslop.
McCracken came close to adding to Talbot’s tally in the 62nd minute when he ran onto Shankland’s corner from the right but directed his header just wide of Hay’s left post.
Athurlie’s Herculean task became mission impossible within the space of a couple of minutes. McGoldrick was booked for a shirt tug on Stephen Wilson in the 65th minute & before the ref’s ink was dry in his notebook he received a 2nd yellow for a late challenge on Stephen Wilson, reducing the visitors to 9 men.
Talbot’s 4th goal came in the 73rd minute from their umpteenth corner. Shankland took a corner from the left & angled it back to find STEPHEN WILSON in space at the edge of the area & he curled a beauty past Hay inside the left post.
Tucker now made his final change with young Logan Campbell making his 1st team debut when he came on for Glasgow.
Shankland tested the Lie keeper in the 76th minute when he fired a shot from the left across goal that Hay touched past his far post.
Two minutes later Pope joined the attack to drive a shot just over the bar from 20 yards.
Talbot kept the momentum going & nearly added to their lead in the 81st minute. Pope sent Shankland scampering clear down the left & he fired it low across the area to Graham Wilson. It broke off him & came to Campbell who fired a shot at Hay.
The Bot came close twice more in the closing stages to aiding their goal difference. Firstly in the 85th minute when Graham Wilson met a cross from the left only to see his header fly off the crossbar before being cleared and then a few minutes later when Shankland pulled the ball back to Pope whose fierce drive was tipped over the bar.
This was a good win for Talbot who now travel through to Hurlford on Monday night on league duties in a game given added spice by the impending showdown at the end of May.

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

Subs – Graham Wilson, Campbell, White, McLuckie, McCracken

Arthurlie – Hay, Burns, McBride, Buchanan, Bohme, Scanlon, Roulston, Lyon, Marks, Daly, Maclennan

Subs – McKenzie, O’Halloran, Wilson, McGoldrick, Mohamed

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

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

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

Subs – Davie, Stewart, Birse, Reid, Millar

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

Subs – Shankland, McCracken, Armstrong, Thomson, Hewitt

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Largs Thistle

Auchinleck Talbot

Benburb FC

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAYS REPORT

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