2021/22 – Page 2 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Benburb FC v Auchinleck Talbot

Hurlford United v Auchinleck Talbot

Darvel v Auchinleck Talbot

Auchinleck Talbot v Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Auchinleck Talbot v Rutherglen Glencairn

Largs Thistle v Auchinleck Talbot

Darvel v Auchinleck Talbot

Sauchie Juniors

Auchinleck Talbot v Pollok

Lewis Crawford


May 8, 2024 19:00 N/A Largs Thistle v Auchinleck Talbot


May 11, 2024 13:00 N/A Benburb v Auchinleck Talbot

Player	Appearances	Goals	Assists	YC	RC
Neill McPherson	43	1	0	3	0
Connor Boyd	43	20	6	4	0
Neil Slooves	41	4	0	3	1
Ruaridh Langan	41	3	4	8	0

Samson tries to muscle his way through early on in the game.

Wardrope makes his presence known, as he tries to win the ball back.

Aaron Mason fires in a low cross into the box.

Samson feels the pain, as he plays through the pain barrier.

With a break in the game, ‘Tucker’ gets some vital tactical info across to Healy.

Boylan tries to thread through a clever ball for Mason but he can only watch the Benburb defence get to the ball first instead.

Stafford looks to get another attack started, as the Black ‘n’ Gold faithful look on.

CHANCE!!! With half-time looming, Boylan races through and, from a difficult angle, he fires the ball towards goal but the ball goes agonisingly wide of the post.

WHAT-A-CHANCE!!! Benburb go very close to scoring but from right in front of goal, they some how fire the ball wide of the net.

GOOOAAALLL!!! Talbot open the scoring via Bryan Boylan’s cross-come-shot strike, as it sails over the ‘keeper and into the back of the net. 0-1.

Boylan gets swamped by his team-mates after putting Talbot into the lead.

From just inside the box, Samson has a dig but fails to find the back of the net.

BENBURB PULL LEVEL!!! The Benburb fans behind the goal begin to celebrate, as Leishman can only watch the ball sail over his head and into the back of the net. 1-1.

AGONY!!! However, as Aaron Black races away to celebrate, the linesman flags for offside but…

…after a brief discussion between the officials, the referee makes the goal stand and you can see the delight in Black’s face after that call.

Wilson cleverly skips past his opponent.

WHAT-A-GOAL!!! Talbot regain the lead through a great long range strike from Healy. 1-2.

Healy gets congratulated by his team-mates after netting Talbot’s second.

OWN GOAL!!! Benburb pull level again, as the ball takes a deflection off a man in black ‘n’ gold and ends up in the back of the net. 2-2.

Benburb go wild after pulling level for a second time in the match.

POSSIBLE PENALTY??? ‘Shankers’ tries to race in on goal but his way through gets blocked by his opponent.

WHAT-A-CHANCE!!! With the full-time whistle fastly approaching Talbot go very close to winning it, as Crawford finds himself in acres of space but he can only watch his effort go straight to the ‘keeper.

Last chance of the game falls to Talbot but ‘Gee’ can only watch his header go wide of the goal.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAY’S REPORT

Talbot lost their spot at the top of the table after a frustrating afternoon at New Tinto park which ended all square.

The first half was a bit of a non-event with Talbot struggling to cope against a stiff breeze and Benburb constantly going long and overhitting it.

The first of very chances in the 1^st half came Talbot’s way in the 12^th minute. A shy from the right wasn’t cleared by the home defence and came to Graham Wilson 16 yards out but he fired wide of the left hand post.

Benburb’s first attack came in the 23^rd minute when Black sent a good square pass out to Lovering on the left wing and his cross into the near post was well cleared by Stafford.

In the 33^rd minute Docherty picked up a caution for petulantly kicking the ball away after conceding a free kick for a foul on Stafford.

The Bot had a half chance in the 40^th minute when Wardope played a good ball in behind the Bens defence for Boylan to race onto. He burst down the left side of the penalty area but the ball wouldn’t sit down for him and he drilled a left foot shot across goal and wide of the far post.

In the final minute of the half McPherson was caught late in an aerial challenge by Lovering but the ref took no further action and the sides went in goal less at the break.

The 2^nd half got off to a much livelier start than the insipid first and both sides threatened within a minute of the restart. The ball broke to Duncanson on the right of Talbot’s penalty area and he played a dangerous ball across goal towards McDonald but he lost his footing and the chance was lost. Play then immediately switched to the other end where Wardrope’s ball up the right found Boylan racing down the wing and he whipped a great ball into the centre but there were no takers.

Black had his name taken in the 48^th minute for a late challenge on McCracken as he cleared the ball.

A minute later he ought to have given Bens the lead. McDonald knocked the ball into his path but with time and space he snatched at it and blazed a shot off target.

With 54 mins gone Talbot made their 1^st change with Shankland coming on for Mason.

One minute later Talbot took the lead. Shankland laid the ball off to Graham Wilson and his pass up the left wing found BRYAN BOYLAN who swung a cross over to the back post that deceived the keeper and landed in the net.

Benburb now made a change with McDonald making way for Meechan.

Talbot had a let off in the 59^th minute. A shy from the left was only partially cleared and fell to Taylor whose shot was deflected just past the left hand post.

In the 61^st minute Talbot might have wrapped it up. Shankland’s short pass found Graham Wilson and he rolled it into the path of Aiden Wilson whose fierce drive was saved at his near post by McCready. The ball came across the face of goal to Samson who saw his effort cleared off the line.

A minute later Samson had his name taken for what looked like a fairly innocuous challenge.

It was all level after 63 minutes as the Bens scored a controversial equaliser. McCracken hit a poor clearance that was intercepted and played out to BLACK on the right. He got past McPherson and lobbed it home only for the assistant to raise his flag and call the ref over to advise it had hit his hand in the build-up. It looked like the goal was going to be chalked off but the referee over-ruled his assistant and the goal stood.

Talbot now made a defensive re-shuffle with McCracken who appeared to be suffering a knock making way for Crawford who went to right-back with Stafford going into the centre.

Benburb’s tails were up and they should have taken the lead in the 66^th minute. A long shy from the left was head flicked on by Meechan toward the back post where it hit off Black and went just wide of the post.

In the 73^rd minute Talbot regained the lead. Crawford did well on the right; surging forward before firing a cross into the near post. His cross took a slight deflection and Samson pounced on it only for McCready to make a good stop at his left post. The ball came out to KIERAN HEALY on the 18 yard line and he drilled a low left foot shot inside the left post.

Tucker now made a further change with Armstrong coming on for Boylan and Benburb were forced into a defensive change with Bow limping off to be replaced by McTaggart.

Talbot’s next attack saw Crawford hare up the right and win a corner when his cross was blocked. Wardrope played the corner into the near post where Samson tried to turn it home but failed to make contact.

The home side were reduced to 10 men with 10 minutes remaining when Docherty picked up a 2^nd yellow card for a late challenge on Shankland.

Two minutes later the referee again infuriated the travelling support and Talbot bench when he turned down what appeared a stonewall penalty. Crawford raced up the right and swung a ball into the near post where the Bens defender controlled it with his arm before clearing but the referee waved away Talbot’s appeals.

Two minutes later Talbot conceded a soft 2^nd goal and it was all level again. Benburb had looked threatening from throw ins and it was a shy from the left that led to the equaliser. It was hurled into the near post where Meechan head flicked it on across goal where it came off a Bot defender and crept into the far corner to make it 2-2.

As the game moved into injury time Benburb came close to grabbing all 3 points. They won a free kick out on the left that was crossed into the centre where Meechan met it but his header came back off the left post.

Talbot threw men forward in added time and had plenty of pressure but all they had to show for it was a late chance when Wardope was caught outside the box. The ball broke to Healy and the ref gave the advantage but his shot flew over the bar and the game ended 2-2.

Next up for Talbot it’s back to Beechwood for a midweek league encounter with Rossvale where the Bot will look to get back to winning ways.

Benburb – McCready, O’Hear, Leadbetter, Bow, Docherty, Taylor, Duncanson, Livingston, McDonald, Black, Lovering

Subs – McCrone, Langan, Brennan, McTaggart, Miller, Meechan

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Healy, Wardrope, Graham Wilson, Boylan, Mason, Samson

Subs – Shankland, Glasgow, Armstrong, Hyslop, Crawford, Hewitt

MURRAYS REPORT

Talbot came from behind twice to secure a valuable point and maintain their lead at the top after an end to end battle at Darvel played out in front of a bumper crowd.

As the rain and hail lashed down Talbot got off to a strong start winning in a free kick in a good area within the 1^st minute after Boylan was sent tumbling. Wardrope took it and his shot clipped the wall & flew just wide of the right post.

It was the Bot making the early running and Talbot had another chance in the 3^rd minute. Boylan whipped over a good cross from the right that Hyslop headed just wide of target.

Darvel showed their attacking intent in the 5^th minute when a ball down the left found Mackenzie running in behind McPherson. He squared it across to the far side of the area where Miller drove a low shot on target which Leishman saved well with his feet.

Leishman came to Talbot’s rescue again in the 13^th minute. McCracken’s pass from the back was intercepted and Darvel broke forward through Morrison whose shot from 22 yards was turned round the right post by Leishman.

The Bot then had a half chance down the other end when the Darvel defence failed to clear their lines as the ball zipped around their area. It eventually broke out to Aiden Wilson who blasted his shot well over the bar.

The opening goal came Darvel’s way with 21 mins gone. A ball through the centre caught the Bot defence square and MACKENZIE beat the offside trap to run through on goal and take it round Leishman before passing it into the net.

Darvel’s lead though proved to be short lived and Talbot drew level in their next attack in the 24^th minute. Wardrope found space on the left and crossed it into the area. It took a deflection and sailed to the back post where KIER SAMSON turned it home – taking a head knock in the process.

Talbot had the ball in the net again in the 27^th minute but the goal didn’t stand. Hyslop slipped the ball out to Boylan on the right and his cross hit off Caldwell and spun high in the air. Graham Wilson jumped with the keeper and forced it home but the ref awarded Darvel a free kick.

Two minutes later Talbot were denied the lead by the woodwork. Boylan gathered on the right and fed it down the line to the overlapping Samson. He swung a cross to the far post where Graham Wilson powered a header off the post with the keeper beaten.

The Bot were having a good spell and next to try his luck was Healy when he volleyed over the bar when he met a cross from the right.

The large travelling support & Talbot bench were enraged in the 32^nd minute when Miller raced onto a ball down the right. He looked about 10 yards offside but the linesman was way off the pace and kept his flag down. Fortunately, no harm came of it as Miller drove the ball across the face of goal but there was no one in the centre. The referee then came across to book Tucker for his protests and moments later McPherson was yellow carded for a challenge on the far side.

In the 37^th minute McCracken tried his luck from the edge of the area only to see his shot blocked and spin high toward goal. Graham Wilson pursued it in and challenged the keeper but he was booked for his trouble.

Healy almost gave Talbot the lead in the 38^th minute when he drilled a left foot shoot just past the left post.

Darvel now swept up the other end and regained the lead with a well-worked goal. A quick series of one-twos ended with MCSHANE rifling an unstoppable shot past Leishman from 18 yards to make it 2-1.

Talbot looked for an early response and won a free kick just outside the area when Graham Wilson was downed. Wardrope took it but got underneath it and lifted it well over the bar.

A minute from the interval Samson got a sore one when Caldwell went right through him resulting in a booking for Darvel’s full-back and soon after the whistle sounded and Darvel went in with a narrow lead at the interval.

When the teams re-emerged for the 2^nd half Darvel had made a change between the sticks with Avci coming on in place of Truesdale.

Just as they had from kick off Talbot made a positive start to the 2^nd half and threatened the Darvel goal within a minute of the restart. Boylan gathered on the left and skipped past Darvel’s right-back before floating a cross onto the head of Healy who nodded it over the bar.

Talbot missed a golden opportunity to level on 50 minutes. Boylan drove forward through the centre before releasing it left to find Wardrope. He cut it back across goal where the defence failed to clear and it came to Graham Wilson who fired past the post from 15 yards.

Wardrope was next to have a go for Talbot. Boylan’s early ball found him breaking down the left. He cut inside onto his right foot but his shot lacked the power to test Avci.

In the 56^th minute Meggatt received a caution for impeding Samson as he made to get onto a through ball. Wardrope took the free kick and aimed it in toward McCracken but it was just a shade too far in front of him in the centre.

The Bot had another good chance in the 59^th minute when Boylan was sent free on the left. He raced into the area and knocked it wide of the keeper but went over in the box and was booked for simulation.

It was Talbot doing the pressing and the Bot had another glimpse at goal on the hour mark. Another ball threaded through the defence found Boylan on the left. He drove to the edge of the area and let fly for goal but a defender dived in to block his shot behind for the corner.

The heavy rain was making life difficult for the players and Avci nearly fell victim to it in the 63^rd minute when he slipped when going to make a routine clearance. He managed to recover and partially cleared it but only as far as Graham Wilson who bent a cross over from the left but there were no takers at the back post.

Darvel hadn’t offered much in the 2^nd half but they won a free kick in shooting range when McShane was brought down by Healy’s sliding tackle. Healy received a booking for the challenge and McShane took the set piece but it was easily held by Leishman.

In the 66^th minute Mackenzie had an opportunity to tie it up for Darvel when the ball broke kindly to him inside the penalty area but his low drive was brilliantly saved by Leishman low to his left.

Tucker made his first change of the evening in the 71^st minute when the tiring Samson made way for Glasgow and the change paid off immediately with Talbot levelling within a minute.

Wardrope cut in off the left and flighted a cross to the far side where Glasgow guided a header back across goal for DWAYNE HYSLOP to steer a header beyond the keeper.

Talbot were dealt a blow in the 74^th minute – firstly when they conceded a free kick just wide of the penalty area – but also as McPherson picked up a knock and had to limp off with Crawford coming on in his place. The free kick was flashed across the goal mouth and flew behind for the goal kick.

With 10 minutes remaining Talbot came agonisingly close to taking the lead. Wardrope’s cross from the left was only cleared out as far as Healy on the 18 yard line and his low drive took a slight deflection before sliding inches wide of the left post.

Talbot made their final change in the 82^nd minute with Shankland coming on for Boylan.

Both sides were tiring and Darvel’s no 10 and Glasgow both picked up cautions for fouls in the closing stages.

In the 87^th minute Talbot had a late chance when Shankland laid the ball off toward Graham Wilson on the right of the area. He burst through on goal but Avci was quickly off his line to slide it clear. The ball came to Glasgow 16 yards out but his shot was blocked by a defender.

In the final minute of regulation time Wardrope split the Darvel defence with a ball out to the left to find Shankland breaking in behind but he lost his footing on the slippy surface and the chance was lost.

As the game moved into added time Darvel pushed forward looking for a late winner but couldn’t find a way through and the game ended all square.

A good away point for Talbot who now face an equally tricky midweek visit to Blair Park to face Hurlford as the Bot look to maintain their lead at the top of the table.

Darvel – Truesdale, Allan, Caldwell, Eadie, Mackenzie, McShane, Meggatt, Miller, Morrison, Stirling, Thomson

Subs – Avci, Boland, Galt, Kirkpatrick, Little, Reid, Moore

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Healy, Hyslop, Wardrope, Boylan, Samson, Graham Wilson

Subs – Shankland, Glasgow, Crawford, Armstrong, Robbie McCracken, Hewitt

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

Craig McCracken gets an early attack started from the back.

From the middle of the park, Armstrong looks to see where to distribute the ball next.

WHAT-A-START!!! Talbot take a very early lead in the semi-final, as ‘Gee’ gathers the ball inside the box and calmly slots the ball home. 1-0.

Both the Talbot players and the fans celebrate Wilson’s opener.

The celebrations continue after ‘Gee’s’ goal.

Samson wins the aerial battle but fails to hit the target with his header.

Glasgow tries to race up the park while under pressure from his opponent.

Well I’m puzzled at Samson’s puzzled expression at looking at something that obviously…puzzles him.

OFFTT…THAT WIS CLOSE!!! Rob Roy go very, VERY close to scoring but the ball goes the wrong side of the post by a certain hair width.

Big Andy vents his anger after that big chance for Rob Roy to pull level.

TALBOT MAKE IT TWO!!! Talbot get awarded a penalty and up steps ‘Shankers’ who does not miss from the spot and fires the ball home. 2-0.

Shankland wheels away to celebrate extending Talbot’s lead.

McCracken stays close to his man and makes sure his opponent goes the wrong way.

Samson shows his frustration after being penalised by the referee.

CHANCE!!! Shankland goes close to scoring again but his close range strike fails to find the back of the net.

Healy clearly shows his anger after the referee blows for a foul against Talbot.

CHANCE!!! ‘Shankers’ slides in and gets on to the end of the cross but, again, fails to score.

And as the ‘keeper gathers the ball, Shankland rues that missed opportunity.

ROB ROY PULL A GOAL BACK!!! Rob Roy make a great start to the second half, as their shot from the edge of the box finds the bottom corner of the net. 2-1.

Aiden Wilson sticks to his man and looks to win the ball back.

Rob Roy get awarded a free-kick, as tempers boil over for both sets of players.

WHAT-A-CHANCE!!! Healy finds himself in acres of space inside the box but he can only push his header wide of the post.

It’s ‘heads in hands time’, as Healy knows what a great chance that was to score.

McCracken argues with the man in the middle, after being told he handballed the ball.

And from the resulting free-kick, Rob Roy can only fire the ball high over the crossbar.

The Rob Roy ‘keeper goes all ‘superman’ in order to gather the ball and prevent Healy from getting his head to it.

Aaron Mason skips past his opponent, as he goes on a great run.

Samson tries to keep hold of the ball, as Talbot look to see out the game.

The final whistle gets blown and the Talbot faithful applaud the players for reaching another Scottish Junior Cup Final.

Two very happy chappies after that victory!

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Meadow park proved a happy hunting ground once more for Talbot as the Bot edged out Rob Roy to book a place in this season’s Scottish Junior final where they will face Yoker at Rugby Park.

Talbot made a positive start and won a corner in the 2^nd minute when Bell blocked Glasgow’s cross. Glasgow aimed the corner to the far post where it was just nicked off the head of the waiting Graham Wilson.

An early goal always helps and Talbot obliged by taking the lead in the 4^th minute. Glasgow gathered on the right and played it into Samson whose head flick was met by GRAHAM WILSON who controlled it on his chest before rolling the ball past Smith to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

The early momentum was with Talbot and Samson did well to force a corner down the left. Glasgow pinged it into the near post where the defence failed to clear their lines. It came to McPherson with his back to goal and he headed it across the area where Samson met it but headed off target under pressure.

In the 10^th minute Baber spread a good ball out right to find Truesdale racing down the right of the penalty area but his ball across was blocked behind for the corner.

Persistence paid off for Samson in the 14^th minute when he chased down Graham Wilson’s ball down the left & managed to nick a corner off Walker. Glasgow swung it into the goal mouth where McCracken managed to beat Smith to it in the air but his header went over the bar.

The Bot’s next attack saw Healy hit a slide rule pass out to Glasgow on the right and the defence did well to cut out his dangerous ball across the 6-yard area. Rob Roy then sprang onto the counter when Scott gathered deep in his own half before racing up field toward the Talbot box before releasing a pass to Young who ought to have equalised but fired past the left post from a good area.

Rob Roy were forced into an early change in the 19^th minute when Arbuckle limped off to be replaced by McPherson.

The next goal was going to be crucial and it went Talbot’s way in the 21^st minute. A shy from the right was helped on into the area by Glasgow where Graham Wilson was bundled over by Baber’s clumsy challenge. MARK SHANKLAND took the spot kick and sent Smith the wrong way to put Talbot 2-0 ahead.

Rob Roy came close to pulling one back in the 32^nd minute. An early ball up the right found McPherson just inside the penalty area and he hit an angled drive across goal that just went beyond the far post.

The Rabs had another opportunity in the 40^th minute. Truesdale squared it inside to Scott and he teed it up for Young 16 yards out but his shot took a deflection and went behind for the corner.

A minute later Young had his name taken when he petulantly shoved McCracken over the advertising hoardings as Talbot’s centre half ushered the ball behind for a goal kick.

Three minutes before the interval Talbot nearly killed the tie off with a 3^rd goal. Glasgow’s flick sent Samson free on the right and he pulled it back across the face of goal. The defence couldn’t clear and Shankland nipped in and fired a shot from close range that Smith did well to turn round his left post.

Play was switching from end to end and Leishman was called into action in the 44^th minute when Young skipped past a challenge on the right of the area and tried to find McPherson at the near post but Leishman managed to turn it behind.

The half ended with Talbot back on the attack as Samson strode clear on the right and swung a tempting cross over which Shankland met and steered goal ward but Smith dived low to his right to claim it.

Talbot would have hoped to keep it tight at the start of the 2^nd half but those plans came undone when Rob Roy pulled a goal back two minutes after the restart. They were awarded a free kick in the Bot half which Truesdale flighted into the area. McPherson met it & guided a header out left where SCOTT met it on the volley and gave Leishman no chance with a drive across him and into the far corner.

The Bot responded to this setback and had a chance to restore a two goal cushion in the 52^nd minute. Shankland played a good ball inside to find Glasgow who in turn squared it to Healy in space and he fired past the right post from 20 yards.

Armstrong had his name taken in the 56^th minute for a challenge on Bell.

The game was ebbing & flowing and Talbot’s next attacks saw Graham Wilson release Shankland down the left. He swept it into the centre trying to find Samson but it didn’t break for him and the defence were able to clear.

The Bot’s next chance came in the 62^nd minute when Shankland whipped over a good cross from the right to find Graham Wilson beyond the far post. He steered it 1^st time back across goal where Healy met it but glanced his header off target.

In the 66^th minute Rob Roy had a chance to test Leishman when they won a free kick 23 yards out following McCracken’s handball but Scott lashed it well over the bar.

Two minutes later they had another set piece opportunity when they won a free kick in more or less the same spot. This time Truesdale hit but sent his shot straight into the wall.

With 20 minutes remaining Talbot had a half chance to kill the game off. Stafford played it up the wing to find Glasgow and he turned it inside to find Shankland. He laid it off early to Samson and he fired a shot across goal but wide of the right post.

Rob Roy made a change in the 76^th minute with I Gold coming on in place of Bell.

Rob Roy’s McPherson picked up a caution in the 78^th minute for a shove on Graham Wilson.

Talbot now made their first change with Mason coming on for Shankland and a few minutes later Hyslop replaced Glasgow.

In the 85^th minute Cairns had his name taken for dissent.

The Bot had a nervy moment in the 86^th minute. Armstrong lost out in a 50/50 inside the Rabs half and Rob Roy quickly broke forward through Truesdale who spread it out to Scott on the left of the area. He drilled a shot on goal but Leishman was equal to it and smothered it at his right hand post.

With 2 minutes remaining Rob Roy made their final change with S Gold replacing Scott.

Rob Roy threw bodies forward as the game moved into injury time but couldn’t breach the Talbot defence. The one half chance they had came from a short corner worked to Truesdale at the right edge of the area but he snatched his shot high & wide of target and Talbot were able to see it out to book their place in the final.

A hard fought win for the Bot who now move onto Monday night’s visit to Darvel which is a real 6 pointer and could go a long way to deciding the outcome of the title race.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Armstrong, Healy, Graham Wilson, Samson, Shankland, Glasgow

Subs – Boylan, Crawford, Mason, Hyslop, Robbie McCracken, Hewitt

Kirkintilloch Rob Roy – Smith, Walker, Bell, Baber, O’Halloran, Cairns, Truesdale, O’Kane, Arbuckle, Young, Scott

Subs – Gordon, Kelly, S Gold, I Gold, McPherson, Ross, Murdoch

MURRAY’S REPORT

Talbot hit top gear to cruise past Rutherglen and move 5 points clear at the top after recording their biggest win of the season; knocking 6 past the visitors to no reply.

The Bot were in the ascendancy from the off and nearly opened the scoring in the 7^th minute. Wardrope found Wilson out on the left & he fizzed a great ball across the face of goal that both Healy then Glasgow just failed to connect with.

11 mins in Talbot won a free kick just outside the penalty area for a foul on Boylan. Shankland took it and his shot clipped off the wall and behind for the corner. Glasgow’s corner was fired into the near post where it broke back to MARK SHANKLAND who turned and lashed a left foot shot home to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

Two minutes later Talbot were back on the attack – Shankland’s ball through the centre nearly finding Wardope’s run.

The visitors had a rare foray into the Talbot half in the 14^th minute when the ball was pulled back from the right wing into the feet of Lone and he drilled a low shot straight at Leishman.

Any hopes Glencairn harboured were effectively ended in the 16^th minute. O’Byrne won a 50/50 with Hyslop but when the ball broke away from him he lunged into a straight legged lunge on McCracken – leaving the ref no option but to show him a straight red.

It didn’t take Talbot long to take advantage of their extra man and the Bot doubled their lead in the 19^th minute. A ball up the left found Wardrope racing free and he cut it back into the path of AIDEN WILSON whose powerful drive squeezed past McGinley at his right post.

Two minutes later it was déjà vu as once again Wardrope headed for the bye line down the left before pulling it back for Wilson to hit but this time his shot was blocked.

The chances kept coming and moments later Healy found Stafford in space on the right. He swept a dangerous cross beyond the far post where Wilson met it but McGinley managed to parry his effort.

In the 26^th minute Glencairn put together a good counter as they moved the ball swiftly from right to left to send Schoneville scurrying free. He fired it across the 6-yard area where Wilson managed to bundle it clear.

Talbot looked certain to grab their 3^rd in the 33^rd minute. Shankland charged down an attempted clearance and the ball broke to Boylan on the right of the area. He swept it across goal to the far post where Glasgow looked set to prod it home but he got his feet tangled and the ball hit off him and deflected clear.

The goal wasn’t long in coming though and Talbot moved 3^rd ahead in the 38^th minute. Wardope’s first attempted cross was headed back out to him and he released Wilson on the overlap. He hit the bye line before pulling it back for MARK SHANKLAND to fire a low drive inside the right post.

The Bot moved 4-0 ahead in the 42^nd minute. McCracken swung over an inch perfect cross from the right to find MARK SHANKLAND beyond the far post and he guided a header back across goal to complete his hat-trick.

A minute before the interval Shankland came close to adding another. Healy got free on the right and swept over an early cross that broke into the path of Shankland who was only denied his 4^th by a fingertip save from McGinley who turned it past his left post. When the corner came over Boylan met it but his glancing header was held by the keeper and Talbot trooped off 4 goals to the good.

The visitors made a change at the start of the 2^nd half with Lone making way for Murray.

Talbot started as they’d left off – piling forward in numbers and soon after the restart Shankland tested the defence with a dangerous ball in from the right that was turned behind for a corner. Shortly after, Glasgow had a half chance when Stafford laid the ball off into his path but he blazed his shot well over from the edge of the area.

In the 51^st minute Healy clipped the ball down the left to find Boylan racing forward. He lifted a cross into the centre where Shankland thumped a header against the crossbar from 6 yards out.

Within a minute Talbot won a free kick out on the left as the pressure told on the visitors. Shankland swept it to the back post where it was only half cleared. The ball came to McCracken who was impeded and the ref pointed to the spot. MARK SHANKLAND stepped up to take it and drilled the penalty beyond McGinley and inside the right post to put Talbot 5-0 ahead.

With the game long since won Tucker now made a double switch with Shankland & Hyslop making way for Mason and Crawford who came on for his debut.

Talbot’s next effort at goal came in the 56^th minute when they were awarded a free kick inside the Glencairn half for Leitch’s late challenge on Mason. It was taken short to Wardrope and he carried it forward before firing narrowly past the right post from 30+ yards.

Rutherglen now made a further change with Maley coming on for Leitch.

Talbot completed their changes in the 62^nd minute when Robbie McCracken replaced Boylan.

In the 64^th minute Mason gathered the ball on the left of the area and traversed a couple of challenges before finally being brought down by Coleman just outside the area. Mason took the resultant free kick but fired it low into the wall.

McGinley did well to deny Talbot a 6^th in the 72^nd minute. Wilson’s chip into the area found the head of Glasgow who glanced it across the area to pick out Crawford on the right. He rolled it back to Mason whose shot was well saved by the keeper.

Glencairn now made their final change with Cummins replacing McIlveen.

The sub had a decent chance to grab a consolation in the 76^th minute when he met Schoneville’s corner from the right but he glanced his header beyond the far post.

Talbot completed the scoring with 6 minutes remaining. A Rutherglen player went through the back of Mason resulting in a booking and a free kick to Talbot 30 yards from goal. Wardrope took it and clipped a great ball through the centre where LEWIS CRAWFORD steered a diving header past McGinley to make it 6-0.

The Bot kept pressing but couldn’t add to their tally.

A great performance and good confidence booster as next up for Talbot it’s a Scottish Junior semi-final against in form Rob Roy at Meadow Park.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Wardrope, Healy, Boylan, Shankland, Glasgow

Subs – Armstrong, Samson, Mason, Robbie McCracken, Crawford, Hewitt

Rutherglen Glencairn – McGinley, Coleman, Schoneville, Shields, O’Byrne, Leitch, Lone, McGuire, McIlveen, Pearson, Mitchell

Subs – Cummins, Murray, Maley, McNeill, Imrie, McLellan

Armstrong stays strong under pressure and fires the ball up the park.

As Largs come away with the ball, Wardrope does his best to win the ball back for Talbot.

CHANCE!!! Aiden Wilson has a dig from just outside the box but fails to find a way through the defence.

Glasgow goes on a great run up the middle of the park.

GOOOAAALLL!!! Talbot open the scoring, as McCracken gets on the end of a free-kick and heads the ball home. 0-1.

McCracken races away to celebrate, as Largs are left with their heads in their hands after going a goal down.

As Wardrope chases down the ball, he also gets chased down by his opponent too.

Samson gets his legs tangled up, as he tries to win the ball.

IF ONLY IT WAS RUGBY!!! Michael Wardrope goes for the spectacular but unfortunately the ball goes very high over the crossbar. Three points ref!!!

WHAT A TIME TO SCORE!!! Just as half-time was approaching, Largs pull a goal back, as Sewell pounces right in front of goal and heads the ball home. 1-1.

WHAT-A-CHANCE!!! From very close range, Wardrope tries to cleverly flick the ball past the ‘keeper but sadly, it goes just wide of the post.

Glasgow sprints down the wing but he gets stopped in his tracks by Largs.

SO SO CLOSE!!! Although it was a tight angle, Samson tries his best to slot the ball home but Largs do very well to block the way through.

HAD-TO-BE, SURELY!!! From right in front of goal, McCracken goes for a looping header but the ball goes agonisingly over the crossbar.

Largs get awarded a free-kick in a good position but, thankfully for Talbot, the ball goes safely into Big Andy’s hands.

The anxious crowd look on, as the players on the pitch fight for possession.

THAT-WAS-THE-MOMENT!!! With the game nearing the end, it is Largs that have a brilliant chance of taking the lead from close range but Sewell blasts the ball over the crossbar instead.

Seconds of the game left but Stafford and Talbot continue to battle for the ball and keep the attack going.

The final whistle gets blown and, although it wasn’t an action packed game, Largs feel the pain as they knew they had a great chance of taking all three points from the game.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAY’S REPORT

Talbot had to settle for a share of the spoils at Largs but it ended up a point gained rather than two lost as both their title rivals went down to defeat.

There was plenty of commitment from both sides but little excitement with goal mouth incidents being few and far between.

The first effort of the match came in the 14^th minute when Glasgow laid the ball back to Armstrong and he fired over the bar from 22 yards.

Five minutes later Graham Wilson gathered on the right before squaring it inside to Glasgow. He in turn fed it on to Aiden Wilson who drilled a shot wide of the right hand post from the edge of the area.

The opening goal came in the 28^th minute and it was Talbot who broke the deadlock. Wardrope was fouled out near the right touchline and he took the resultant free kick – sweeping a cross over which CRAIG MCCRACKEN headed beyond the keeper.

Talbot couldn’t build on their lead but weren’t under any pressure either from the home side.

In the 38^th minute McMaster was cautioned for a scything challenge on Graham Wilson.

Largs levelled in the 41^st minute and there was a hint of controversy over it. Thistle won a corner down the left that was lifted deep beyond the far post. Graham Wilson miscued a header back into the centre where WILLIAM SEWELL guided a header home. Talbot vehemently protested that Leishman had been impeded when the corner came over but the officials ignored the protests and the goal stood and the half finished all square.

Talbot started the 2^nd half positively and Graham Wilson almost found Samson with a cushioned header but it just eluded him and the keeper was able to gather.

Talbot’s next attack saw Glasgow turn his man and burst down the left. He was impeded but the ref gave the advantage and he was able to fire a cross into the near post which the defence managed to knock behind for the corner.

In the 56^th minute Wardrope tested the defence with a dangerous low cross from the right that they just managed to scramble to safety.

George Sewell had his name taken in the 58^th minute for a shirt tug on Glasgow as he raced forward.

Talbot had a good chance to retake the lead on the hour mark. Armstrong lifted a ball down the left that Graham Wilson won in the air. He nodded it into the path of Samson inside the box but Farrell blocked his shot at his right hand post. The rebound came out to Graham Wilson but he failed to connect with an attempted scissors kick.

The Bot’s next attack saw Wardrope bend a good ball in from the right that McGoldrick dived to head behind for the corner. When the corner came in Farrell punched it clear but it only came out to Armstrong on the right. He fired it low across the 6-yard area where it skipped up off a defender and Graham Wilson looped a header back across goal that just dropped over the bar.

Largs had an opportunity to test Leishman in the 74^th minute when McPherson conceded a free kick 30 yards out for handball. William Sewell got it up and over the wall but Leishman had read it and made a comfortable save.

Two minutes later Talbot should have had a free kick just outside the Largs box. Healy lifted it down the right where McMaster clearly controlled it with his hand but somehow the assistant ref failed to spot it.

Talbot now made a double switch with Boylan & Shankland on for Glasgow & Wardrope.

The subs were involved soon after coming on when Boylan gathered on the left and pulled it back to Shankland inside the area but his attempted shot was blocked.

In the 81^st minute Samson’s long throw wasn’t dealt with by the home defence and it fell to Stafford 15 yards out but his shot was blocked and ran through to Farrell.

Down the other end Talbot had a scare when a defensive lapse saw George Sewell race clear on the right. He slid it across the area to find his brother but William Sewell scooped his shot over the bar from 6 yards out though it wouldn’t have counted anyway as the linesman’s flag had went up.

Talbot were looking leggy and it was the home side who finished the stronger.

Largs had a good chance to claim all 3 points in the 84^th minute when a free kick flighted into the area broke off McCracken and fell kindly for William Sewell but he blasted his shot over the bar.

Tucker made one final change in the closing stages with Mason on for Healy.

The final effort at goal came from Largs when Forbes raced forward but he lost his balance as he was shooting and his right footed effort was easily smothered by Leishman and Talbot held out to claim the point.

Next up for Talbot it is back to Beechwood where they host Rutherglen in midweek as the Bot will look to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Largs Thistle – Farrell, Hughes, McMaster, McGoldrick, Ballantyne, Faulds, George Sewell, McBryde, William Sewell, Adam, Forbes

Subs – Duff, McLeod, Docherty, Love, Gray, Zadarnowaki

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Healy, Wardrope, Armstrong, Samson, Graham Wilson, Glasgow

Subs – Shankland, Mason, Crawford, Hyslop, Boylan, Hewitt

Healy makes his presence known, as he goes in with a hefty challenge in order to win the ball back.

Come on lads! Is it left or right the ball is going?

While trying to go on the attack, Glasgow loses possession.

CHANCE!!! Pollok go very close to opening the scoring via a close range header but although Big Andy makes sure, the ball goes over crossbar.

Stafford and McCracken team up and make sure they make Pollok go in the wrong direction.

TALBOT CHANCE!!! ‘Pee-wee’ some how squeezes his shot through a crowded box but gets thwarted by a great save from the ‘keeper.

HOW DID THAT NOT GO IN!!! Pollok find themselves with space right in front of goal and send a downward header towards goal but…

…they can only rue a missed opportunity, as Leishman gathers up the ball.

Robbie McCracken tries to muscle his way past his opponent.

Although the ball is heading out of play, Samson still gives his all to chase after it.

Glasgow has got this licked, as he threads the pass through.

Hyslop helps out McCracken by clearing the danger.

While under pressure, Jamie Glasgow still manages to win the aerial battle.

SO CLOSE!!! Samson tries to squeeze the ball home from a very tight angle but the ‘keeper manages to block the way through.

After being penalised by the referee, ‘Pee-wee’ vents his frustration.

POLLOK GOAL!!! Pollok make the breakthrough, as they send the corner in and head the ball home from very close range. 0-1.

It’s joy all round for the boys in red, as they celebrate taking the lead.

Talbot walk back to the centre circle for the re-start, while Pollok continue celebrating.

There’s got to be a LOT of caption ideas for this one!

‘Shankers’ goes on the attack and fires the cross in.

TALBOT PULL LEVEL!!! Samson gets on the end of Shankland’s low cross and fires the ball home. 1-1.

Keir Samson wheels away to celebrate his goal.

WHAT-A-CHANCE!!! Talbot go very…VERY close to taking the lead, as Samson lobs the ball towards goal but…

…with the ‘keeper rooted to the spot, the ball goes AGONISINGLY over the crossbar.

OFFSIDE!!! Samson gets on the end of Boylan’s pass and slots the ball home, however, the flag goes up for someone being offside.

The ball gets lobbed forward and Samson manages to muscle past his opponent where…

…GOOOAAALLL!!!! Samson keeps a very calm head and slots the ball home past the ‘keeper. 2-1.

Keir gets swamped by his team-mates, as they all celebrate his and Talbot’s second goal.

Pollok get awarded a very late free-kick and one last chance, while the Talbot players let their feelings known to the man in the middle.

‘Shankers’ still protests his innocence but he still receives a yellow card for the foul.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot’s never say die attitude saw the Bot come from behind to dump Pollok out the South Challenge cup in an entertaining quarter-final clash.

Talbot had an early chance to test Lok’s defence when Brownlie conceded a free kick just wide of the area following a barge on Samson. Glasgow swept a good ball over that Stafford managed to get his head onto but he headed it back across goal where it was cleared.

Pollok’s liveliest player, Grant, caused Talbot’s defence problems in the 7^th minute when he charged down Aiden Wilson’s attempted clearance & burst down the right wing before slinging a dangerous ball across goal but fortunately there was no one on the end of it.

The visitors came close in the 15^th minute when Wharton’s long throw from the left was headed on inside the penalty area and came to McCann who glanced a header just over.

Pollok were on top at this stage and threatened again when Lyon cut in off the left & curled a ball toward the far post which was headed behind for a corner.

Pollok’s next attack saw a ball out of defence find McGregor down the left. He fired it across the face of goal but there was no one in the centre to take advantage.

Despite Pollok making the early running it was Talbot who came closest to breaking the deadlock. In the 24^th minute Mason won a corner down the left and when Glasgow delivered it into the centre the Lok defence failed to clear their lines. It came to Stafford 15 yards out and his low drive was heading in but was cleared off the line inside the right hand post. It came out to Hyslop and his effort on target was turned round the post by Longmuir.

Two minutes later Pollok threatened via one of Wharton’s long throws. He hurled it into the area where it flicked off Aiden Wilson’s head and came to Fraser inside the 6-yard box but he made a poor contact with his head and it was easily saved by Leishman.

On the half hour mark Fraser fed it out to Grant on the right and he went for goal from a tight angle but drilled his shot over the bar.

In the 35^th minute Brownlie picked up a caution when he bowled over Samson.

The half then meandered to a close with neither side looking like breaking the deadlock.

Pollok made a change at the start of the 2^nd half with Horne being replaced by Forde.

It was Talbot who started the 2^nd half the brighter and the Bot threatened in the 51^st minute when Samson whipped a great ball over from the left that was just taken off the head of Glasgow as he lurked at the back post.

Two minute later Samson was involved again when his low drive from the left of the area was blocked by Longmuir. The rebound came back to him and the Lok keeper did well to recover and save his follow-up effort at his right hand post.

Talbot kept the pressure on and Robbie McCracken played a good ball into the near post from the right touchline toward Samson but his effort was blocked behind for a corner.

Hyslop received what appeared to be a harsh yellow card in the 56^th minute when he slid in and won the ball in midfield but the referee thought otherwise and gave Lok the free kick. The free kick was lifted up the right where Grant raced to the bye line before cutting it back and Healy blocked it behind for the corner. When the corner came into the near post GRANT nicked in to bullet a header into the roof of the net to put Pollok a goal ahead.

In the 61^st minute Pollok came close to doubling their lead. Once again it was a long throw-in that caused the problem. The ball came to Forde whose overhead kick sailed just wide of the left post.

Mason picked up a caution in the 66^th minute for a foul on Sideserf.

In the 69^th minute Hyslop found Samson on the left & he darted into the area past Sideserf but his ball across was blocked behind for a corner. Before the corner could be taken Talbot made a triple substitution with Shankland, Boylan and Graham Wilson coming on for Glasgow, Robbie McCracken and Mason.

Shankland was involved in the 71^st minute when McPherson found him in space on the left. He hit a good early ball across the face of goal that Brownlie sliced behind for a corner.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot drew level with a well-worked move. Boylan gathered on the right before squaring it across to Graham Wilson outside the area. He flighted it behind Sideserf to find Shankland racing free on the left of the area and his low ball across goal was turned home by KIER SAMSON from close range.

A minute later Talbot nearly moved in front. Samson won a free kick 35 yards out when he turned Brownlie who flattened him with a clumsy challenge. Shankland shaped up to hit it but instead angled it to the left to free Aiden Wilson on the overlap. He fizzed a ball across the face of goal which Samson met in the centre but his flick flew just over the crossbar.

In the 80^th minute Boylan had his name taken for a foul on Lyon out on the left touchline. When the free kick came over it broke to Wharton 15 yards out. He hooked a shot towards target but it was blocked in the crowded box.

Two minutes later Talbot had the ball in the back of the net but the goal didn’t stand. Boylan slipped the ball through to Samson on the right of the area and he slid it past Longmuir but the assistant’s flag went up and it was chalked off.

However, 3 minutes from time Talbot again found the back of the net and this time it counted. Graham Wilson lifted a ball down the left in behind the defence to find KIER SAMSON running through and he coolly slotted it past the keeper to put Talbot 2-1 ahead.

In the final minute of regulation time Talbot threatened again. Boylan played it into Shankland who laid it off into the path of Samson whose low drive was held by Longmuir at the 2^nd attempt.

As the game moved into added time Pollok won a free kick 30 yards from goal following a handball by Graham Wilson. Forde managed to get it up and over the wall but Leishman was well positioned to pluck it out the air.

Deep into injury time Shankland picked up a ludicrous yellow card for winning a header against Grant and shortly after the final whistle sounded and the celebrations began. Talbot will now face Sauchie in the semi-final.

Next up for Talbot it’s a midweek trip to face Darvel in a match which could go some way to deciding the outcome of the league title.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Healy, Hyslop, Robbie McCracken, Samson, Mason, Glasgow

Subs – Shankland, Boylan, Graham Wilson, Armstrong, White, Halliday

Pollok – Longmuir, Grant, Sideserf, Wharton, Brownlie, Horne, Fraser, Esplin, S McCann, McGregor, Lyon

Subs – Forde, Bradley, Braonan, Krol, Shelvey, Evans, Lumsden

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Auchinleck Talbot

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Largs Thistle

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The 22 year old 6ft right or left back joins as a free transfer from Lowland side Broomhill and has been training with Talbot for the last three weeks, which gave Tucker the chance to run the rule over the player before offering him a contract.

Lewis has had experience in the SPFL and the lower leagues starting his career at Dumbarton U17’s and Clyde U20’s. He was released by Clyde in July 2018 and spent a season at Petershill before making the move to the SPFL with Dumbarton. He spent over a year with the “Sons” which included a loan spell at Rossvale and an appearance at Pittodrie in 2020 when Dumbarton narrowly lost out to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup.

In September 2020 he left Dumbarton to play with Linlithgow Rose for a season and then Broomhill who were managed by former Talbot legend Davie Gormley.