Season: 2022/23
Auchinleck Talbot v Irvine Meadow
MURRAY’S REPORT
Talbot dropped two points on a frustrating night at Beechwood as they were held to a draw by Irvine Meadow.
The first real chance of the evening came in the 7th minute for the visitors. Byrne swung a cross into the box that was headed clear but came straight to Faulds 25 yards out and he drilled a shot over the bar.
Talbot’s first effort at goal came after 11 minutes. Talbot were awarded a free kick out on the left touchline which Wardrope whipped into the centre where McPherson headed off target.
Two mins later Talbot won a corner on the right when an attempted clearance hit off Mason and spun across the area and behind. Wardrope’s corner was cleared out straight back to him and his 2nd cross found the head of Samson who glanced a header on target that was comfortably held by Waters.
Meadow’s keeper was tested in the 20th minute when Boylan curled over a cross from the right that was drifting under the bar until Waters tipped it over.
Shortly after Boylan had another effort at goal when he had a pop from 25 yards that Waters held.
The first booking arrived in the 24th minute when Aiden Wilson was penalised for a challenge on Faulds.
Meadow took the lead in the 29th minute. Graham climbed to meet a ball down the centre and nodded it down into the path of BOYD on the right of the area and he drilled a low shot inside the left hand post.
Talbot looked for an immediate response and had a half chance in the 31st minute. Mason hit a good cross into the near post where Samson steered a header on target but Waters was well positioned to make the save.
The visitors had a chance to double their lead in the 33rd minute. Graham cushioned a header down to Boyd on the left of the area and he lifted a cross to the far side to find Wallace in space but his shot was blocked behind for a corner.
Meadow caught Talbot napping when they took the corner short to Boyd and he was able to lift a cross beyond the far post where Findlay saw his header deflected behind.
Talbot had a chance to draw level on the counter in the 38th minute. Mason broke into the left of the penalty area and his shot took a deflection en route but Waters made a good stop at his near post.
In the 42nd minute Talbot won a free kick 30 yards from goal when Faulds went through the back of Boyle. Wardrope touched it off into the path of Samson whose shot was blocked and spun out to the left of the penalty area. McPherson met it and hammered a low ball 1st time across the face of goal but no one had anticipated it and the ball sped across and out for a shy.
A minute before the break Waters produced a top class save to keep Meadow ahead. Armstrong ran onto a ball 30 yards out and arrowed a shot that was heading into the top corner but the keeper managed to tip it over at full-stretch.
When the resultant corner came over McCracken managed to get his head on it but couldn’t make a clean contact and nodded wide.
As the half moved into added time Talbot had one last chance to level. The ball dropped to Mason on the left of the box with his back to goal and he wheeled and fired for goal but lifted it over the bar and Meadow went in ahead at the interval.
There were no changes at the break and the 2nd half got off to a sluggish start with neither side making any headway. The Bot fans were looking for a card in the 51st minute when Faulds went in late on Wardrope but the referee contented himself with awarding the free kick 35 yards out. Wardrope’s 1st effort hit the wall and at the 2nd attempt he whipped a good cross over to the back post. There were no takers but Mason gathered out on the right, near the byline, and raced for the area before being bundled over just outside the box by Faulds, who this time was shown a yellow card.
Wardrope took the free kick and lifted it to the far post but it was fractionally too high.
McCracken had his name taken in the 55th minute for a shirt tug on Graham as he broke forward. L Kerr took the free kick and drilled a bouncing shot on target from 30+ yards that Fisher gathered at the 2nd attempt.
Meadow found themselves a man down in the 57th minute. Faulds tripped Samson just outside the penalty box and made the short trip to the dressing room for a 2nd booking.
Wardrope shoved the resultant free-kick square to Samson who sliced a shot well-wide of the left post.
Meadow now made a change with Graham making way for O’Donnell.
Talbot threatened an equaliser on the hour mark. Wilson’s low ball into the area broke kindly for Boyle who fed it to his right to find Boylan in space. He floated a cross toward the back post but the defence did well to head it clear from under the bar.
Sixty-two mins in and Talbot were awarded a penalty for a foul on Samson on the left of the penalty area. AARON MASON stepped up to hit it and gave the keeper no chance as he slotted it inside the left hand post to make it 1-1.
The Bot had a chance to take the lead in the 65th minute. Boylan made the byline down the right and hit a great cross beyond the far post where Wardrope directed a free header over from a tight angle.
A minute later Talbot were on the attack again. A pass found Boyle inside the penalty area and he in turn spread it out right to Boylan whose cross sailed across goal to the back post but there was no one on hand to take advantage.
In the 67th minute Talbot won a free kick wide right of the penalty area following Byrne’s hand-ball but were unable to make anything of the set piece.
Boyle had his name taken in the 71st minute for a late challenge in the centre.
Talbot now made a double switch with Boyle & Mason making way for Taylor & Graham Wilson.
With quarter of an hour remaining Meadow made a change with McNair coming on for L Kerr.
The visitors turned defence to attack in the 76th minute. Waters did well to punch Wardrope’s corner clear under pressure and Meadow moved swiftly up the park where Boyd switched it left to find McNair racing forward but Aiden Wilson made a timely tackle to put it behind for the corner.
In the 79th minute Findlay & Samson clashed as they chased a through ball but the referee opted just to have a word with them.
Talbot moved ahead in the 82nd minute. Armstrong slid a pass into the feet of ROSS TAYLOR on the right of the box and he cut inside on his left foot and drilled a low shot across goal into the opposite corner.
Meadow now made a double change with Lennox & Urquhart off and I Kerr & Stewart on and Talbot made a further change with Crawford replacing Boylan.
Five minutes from time Talbot conceded a soft goal to make it 2-2. A ball driven into the box deflected off Stafford and spun high toward goal. The ball beat Fisher and cannoned off the underside of the bar and MCNAIR prodded home from close range.
Talbot now threw everything but the kitchen sink at Meadow in an attempt to grab a late winner.
McNair picked up a yellow card for a foul out on the right and Wardrope guided a great diagonal ball in that sailed across goal with neither Crawford or Samson able to get a touch on it.
Two minutes from time Stewart received a yellow card for a late challenge on McPherson.
With a minute to go Samson had a chance for Talbot when he found himself in space 15 yards out but he directed his shot wide of the right post.
Deep into injury time Talbot came within a whisker of winning it. Wardrope rifled a shot from the edge of the area that Waters could only watch as it crashed off the underside of the crossbar and bounced out to safety.
A disappointing night for Talbot who now turn their focus to Saturday when they travel to Loch Park to face Glenafton.
Auchinleck Talbot – Fisher, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Boyle, Wardrope, Samson, Boylan, Mason
Subs – Graham Wilson, Taylor, Lennox, Crawford, Ballantyne, Park, Leishman
Irvine Meadow – Waters, Wallace, Byrne, Wharton, Findlay, Lennox, Faulds, Urquhart, Graham, L Kerr, Boyd
Subs – O’Donnell, McMillan, I Kerr, Slooves, McNair, Stewart, Bysouth
Auchinleck Talbot v Gartcairn FC
Talbot welcomed their first ever visitors from the town of Airdrie to Beechwood Park and after a tough ninety minutes played in driving rain they did what was expected of them by running out 3-1 winners against a side who sit a division below them. Granted Gartcairn are no mugs as they are pushing for promotion for the top division and had just knocked Lowland League side Tranent out of the Challenge Cup. Talbot had made a couple of changes for this match with Keiran Healy replacing Neil McPherson, Ally Park in for the cup-tied Ali Boyle and a start for young Aaron Mason up front.
The visitors threw down the gauntlet early doors and in the opening minutes former Motherwell and Ross County player Darren Smith made a telling run down the left but his cross into the box was easily cleared. Five minutes later goalkeeper Cowie got lucky when a routine passback from Moss saw him harassed by Mason into kicking the ball straight at Graham Wilson who elected to pass to Mason rather than try a cheeky lob which most of the crowd were expecting.
In the 16th minute Mick Wardrope did well to clear a Gartcairn free kick but Eley was quickest to react by whipping the ball back into the box where Stafford mishit the ball into the feet of Johnstone who managed to get the ball on target but it proved to be an easy save for Fisher. The game got bogged down in the middle of the park with both sides producing some great defending which no doubt proved to be a bit too frustrating for former Hearts youth player Jordan Love who collected the only yellow card of the game when he was late with a tackle on Craig McCracken. McCracken then nearly got himself onto the score sheet in 30 minutes when he got his head to a Wardrope corner forcing Cowie into parrying the ball off the goal line where McCracken managed to react the quickest but hooked the loose ball into the side net. Shortly after Love and McCracken clashed again with the Talbot defender on the deck holding his face but the veteran striker was spared a second yellow by referee Paul Timmons.
With the game heading for the interval Johnstone ghosted through Talbot midfield where his pass to Moss saw the big defender cross a poor ball into the danger area which came off Staffords head and into the path of Johnstone who’s first time volley from the edge of the box took the paint off the top of Fisher’s crossbar. Talbot were quick to reply and an Aiden Wilson long ball up the wing was headed into the path of Park by G.Wilson and his toe poke to Wardrope produced a side foot shot that came off the crossbar and onto the path of G.Wilson who headed tamely into the hands of Cowie.
With the visitors buoyed by their opening forty five minutes they opened the second half by flinging all kinds of long balls into the box which were putting a bit of pressure on the Talbot back line. However a long throw-in by Smith was headed away by McCracken which was pounced upon by Griffiths who was quickly tracked down by Park. Finding himself in a bit of bother he elected to pass backwards but accidentally passed the ball into the path of Mason who skipped away from Moss to thunder the ball past Cowie from 20 yards right on the 50th minute. All credit to Gartcairn who looked to have equalised when Smith got himself behind the Talbot back line but Fisher got his body in front of Smith’s shot but the referee had already whistled for offside.
There was a flurry of substitutions by both sides as the game progressed and the changes were quick to take effect when on 70 minutes Ross Smith was the target of a Ballantyne throw-in. The youngster managed to get the ball to the foot of Wardrope who dinked a cross onto the head of Park and his slight touch eased the ball past Cowie’s finger tips and into the top of the net. If Talbot thought the game was over then they were sadly mistaken when minutes later Gartcairn were back in the game when a Talbot attack was broken up as Bulgor launched a 49 yard pass into the path of the unmarked Smith who in turn found substitute Burns and the former Stirling Albion striker made no mistake sending the ball past Fisher.
This was the last we were to see the visitors as an attacking force as Talbot started to control the match with Mick Wardrop curling an effort past the post while Ross Smith collected a Samson pass in the box and although he managed to get away from his marker he shot well past the goals. With the 90 minutes fast approaching Talbot’s best move of the game merited their third goal when the ball was worked from wing to wing involving Smith, Lennox and Armstrong ending in a Wardrobe cross being headed into the net by Ross Smith. Soon after the referee’s whistle ended the match that on the whole Talbot deserved to win.
Fisher, Stafford, A.Willson (Ballantyne), Healy, McCracken, Armstrong, Taylor (Lennox), Wardrope, Mason (Samson), G,Wilson (Smith), Park (Sinnamon)
SPONSOR MAN OF THE MATCH AWARDS:
The Boo Boys award went to Craig McCracken and was presented by Bob Harvey
Old Crocks MOM was Craig McCracken and presented by Kieran Houston.
Eddie Smith & Friends picked Michael Wardrope as their MOM and Andy Leishman picked this up on Michael’s behalf from Alistair Smith & Tristen Stirling
Loons Supporters Club MOM was Michael Wardrope and was picked up by Kieran Healy and presented by Alex Tanner
Jimmy Ferguson & Friends chose Gareth Armstrong as their MOM and this was presented by Aaron Lindsay
The Mauchline BC award was presented by Billy Eaglesham and won by Craig McCracken.
Match Ball Sponsor – Emerald Contracts.
Cumnock Juniors v Auchinleck Talbot
MURRAY’S REPORT. SARAH JANES PHOTO’S
Talbot kept their title hopes alive with a thrilling win over old rivals Cumnock with the large crowd certainly getting their money’s worth.
The first chance of the afternoon came Talbot’s way in the 6th minute. Graham Wilson flicked the ball into the path of Boylan who was upended just outside the penalty area. Wardrope took the free kick and his effort flew just over the crossbar.
The Bot’s next foray into the Nock half saw Stafford race up the wing before drilling a low ball across the penalty area that Samson dummied for Graham Wilson but the Nock defence did well to intercept.
Cumnock then had a good spell of pressure forcing a string of corners but without any end product.
In the 20th minute Cumnock again won a corner when McCracken turned Moore’s 1st time ball across the face of goal behind. When the corner came in Talbot failed to clear it and fell to Frye who thought he’d scored when he lashed a shot goalward but it cannoned off the underside of the bar and Talbot were able to scramble it behind for a corner. When the corner came over Fisher came and claimed it.
Action then switched to the other end where Samson got in behind down the left and cut the ball back to Boyle at the edge of the area. He had a chance to shoot but opted instead to thread a pass through to Aiden Wilson but it had too much on it and ran out for the goal kick.
The large travelling support were up in arms in the 34th minute when Talbot were denied what looked to be a stonewall penalty. Samson flicked the ball into the path of Graham Wilson who was bundled over from behind as he ran onto it but the referee waved away the appeals.
A minute later Aiden Wilson’s accurate diagonal pass found Boylan in space down the right. He drilled it first time into the centre where the defence cleared.
In the 41st minute a ball over the top found Moore in behind the defence. He looked offside but the flag stayed down and he raced into the penalty area where he took a slightly heavy touch and then went to the deck when confronted by Fisher in a vain attempt to win a penalty.
The first yellow card of the afternoon came in the 43rd minute when Graham Wilson was cautioned for a late challenge on Willet.
Right on the stroke of half-time Wardrope flighted an inch perfect pass over Willet’s head to find Boylan racing down the right side of the penalty area and his shot clipped the outside of the left post and the sides went in deadlocked at the interval.
Talbot came out flying at the start of the 2nd half and won a corner in the 48th minute when Graham Wilson’s ball across the face was met by Boylan and his header deflected behind. When the corner came over Graham Wilson powered a header on target that Barclay could only parry and it came to KIER SAMSON who tucked it low inside the left hand post to put Talbot one ahead.
Four minutes later Talbot doubled their lead. Samson rose well to head the ball into the path of Graham Wilson down the left and he crossed it over to find BRYAN BOYLAN in space who controlled it on his chest before blasting a left foot volley into the roof of the net.
Cumnock were down but not out and they were thrown a lifeline in the 56th minute when Talbot conceded a soft goal. A long shy from the right came off a Talbot head and sailed over to the far corner of the 6-yard box where FRYE slotted it home.
Tucker made his first change of the afternoon in the 63rd minute when Boyle limped off to be replaced by Park.
Cumnock levelled the match in the 68th minute. They won a corner down the left and when it was delivered to the far post SHARPE out-jumped Fisher to power a header home and make it 2-2.
The game was then held up for a bit due to some handbags at dawn argy bargy between the fans down by the corner flag. Eventually Cumnock’s stewards appeared and after order was restored play resumed.
Frye ought to have had his name taken for a late challenge on Wardrope but not only did he escape the booking the ref and his assistant managed to miss the foul altogether.
In the 77th minute Wardrope saw his shot from 19 yards deflected wide for a corner and this proved to be his last involvement of the afternoon as he made way for Taylor. When the corner came in Cumnock cleared it and promptly raced onto the counter-attack through Moore who was hauled down by Park who took one for the team and received a yellow card for his trouble.
The turning point of the game came in the 79th minute when Cumnock missed a glaring opportunity to take the lead. Sewell floated over a dangerous cross from the right that found Moore in space beyond the far post but with the goal gaping he headed wide of target.
Talbot now made a further change with Mason coming on for Boylan.
In the 88th minute Talbot came very close to regaining the lead. Taylor met a shy from the left and created the space for himself to fire off a shot from 18 yards that flew just the wrong side of the right hand post.
A minute later McCracken had his name taken for halting a Cumnock counter-attack.
As the game headed into added time Talbot won a free kick midway inside the Nock half for a foul on Graham Wilson. Healy pinged it over the defence and beyond the far post where Graham Wilson cushioned it back across for AARON MASON to steer a low left foot shot past Barclay and put Talbot 3-2 ahead.
There then followed a bizarre incident as the referee ran around aimlessly with a red card out but seemed confused as to who it was actually meant for and finally put it back into his pocket.
In the 96th minute Talbot put the game beyond doubt with a fourth goal. McCracken carried it out from the back before slipping the ball to AARON MASON who showed the defence a clean pair of heels racing from just inside the Nock half before sliding the ball past Barclay to make it 4-2.
A great away win for Talbot who are back at Beechwood next Saturday where they host Gartcairn in the West of Scotland cup quarter-final.
Cumnock Juniors – Barclay, Sewell, Willet, Ferry, McAusland, Dickie, Wilson, McLaughlin, Sharpe, Frye, Moore
Subs – Strain, Carnwath, Ross, McLean, Dolan, Boyd, Conn
Auchinleck Talbot – Fisher, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McCracken, McPherson, Boyle, Boylan, Wardrope, Samson, Graham Wilson, Healy
Subs – Taylor, Smith, Mason, Park, Ballantyne, Crawford
Auchinleck Talbot v Beith Juniors
Josh Bradley-Hurst
Auchinleck Talbot v East Kilbride Fc
MURRAY’S REPORT
In a game of few chances, Talbot did enough to see off a toothless East Kilbride side and book their place in the last 8 of the South Challenge cup.
The vistors started on the front foot but without offering much of a threat in the final third and the first clear chance of the game went Talbot’s way in the 9th minute when Currie fluffed a clearance straight at Boylan who opted to hit it early with the keeper well off his line but fired it well over the bar.
The Bot put together a good move in the 14th minute. Shankland showed composure before threading a pass out right to find Boylan. He switched play to the far side of the box where Healy hooked a cross back across goal and a defender just beat Mason to it to nod it behind. When the corner came over McCracken powered a header on target but it flew straight at Currie.
McCracken was involved again a few minutes later when he attempted to slide a ball into the path of Graham Wilson inside the area but it was just too firm and G couldn’t get on the end of it.
Graham Wilson picked up what appeared to be a harsh booking in the 21st minute. He went in fully committed to a 50/50 challenge as did the Kilby player but the ref awarded them the free kick and showed Wilson a yellow card. McLaughlin took the resultant free kick and delivered a good ball into the centre where MacDonald ran onto it but steered a free header well-wide of the left hand post.
Talbot broke the deadlock in the 25th minute. The Bot were awarded a free kick out wide on the left that Aiden Wilson took quickly and knocked it short into the feet of Shankland. He swept a pinpoint cross into the back post where BRYAN BOYLAN raced onto it to steer a shot home from 4 yards.
The visitors tried to hit back immediately and from the re-start worked the ball down the right where Allansan whipped a dangerous ball across that McPherson cleared.
Talbot nearly doubled their lead in the 27th minute. Graham Wilson gathered just outside the area and passed it into the feet of Shankland down the left of the box. He skipped past MacDonald and fired a low drive on target that was well saved by the outstretched boot of Currie.
In the 29th minute Talbot got in behind the Kilby defence again. Armstrong played it out right toward Boylan whose dummy created the space for Crawford to burst forward and fizz a good ball across the face of goal which Currie managed to hold onto.
East Kilbride weren’t having much joy in the final third. In the 36th minute McPherson, under pressure from McGuire could only clear it as far as McLaughlin in space on the left but when he swung a cross into the back post Bradley-Hurst came off his line to claim it.
The half petered out with Talbot under no real pressure and they went in a goal ahead at the break.
Tucker made a change during the interval and when the team came back out Wardrope was on in place of Graham Wilson.
The Bot made a good start to the 2nd half and within a minute of the re-start Wardrope got free on the right and his cut back almost found Shankland in the box.
Action then switched to the other end where Allasan paced away on the right and fired a low ball across goal that the Talbot keeper smothered.
A second goal would have settled it as Kilby didn’t look capable of coming back from two adrift and the Bot threatened to grab it in the 51st minute. A cross came off a defender and behind for the corner and when the corner came in Currie had to punch it clear. It came out to McPherson on the right and he chipped it into the path of Shankland 16 yards out who couldn’t have hit it much better on the volley but it arrowed straight at Currie who did well not to spill it.
Kilby’s only shot on target all afternoon came in the 52nd minute. A long throw from the right was only partially cleared and it fell to McLaughlin on the right of the box whose low drive was spilled by Bradley-Hurst but cleared by the defence.
East Kilbride made a change after 58 mins with McBeth coming on in place of Taylor.
Four minutes later Talbot made a double change up top with Shankland & Mason making way for Samson & Smith.
The spate of substitutions continued with the visitors throwing on Kirkpatrick and McHugh for Allasan and McGuire.
In the 68th minute Kilby were awarded a free kick 35 yards out for a foul by Wilson. B Hughes floated it over to the back post where McPherson had to head it behind for a corner. When the corner came into the near post Boylan headed it clear.
With 20 mins remaining Armstrong’s cushioned header found Wardrope inside the penalty area but his low drive was blocked en route by a defender.
The visitors had to make a change with quarter of an hour remaining when Lithgow limped off to be replaced by Miller.
Ten minutes from time Talbot twice came close in quick succession to putting the game beyond doubt. Wardrope’s ball into the area was flicked into Samson’s path by Smith and Currie produced a fine save with his feet to keep out his low drive. The ball came out to Healy at the edge of the area and his half volley was dipping under the bar until Currie tipped it over.
Talbot now made a final change with Taylor coming on for Healy.
The game meandered to a close without Talbot looking to be in any danger and the Bot saw the game out to win 1-0.
Next up for Talbot, weather permitting, it’s back to league business when high-flying Beith visit Beechwood under the floodlights this coming Wednesday.
Auchinleck Talbot – Bradley-Hurst, Crawford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Healy, Graham Wilson, Mason, Shankland, Boylan
Subs – Taylor, Smith, Samson, Wardrope, Lennox, Park, Ballantyne
East Kilbride FC – Currie, MacDonald, Taylor, Morgan, Lithgow, Thomson, McGuire, McLaughlin, Connell, B Hughes, Allasan
Subs – McBeth, Miller, Kirkpatrick, McHugh, R Hughes, McLean (gk)
Talbot v East Kilbride Man Of The Match Awards
Old Crocks – Gareth Armstrong presented by Billy Waddell.
John Liddell & Friends – Gareth Armstrong presented by John Haggerty.
H & V Commissioning Services, Galston – Gareth Armstrong presented by Richard Stewart.
Auchinleck Outdoor BC – Gareth Armstrong presented by President Kenny Lorimer.
Killie Travel Club – Joshua Bradley-Hurst picked up by Chris Stafford and presented by Jim Wilson.
Mauchline BC – Gareth Armstrong presented by newly elected President for 2023 Johnny Eaglesham.
Loons Supporters Club – Neil McPherson presented by Aaron Lindsay.
Corporate Sponsor) Leighton McBlain presented his award to Neil McPherson.
Match Ball Sponsor – Emerald Contracts.
