SPONSORED BY: Loons Supporters Club, Allan Gardiner
JOINED TALBOT: July 2022
D.O.B: 31/03/2004
TALBOT DEBUT: Rossvale (Away), 24th September 2022, Scottish Junior Cup 2nd Round 4-2.
FIRST COMPETITIVE TALBOT GOAL, 16/12/23, v Vale of Leven, Scottish Junior Cup 4th Round. won 4-1.
FORMER CLUBS: Auchinleck Talbot u20’s
MURRAYS REPORT
Talbot might well have won by more but got the job done as they saw off Rossvale 4-2 to book their place in the next round of the Junior cup where Darvel await.
The game got off to a sluggish start with little of note happening in the opening spell.
In the 18th minute Elliot picked up a yellow card when he wrestled Samson back as he tried to break forward.
The first effort at goal came in the 20th minute. Boylan cut in off the left but he pulled his shot well wide of target.
A minute later came close when Mason fed the ball to Boylan on the left. He cut it back across goal where Samson stretched to meet it and sent it wide of the right hand post.
Talbot kept the momentum going and only a fine stop from Goodfellow prevented Boylan giving Talbot the lead when he latched onto Wardrope’s ball over the defence.
The goal had been coming and what a strike it was that gave Talbot the lead in the 24th minute. Armstrong slid the ball into the feet of AARON MASON 25 yards out and he gave the keeper no chance as he hammered a shot in off the inside of the right post.
It was now one-way traffic and the only real surprise is that it took until the 32nd minute til Talbot added their 2nd of the afternoon. Wardrope angled a cross in from the right toward Boylan who was sandwiched between 2 defenders. No one could get a touch and it flew beyond the far post where Mason retrieved it and cut it back for BRYAN BOYLAN to pass it home from 6 yards.
In the 37th minute Talbot threatened again when Wardrope knocked it into the feet of Mason. He had his back to goal but swiftly turned his marker before firing a shot just over the crossbar.
Two minutes later Samson and Wardrope combined down the right and when Wardrope swept a ball across the 6-yard area Boylan just failed to make contact in the centre.
Talbot looked to be on easy street but a defensive lapse gave Rossvale hope in the 40th minute. There appeared little danger when a long pass was pinged into the Talbot box but there was a breakdown in communication between Leishman & McPherson with both leaving the ball to one another. Leishman did get a hand to it but as the ball broke loose McPherson nudged Malcolm over and the ref pointed to the spot and booked McPherson for the challenge. MALCOLM took the spot kick and sent Leishman the wrong way to narrow the gap.
The loss of the goal spurred Talbot forward and in the 42nd minute Ballantyne tested the home keeper when he latched onto a weak clearance at a corner to send a low right footed drive on target that Goodfellow saved low to his right.
As the half moved into added time Talbot restored their two goal cushion. Boylan skipped past Crumlish down the left and floated a cross over to the far post where AIDEN WILSON headed home from close range to make it 3-1 to the Bot at half-time.
Talbot started the 2nd half positively and nearly put the game out of sight in the 48th minute. Samson headed the ball into the path of Ballantyne and Goodfellow did well to block his powerful drive. The rebound came to Boylan but again the keeper did well – rushing off his line to force Boylan to hurry and he sent his shot over the bar.
The Bot’s next chance came in the 52nd minute when they won a corner down the right. Wardrope hoisted it deep beyond the back post where Crawford directed a free header back across goal that Mason turned wide of target.
In the 54th minute McAvoy had his name taken for a trip on Samson.
You couldn’t see any way back into the game for Rossvale but once again they nabbed a goal out of the blue in the 58th minute. Newlands sent a dangerous cross over from the left that Leishman came for but didn’t claim and the ball bounced off AIDEN WILSON near the back post for an o.g. to make it 3-2.
In the 63rd minute Elliot had a lucky escape when he hauled Mason down after he’d turned him just outside the box. It looked worthy of a 2nd yellow but the referee contented himself with awarding the free kick. Wardrope took it and went for goal only to see Crerand in the defensive wall stick up an arm to block it and the ref had no hesitation in pointing to the spot for the 2nd time in the match.
KIER SAMSON took it and coolly slotted the ball home sending Goodfellow the wrong way to restore Talbot’s 2 goal cushion.
Talbot’s next attack was simplicity itself, Leishman bowling the ball out to Boylan in space on the right and he hared up the wing before squaring it across to Samson who saw his effort from 16 yards tipped over the bar. From the resultant corner Talbot had a great shout for a penalty. Boylan appeared to be bundled over as he went to meet it but the ref waved play on and as Rossvale broke down the right Aiden Wilson received a caution for a late challenge.
Rossvale’s keeper was having a good day and he came to their rescue again when Wardrope’s pass split open the defence to send Boylan through on goal but Goodfellow was quickly off his line and managed to block his shot which spun just over the crossbar.
Talbot picked up two bookings in the 73rd minute – firstly Ballantyne was cautioned and then Mason was carded for dissent.
Ballantyne had a couple of chances to extend Talbot’s lead as the Bot ramped up the pressure. Firstly he met a corner from the right at the near post only to see his header scrambled clear. It came back out to him and he drilled a low shot on goal that Goodfellow eventually managed to hold following a spot of juggling.
In the 78th minute Ballantyne passed up a good chance when he strode onto Samson’s cut-back, meeting it 15 yards out but he didn’t make a clean connection and his shot trundled wide of the left post.
A minute later Wardrope lifted a good cross into the centre where Mason glanced a free header wide from close range.
With 10 minutes remaining Tucker made a double switch with Park & Taylor coming on for Mason & Ballantyne and the subs were involved almost immediately with Taylor gathering Boylan’s cross beyond the back post and passing it back into the path of Park who lashed a shot just over the bar.
With a few minutes remaining Talbot made a further change with Shankland making a welcome return when he replaced Wardrope.
As the game headed into injury time Shankland nearly crowned his comeback with a goal. Taylor swept a cross over from the right that Boylan met beyond the far post. He laid it back to Shankland who clattered a shot off the right hand post.
Talbot now made one final change with Lennox coming on for Boylan.
Deep into added time Talbot had one final chance to add to their tally. Lennox cut in off the left and swung a good cross into the centre which was headed clear but only as far as Shankland. He thumped a shot at goal that was heading on target but for Samson who inadvertently blocked it en route.
Talbot’s second 4-2 win on the road in a row. After a string of cup ties it’s back to league business next Saturday as Talbot travel through to Newlandsfield to face on form Pollok.
Rossvale – Goodfellow, Crumlish, O’Donnell, Chatterton, Kelly, Elliot, Newlands, Crerand, Malcolm, McAvoy, Cridge
Subs – Bradshaw, McCormack, McAteer, Tuckett
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Crawford, Armstrong, Wardrope, Ballantyne, Boylan, Samson, Mason
Subs – Taylor, Shankland, Graham Wilson, Park, Lennox, Hewitt
MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
Talbot recovered well from a shaky start to book their place in the 2nd round of the senior cup after an entertaining win at Ochilview.
The home side got off to the perfect start when they opened the scoring in the 5th minute. It was a well-worked goal with the ball switched out to the right touchline to Hilton who quickly squared it across for FOTHERINGHAM to sweep it past Leishman and inside the right hand post from 22 yards.
The goal sparked a response from the Bot and Wardrope came close in the 8th minute when he drilled a low effort just wide of the left hand post.
Syngenta weren’t just there to make up the numbers and they gave Talbot another scare in the 10th minute. Hilton got past Wilson down the right and lifted a deep cross to the far post which Crawford headed away. It came to Rodgers and he fired wide of the right post.
Down the other end Boylan had a decent chance to pull Talbot level in the 11th minute. The home defence didn’t deal with a shy in from the right and it came to Boylan 12 yards out but he didn’t catch his shot cleanly and it scuttled its way straight at the keeper.
A minute later Wardrope had an effort on target from 20 yards but once again it failed to test Duffy.
In the 18th minute Talbot won a set piece in a decent area – 30 yards from goal – out on the left. Wardrope bent it over beyond the far post but no Bot player could get on the end of it.
Two minutes later Wardrope clipped a ball over the defence for Boylan to chase. He got to it on the right of the area but could only fire well over the bar from a tight angle.
The referee then produced two yellow cards in quick succession – firstly booking Samson and moments later cautioning a Syngenta player for kicking the ball away.
Talbot kept plugging away and put together a decent move in the 28th minute. Some neat passing ended with Mason laying it off into the path of Healy at the edge of the area but he pulled his shot and it cannoned off Wardope and straight to the keeper.
On the half hour mark Crawford raced down the right and fired a great ball across that was well cleared inside the 6-yard area.
A minute later Talbot’s pressure paid off as they levelled the score. The Bot were awarded a free kick just outside the box for a trip on Samson. Wardrope’s effort hit off the top of the defensive wall and spun out to the right where Boylan retrieved it and hooked it across goal where AARON MASON steered a low shot inside the right post.
The goal lifted Talbot up a level and they pushed hard to gain the lead. Two minutes from the interval Crawford broke up the right and slid it square to Wardrope in space 20 yards out but his shot sailed straight at Duffy.
Within a minute Boylan burst clear on the right and fired a good cross over to the far post where Mason met it but it had too much pace on it for him to control his header.
Just as it looked as though the sides were going in level Talbot moved ahead in the last minute of the half. Samson cut in off the right and drove into the penalty area before firing a shot on target that Duffy had to tip over. When the corner came over the defence failed to clear and after a bout of headie tennis the ball was gathered by Wardrope near the bye line and he floated a cross over to the back post where KIER SAMSON nodded it home to send Talbot in 2-1 ahead at the interval.
Mason picked up a soft caution early in the 2nd half when he was adjudged to have impeded Duffy as he went to clear it.
The Bot nearly moved two goals ahead in the 52nd minute. Boylan met a cross from the right and his header came back off the crossbar and out to Samson whose header on target was saved by Duffy.
Moments later Talbot came close again. Wardrope gathered on the left before sliding a pass inside to Mason whose fierce drive was tipped over the bar by Duffy.
It had been all Talbot since the break but the home side put together a good break down the right in the 59th minute which ended with Leishman safely gathering a cross in his goal mouth.
On the hour mark Talbot had a decent opportunity to extend their lead. Samson cut inside, beating a couple of men for pace before cutting it back into the path of Wardrope who fired a shot on target but straight at Duffy.
Two minutes later Talbot’s efforts were rewarded with a 3rd goal. Boylan gathered wide on the right and angled a short pass inside to Wardrope who burst forward into the box before squaring it across for KIER SAMSON to pass it into the net.
Syngenta now decided to throw caution to the wind and made a double switch with Johnson and Sheridan joining the fray.
Another goal for Talbot would’ve killed it off and the Bot threatened to grab it in the 69th minute. Wardrope switched play to find Boylan in space on the right and he stepped in onto his left foot and angled a shot on target that Duffy saved low to his right. The ball came out to Mason and he played it back into the centre where Samson met it but his scissor kick flew straight at the keeper.
Talbot looked to be cruising to the win but the game was thrown back into the melting pot when Syngenta pulled a goal back out of nowhere in the 73rd minute. The Bot defence were slow to react to a ball in from the left which broke to SHERIDAN and he buried a low drive inside the left hand post from 22 yards.
Tucker made a double change in the 79th minute with Glasgow coming on for Mason and Park replacing the injured Healy.
In the 80th minute Samson fired over a great ball from wide on the left but the Syngenta defence proved equal to the task and cut it out in the centre.
The Bot then made another enforced change as Crawford limped from the field to be replaced by Taylor.
As the game moved into the closing stages Talbot were still pushing forward looking to finish the tie off. Glasgow had a chance to put the game beyond doubt in the 86th minute when he found himself with time and space at the edge of the area. He tried to place it and his effort was blocked off a defender.
One minute from the end of normal time Talbot grabbed their fourth to settle matters. Glasgow gathered in the centre and ran at the defence before sliding the ball to his right to find Samson. He returned the ball back across goal where JAMIE GLASGOW had continued his run to place it beyond Duffy.
A good game for the neutral to enjoy and a good result for the Bot who now await Sunday’s 2nd round draw. Next up for Talbot it is back to cup action as they travel through to Springburn to face Rossvale in the Scottish Junior cup.
Syngenta – Duffy, Rodger, Cowan, Taggart, Fitzpatrick, Glackin, Fotheringham, Walton, Rodgers, Robertson, White
Subs – Johnson, Erskine, Mooney, Armstrong, Sheridan, Smith
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, A Wilson, McPherson, Crawford, Healy, Wardrope, Ballantyne, Boylan, Samson, Mason
Subs – Glasgow, Taylor, Park, Shankland, Lennox, Hewitt
There was nothing to separate the sides as Talbot and Petershill settled for a point a piece after drawing 1-1 at Petershill Park.
The home side made a bright start and had a half chance in the opening minute. McKenna fed it back to Scott and his first time ball into the centre was met by Shelvey who lifted it over the bar.
Talbot had a chance to test the Peasies defence in the 3rd minute when Samson won a free kick out on the left. Glasgow aimed it beyond the far post where McCracken met it unopposed but he steered his header back across goal rather than on target and Graham Wilson was penalised in the 6- yard area.
The Bot had a let off in the 7th minute when McKenna got on the end of a cross from the left and glanced a header off the face of the bar.
Hewitt received a caution in the 10th minute for a shirt tug on Samson after Kier had spun away from him.
Talbot came close to the opener in the 13th minute. Glasgow turned his marker and sped down the left before feeding the ball into the feet of Samson on the left of the area. He pulled it back across goal where Taylor ran onto it but he bundled his shot wide of the right post.
A minute later Taylor came close again – bursting into the box down the right but the defender did enough to pressure him and McNeil came out to dive at his feet and turn it behind for the corner.
In the 22nd minute Leitch received a yellow card for hauling down Samson.
Petershill caught Talbot on the hop in the 23rd minute when they countered down the left. The ball was switched inside to find Scott but he pulled his shot wide of Leishman’s left hand post.
McGregor came to the home side’s rescue in Talbot’s next attack. Taylor sped down the right and whipped over a cross that looked destined for Graham Wilson’s head at the far post but McGregor got his head to it to take it away from him.
Down the other end Talbot had a near miss in the 29th minute. The Peasies won a corner on the right and when it came over Leitch got a free header 12 yards out but sent it just over the crossbar.
The home side threatened again in the 32nd minute when McKenna ran into space down the left before delivering a good low ball into the centre which was cut out before eventually being cleared.
In the 34th minute Graham Wilson’s clever flick sent Glasgow racing clear on the left. He cut into the box and tried to place it low to McNeil’s left but the keeper got down to make a good stop and Leitch knocked the loose ball behind for a corner.
Just when it looked like the half was meandering its way to a close Talbot took the lead out of the blue in the 42nd minute. A shy from the right found CHRIS STAFFORD and he cut inside and with a burst of speed cut between two defenders before taking it wide of McNeil and slotting home from a tight angle.
Unfortunately, Talbot were barely in front before Petershill levelled in the final minute of the half. Ferns played a good ball across goal from the left which MCKENNA met in the centre and although he didn’t make the cleanest of contacts it was enough to steer it in off the base of the left post to send the teams in level at the break.
Talbot started the 2nd half positively and tested the keeper 2 minutes after the re-start. Graham Wilson played Glasgow in and McNeil got down to block his low right footed shot from the left of the area. The rebound came to Taylor in the air and he sent his header over the bar.
Healy had his name taken in the 48th minute for a foul just inside the Talbot half.
Talbot were forced into an early change in the 52nd minute when McCracken picked up a knock and had to leave the field to be replaced by Ballantyne.
In the 57th minute Ferns curled a dangerous ball over from the right that only needed a touch but there were no takers and Leishman was able to gather.
Play then switched to the other end where Taylor pinged the ball into the feet of Samson inside the area and he was able to spin his man and get a shot off on target but McNeil made a good stop.
Tucker made Talbot’s 2nd change of the afternoon in the 63rd minute when Wardrope came on in place of Taylor.
Talbot’s next chance came after Peasies failed to clear their lines from a corner. Armstrong’s shot from the edge of the area was blocked but it came back to Healy and he drilled a low effort on target that McNeil smothered.
Petershill then picked up two bookings in quick succession – firstly Owens and then moments later Cappie for a high challenge on Aiden Wilson.
In the 70th minute Petershill won a corner down the left when McKenna’s cross was deflected behind. Ferns hit the perfect in swinger to the back post which Graham Wilson had to head clear from the goal mouth. It came out to Gracie on the right edge and he fired a low drive on target but straight at Leishman.
Talbot came close to regaining the lead in the 74th minute. Wardrope gathered just outside the area and cut inside onto his left before steering a shot at goal that crashed off the crossbar.
Petershill now made a change with Branks on for Shelvey.
With 10 minutes remaining Talbot made a double switch with Graham Wilson and Glasgow making way for Mason and Boylan.
As the game moved into the closing stages it was Talbot on the front foot and the Bot had two late chances to claim all three points. In the 86th minute Wardrope fired a great ball across goal from the right but Boylan couldn’t connect it with at the back post.
Two minutes later Mason skipped past his man down the left and chipped it into the centre where Wardrope touched it off into the path of Boylan but he was falling back as he hit it and lashed it over the bar.
Petershill were content to run the clock down and made two late subs with McDonald on for McKenna and Brodie replacing Ferns at the last kick.
Over the piece a draw was about right with neither side having any serious complaints. Next up for Talbot it’s a return visit to Petershill Park though this time to face Rossvale in the Scottish Junior cup but as of the time of writing it’s still unclear when it’s due to take place as Petershill are at home next Saturday.
Petershill – McNeil, Gracie, Scott, McGregor, Hewitt, Leitch, Cappie, Owens, Shelvey, Ferns, McKenna
Subs – McCabe, Brodie, McLaughlan, Branks, Crumlish, McDonald, Lachlan
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Healy, Taylor, Samson, Graham Wilson, Glasgow
Subs – Boylan, Mason, Wardrope, Crawford, Ballantyne, Park
MURRAYS REPORT
MURRAYS REPORT
MURRAY’S REPORT
A bad day at the office for Talbot who slumped to a 3-0 defeat with the damage being done in the last 5 minutes of the 1st half.
The game started positively flowing from end to end with both sides having early chances. Darvel had an opportunity in the opening minute when they won a free kick out on the left touchline. It was swept into the centre where Ferguson steered a free header over the bar.
In the 3rd minute Talbot had a good chance to take the lead. Graham Wilson did well in the build-up holding the ball up before sliding a pass left to send Samson through on goal but Truesdale produced a fine stop – saving with his outstretched leg to deny Samson.
Two minutes later and Samson had a golden chance for the opener. Graham Wilson touched the ball on into his path to send him clear through the centre and in on goal but he took a slightly heavy 1st touch and Truesdale was quickly off his line to make the block.
It was then Darvel’s turn to threaten when a shy from the right found Mackenzie in the area and he spun McPherson before firing a shot across goal and wide of the far post.
Stafford had his name taken in the 9th minute when he obstructed Stirling as he burst forward. McShane took the resultant free kick but sent it well wide of target.
Talbot conceded a soft corner in the 16th minute and nearly paid for it when the corner in ricocheted into the path of Mackenzie but he fired a half volley over the bar from 8 yards.
The Bot’s next attack saw Graham Wilson show good close control before releasing Samson down the left and he saw his shot blocked behind for the corner. When the corner came over deep beyond the far post McCracken glanced a header wide of target.
In the 34th minute Samson fashioned a chance out of nothing when his persistence saw him close down & dispossess Eadie. He raced into the area and cut it back to Park but he went for the wrong option trying to square it into the centre rather than shooting and the chance was lost.
Three minutes later Graham Wilson angled a good 1st time ball over beyond the far post where Taylor met it and volleyed wide of the left post.
The game began to slip away from Talbot in the 40th minute when Armstrong lunged into a tackle on Mackenzie. The referee produced a straight red and things went from bad to worse for Talbot as they conceded the opener a minute later. Darvel won a corner on the right and when it came over a Darvel player headed it on in the crowded 6-yard box and MEGGETT prodded it home from close range to give Darvel the lead.
It was all over bar the shouting deep into 1st half injury time when Darvel doubled their lead. The ball was switched left to right to find Meechan in space and he had time to look up and drill it across the face of goal where MACKENZIE turned it home at the near post to send Darvel in 2 ahead at the interval.
Tucker made a switch during the break with Wardrope on in place of Park.
The 2nd half was a bit of a non-event with Darvel content to keep possession for the most part. Taylor picked up a caution in the 55th minute for clipping the heels of Stirling and he was joined in the book a minute later by Meggett who was penalised for kicking the ball away after shoving over Samson.
Darvel nearly added to their lead in the 57th minute. Ferguson beat Leishman to a ball down the left and slid it for goal from a tight angle but Aiden Wilson got back to clear.
Talbot were offered a glimmer of hope in the 64th minute. Taylor met Aiden Wilson’s hanging cross only to be bundled over inside the box. The ref pointed to the spot but when it’s not your day it’s not your day and Graham Wilson’s tame spot kick was easily saved by Truesdale.
Two minutes later and Darvel completed the scoring. STIRLING gathered the ball 30 yards out and surged forward into the area before firing a shot in off the underside of the bar.
With the game gone Talbot made a slew of changes bringing on Glasgow and Boylan for Taylor and Samson and late on making a further double change with Ballantyne and Crawford getting a run out in place of Stafford and McPherson.
A disappointing afternoon but Talbot will look to dust themselves down and get back to winning ways next Saturday when they travel through to Somervell Park to face newly promoted Cambuslang Rangers.
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Park, Healy, Graham Wilson, Samson, Taylor
Subs – Glasgow, Boylan, Wardrope, Crawford, Ballantyne, Heaney
Darvel – Truesdale, Eadie, Allan, Meggett, McShane, Stirling, Mackenzie, Meechan, Ferguson, Robertson, Caldwell
Subs – Ferguson, Miller, C Truesdale, Moore
