Venue: Away

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

No strangers to the tv, Talbot once more rose to the occasion, imperiously sweeping aside the much fancied Kelty Hearts to book their place in the 2nd round of the senior cup.

The last time Talbot travelled through to the kingdom of Fife to face Kelty the tie had to be re-located to Ballingry as Kelty’s park was permanently unplayable but that wasn’t an issue this time round as the big spending Lowland league outfit have redeveloped their ground to a top of the range artificial surface with matching surroundings.

The Bot nearly made the perfect start within a minute of kick off. Shankland picked up a loose ball 25 yards out and let fly with an effort that swerved just wide of the anxious Mackenzie’s right post.

Kelty now settled into a pattern of play they rarely deviated from; content to keep easy possession deep in their own half before pinging long balls at a resolute Talbot defence.

Talbot’s first effort on target came in the. 11th minute. Pope fired a cross over that Samson headed back across goal & Graham Wilson out-jumped his marker but his header went straight at Mackenzie.

Kelty were having plenty of the ball but doing little with it & the next opening came Talbot’s way in the 11th minute. Shankland slipped a pass through toward Samson on the left of the area but the keeper was quickly off his line to make the challenge.

The opening goal came after 20 minutes and it had echoes of Talbot’s winning goal against Ayr United. Graham Wilson was up-ended by Russell out on the left touchline & Shankland whipped over a tremendous delivery to the far post where CRAIG MCCRACKEN raced onto it to bullet a header home.

Kelty had a half chance to pull back level a few minutes later. Husband fired in a decent ball from the right that broke off a defender toward Dodd but his low drive from 15 yards was blocked by McCracken then cleared by Lyle.

Kelty were making less headway than a feather heading into a headwind and Talbot threatened again in the 38th minute. Shankland pounced on a loose pass down the left & switched it inside to Graham Wilson who laid it back out to him on the wing. He drilled it low into the near post where Carstairs knocked it away for a shy.

Talbot kept the attack going and Pope whipped over a cross that Hyslop sent crashing off the right post with the keeper stranded.

The Bot were ending the half on the front foot and opened the Kelty defence again in the 40th minute. Shankland slid a pass through to Samson racing through on the left of the area and he drilled it low into the side-netting.

With half-time looming Talbot doubled their lead. Stephen Wilson lifted it up the left for his brother Graham to chase and he put Ashe under severe pressure. The Kelty defender fluffed his header back & Wilson latched onto it & tried to lob the advancing keeper. Mackenzie got a hand to it but the ball sailed through to KEIR SAMSON who hammered it home from close range at the far post to send Talbot in with a deserved two goal cushion at the interval.

Kelty had offered precious little so it was no real shock to see them make a change at the interval with Husband making way for Philp.
Talbot have a good habit of starting the 2nd half from the off & Tucker’s half-time team talk did its work again as the Bot got off to a flyer.

Within two minutes of the re-start Graham Wilson picked the ball up on the right & surged forward before floating a cross toward the back stick that had Mackenzie scrambling to turn it behind for a corner. Cennerazzo managed to head Shankland’s corner clear at the near post but only out to Stephen Wilson who plunked the ball back out to Shankland who promptly forced a 2nd corner. This time Shankland whipped it into the centre where Mackenzie only just beat McCracken to it under the bar to punch clear.

Talbot’s next attack saw Kelty’s captain in the book as Carstairs was forced to haul Stephen Wilson down he threatened to race clear. Pope took the free kick and in a trademark Talbot move he angled the ball toward Hyslop who easily out-climbed Cennerazzo to head it across goal where MARK SHANKLAND guided a header back across goal and into the top corner. Shanks leaped the fence to celebrate with the fans and picked up a booking for his troubles but with the game done & dusted no Bot fan minded.

Kelty were incapable of coping with Talbot at set pieces and the Bot nearly added a fourth in the 53rd minute. Stephen Wilson’s shot was deflected behind for a corner on the left and when Shankland fired it over McCracken was inches from connecting at the back post.

The home side had been muted but they did have an opportunity to snatch a goal back on the hour mark. Dodd lifted a cross over that Austin headed on toward Philp at the back post but he mis-controlled it and the ball ran through tamely to Leishman.

In the 63rd minute Kelty made their second change with Ritchie on in place of Dodd.

The Fifers picked up their 2nd caution of the evening with 65 mins gone when Russell slid in late on Hyslop; resulting in a Bot free kick out on the right. Shankland again produced a top class delivery & McCracken looked a cert to grab his 2nd from close range but Mackenzie saved his header on the goal line.

Kelty had a half chance to grab a consolation in the 72nd minute. They put together a good move down the right that ended with Austin firing a shot on target that Leishman blocked at his near post.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot nearly added a fourth. Pope combined well with Samson down the left before Samson cut in off the left flank & curled a shot just past the far corner with the keeper scrambling.

All Kelty were playing for now was their tattered pride & Philp had a half chance to pull one back in the 83rd minute. Reilly made a good run forward before releasing it to Ritchie who blazed over from 20 yards.

Leishman had been as much of a spectator as the Bot fans partying behind the goal but demonstrated that he’d kept his concentration when he pulled off a top class save to deny Kelty a late consolation with 5 minutes remaining. Cennerazzo waltzed in off the right wing & curled a shot toward the far corner which Leishman flew through the air to turn wide of the post.

As the clock ran down Talbot made a flurry of late changes with Graham Wilson and Shankland making way for Glasgow and White and then Healy replacing Samson.

The noisy travelling support raised the volume levels up a notch at the final whistle as the Bot fans celebrated a superb team performance and a comfortable win. Next up for Talbot it is a return to cup action as they begin their defence of the Scottish Junior cup at Beechwood against Bellshill Athletic.

Kelty Hearts – Mackenzie, Cennerazzo, Linton, Carstairs, Ashe, Reilly, Husband, McKirdy, Austin, Russsell, Dodd

Subs – Scobbie, Philp, Campbell, Bragg, Ritchie, McBride, Jardine

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Samson, Graham Wilson, Shankland

Subs – Glasgow, Boylan, Healy, McDowall, Young, White, Hewitt

Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/8630/kelty-hearts-auchinleck-talbot-3#ixzz63m4V8ylF

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot booked their place in the draw for the 1st round of the William Hill Scottish cup with a battling away win over Camelon.

The home side started the game with a stiff breeze at their backs but had a big let off only two minutes in. Lyle plunked a cross into the area that clearly hit Lockie’s arm but the officials managed to miss it & dismissed Talbot’s penalty appeal.

There wasn’t much goal mouth action and it took until the 17th minute before the first close call. Stephen Wilson whipped over a cross from the right & Samson sent an overhead kick just wide of Shaw’s right post.

A minute later Talbot had another effort at goal. White was up-ended as he burst forward & Shankland took the free kick, curling it over the defensive wall but it didn’t dip in time & flew over the bar.

Talbot deservedly took the lead in the 20th minute. Leishman lifted it up the centre where Graham Wilson flicked it on into the path of Samson. He raced through only to see Shaw block his effort. The rebound came out to White who laid it off to his left to find MARK SHANKLAND & he drilled a low shot past Shaw.

Camelon were finding it difficult to harness the breeze & were guilty of overhitting long balls which tended to either end in goal kicks or go straight through to Leishman.

The home fans were given encouragement in the 27th minute when Docherty went on a strong run down the right which saw his final ball cut out at the near post at the expense of a corner.

In the 31st minute the Wilson brothers combined to create Talbot’s next goal threat. Stephen played it up the right to Graham who looked set to break into the box one on one with the keeper but Skinner recovered well to dive in & slide it behind for the corner.

The referee had work to do in the 34th minute. The ball ran out of play down the right for a shy but then Skinner took a swipe at Stephen Wilson off the sidelines. Again, the referee & his assistant managed to turn a blind eye to it.

Two minutes later Pope had his name taken for a late challenge on Kane.

Five minutes before the interval Leishman found Stephen Wilson out on the right & he headed it on toward Samson. He paced away down the wing & slung a dangerous low ball across the area that the defence did well to clear.

Talbot’s next attack saw Shaw have a shaky moment. Pope lifted a cross into the centre which the keeper missed. Stephen Wilson went for it at the back post but took a knock as he challenged for it & Lockie was able to scramble it away.

The Bot finished the half strongly and a minute before the break gave Shaw work to do. Graham Wilson laid the ball out left to Shankland who fired a low ball over that Shaw did well to cut out at his near post.

As the half moved into added time Talbot had a late chance to double their lead. A ball over the defence found Shankland & he touched it into the path of Samson on the left of the penalty area who drilled a low shot on target that Shaw blocked and so the half ended with Talbot one ahead.
Talbot made a strong start to the 2nd half and put the Camelon keeper under pressure in the 50th minute. Samson switched it out to the right to Stephen Wilson and when he crossed it in Shaw spilled the ball under the challenge of White but the ref gave the keeper the benefit of the doubt & awarded a free kick.

The Bot came within a whisker of moving two in front in the 58th minute. Herron conceded a free kick out on the left touchline for a foul on Graham Wilson which Pope angled into the area. Young climbed to meet it & sent a header crashing against the bar with the keeper beaten.

Camelon made a double switch in the 59th minute with David Morrison & McMullan making way for Sneddon & Deans.

McCroary received Camelon’s 2nd yellow card of the afternoon in the 69th minute when he barged Shankland over on the touchline.

The home side were enjoying a lot of the ball in the middle third without looking remotely threatening at the business end as Talbot sat in on their lead.

In the 74th minute slack play by Stephen Wilson gifted possession to McKenzie out on the right & he whipped over a good cross that glanced off the top of Docherty’s head on its way behind.

Both sides now made a change; Hyslop replacing White in the centre for Talbot & Cameron coming off or Herron for the home side.

As time went on the game was becoming stretched with Camelon having to throw more men forward & this created openings for Talbot on the break. In the 77th minute Hyslop rose to head the ball on into the feet of Shankland who in turn spread it wide to find Samson in space. He tried to curl one for the far corner but got too much on it & it sailed wide of the left post.

A minute later McPherson played an early ball down the right that found Samson racing onto the end of it & he opted to hit it first time; driving a low shot in that Shaw smothered.

With 11 minutes remaining Tucker made a double substitution with Shankland & Graham Wilson being replaced by Healy & Glasgow.

Talbot came close to putting the tie beyond Camelon in their next attack. Hyslop sent it to Armstrong out on the left & when he squared the ball back inside to Hyslop he curled a shot just over the bar from 18 yards.

Camelon pushed forward in the closing stages, without any end product, and with 3 mins remaining Talbot sealed victory with their 2nd goal. Pope whipped over a good cross from the touchline that KEIR SAMSON met to power a header past Shaw.

In the final minute Kane briefly looked like threatening the Bot goal when he jinked inside the box but he hesitated too long before shooting & was crowded out. The ball came out to McCroary on the right & he fired in a cross that McPherson put behind for a corner.

Deep in injury time Talbot almost grabbed a third. Samson raced clear on the right & lifted over a cross that Glasgow met on the 6-yard line but Shaw made an impressive reflex save to keep out his header.

A good away win for Talbot who now return to league duty next Saturday when they travel to Barrfields to face Largs Thistle.

Camelon Juniors – Shaw, McCroary, Lockie, Don Morrison, Skinner, David Morrison, Kane, Herron, Docherty, McMullan, McKenzie

Subs – Sneddon, Cameron, Daramola, Deans, Swanson, Sneddon, Kinnear

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, Young, White, Armstrong, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Samson, Shankland

Subs – Glasgow, McKinlay, Healy, Hyslop, Pearson, Aiden Wilson, Hewitt

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

Talbot survived a scare in this hard fought William Hill Scottish cup tie as they battled to a 2-2 draw away to Dundonald Bluebell.

The Bot got an early indication this wasn’t going to be an easy afternoon when McKenzie burst forward toward the Talbot penalty area. As he was challenged the ball broke left to Wilson whose low drive was smothered by Leishman.

Talbot’s first attack came after 5 minutes. Armstrong spread the ball out right to find Graham Wilson who fired it low across the area. The defence could only clear it as far as Armstrong, 15 yards out, but he took too many touches & was closed down before getting a shot away.

In the 10th minute Pope played it up the line to find Samson running in behind Mackie. He lifted a cross over to the far post where Stephen Wilson headed it back across goal & Lennox gathered under pressure from Graham Wilson.

A minute later Pope again played it down the left for Samson. He shrugged off Mackie’s challenge and fired in a shot from a tight angle that Lennox parried away.

Leishman was called upon in the 17th minute. A long ball down the right skipped off Young’s head and fell to Calum Smith. Leishman quickly raced to the edge of his area to make the block. The rebound came to Smith on the right touchline and he fired it low across goal where Young cut it out.

The home side had an opportunity to test Leishman again in the 21st minute. Chris Gay was nudged over as he broke forward resulting in a free kick 25 yards out. Drummond fired it round the wall but Leishman dived to his right to push it away.

Within a minute Talbot moved ahead. Armstrong slipped a well-weighted pass down the left for KEIR SAMSON & he out-paced Mackie before prodding the ball past Lennox to make it 1-0.

Talbot had a chance to extend their lead in the 25th minute. Nimmo caught Samson 22 yards out and the ref awarded Talbot a free kick. Shankland took it but his shot hit the top of the defensive wall & spun out for a shy. Stephen Wilson took it quickly, releasing Armstrong on the right of the area where he fired a shot that Lennox gathered at his near post.

The Bot’s next attack saw Pope on the overlap & his low cross caused Lennox difficulties with the keeper fumbling the ball but able to gather at the 2nd attempt.

Dundonald threatened an equaliser in the 32nd minute. The ball was played into Chris Gay at the edge of the area & he carried it forward before firing just past the right post.

Samson was getting joy down the left & was involved in a penalty shout in Talbot’s next attack. He gathered on the left before driving inside into the box where he was blocked by Mackie but the referee judged the collision accidental & waved play on.

Armstrong set the ball rolling on Talbot’s next attack as he surged forward through midfield before releasing it to Samson down the right. He made for the bye line before cutting a dangerous ball back across the face of goal but there were no takers in the centre. The ball came out to Shankland on the opposite wing & he whipped a good cross over that Nimmo headed clear.

Five minutes before the interval Talbot came close to grabbing their 2nd. The Bot won a free kick out on the left which Shankland curled over. Lennox touched it away but it came out to Samson 16 yards out, who with his back to goal fired an overhead kick on target that Lennox touched over the bar.

Talbot were ending the half strongly and threatened the Dundonald goal again in the 43rd minute. Pope drove into the box and fired a right foot shot at goal that deflected off Graham Wilson & just wide of Lennox’s right hand post.

The Bot kept pressing and had the home side pegged back but couldn’t add to their tally and went in 1-0 ahead at the break.

Dundonald made two changes during the half-time interval with Rogerson & Wilson staying in the clubhouse to be replaced by Matt Gay and Jeffries.

The changes seemed to rejuvenate the home side who made a strong start to the 2nd half without particularly threatening in the final third.

The first effort at goal after the break came in the 55th minute for Dundonald. Leishman punched a corner clear that came out to Mackie just inside the area & he directed a scissor kick wide of the right post.

On the hour mark Matt Gay cut in off the right past Armstrong & lifted a cross just beyond the back post which Calum Smith met but was unable to head back on target. Talbot now launched a swift counter down the right where Graham Wilson combined with Samson to release Samson on the right of the area where he fired into the side-netting.

Talbot had a chance in the 64th minute when Shankland lifted a cross over to find Samson 6 yards out but it was just too high and he couldn’t get over it and sent his header flying over the bar.

A minute later Talbot spurned a golden chance to double their lead. White challenged for the ball in midfield and the ball cannoned through to Graham Wilson on the right. He was clean through and strolled on into the penalty area before squaring it across to Samson. He looked a cert but the ball got caught between his feet & Lennox was quickly off his line to save at his feet.

Slack play in the Dundonald rearguard gifted Talbot their next opening. A loose pass came out to Shankland just outside the area and he went for goal only to see Durie deflect his shot behind. Shankland took the corner and his delivery cut the keeper out and flew to the back post but no one could get the touch needed.

With 20 minutes remaining Dundonald made their final change with Walton replacing McKenzie and a minute later Talbot made a double switch with Glasgow & Healy on for Shankland & Samson.

It was all square in the 73rd minute. Talbot’s midfield were posted missing allowing Chris Gay the time to slide a pass through the defence for JOHN SMITH who placed it low past Leishman.

Things went from bad to worse for the Bot and they found themselves a goal behind two minutes later with an early contender for goal of the tournament. Nimmo lifted a high ball down the right that Calum Smith knocked down into the path of JOSH JEFFRIES who cut in off the right & looped an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner.

The drama continued as Talbot raced to the other end from the re-start and won a penalty. Stephen Wilson sped down the left and cut in inside to Glasgow whose shot was blocked by Durie’s arm. The ref pointed to the spot and Pope took it, firing a tame effort on target that Lennox parried away to his right. Pope followed up and got to the loose ball and the keeper turned from hero to zero as he dived to retrieve it and up-ended Pope resulting in a 2nd penalty. This time GRAHAM WILSON took over spot kick duties and gave the keeper no chance as he buried it high inside the left post to make it 2-2.

Unusually for a competitive cup tie there hadn’t been any bookings but Calum Smith had his name taken in the 79th minute for a late challenge on Lyle.

Dundonald had a chance for a late winner three minutes from time. A corner from the left was pulled back to the on rushing Chris Gay but he fired over from 15 yards.

As the game moved into injury time it was Talbot who who nearly snatched the win. A promising Talbot counter was ended when Glasgow was hauled down by Durie resulting in a yellow card for the full-back. The free kick was flighted up field where it broke to Glasgow on the right of the area and his low drive was saved by Lennox.

In virtually the final action of the match Talbot were inches from the win. A ball over from the right came across to Stephen Wilson and his shot was deflected just past the post by Durie.

The fans certainly got their money’s worth and both sides have it all to do again next Saturday at Beechwood.

Dundonald Bluebell – Lennox, Durie, Drummond, Mackie, Nimmo, Chris Gay, Rogerson, McKenzie, Calum Smith, Wilson, Wallace

Subs – Matt Gay, Jeffries, John Smith, Walton, Hendry, Crowe (gk)

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Young, A Wilson, White, Stephen Wilson, Armstrong, Graham Wilson, Samson, Shankland

Subs – Glasgow, Healy, Pearson, McDowall, McKinlay, Hewitt