Away – Page 5 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Clydebank v Auchinleck Talbot

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Report by Murray Steele

All good things must come to an end & Talbot’s unbeaten start to 2018 came to a grinding halt as they lost 3-1 to a Clydebank in a match where Talbot paid the price for failing to put away numerous chances in the 1st half.
The game started as well as could be expected with Talbot carving out the 1st clear opening in the 8th minute. Hyslop found Steven Wilson on the overlap & Shankland met his cross 6 yards out but steered his header straight at Lumsden.
A minute later Talbot took the lead. McIlroy burst down the left & lifted a cross to the back post where Hyslop guided a free header home to make it 1-0.
Talbot nearly doubled their lead in the 14th minute. Hyslop’s pass sent Graham Wilson free on the left & he carried on into the area before lifting a shot over Lumsden. It smacked off the face of the bar & came out to McIlroy but he was closed down before he could tuck the rebound home & his low drive was blocked. The ball broke out to Steven Wilson & he fired over the bar from 15 yards.
Two minutes later Pope was unfortunate not to add to Talbot’s lead. Shankland’s corner from the right came to him 10 yards out & he took it on the half volley drilling a shot inches wide of the left hand upright.
It was all Talbot & the next chance came to McIlroy. Pope bent a good ball down the left to find him inside the area but he got his angles wrong & shot wide of the right post.
Pope then tried his luck from distance, shooting just wide of the left post from 35 yards after Steven Wilson squared the ball to him.
Talbot’s next effort at goal came in the 25th minute. Graham Wilson fed the ball back to Pope who slung a dangerous cross over that the Bankies defence failed to clear. It came out to Shankland at the edge of the area & he volleyed it on target but straight at the keeper who turned it over the bar.
When the corner came over Pope arrowed a header on target that had the keeper well-beaten but a defender was on hand to clear it off the line. The Bankies couldn’t clear their lines & the ball came to Graham Wilson on the left. He went for precision rather than power, attempting to pass it into the net & Lumsden got down to his left to touch it away.
Hyslop picked up the 1st caution of the afternoon when he was penalised for a late challenge on Paterson.
Clydebank’s 1st close call came in the 32nd minute. McClair passed it inside to Higgins & he fired just over the bar from the edge of the area.
As the weather deteriorated so did the match itself with play becoming scrappy & confined to the middle third.
With half time approaching Talbot had two further chances to put some daylight between themselves & the Bankies. Firstly, McIlroy teed it up for Steven Wilson deep inside the penalty area but he blasted his shot off Paterson & the referee dismissed Talbot’s shouts that it had struck the defender’s arm.
Talbot’s final chance came two minutes before the interval. Forsyth fouled Shankland 30 yards out & Shankland took the setpiece himself; firing it over the wall & a whisker wide of the right post, and so for all their dominance Talbot left the field only a goal to the good.
The 2nd half was only a minute old when Talbot were given a warning of what was to come. Lyle was caught out by a ball down the left & Higgins was able to make tracks down the left before firing a shot well wide of goal.
Action then switched to the other end where Steven Wilson’s ball down the line found the run of McIlroy. He whipped a good early cross into the goal mouth where Graham Wilson was lurking but the Bankies defended it well.
The game was all square in the 50th minute thanks to a wonder strike. HIGGINS cut in off the left & curled an inch perfect shot into the top left corner giving Leishman no chance.
Talbot tried to respond swiftly & had a golden chance to regain the lead within a minute. Graham Wilson sent Shankland through on the left & he cut inside before trying to slide the ball low past the keeper. Lumsden dived low to block it but it still was floating into the net until a Bankies defender raced back to head it off the line.
This proved a turning point as the Bankies then went down the other end and took the lead. It was a poor goal to lose from a Talbot point of view. DEAS being allowed to gather unchallenged midway inside the Bot half & carry the ball forward before firing a low drive that seemed to head inside the right post in slow motion.
Once again Talbot took the game to the Bankies & went looking for an immediate riposte. Hyslop’s volley from 12 yards flying on target but too near the keeper who was able to parry it away.
Steven Wilson squandered a decent chance in the 59th minute. Shankland did well on the left & pulled it back for Wilson to run onto unchallenged at the edge of the box but he ballooned his shot high over.
It was game over in the 61st minute when Talbot conceded for the 3rd time. Leishman misjudged a ball down the left channel, racing off his line to come for it & HIGGINS took full advantage, lobbing the ball over him & inside the far post.
Tucker made a double substitution in the 67th minute with Glasgow on for Shankland down the left & Faulds replacing White in the centre.
Talbot huffed & puffed in the closing 20 minutes but the damage had already been done & they were unable to find a way back into the match with the Bankies dropping deep to defend their lead.
A sore one to take but onwards and upwards & now Talbot’s focus switches back to the cups as they start a run of 4 consecutive cup ties with the visit of St Roch’s to Beechwood in the West of Scotland.

Clydebank – Lumsden, Vezza, Paterson, Pearson, Darroch, Forsyth, McClair, Deas, Shelvey, Higgins, Cunningham

Subs – Watt, McLean, McAnespie, Morrison

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

Subs- Glasgow, Armstrong, Thomson, Faulds, McCracken

Carnoustie Panmure v Auchinleck Talbot

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Whitletts Victoria v Auchinleck Talbot

Glenafton Athletic v Auchinleck Talbot

With the game fastly approaching the 90 minute mark, Talbot finally converts a chance and secures all three points for the Beechwood Boys!

‘Pee-wee’ pops up at the back post and smashes home his headed shot and scores the only goal of the game. 0-1.

Another angle of Dwayne Hyslop’s late goal.

The Glens players immediately vent their anger after conceding late in the game.

Talbot celebrate, as Glenafton contemplate what went wrong.

McChesney fires the ball away from danger, as he is closely marked by ‘Gee’.

Stephen Wilson sends the ball down the park before he gets challenged.

‘Pee-wee’ tries to have a go at goal but the Glens defender blocks his path but…

…he then chases after the ball but gets beaten to it by McGarrity.

Stephen gets stopped in his tracks by this tackle.

Glasgow shows his anguish as he his deemed to be offside while racing into the opposing box.

A chance falls to Jamie Glasgow at very close range but McGarrity stands his ground and keeps the ball out.

Glasgow keeps the ball close to him while trying to evade this challenge.

Lyle makes sure he and his team-mates are doing their bit to make sure that Talbot are ‘staying alive’ in the title race.

Andy Leishman keeps his eyes on the ball, as Glenafton try their luck from way out.

The players try to get their point across during the game.

An early second half chance for Talbot, as Graham does his best to lob McGarrity.

‘Gee’ gets stopped in his tracks, as he is about to pull the trigger.

‘Shankers’ has a go from outside the box.

Mark muscles his way through the Glens defence inside the box.

Hands up who is the odd one out in this line?

Shankland’s deflected shot goes inches over the crossbar.

With the Glenafton goal surrounded by Talbot players, Sean McIlroy sends a powerful header towards goal but, unfortunately, Ally Park heads it away from danger on the line.

And from this angle, you can see just how close Sean came to scoring.

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
Talbot made the perfect start to 2018, opening the new year with an away win at New Cumnock to keep their title hopes alive.
It was Talbot who made the early running & the 1st effort at goal came in the 5th minute. The Glens defence failed to properly clear a ball aimed at Glasgow & it came out to Graham Wilson who lobbed it over the stranded McGarrity but also over the crossbar.
In the 9th minute Pope tried his luck from all of 30 yards, hitting the target, but failing to trouble McGarrity.
Pope then turned provider in Talbot’s next attack, lifting a ball into the left edge of the area for Hyslop but it broke away from him & McGarrity came out to gather.
Gradually the Glens came into it & the home side had a chance to open the scoring in the 20th minute. They won a free kick out on the left which was swung into the centre. McCann headed the ball down into the feet of Dallas but he wanted one touch too many & Hyslop nicked in to clear.
Action then switched to the other end where only a fantastic stop from McGarrity prevented Talbot taking the lead. Pope fed the ball out to Graham Wilson on the left & he lifted a cross to the far post. Glasgow raced onto it & volleyed on target but somehow McGarrity got enough on it to keep it out at his left post.
The referee infuriated the large travelling support in the 23rd minute when he cautioned Pope for what looked to be nothing more than a hard but fair tackle; winning the ball cleanly.
Gray took the resultant free kick & flighted it into the middle where White headed it clear. McChesney gathered the ball out on the left & crossed it back into the centre where McCann flicked it on to Gray who trundled a shot into the side netting.
Cairns tried to replicate his wonder strike from last season’s Scottish final in the 34th minute but whilst well-struck his shot from 35 yards was always flying over the bar.
McAusland had his name taken in the 40th minute after a tangle with Pope.
The last chance of the half came Talbot’s way in the 41st minute. The Glens back line failed to deal with a ball up the middle & it fell to Graham Wilson 16 yards out. He rolled it across to Stephen Wilson but his low strike was blocked off a defender and that was it for the 1st half.
At the start of the 2nd period it was the Glens who made the early running.
Dallas switched the ball from right to left to find Borris who cut inside Lyle before shooting only for McPherson to block his effort.
The linesman gave the Glens a helping hand in the 52nd minute when he kept his flag down as Dallas sped clear. He looked offside but was allowed to continue; however he failed to capitalise, lashing a shot over the bar from 18 yards.
Talbot had a decent chance in the 53rd minute from a set piece. Pope angled a free kick out to the right to find the head of Stephen Wilson who nodded it down to Glasgow. He helped it on into the feet of Graham Wilson, 8 yards out, but he swiped at it & the ball went tamely through to McGarrity.
The Glens made a double change in the 57th minute, replacing their wide men, with McGill & Moore coming on for Gray & Borris.
Talbot made their 1st change in the 62nd minute with McIlroy on for Graham Wilson.
The Bot’s next effort at goal came from an unlikely source. White showed quick feet to elude a couple of challenges & burst into the box before drilling a low shot on goal that McGarrity held.
The game was now swinging from end to end. Talbot threatened in the 71st minute when Hyslop found McIlroy out on the right. He whipped a dangerous cross over that Park headed over his own crossbar.
Harvey had his name taken in the 75th minute for a shirt tug just outside the Bot penalty area. McGill took the free kick but blasted it straight into the wall.
Tucker now made a further change with Shankland on in place of Thomson.
Glenafton came close to making the breakthrough in the 77th minute. A poor headed clearance fell to Park just outside the penalty area & his low drive flew just wide of Leishman’s right post.
The action then switched to the other penalty area where McIlroy laid the ball out right to Glasgow. He had the chance to go for goal but opted to carry it on & was eventually crowded out. The ball broke out left where Shankland fired a shot on target held by McGarrity.
Glenafton ought to have taken the lead in the 79th minute when their two subs were involved but Moore was guilty of missing a sitter. McGill swirled a cross over from the left that took the Bot defence out of the equation & Moore looked certain to divert it home but he got it all wrong & prodded the ball so far wide it didn’t even go for a goal kick.
Talbot’s next chance came in the 82nd minute when Pope angled a low ball into Hyslop at the edge of the area. He swivelled & hit it first time but he was falling back as he struck it & it flew over the bar.
The Bot nearly broke the deadlock in the 85th minute. White curled a good cross over to Shankland at the back post. He attempted to dink it home but his effort was deflected behind for a corner. When the corner came over Hyslop headed it back across goal where McIlroy headed it goal ward. McGarrity was beaten but Park came to his rescue; heading it off the line.
Just when it seemed that both sides would have to settle for a share of the points Talbot produced a late winner in the 88th minute. Pope delivered the perfect cross from the left & HYSLOP rose to power a header high into the net to win it for Talbot.
A good away win to start the year & next up for Talbot are Kilbirnie who travel through to Beechwood next Saturday.Glenafton Athletic – McGarrity, McAusland, Cairns, Menzies, McChesney, McKernon, Gray, Park, Dallas, McCann, BorrisSubs – McGill, Moore, McKnight, Marlow, Watson

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, Harvey, Hyslop, S Wilson, White, G Wilson, Glasgow, Thomson

Subs – McIlroy, Shankland, Armstrong, Faulds, McCracken

Hill O’ Beath v Auchinleck Talbot

Talbot open the scoring, as Jamie Glasgow smashes home a low drive from inside the box. 0-1.

Jamie shows he’s got this tie licked after netting Talbot’s first.

‘Shanker’s’ fires a low pass across the face of goal, where ‘Gee’ thankfully gets onto the end of and prods the ball into the back of the net. 0-2.

Hill O’ Beath are reduced to ten men during the second half of the game.

From just inside the box, Glasgow tries his luck with a diving looping header.

Graham Wilson manages to pop up at the back post but sends his header wide.

The Talbot faithful fly the club’s colours, as ‘Pee-wee’ gets another attack motoring.

Ross and Neil show their anger after Stephen Wilson gets bundled over from a hefty challenge.

Jamie watches, as ‘Gee’ tries a wee volley from inside the box.

The Talbot fans man of the match, Steven White, muscles his way through the opposition in order to win back the ball.

Jamie Glasgow rues a missed chance for Auchinleck.

Andy Leishman pulls off a great save in the top left-hand corner to thwart the Hawthorns.

Jamie and Stephen look on in anguish, as both of them fail to get onto the end of Graham’s cross.

The Hill O’ Beath bench look on,as Jamie Glasgow gets stopped in his tracks.

The fans huddle for warmth in the very cold wind, as ‘Shanker’s’ hurdles himself over this tackle.

Graham Wilson gets brought down by a hefty tackle from behind and itis this challenge that results in the Hawthorns being reduced to ten men.

Hill O’ Beath come very close to pulling a goal back, as a close range header gets cleared off the line.

Stephen Wilson goes on a run up the middle of the park.

Another chance for the Hawthorns but this close range header goes agonisingly wide of the post.

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

Talbot fans of a certain age could have been forgiven for thinking the omens weren’t good for this Scottish tie as the last time Talbot travelled through to Keirs Park in blustery conditions it didn’t end well. This time however was a different story as Talbot bested their opponents & the elements to ease to a 2-0 win.
With the wind at their backs Talbot pushed the hosts back right from the off, with the Haws finding it difficult to get out of their half. The home defence was stretched as early as the 4th minute with Connors heading Lyle’s dangerous cross clear in the centre. Soon after, Talbot had their 1st effort on target when Glasgow met Hyslop’s cross but steered his header straight at Hall.
Stephen Wilson was unfortunate not to open the scoring in the 8th minute. A free kick was taken short & knocked back to Wilson whose curling shot had the keeper well beaten only to cannon off the woodwork.
The pressure told & a minute later Talbot took the lead. G Wilson fed the ball out to JAMIE GLASGOW on the right of the area & he took full advantage of the time & space to drill a low shot past Hall into the opposite corner.
The Haws didn’t have time to settle before Talbot doubled their advantage in the 11th minute. Shankland scampered down the wing before firing it across the face of goal where GRAHAM WILSON bundled it home at the back post.
Talbot were well in control & nearly added to their lead in the 18th minute. Hay’s attempted clearance was caught by the wind & blown back toward his own goal where G Wilson latched onto it & volleyed just wide of target from 18 yards.
The home side offered their 1st threat of the afternoon in the 21st minute. A long throw from the right was flicked across goal but there were no takers. Wright gathered it out on the left & swung a cross into the box which Watt headed wide of target.
Hill of Beath had an effort on target in the 25th minute. Harvey didn’t get much distance on a headed clearance & it came out to Schiavone who fired a low drive on goal which Leishman held.
The 1st booking of the afternoon came a minute later when HOB’s Leishman was cautioned for a foul on Graham Wilson.
A third goal would have ended the game as a contest & Talbot came close to grabbing it in the 33rd minute. White did well down the right & slung a cross into the box that the defence struggled to clear. It came out to Shankland on the left & he curled over a ball that Hyslop just failed to connect with in front of goal.
Wright became the 2nd Hill of Beath player booked when cautioned for a late challenge in midfield.
Talbot almost made the hosts pay from the resultant free kick with Pope’s delivery finding the head of Hyslop. He headed it back down to Glasgow whose 1st time effort flew just over the bar.
There hadn’t been too many close calls around the Talbot box but the hosts did come close in the 37th minute. Watt managed to turn McPherson just outside the box & his shot took a nick off McPherson & deflected just wide of Leishman’s left post. When the corner came over Dair met it & directed it on target but Leishman was well positioned to clutch it high inside his left hand post.
In the closing stages of the half Talbot twice came close to adding to their lead. Firstly, Shankland left Leishman in his wake before sliding the ball into the near post where Stephen Wilson was just beaten to it by Connors who stretched to knock it behind.
In the final minute of the half Graham Wilson raced clear down the left & drove a low ball across the face of goal which Stephen Wilson just couldn’t reach at the far post & so the sides went in separated by Talbot’s two early strikes.
The 2nd half was only 3 minutes old when Hyslop became the 1st Talbot player booked; cautioned for a late challenge on Grierson.
The referee made the wrong call in the 53rd minute. Under pressure, Dair slid the ball back to his keeper who picked it up, but the ref ignored Talbot’s appeals for an indirect free kick.
Even playing into the stiff breeze Talbot were having the best of it & carrying more of a goal threat. Hall came to his side’s rescue in the 54th minute when Graham Wilson got free down the right & carried it forward before drilling a powerful shot on target that the keeper held at the 2nd attempt.
Two minutes later the keeper produced a top class save to defy Shankland. A shy from the left bounced its way to Shankland outside the area & his half volley looked destined for the net til Hall dived full length to turn it round the post.
Talbot had a scare down the other end when Leishman misjudged a swirling cross from the left. He got a hand to it at the back post & clawed it away where it hit off Schiavone & went behind for a goal kick.
The home side made their 1st change on the hour mark with Denton coming on in place of Schiavone.
Hill of Beath’s slim hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow in the 68th minute when they were reduced to 10 men. Leishman went right through the back of Graham Wilson & the full-back was sent to the clubhouse for his 2nd yellow of the afternoon.
The Wilson brothers combined well together in the 70th minute, Stephen finding Graham on the right & Graham sliding the ball on through as Stephen continued his run; however Hall had spotted the danger & was quickly off his line to beat S Wilson to it.
Hill of Beath had a half chance in the 71st minute when they won a corner on the right. It was played into the near post where Elder headed it wide under pressure from Hyslop.
A minute later Talbot nearly made it three. Hyslop played in Glasgow down the right & he drilled it low inside the near post where Hall made another fine save; blocking with his feet.
Hill of Beath now made a further change with Mitchell replacing Hay & Talbot made their 1st switch with Armstrong coming on for Shankland.
Hay produced a good cross in the 80th minute when he flighted a ball in from the left but it sailed just over the head of Elder & went behind for a goal kick.
Tucker now made a 2nd change with McIlroy replacing Glasgow.
The home side had one final chance to narrow the gap in the 85th minute. A free kick from the right was angled to the back post where Elder powered a header wide from close range.
As the game moved into the closing stages Talbot made their final change with Faulds on for Hyslop.
Not a day for pretty football or the purist but Talbot got the job done & made light work of a tricky away tie. Next up for Talbot it is back to league duties where they end the year with the visit of Kilwinning Rangers.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn – Hall, Leishman, Grierson, Connors, Dair, Wright, Hay, Reid, Elder, Watt, Schiavone

Subs – Harrower, Allan, Denton, Mitchell, Morgan (gk)

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, Harvey, White, S Wilson, Hyslop, G Wilson, Shankland, Glasgow

Subs – McIlroy, Armstrong, Faulds, Thomson, Hewitt (gk)