Rutherglen Glencairn v Auchinleck Talbot

Glencairn go on an early attack, as Gareth Armstrong does his best to put a stop to it.

 

The top three Talbot men in one picture! Lyle sends the ball forward, as Tucker and Allan closely watch the action.

 

CLOSE! Armstrong latches onto a corner but can only send the ball agonizingly wide of the goal.

 

Gareth can only look skywards after going close to scoring.

 

As Talbot continue searching for the opening goal, Kieran Healy has a dig from outside the box but his effort goes wide.

 

Big Andy makes sure the ball does not reach the Glencairn player lurking at the back post, as he grabs the ball in the air.

 

Jamie Glasgow keeps hold of the ball while being put under pressure.

 

WHAT A CHANCE! Glencairn very nearly take the lead, as a header from a corner goes just over the crossbar.

 

The two benches look on, as the teams fight for possession.

 

Aiden Wilson stops the attack and clears the danger.

 

Talbot try to ramp up the pressure, as ‘Shankers’ tries to thread the ball through.

 

Willie Boyd manages to win this mid-air tussle.

 

Glasgow does his best to race up the wing while avoiding the tackle.

 

The Glencairn ‘keeper is put under pressure from Samson while trying to clear the ball.

 

His team-mates wait inside the box, as Healy does his best to fire in the cross.

 

‘Shankers’ goes for the direct approach from a corner but the ‘keeper manages to palm the ball over the crossbar. One of these days Mark you will land one of these!

 

Gareth gets caught in a mid-air Glencairn sandwich but he still manages to win the header.

 

After a bit of pinball inside the Talbot box, the ball falls nicely for Glencairn where the player turns on the spot and volleys the ball towards goal…

 

…however, he can only watch the ball go inches past the wrong side of the post.

 

Complete disbelief from Glencairn as they can’t believe how they didn’t score.

 

GOOOOAL!!! After Glencairn go very close to scoring, Talbot race up the park and Jack McDowell zooms in on goal and slots the ball past the ‘keeper. 0-1.

 

TALBOT EUPHORIA!!!

 

Jack races away to celebrate scoring, as Aiden can’t help but smile.

 

Glencairn slump to their knees with disappointment, while McDowell stands tall with pride after scoring the crucial goal.

 

Mark certainly shows how happy he is, as he and his team-mates congratulate Jack after scoring.

 

Leishman gets another Talbot attack started, as they go looking for a second.

 

Glasgow tries to muscle his way up the park.

 

Talbot win a free-kick, as Samson feels the effects from the challenge.

 

With seconds left of the game, the tension is unbearable for Talbot…

 

…but it is Glencairn who feel the pain, as the final whistle finally gets blown by the referee.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot extended their lead at the top of the table thanks to a hard fought away win over a stuffy Glencairn side.

The Bot had an early opportunity after O’Byrne was penalised for a karate kick like challenge that resulted in a free kick 30 yards out. Shankland whipped it into the centre where Armstrong glanced a header wide of target.

The home side then threatened when a dangerous cross from the right had to be headed clear by White at the back post. The ball came out to the left of the area where Glencairn’s player saw his attempted shot blocked away by White.

The blustery conditions weren’t helping either side and little was happening in the final third.

Talbot did come close to opening the scoring in the 20th minute when they won a corner down the right. Shankland drove the corner in low to the near post, where Armstrong got across his man to meet it but sent his shot just wide of the far post.

In the 25th minute Shankland was impeded down the left & took the free kick quickly to release Wilson on the overlap. He hit the bye line & cut a dangerous ball back across the face of goal but there were no takers in the centre.

A minute later Wilson won a corner down the left which Shankland played into the near post. O’Byrne clearly headed it over his own bar under pressure but the officials awarded the goal kick.

Talbot were doing well down the left & threatened again in the 31st minute when Wilson skipped past his man & drilled it into the near post; however Glencairn defended it well.

As the half drew to a close Glencairn had their best spell. White did well to head a cross from the right behind for a corner and when the corner came over Leishman was forced to touch it away behind for another corner. When this one came in Lone met it at the back post but couldn’t keep his header down and the sides went in level at the break.

Rutherglen made the early running in the 2nd half, Mitchell cutting in off the right, and firing on target but it went straight at Leishman.

The home side had another chance to test the Bot defence in the 51st minute when Shankland conceded a free kick wide on the right. The ball was crossed into the goal mouth where Leishman punched it clear.

Neither keeper had been over busy but McLellan produced a top save to prevent Talbot from taking the lead in the 54th minute. Shankland fed the ball to the overlapping Wilson & when he cut the ball back it broke into the path of Healy whose volley was brilliantly turned over the bar by the keeper.

Glasgow came within inches of putting Talbot ahead in the 63rd minute. The Bot won a free kick out on the right touchline for a foul on Armstrong & Samson rose to head on Shankland’s free kick. It fell to Glasgow on the left of the area & his right foot effort had the keeper well beaten but came back off the base of the left post.

McLellan got a lucky break in the 65th minute. A pass back to the keeper was a yard or two too short, allowing Samson to close him down and block his clearance. It could have went anywhere but unfortunately for Talbot it spun wide of goal.

Glencairn’s keeper was in action again in the 67th minute when he did well to prevent Shankland’s corner from the left creeping in under the bar; stretching to tip it away to safety.

Tucker now made a switch with McDowall on in place of Shankland.

McDowall was involved almost immediately. He gathered on the right & slid a diagonal pass to find Glasgow that was well cut out by the defence.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot made a further change with Hyslop replacing Healy.

Both sides had looked dangerous at set pieces and Talbot’s next effort at goal came from Glasgow’s corner on the left that White met at the near post & flicked just over the bar.

Glencairn’s most effective weapon was their long throw ins and it nearly paid off for them in the 82nd minute. A shy from the right was headed on at the near post and McIlveen hooked a shot just past Leishman’s right hand post.

Having survived this left off the Bot then swept down the other end and scored a fine goal to claim all 3 points. Glasgow played a neat one-two with JACK MCDOWALL who raced clear on the left before coolly passing the ball beyond the keeper into the bottom corner.

Glencairn then wheeled out their long throw specialist again to test the Bot defence. This time the shy was partially cleared and came to a Glencairn player at the edge of the area whose shot was blocked.

Action then switched to the other end when a Bot counter-attack saw Glasgow skin his man before whipping a cross over to the back post which just eluded the in rushing Armstrong.

Talbot held firm in the closing stages to see the game out for an impressive away win over a Glencairn side who were on a good run.

Next up, Talbot are back under the floodlights at Beechwood where they face Beith on Wednesday night.

Rutherglen Glencairn – McLellan, Shields, Schoneville, Coleman, O’Byrne, Leitch, McGuire, Wingate, McIlveen, Mitchell, Lone

Subs – Gormley, Pearson, Malcolm, Smith, Chrystal, Fraser, McGinley

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, White, Armstrong, Boyd, Healy, Shankland, Glasgow, Samson

Subs – Robbie McCracken, Hyslop, McDowall, Hastings, Hewitt

Rutherglen Glencairn v Auchinleck Talbot

A depleted Talbot battled their way to the cup final against Gartcairn under the lights at the Celcius Stadium in a dour struggle void of any great excitement. A virus had ripped through the Talbot ranks forcing them to play assistant coach Alan McLuckie aged 50 at left back while other players were moved into different positions.

As expected the glens started on the offensive and on Dale sieon had a chance but sliced his shot. It took Talbot 15 minutes to create a serious chance when Steven White’s goalbound shot was deflected past for a corner. Both sides fashioned chances in a match bogged down in the midfield with Bryan Boylan having two chances both on both occasions the ball ended up in the keepers arms while Glasgow curled a shot netwards which Whyte managed to claw past the post. Just before half time Harry Mitchell tried his luck from well out but the ball fizzed past Leishman’s post.

 

Talbot started the second half with a bit more urgency and Kier Samson was unlucky not to score when his header hit the side netting. The breakthrough came in the 56th minute when Bryan Boylan who was a thorn in rutherglen’s side all evening chased down a clearance, skipped past Kerr and slid the ball to Kier Samson who prodded the ball past Whyte from a few feet out.

 

Although Talbot were playing with a makeshift defence the lads were defending stoutly and were forcing the home side further up the pitch. Samson nearly added to his goal when he sent a scorching shot at Whyte which took a wicked bounce which the big keeper managed to beat away. This was Samson’s last contribution to the match as he looked physically sick and retired straight to the clubhouse.   The home side were now flinging everything but the kitchen sink at Talbot, including keeper Whyte who was sent upfield to contest a corner. However Talbot were savvy enough to hold onto their narrow lead much to the frustration of the home support. It was a tight game, but in the end Talbot can look forward to another final.                                                                                                                        Rutherglen Glencairn :- Whyte, Lachlan, Miller, Donaldson, Stevie Kerr, McGregor, Leyden, McGuire (Cochrane), McRobbie (Wingate), Simeon (Ciaron Smith), Mitchell. (Subs not used – Hewitt, McLellan (gk).) Auchinleck Talbot :- Leishman, Young, McLuckie (Steven Wilson), McPherson, White, Pearson, McDowell, McKinlay, Boylan, Samson (Hyslop), Glasgow. (Sub not used – Hewitt.)

Auchinleck Talbot v Rutherglen Glencairn v

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

It was déjà vu time for the Talbot support as Talbot won 2-1 with a last minute winner for the 3rd week in succession to claim all 3 points against Rutherglen Glencairn.

The Bot were facing into the gale force wind in the 1st half but it didn’t seem to hinder them early on with the Bot making all the early running.

The first chance came in the 4th minute. Armstrong won the ball midway inside the Glencairn half & fed it down to the left to Boylan. He whipped a low ball across goal which Samson just failed to connect with in front of goal.

The visitors had a chance on the counter-attack in the 9th minute. Talbot failed to make the most of a free kick & Rutherglen broke up field through Leyden who trundled a weak shot on target from outside the area.

A minute later Talbot were back in attack. Boylan’s cutback found Glasgow in the area but he mishit his shot across goal. Stephen Wilson retrieved it & played it back to Lyle whose fierce drive was blocked inside the 6-yard area. It came out to Stephen Wilson who slipped it across to Boylan & his shot produced a top save from McLellan who tipped it over the bar but bizarrely the ref awarded a goal kick.

Talbot had the ball in the back of the net in the 11th minute. Samson squared it to Boylan inside the area & he buried it beyond the keeper but the linesman’s flag went up and the goal didn’t stand.

The Bot kept pressing & forced a decent stop out McLellan on the quarter hour mark. Pope flighted a free kick into the box that Armstrong met and McLellan touched his effort over the bar.

It looked only a matter of time til Talbot made their pressure count but the home support were stunned when Glencairn took the lead against the run of play in the 16th min. McRobbie did well out on the left, holding the ball up before releasing it inside to LEYDEN who charged into the box & blasted a shot inside Leishman’s left post.

Talbot’s heads didn’t go down & they came close to levelling in the 22nd minute. Boylan raced clear on the right & fired it across the face of goal where Samson was inches from connecting.

Glencairn were happy to sit in & Talbot were seeing plenty of the ball but not able to make it count.

With 39 minutes gone Samson had a half chance when he surged down the right into the penalty area but he fired his shot into the side-netting.

The visitors were forced into a change soon after with Kerr being replaced in defence by Chrystal.

Talbot ought to have levelled in the 40th minute. Boylan dinked a cross in from the left that Samson met in front of goal but he headed over the bar from 4 yards out and Glencairn saw the half out to go in a goal ahead.

With the wind in their sails, Talbot pegged Glencairn back right from the start of the 2nd half as they shot toward the Beechwood Road end.

In the 52nd minute McLellan kept Talbot out with a fine save. The Bot won a free kick out on the left when Lachlan obstructed Glasgow. Glasgow took the free kick & it was curling inside the left post until the keeper dived to turn it round the post.
It was now all Talbot but Rutherglen were defending resolutely & frustrating was growing amongst the Bot support.

Eventually, Talbot’s pressure told & they drew level in the 63rd minute. Samson’s shy from the right came into the area where Boylan hooked it across goal & STEPHEN WILSON bundled it home from close range.

This proved to be his last involvement as Tucker made a double switch with Wilson & Glasgow making way for Shankland & Hyslop.

Rutherglen hadn’t offered much going forward but gradually came out their shell & McRobbie forced a save out of Leishman when he angled a shot in from wide on the right that Leishman held at his left post.

In the 69th minute a ball over the top found Weir racing into the penalty area but Lyle recovered to get back & slide it behind for the corner.

Down the other end Talbot forced a series of corners which ended with McLellan dropping the ball under pressure from Hyslop but the referee awarded a soft free kick in favour of the keeper.

Talbot came close to taking the lead in the 74th minute. Armstrong was fouled just outside the area resulting in a free kick wide on the right. Shankland delivered it into the box where Armstrong glanced a header to the back post where Hyslop slid in to meet it but sent his shot wide.

Rutherglen now made two changes with McKay replacing McRobbie & then Gormley coming on for Weir.

With 10 minutes remaining Talbot nearly moved in front. Shankland cut in off the left & his shot was deflected behind. His first corner was headed behind by a defender and his 2nd attempt was curling in under the crossbar until McLellan turned it over.

The visiting keeper came out on top again in the 84th minute. Talbot won a free kick down the left that Pope flighted into the box. McCracken headed it on target & McLellan stretched to tip it over the bar.

Tucker now made his final change with McDowall on for Glasgow.

Just when it looked as though Glencairn were going to cling on for a point Talbot struck late to secure the win. Pope angled a good cross in from the left & KEIR SAMSON did the rest; glancing a header inside the keeper’s left post to put Talbot 2-1 ahead.

Deep into injury time Talbot almost added to their lead. Boylan cut inside off the right & arrowed a shot for the far corner that the impressive McLellan tipped around his right post.

A hard shift but 3 valuable points for Talbot as they keep pace with the Buffs. Next up for Talbot is a Tuesday night visit to Townhead to face a rejuvenated Cumnock.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, White, Stephen Wilson, Glasgow, Boylan, Samson

Subs – Shankland, McDowall, Hyslop, Aiden Wilson, Young

Rutherglen Glencairn – McLellan, Lachlan, McGregor, Donaldson, Kerr, Hewitt, Mitchell, Leyden, Weir, McGuire, McRobbie

Subs – Gormley, McKay, Chrystal, Cochrane, Wingate

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