Venue: Beechwood Park

TALBOT SECURE RUNNER-UP SPOT IN THE LEAGUE

Report: Murray Steele, Photo’s: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

TALBOT MAKE IT SIME-PLES

Report: Murray Steele, Photo’s: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

At the other end Schoneville did well when McLaughlin’s cross picked out McManus in space on the right of the area – getting across quickly to block his shot at goal.

In the 16th minute Boyle played it out wide right to find Boyd and he whipped over a great ball that again only needed a touch in the centre.

St Cadocs lead didn’t last long though with Talbot equalising in the 39th minute. Schoneville whipped a good cross over to the back post where AUSTIN SIME out-muscled his marker to get to it and stroked it home from close range. Two mins before the break Sweeney went down after chasing a ball into the Talbot box. There seemed nothing in it but he couldn’t continue and St Cadocs saw out the last mins of the half a man down. Talbot nearly took advantage of this as they came close twice in added time. Wilson played the ball into the path of Langan who carried it up to the edge of the box before firing on target with Currie tipping his shot over the bar. In the final action of the half Gillies back-heeled the ball into the path of Schoneville whose curling right foot effort sailed just wide of the far post and the sides went in level at the break.

Talbot then put together a neat passing move that ended with Langan threading a pass into the feet of Gillies inside the area. His shot was blocked and spun across toward Mitchell who had it nicked off his toes as he went to shoot. In the 55th minute a long diagonal ball found Boyd on the left of the area but he didn’t connect with it and his shot was easily saved by Currie. Two mins later Langan found Kerr out on the wing and his cross was blocked by McLaughlin’s arm – resulting in a free kick 20 yards out. Mitchell took it but got far too much on it and his shot sailed well over.

 With 10 mins to go Talbot completed the scoring. McAvoy won a corner on the right which Gillies lifted over to the back post where AUSTIN SIME completed his hat-trick with a header inside the right post.

LAST GASP TALBOT TAKE THE POINTS

Report: Murray Steele, Photo’s: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

As end of season fare goes this was one of the better ones with Talbot beating the Drum with an injury time winner to claim all 3 points.

The first chance of the game came Talbot’s way in the 3rd minute. Hardie conceded a free kick out on the right for a body check on Clark. Wardrope took it short – squaring it to Gillies who fired wide of target from 25 yards. In the 11th minute Kerr knocked a good ball out left to find Mitchell. He beat Greene and raced into the left of the area. He tried to find Nimmo in the centre but it ran through to Scully.

Drumchapel’s first effort at goal came in the 14th minute. Moore swung over a cross from the right touchline that was met 16 yards out by Novo and the veteran striker hit an acrobatic effort on target that went straight at Armour. Nicoll had his name taken in the 16th minute for a heavy challenge on Boyle. Talbot failed to make anything of the free kick and the visitors countered swiftly. An early ball was played down the middle for Novo who looked like he was breaking through on goal but Kerr recovered well and got back to usher it back to the keeper.

The Bot’s next effort at goal came when Slooves pinged it into the feet of Langan and he drilled a 25 yarder on target that flew straight at Scully. Drumchapel threatened on the counter in the 23rd minute. Nicoll played it into the feet of Novo out on the right and he squared it across the area looking for Moore but it was too far ahead of him and Armour gathered. A minute later the visitors took the lead. McNiff lifted it up the left wing looking for Idris. Slooves managed to head it clear but Idris retrieved it and slid it into MOORE who drilled a left foot shot into the opposite corner.

The Bot nearly came up with an immediate response. Kerr found Gillies out wide on the left and his low cross into the near post was met by Boyd whose effort was blocked by Scully. The game then entered a lull with the next effort at goal not arriving until the 36th minute. Gillies’s cross from the left was met in the centre by Boyd. His header came off a defender and spiralled on target with Scully forced to help it over the bar. Soon after Clark got free on the right and whipped a great ball across the face of goal that was just out of Boyd’s reach in the centre.

In the 39th minute Nicoll caught Boyle late in what could have seen him take an early bath but the officials failed to spot it. Four mins before the break Drumchapel threatened down the left. The ball was dinked over Clark to find Idris and he laid it back to Brander whose dangerous cross just flew over Moore in the centre. Slack defending then nearly gifted Drumchapel a 2nd. A shy from the right sailed into the box and when Talbot failed to clear their lines it came to Garvey but he couldn’t beat Armour from a tight angle. Talbot now raced onto the counter where Nimmo was halted by Greene resulting in a booking for the defender and a free kick to Talbot out on the left wing. Wardrope delivered a good ball into the centre but it didn’t break Talbot’s way and was eventually cleared.

A minute from the interval Talbot were awarded a penalty. Mitchell got to the bye line and floated a cross into the goal mouth where Hardie was adjudged to have been guilty of a shove. CONNOR BOYD stepped up and hammered it past Scully and inside the right post to level.

As the half moved into added time Talbot had a late chance to take the lead. Clark played it into the path of Boyd on the right of the penalty box and his low drive was blocked at his near post by Scully and the sides went in tied at the break. Drumchapel rang the changes at half-time with McNiff, Nicoll & Novo making way for Mackenzie, Finnigan & McCoist. Talbot made a positive start to the half. In the 47th minute Mitchell played it inside to find Gilllies inside the area and his low cross was held at his front post by Scully.

In the 50th minute Slooves hit a slide rule pass to find Boyd down the right. His low cutback was blocked behind by a defender for a corner. When it came over Scully made a meal of it – fumbling the ball – but managing to smother it at his near post at the 2nd attempt. A minute later Talbot had a decent chance to take the lead. Gillies cut in off the left and knocked over a good cross that Nimmo headed over the bar. Idris then had his name taken for a late challenge on Clark.

In the 54th minute Talbot were caught out by a straight ball up the middle. It was head flicked on into the path of McCoist who was tugged back by Slooves – resulting in a booking and a free kick just outside the area. Garvey took it but sent his effort straight into the wall. Three mins later the visitors had a decent chance to take the lead. A ball over the top found McCoist breaking into the left of the area but he didn’t have his father’s shooting boots on and angled his shot across goal and well wide of target.

In the 58th min Garvey had his name taken for going through the back of Mitchell just outside the area. Wardrope took the set piece but got right under it and scooped his shot way over. The Bot had a real chance to move ahead in the 61st minute. Boyd found Gillies in space on the left of the area. He could have went for goal himself but instead squared it inside to Mitchell who saw his low drive blocked by a defender. Within a minute Talbot were gifted another chance. Scully made a hash of a clearance and it was gathered by Nimmo on the right of the area. He tried to lay it across goal toward Mitchell but the keeper was able to cut it out.

Talbot now made a double switch with Clark & Gillies making way for McPherson & McCluskie.

In the 64th min Talbot came close again. Boyd drove a dangerous ball in from the right that flew across the face of goal which Langan just failed to connect with in the centre. Down the other end Armour came to Talbot’s rescue in the 66th minute. Boyle was dispossessed and Drumchapel broke forward through Moore. He drilled a low shot on target that Armour blocked. It came out to Finnegan on the right of the area but he took a heavy touch and it ran through to the keeper.

In the 67th min Talbot made another double change with Wardrope & Boyd being replaced by Sime & McAvoy. The Bot have been guilty at times of failing to convert their chances this season and so it proved again in the 69th minute. Sime whipped over a great cross from the left that had Bot players queuing up at the back post where Nimmo glanced it wide. In the Bot’s next attack Mitchell angled a good ball in from the left but there were no takers in the centre.

With quarter of an hour remaining Boyle had his name taken for a foul on McLaren who was fortunate to escape a booking in turn for his angry reaction. Hardie took the free kick and swerved a shot wide of the right post from distance. Two minutes later Talbot threatened again. Langan’s flick on found Nimmo bursting down the right of the penalty area. He hit it low on target where Scully made a good stop with his feet and a defender headed it behind for a corner. The Bot passed up another good chance to move ahead in the 78th minute. McAvoy guided a cross in from the wing right onto the head of Langan, either side and it was a certain goal but it went straight at Scully who made the save. The ball came back to Langan but his 2nd header was blocked.

The chances kept coming and a minute later the Bot came close again. A ball fired in off the right broke off Nimmo and went just wide of the left hand post. In the 81st minute Garvey took a wild swipe at it when trying to clear and sent it high into his own box. Nimmo retrieved it on the right side of the box and fired a shot on target from a tight angle that Scully blocked at his post. The Bot now made their final change with Mitchell limping off to be replaced by Hanlon.

In the 83rd minute Talbot won a free kick wide of the penalty area following a foul by Hardie. Langan delivered it to the far post where McAvoy steered a header wide of target. Talbot’s next attack saw Sime lift it up the left wing where McAvoy was up-ended by McLaren. He received a caution and Talbot were awarded a free kick 8 yards out near the touchline. Sime swept the free kick across the face of goal but no could get the crucial touch and it was headed clear at the far post.

In the 87th minute Slooves chipped it up the left wing where Kerr managed to force the corner. Langan swung it into the back post where McPherson met it but got his angles wrong and headed it back across and well wide. Having made and missed plenty of chances Talbot were nearly made to pay in the 88th minute. A long ball up field was headed on finding McCoist running in behind. He was one on one with the keeper but Armour came out on top as he blocked his low drive with his legs. It came out to Finnigan whose follow up effort was also saved by Armour.

As the game moved into added time Talbot had a chance when Nimmo cut in off the right and laid it back for McAvoy at the edge of the area but he guided his shot wide of the right post. Deep into added time Kerr won Talbot a corner down the left. Langan again delivered it to the back post area where McPherson headed for goal. His header was blocked but came to ANDY KERR who passed it inside the right post to put Talbot 2-1 ahead. With the clock running down Talbot then missed a sitter to extend their lead. Kerr gathered on the left and chipped it into the centre to pick out the unmarked Sime who volleyed it over the bar from 6 yards out.

A good win for Talbot that sees the Bot climb to 3rd in the table. Next up for Talbot it’s a return trip to Broadwood where they face Largs in the final of the West this Sunday.

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Gillies, Kerr, Slooves, Boyle, Wardrope, Langan, Boyd, Nimmo, Mitchell  Subs – McAvoy, McCluskie, Sime, McPherson, Wilson, Scott, Hanlon

Drumchapel United – Scully, Hardie, McNiff, Garvey, Nicoll, Novo, Moore, McLaren, Idris, Greene, Brander Subs – McKinnon, McIntyre, McCoist, Mackenzie, Finnegan, Aitken, Crawford (gk)

SPOT KICKS DECIDE THE OUTCOME

Report: Murray Steele, Photo’s: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

Talbot shaded the game but had to settle for a point a piece after a hard fought encounter with Clydebank.

The first chance of the afternoon went Clydebank’s way in the 10^th minute. Gallacher’s ball down the right found Samson racing in behind the defence but he was off balance as he hit it and sent it high and wide. Talbot’s first effort at goal came in the 19^th minute. Wilson passed it to Schoneville and he cut in onto his right foot and fired wide of the left hand post.

In the 22^nd minute the visitors were awarded a penalty. Lowe’s shot from the edge of the area was blocked and spun high into the air. When it landed it took an unfortunate bounce and hit McPherson’s arm and the ref pointed to the spot. LITTLE sent Armour the wrong way to put Clydebank ahead.

The Bot nearly responded immediately. A ball down the right was headed down by Thomson into the path of McAvoy and his first time shot took a slight deflection as it flew just over the bar. When the corner came McPherson met it at the back post but his header cleared the bar.In the 28^th minute Cairns and Wardrope clashed off the ball and when the dust settled the ref booked both players.

A minute later Talbot put together a good move down their left. Wardrope fed it forward to Gillies who swapped passes with Schoneville before bursting into the penalty area. He hammered a low shot on target that Clarke saved with his trailing hand to turn it wide. When the corner came over from the left it was delivered into the goal mouth where a Clydebank defender cleared from near the goal line.

In the 32^nd minute Clydebank were awarded a soft free kick out on the left. The ball was driven forward and came off the back of Kerr’s arm who was facing away from it but the ref deemed it handball. Lowe angled the free kick beyond the far post to find Niven but he couldn’t hit the target from a tight angle.

Action then switched to the other end where Schoneville whipped a great low ball across the face of goal which Truesdale managed to clear at the back post.

In the 33^rd minute Clark’s cross was met by McAvoy but he steered his header wide of target.

Three mins later Clark had his name taken for a late challenge on Carey resulting in a free kick 30 yards out. Little took it but sent his shot straight into the wall.

In the 38^th minute Sime lost out in a 50/50 outside the area and the ball broke into the path of Lowe. He arrowed a shot on target from 20 yards that skipped off Armour and went wide of the left post. When the corner came over to the back post McAvoy headed it out but only as far as Truesdale. He didn’t catch his shot cleanly but it skipped across the turf on target and Clark had to clear it inside the left hand post.

Two mins from the interval Lowe received a caution for a shove on Clark. Right on half time a goal keeping blunder gifted Talbot a penalty. There appeared no danger when a ball up the centre came into the area but Clarke fumbled it and it landed at the feet of Thomson. The keeper rushed out to make amends but only succeeded in up-ending Thomson for a stonewaller. EWAN THOMSON took it and crashed it inside the right post to send the sides in level at the break.

There were no changes at the interval but Clydebank made their first change early in the 2^nd half with McHugh replacing Carey in the 51^st minute.

In the 56^th minute a mishit defensive clearance landed at Clark who played it into the feet of McAvoy. He was caught by McHugh with Talbot winning a free kick 30 yards out. Wardope hit it short and square to Gillies whose shot was charged down.The visitors were fortunate not to be a man down two minutes later. Samson recklessly barged into Wilson flinging him into the wall in front of the stand but the referee deemed it only to be a yellow card offence.

The Bot came close on the hour mark. Wardrope robbed McGowan of it out on the left touchline and burst forward before pulling it back to Gillies. His low drive was blocked and came back to Sime at the edge of the area. His shot took a deflection and sailed just wide of the right hand post. In the 64^th min Clydebank threatened down the left. Little played it back to McHugh who sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal but with no takers in the centre it sailed wide and out for the goal kick.

Talbot now made a double change with Schoneville & Wardrope making way for Langan & Boyd.The Bot’s next attack saw Gillies whip over a good cross from the left which McAvoy headed wide of target.Clydebank now made a double substitution with Niven & Little being replaced by Mackenzie & McGonigle.

With 69 mins played Sime received a yellow card for a foul on Samson. In the 76^th minute Boyd did good work out on the right but his final pass for McAvoy had too much on it. With 12 mins remaining Talbot made a triple change with McAvoy, Thomson & Gillies making way for Mitchell, Nimmo & Boyle.

The Bot came close in the 81^st minute. Mitchell’s corner from the left came over beyond the back post where McPherson got up to head it back down on target. Clarke managed to block it inside his left post and held it at the 2^nd attempt. In the 84^th minute Clydebank made further changes with Samson & Gallacher going off to be replaced by Mulcahy & Biggar.

Two mins later Talbot had a half chance on the counter. A ball over the top found Mitchell haring down the left but he took a heavy 1^st touch that took him to the bye line and his final cross was overhit.As the game moved into added time Talbot very nearly claimed all 3 points. Boyle’s ball over the defence found Boyd in the left of the penalty area. He cut in onto his right foot and brought a good stop from Clarke who touched his shot over the bar.

Deep into added time Kerr received a caution when he pulled back Lowe as he burst forward. In the final action of the match Langan’s pass released Mitchell in space down the left. He drilled it low across the face of goal where an incoming defender cleared it over the bar. Nothing came of the resultant corner and both sides had to settle for a point.

Next up for Talbot it’s back to midweek league action when they host Drumchapel United on Wednesday night.

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Schoneville, Wilson, McPherson, Kerr, Sime, Wardrope, McAvoy, Thomson, Gillies

Subs – Nimmo, Mitchell, Boyd, Langan, Boyle, Slooves, McIntosh

Clydebank – Clarke, Niven, Gallacher, Cairns, Little, Truesdale, Samson, McGowan, Syme, Lowe, Carey

Subs – Ross, Mackenzie, Mulcahy, McGonigle, McHugh, Biggar, Black