Venue: Beechwood Park

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

LATE EQUALISER DENIES TALBOT FULL POINTS.

Match Report: Murray Steele, Photography: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

This was definitely a case of 2 points lost rather than one gained as Talbot contrived to throw away a 2 goal lead at home to Shotts.

The first half was so one sided you were waiting on the white towel being thrown in with the visitors unable to muster a shot at goal or a corner kick.

The first of Talbot’s many chances came in the 8th minute. Langan lofted it over the defence to find McAvoy down the right and when he crossed to the far post a defender just beat Boyd to it to head behind. When the corner came over McAvoy met it 6 yards out but headed over the bar.

Talbot came close to the opener in the 11th minute. Gillies squared it across to Thomson who flicked it on into the path of McAvoy. His initial effort was blocked but came back to him and at the 2nd time of asking he cut in on his left foot and drilled a shot just past the left post.

Quarter of an hour gone and McAvoy won a corner down the right. Thomson’s delivery was only partially cleared and fell to McAvoy 15 yards out and his low drive was turned round his right post by the keeper.

In the 21st minute Talbot threatened again. Schoneville swept over a good cross that just eluded Thomson at the back post. It was retrieved by Langan on the bye line and he did well to wriggle past two challenges before cutting it back but the defence were able to clear.

Four minutes later Sexton almost put it in his own net. Armour lofted it down the centre and the right-back headed it past his own keeper but wide of the left post. When the corner came in from the right Langan met it unopposed but steered a free header wide of the left post.

34 mins in and Boyd did well to release Gillies down the left and his effort on target was saved by Thomson at his right post.

Finally, Talbot’s pressure paid off in the 38th minute. Gillies released Schoneville on the overlap and he whipped a good cross over to the back post where Thomson laid it back across goal for KYLE MCAVOY to net.

A minute later Talbot nearly doubled their lead. Gillies played it into the feet of McAvoy on the left of the area and he angled a low shot across goal and inches wide of the left hand post.

Two mins before the break McPherson clipped it up the centre where McAvoy won a header in. Langan chased it into the box and managed to get on the end of it but was stretching as he reached it and could only hit it at the keeper.

I

n the final action of the half Thomson hammered a shot from the right of the area across goal and wide and Talbot went in a goal ahead but rueing the fact they weren’t out of sight.

The visitors made a change at the break with De Marco on for Hunter.

Talbot started the 2nd half as they’d finished the first and nearly grabbed a 2nd in the 48th minute. Boyd showed good feet on the right of the area and when he was closed down it broke wide to McAvoy whose low shot across goal went just wide of the far post.

In the 51st min Talbot did move two ahead. Boyd got away down the right and had time to look up and square it across for LUKE GILLIES to pass it into the net.

Three mins later McAvoy lifted the ball over the defence down the left to find Langan inside the area. He went for goal from a tight angle and fired it across the face of goal.

Shotts now made a triple substitution with Byrne, Martin & Richford making way for Grade, Small & Craig.

The Bot had another half chance in the 64th minute. Boyd held it up well down the right before rolling it back into the path of Thomson. He crossed it into the centre where Gillies was free at the back post but it went just behind him.

A minute later Talbot had another chance to kill the game off. Thomson surged through the centre before releasing it to Gillies on the left of the area but he fired it wide of the right hand post.

In the 66th minute Shotts pulled one back with their first shot on target. To be fair it was a good hit – GRADE arrowing a wind assisted 30 yarder into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.

All of a sudden Talbot looked nervy and the visitors threatened again two minutes later. Craig got free down the right and played it across the 6-yard line where Evans scooped it over the bar under pressure.

In the 73rd minute Small picked up a caution for a late challenge on Schoneville.

The weather was worsening and with the wind in their sails Shotts were looking dangerous through their long throw ins. They had a half chance in the 75th minute when Gordon’s long throw into the box resulted in a corner. When Gillies headed the corner clear it came back out right to Gordon whose cross to the back post skipped off a Shotts head and floated over the bar.

Talbot now made a double change with Wardrope & Boyle on for Thomson & Langan.

The visitors came close in the 76th minute. A long shy from the left was headed clear but only as far as Grade whose low drive from distance had to be turned round the right hand post.

Talbot now made a further change with Abed on for McAvoy.

Nine mins from time Gordon received a yellow card for a foul on Boyd.

In the 85th minute Gillies got free on the left but his cross to the back post had too much on it. Wardrope retrieved it and whipped over a good cross that saw Boyd’s header tipped over the bar or so it seemed but the referee awarded a goal kick.

Three mins from time Talbot paid the price for their earlier misses when Shotts levelled. Boyd was dispossessed and Grade sped up the left wing before crossing it to the back post where DE MARCO squeezed a header past Armour to make it 2-2.

There was still time for one last Talbot chance. Schoneville forced a corner down the left and when Wardrope delivered into the centre McPherson had a chance to restore Talbot’s lead but glanced his header wide of the left post.

An incredibly frustrating night for Talbot who ought to have won with a bit to spare. There’s no time to dwell on it though as the Bot are back in cup action this Saturday when they travel to face Muirkirk in the West of Scotland.

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Schoneville, Wilson, McPherson, Sime, Langan, Gillies, Boyd, McAvoy, Thomson

Subs – Nimmo, Abed, Mitchell, Wardrope, Boyle, Slooves, Miller

Shotts Bon Accord – Thomson, Sexton, Byrne, Torrance, Meikle, Martin, Gordon, Hunter, Evans, Duffy, Richford

Subs – Grade, De Marco, Small, Cassells, Craig, O’Neil, Starrs (gk)

NARROW WIN SEES TALBOT RISE TO FIFTH IN THE TABLE.

Match Report: Murray Steele, Photography: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

Not one for the football purists as Talbot saw off the challenge of a one-dimensional Hurlford to secure all 3 points at Beechwood.

There was nothing of note in the early exchanges though Talbot caused themselves a needless scare in the 8th minute. Armour initially did well fielding a back pass but then having waltzed it round Hurlford’s lone striker he inexplicably took an age to clear it and was nearly robbed of it but fortunately it came to nothing.

In the 11th minute McMahon had his name taken after he theatrically went down.

Moments later we had the first effort at goal. Clark lost the ball on halfway when trying to break forward and Ford broke down the left through Whittaker. He touched it wide to Kerr who angled a drive across goal but comfortably wide of the left post.

Talbot’s first effort at goal came in the 19th minute. Armour lifted it down field where McAvoy managed to head it into the path of Boyd who fired just over from 20 yards.

Hurlford picked up a 2nd yellow card of the afternoon in the 24th min when Whittaker was penalised for clashing with Schoneville after he’d shielded the ball out.

There hadn’t been much to shout about but Talbot gave the home fans something to cheer in the 26th minute when they took the lead. A volleyed cross from the left touchline was met by KYLE MCAVOY who powered a header inside the right hand post to give Talbot the lead.

On the half hour mark Talbot threatened to double their advantage. McAvoy played it into the feet of Gillies whose low drive from 20 yards was turned wide of the left post by O’Connor.

Down the other end Armour did well in the 32nd minute. Armstrong got free down the right and floated it back into the path of Hughes whose first time effort was well saved to his left by Talbot’s keeper.

A few minutes later Hurlford had another chance to test the Bot defence when they won a free kick out on the stand side for a foul by Thomson. Lidington played it short and wide to free Whittaker whose cross to the back post was well defended.

In the 37th minute a good save from O’Connor prevented Talbot extending their lead. Wilson carried it forward before sliding a pass into McAvoy on the right of the area. He fired it back across goal and O’Connor got down to turn it wide of the right post. Wardrope fired the resultant corner into the near post where O’Connor again did well to claim it.

The remainder of the half petered out with neither side looking threatening and Talbot went in a goal to the good.

The 2ND half got off to a livelier start than the 1st with close calls at both ends of the field. In the 49th minute Gillies sped down the left and drilled it low across the face of goal. O’Connor spilled it and it came out to Boyd who laid it off right to Wardrope whose low strike was deflected behind for a corner. When the corner came over McPherson met it and his header appeared to be tipped over the bar by O’Connor but the ref gave a goal kick.

The Bot then had a let off down the other end. A good cross from the left found Kerr in acres of space beyond the far post and he had time to cut inside on his left foot and go for goal. His shot clattered off the left post and came back to him and his 2nd effort swerved wide of the far post.

Talbot’s next attack saw Boyd flash a shot across goal from a tight angle that Thomson just failed to reach at the far post.

In the 54th minute Talbot had a decent chance to double their lead. McAvoy broke forward and released it wide left to Wardrope. He pulled his cross back into the centre where it was met by Sime but he steered his header wide of the left post.

Talbot were turning the screws and in the 58th minute Boyd forced a corner down the right. Wardrope pinged it into the near post trying to find McAvoy and it broke out to Wilson on the right of the area. His drive at goal was blocked and spun out to McPherson at the edge of the area and he too saw his low drive blocked by a defender.

On the hour mark Talbot’s pressure paid off. A ball in behind saw Boyd bundled over. Play went on and it ran through to Gillies on the left of the area. He chipped it across to the right to pick out EUAN THOMSON who drilled it low back across and beyond the keeper to make it 2-0.

In the 63rd minute Clark received a caution for a foul out on the left touchline. When the free kick came in Talbot failed to clear it and it came to Kerr on the left of the area. Armour managed to block his shot at his right hand post and when it rebounded out to McKenzie his follow up effort took a deflection and went behind for the corner.

When the corner came over Armour punched it clear but didn’t get much distance on it. It came out to Hughes 16 yards out and when he went over when challenged by Thomson the ref pointed to the spot. WHITTAKER took the spot kick and sent Armour the wrong way to tuck it inside the left post to reduce the deficit to 2-1 with 64 mins played.

In the 71st minute a promising Talbot break was halted when Thomson appeared to be clearly obstructed by Lidington but the ref thought otherwise and waved play on.

Two mins later Sime nearly caught O’Connor out with a mishit cross with the keeper forced to back pedal and clutch it on the goal line.

The Bot’s next attack saw Wardrope fire it into the feet of McAvoy inside the area. He spun to turn his man but the ball just broke away from him and O’Connor reacted quickly to smother it.

With 11 mins remaining Hurlford hit the woodwork. The ball came to Hughes just outside the area and he tried to curl it home but got too much on it and his shot clipped the top of the bar and behind for the goal kick.

In the 83rd minute Tucker made a double change with Boyle & Langan on for Thomson & Wardrope.

Hurlford also made their first change with Dunnett replacing McMahon.

Five mins from time Talbot were denied what looked to be a stonewall penalty. Hesitant defending at a ball over the top saw Boyd latch onto it just inside the area and as he tried to burst through he was clearly having his shirt held but the ref somehow missed it.

Hurlford now made another change with Anderson on for Whittaker.

Just as they had all afternoon, Hurlford kept up their route one tactics in the closing stages but the Bot defence held firm and saw the match out to claim the win and climb to 5th in the table.

Talbot are back in league action this midweek when they host Shotts Bon Accord at Beechwood on Wednesday night.

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

Subs – Nimmo, Abed, Langan, Boyle, Slooves, Miller

Hurlford United – O’Connor, Armstrong, Lidington, Frew, Love, Hughes, McKenzie, Watt, McMahon, Whittaker, Kerr

Subs – Anderson, Fisher, Mackie, Dunnett, Brown (gk)

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