Venue: Beechwood Park

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.

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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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TALBOT HIT THE GLENS FOR SIX

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

There have been a fair few even derby encounters over the years between Talbot and the Glens but this wasn’t one of them as the Bot swept the Glens aside in a no nonsense manner at a floodlit Beechwood.  Before kick off there was an impeccably observed minute’s silence in honour of Kevin Higgins.

When the game kicked off it got off to a quick start. Talbot attacking first with McAvoy nearly bursting through only to be denied by the covering Willet and then down the other end the Glens forced a corner down the left which Talbot failed to clear. It came back out to the taker, Lindsay, whose low ball into the near post went behind for a goal kick.

In the 4th minute McAvoy released Gillies out wide and when his cross came over Allan headed it behind for a corner. Wardrope delivered it to the near post where Thomson flicked it on but there were no takers at the back post. The visitors came about as close as they were going to get in the 6th minute. Mullen cut in off the left and tried to place it low into the far corner. It took a slight deflection en route as it bent past the left post. The corner was taken short to Willet who fed it back out to Lindsay and he rolled it back into the path of Mullen who collapsed in the box looking for a penalty that never came.

Talbot came close to the opener in the 9th minute. Gillies’ ball up the left found McAvoy in behind the Glens defence and he flashed a shot across the face of goal and just wide of the left post. The goal wasn’t long delayed however and Talbot took the lead a minute later. The Bot won a corner down the right which Wardrope played across goal. McPherson headed it on to Boyd who saw his shot at goal blocked. It came out wide left where it ended up with Sime who swept over a cross which KYLE McAVOY headed low inside the left post.

As the cliché goes the next goal was going to be crucial and after a fairly even spell it was Talbot who doubled their lead in the 23rd minute. McAvoy slid the ball through to the overlapping Kerr and he raced to the bye line before cutting it back across goal. It came across to MICHAEL WARDROPE beyond the back post and he steadied himself before coolly passing it into the far corner to make it 2-0.  The Glens next attack saw them win a free kick out on the stand side which Lindsay bent over toward the back post where McPherson headed it behind for the corner. When the in swinging corner came over Armour punched it clear. The Bot had a penalty shout on the half hour mark. Kerr’s high ball over the top eluded the defence and found Thomson breaking into the area. He went down under the challenge of Willet but the ref waved play on.

Four mins later the Bot had a chance to extend their lead. Gillies angled a ball from the left touchline to find the run of Boyd who lashed his shot off target from 20 yards.In the 38th minute Clark played it up the line to find Wardrope with Willet forced to concede the corner. From the resultant corner the ball broke back to Clark whose low drive from just inside the area was blocked wide by a defender. It came to Wardrope who clipped it back into the centre where it fell to Gillies who saw his shot blocked from 12 yards. Five mins from the interval Talbot won a free kick a few yards outside the penalty area following a foul on Thomson. Wardrope lifted it to the back post where McAvoy headed it just wide.

The half ended with Talbot back on the attack. Boyd sent McAvoy through on goal down the right of the area but Markey did well racing off his line to block his shot behind for the corner. Wardrope’s corner was drilled in low and when cleared to the edge of the area it came to Sime who cracked a low shot just wide of the right post.

The 2nd half was only five minutes old when the Glens were forced into a change. McAvoy & Rowe both took a knock when duelling for a high ball with Rowe unable to continue and Pettigrew on in his place. In the 55th minute Talbot won a free kick just inside their own half which was clipped up the right. Boyd won the header on but it had just too much on it for McAvoy to get on the end of it. A minute later Boyd fired a shot across goal from a tight angle out on the right.

The incessant Talbot pressure paid off in the 58th minute with a 3rd goal. Sime squared it across to Clark who helped it on into the path of Kerr down the left. He chipped it toward the far corner of the 6-yard box where CONNOR BOYD floated a header back across and beyond Markey. In the 62nd minute the Glens made a double change with Ross & Taggart making way for Walker & McKee.

65 mins gone and Talbot added their fourth of the evening. Gillies played it into the feet of Boyd on the left of the area and he cut in on his right foot and went for goal. Markey did well to touch his shot onto the left post but when it came out KYLE McAVOY was on hand to head home the rebound. Talbot now made their first change of the evening with Langan on in place of Gillies. Confidence was running high and in the 70th minute when the ball fell to Boyd just inside the area he took a touch before firing it just over the bar on the half-volley.

Frustration got the better of Kerr who received a caution in the 71st minute for a late challenge on Clark. In the 74th minute Talbot McAvoy had a chance for his hat-trick. Langan raced through the centre before sliding a pass out left to find him in behind the defence but Markey did well to narrow the angle and make the stop. Glenafton had barely been over the halfway line in the 2nd half but were nearly in with quarter of an hour remaining. A long diagonal ball found Kerr breaking free down the left. He sped into the area but just as he went to hit it Clark got back to make the challenge and block it behind for a corner.

When the corner came over Talbot cleared it and were looking to break until Thomson was hauled back by Walker who received a yellow card. Talbot now made a double switch with McAvoy & Thomson off and Nimmo & Abed on in their stead. The subs were barely on the pitch before being involved in Talbot’s 5th of the evening. A shy from the right found Nimmo inside the area and he touched it on into the path of Abed. He tried to pass it low beyond the keeper who made a good save with his legs but the rebound went straight to CONNOR BOYD who passed it into the empty net to make it 5-0 with 77 mins played. Two minutes later Boyd’s ball from the left of the area found Langan in the centre of the box. It was fractionally behind him but he managed to get his shot away and it went just wide of Markey’s right post.

In the 81st min Kerr picked up a knock and couldn’t continue. Talbot’s next move saw a neat passing move end with Langan firing wide of the left post. In the 82nd minute Talbot made a double change with Schoneville on for the injured Clark and Miller on for Sime. Four mins from time Wardrope sent a curling cross over from the left that the defence could only clear as far as Nimmo at the edge of the area. He took a touch before drilling it wide of the right hand post. A minute later Nimmo came close again when he got on the end of a ball into the area, just beating the on rushing Markey to it, and firing it wide of target. Pettigrew now picked up a yellow card for dissent.

It was just a question of whether Talbot could add to their lead. In the 89th minute Abed surged forward before releasing Schoneville down the left but his cut back was blocked. In the final minute of regulation time Talbot added their 6th. A ball down the right found CONNOR BOYD in behind the defence and he waltzed around the keeper before firing it home. A comprehensive win for the Bot which will have done wonders for the confidence and goal difference. It’s back to cup duty on Saturday when Talbot travel through to Keanie Park to face Johnstone Burgh in the West.

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

Subs – Nimmo, Abed, Langan, Schoneville, Slooves, Miller, Hanlon

Glenafton Athletic – Markey, Currie, Willet, Rowe, Allan, McCubbin, Ross, Lindsay, Kerr, Mullen, Taggart

Subs – Walker, Pettigrew, McKee, McDougall, Jamieson

Report: Jim McAuley, Photography: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

LADY LUCK DESERTS THE TALBOT

TALBOT: Armour, McPherson. Schoneville, Wilson, Slooves, Boyle (Clark), Sime (Langan), Gillies, Boyd, McAvoy, Wardrope (Thomson). UNUSED SUBS: Kerr, Nimmo, Walker, Abed

JOHNSTONE BURGH: Scullion, Mullen, Gilday, Eadie, O’Neil, Davidson, Mason. Dorrans, S.McCann, Smith, Kerr. SUBS:  Trialist, Law, Cook, G.McCann, Rossiter, Christie, McDonald.

Although there was an absence of goals over the ninety minutes, this was a highly entertaining match where Talbot will feel hard done by after having a goal disallowed, hitting the bar as well as being denied another goal in the craziest of circumstances.

Beechwood was bathed in winter sun which was a far cry from twenty four hours previous, where Ayrshire was hit by Storm Eowyn. No doubt the milder weather brought the punters out as a healthy crowd had gathered on the Beechwood terracing.

Burgh showed their intentions early on and in the opening five minutes had won two free kicks where a Dorrans lob into the box from just shy of the half way line was headed well over by O’Neil and this was followed by an attempt from Dorrans from twenty five yards that just went over the bar.

Talbot made their first attack on goals on the ninth minute when McAvoy

nodded a Schoneville throw in which Boyd picked up, but as he was being ushered to the bye-line by the visiting defence he smashed the ball across the goals but Scullion did well to smother.

The game was flowing from end to end and Talbot had a let off in the tenth minute when Mason got in the back of the Talbot defence before rifling a low ball across the goalmouth but there were no takers.

The Talbot faithful thought that they had taken the lead in the eighteenth minute when Boyd slipped the ball wide to Gillies who thundered a shot on target but Scullion managed to palm the ball away for a corner. Wardrope’s cross from the resultant corner saw Slooves get his head to the ball but it went well over the bar.

Both sides were going at it hammer and tongs but it was not until the twenty third minute that a chance was fashioned and this fell to Kerr who picked up a pass from Smith, made a beeline for the home goals but was met by a robust tackle from Sime. However the loose ball squirmed back to Kerr, but his resulting shot flew over the bar.

On the half hour mark it was Talbot’s turn to turn the screw when Sime flashed a great cross into the box but McAvoy got under the ball and headed harmlessly over. The first half’s big talking points came firstly in the thirty seventh minute when the visiting defence failed to clear a long ball which Boyd managed to exploit and as he bore down on goals it looked like Davidson was all over him resulting in the big striker going down in the box, but the referee waved play on. Seven minutes later Schonevill went down in the box when he looked to be impeded but this saw the match official flash the yellow card at the Talbot player. 

The second half started with controversy when five minutes after the restart Sime and Gillies were giving the visitors a tough time just outside the box which saw Gillies pass into the path of Wardrope who dispatched the ball past Scullion and into the bottom corner of the net. This resulted in the dugout side linesman flagging for offside as the players celebrated. The decision was not met well by the home bench and goalkeeping coach Brian Hewitt  was carded.

Ten minutes later Talbot nearly broke the deadline when Slooves gathered a loose ball before passing to Gillies who, finding himself in acres of room, strode forward and lashed a twenty five yard screamer just past Scullions post.

Burgh had a good ten minutes pressure just after this when on the sixty fifth minute Smith out jumped Wilson to head towards goal but his effort was easily held by Armour. Minutes later the big keeper made a hash of a Kerr strike when the ball came off his knee, but thankfully Slooves was there to hook the ball to safety.

With the game now into the last quarter a moment of class saw Boyd let a Schoneville throw in roll past him before chipping Scullion which saw the ball come off the bar where it fell to McAvoy who’s effort was blocked by the keeper before being cleared by the Burgh defence.

The game should have been put to bed in the eighty sixth minute when a Gillies pass into the feet of Boyd was passed across the the face of the goal straight to the unmarked Thomson who only needed a six inch tap in but the ball seemed to bobble in front of him hitting his arm in the process and even though he managed to get the ball into the net the referee had already blown for an infringement.

With minutes remaining Neill McPherson had the last chance of the match but he headed well past the post.

All in all it was a decent display by Talbot against a top side, although on another day it would have resulted in three points.