Beechwood Park – Page 2 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Auchinleck Talbot v Glenafton Athletic

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

Auchinleck Talbot v Johnstone Burgh

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.

Auchinleck Talbot v Forth Wanderers

Report: Jim McAuley, Photo’s: Craig McGhee, Media, Ross Newlands.

TALBOT HEAD FORTH

Talbot progressed into the next round of the West of Scotland Cup with an expected victory over a side thirty nine places below them, but it proved to be a turgid affair where Talbot squandered numerous chances as they huffed and puffed against a side who were to lose an own goal, receive a red card and forced into a keeper change late on in the game.

The start of the match saw Talbot first out of the traps when in only two minutes into the game a clearance by Armour flew over the the Forth defence where Thomson latched onto the loose ball, but his shot nestled into the hands of the keeper

A minute later some head tennis at the edge of the visitors box came to fruition when a McAvoy back header landed at the feet of Thomson but a block by McGuigan saw the ball squirm into the path of BOYD where he steered the ball past Orr to put Talbot in the lead.

As the fans settled down for the coming onslaught Forth were back in the game on the 11th minute when a searching run towards the Talbot defence saw McGill slip the ball to Hill who’s smart flick landed at the feet of Caig just inside the box but Wilson made a clumsy challenge that lead the referee to point to the spot. The kick was taken by HILL who made no mistake when he hammered his shot right down the centre of the net.

Four minutes later McAvoy did everything right when picking up a pass from Syme he cut into the box and with the keeper beaten his shot slipped past the post. In the 16th minute he had a half chance when he latched onto a Gillies cross but once again his effort went past the upright.

The striker must have been wondering what he had to do to score when on the 19th minute a poor pass by Boyd saw Elliot allow Gillies to get in front of him where the wingers resulting cross was blasted over the bar from a few yards, with the goal at his mercy

Seven minutes later another chance came his way when a knock on by Boyd fell to McAvoy who escaped the clutches of Tobin but Orr did well to smother his shot, however the big keeper seemed to be in considerable pain after his exploits.

The game descended into a middle of the park battle with little joy on both sides. It took till the 44th minute for a chance to be fashioned from a Thomson corner Boyd narrowly headed past the post.

Just before the half time whistle Gillies started and finished a move via a pass from Syme but this saw him shoot into the legs of Orr.

Proceedings were hardly re-started when a long ball was hammered down the right hand wing which McAvoy headed onto the path of Boyd who after controlling the ball swept it into the box which DOCHERTY managed to steer past his own keeper.

Paterson found himself in the book after a pull on Boyd and this was to affect the visitors chances later in the game.

Shortly after the fans were entertained with the highlight of the game when a mazy run by McPherson who after a one two with Thomson just put a shot over the bar with Orr rooted to the spot.

On the 51st minute Tobin was booked late tackle on Syme, and four minutes later the same player glanced a Hill free kick over bar.

Talbot extended their lead on the 58th minute when an Armour bye kick was headed on by McAvoy to Thomson who slipped a pass to GILLIES who shot through the legs of Elliot and although Orr got his fingers to the ball it slipped past the inside of the post.

In the 60th minute Forth replaced McGill who was not the best pleased with Donald, and four minutes later Paterson was red-carded for a second yellow.

However Forth proved they were not out of the contest and when a punt from Slooves was headed back towards the Talbot defence, Hill thundered a shot from 25 yards that Armour had to tip over the bar.

At the 73 minute mark Talbot had the ball in the net when Syme and Gillies combined and as the ball was swept into the net by Boyd the linesman flagged for offside.

Three minutes later another goal was disallowed when the referee gave a foul against Boyd claiming he went into his challenge unfairly on the keeper.

Forth replaced Elliot and Neilson for Shand and McMurray while Talbot made a triple change with Wardrope Nimmo and Boyle replacing Langan, Syme, and Thomson, while minutes later Mitchell replaced the struggling Orr in the Forth nets.

With 12 minutes left on the clock Walker and Abed entered the fray by swapping with Gillies and McAvoy but by that time the game was over as a contest, where Talbot did all the probing around the visitors box, but it was Donald who had the last say in this dull affair when he flashed a shot past Armour’s goals.

With Johnstone Burgh at home next week in the league and the same side proving the opposition in the next round of this trophy, Talbot will need to cash in on the chances that come their way in both matches as the opposition will prove to be a lot tougher.

FORTH WANDERERS 1: Orr, 2: Docherty, 3: Neilson, 4: Tobin, 5:McGuigan, 6:McDonald, 7: Hill, 8: Paterson, 9: Caig, 10: Elliot, 11: McGill. SUBS: 12: Shand, 14: McMurray, 15, Donald, GK| Mitchell

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

Auchinleck Talbot v Forth Wanderers

Auchinleck Talbot v Larkhall Thistle

TALBOT THROUGH TO ROUND SIX

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

A wind assisted Talbot blew away Larkhall in the second half to book their place in the quarter finals of the South Challenge cup in the final competitive fixture of 2024.

Talbot made a decent start & threatened in the 2nd minute when Boyd headed on into the path of McAvoy who flashed a low pass across the face of goal that just eluded Thomson at the back post.

A minute later Talbot came close again. Sime won it on the left & played it into McAvoy who cut inside and rifled a low shot across goal and just wide of the left hand post.

Five minutes in and Talbot squandered a good chance to grab the opener. Gillies swept over a good cross from the left which McAvoy knocked down towards Boyd 8 yards out. He could have hit it but opted to take a couple of touches and the chance was lost.

The visitors had offered little but had a chance to test the Bot defence in the 8th minute when they won a free kick just wide left of the Bot penalty area. Jones took it and angled a low ball into the near post where Schoneville reacted first to clear.

In the 14th minute Boyd turned his man down the left of the area and drilled it low across the 6-yard area where the defence managed to clear. Talbot kept the pressure up, regaining possession outside the box and ending with Sime firing into the side-netting.

Four mins later Talbot threatened down the right. McPherson clipped a ball down the wing to find Boyd whose clever touch inside released Thomson into space. He dinked a good cross beyond the back post but no one had gambled on it and it drifted behind.

Twenty mins in and Talbot won a corner down the left which was taken short allowing Langan the angle to swing a cross into the centre which Alexander could only palm away. It came out to Slooves who fired an effort at goal from 12 yards but his shot was blocked by a defender.

With half an hour gone Sime carried the ball forward from midfield and fired on target but drilled his shot straight at the keeper.

The Bot’s next attack saw Boyd latch onto a ball down the left and cut it back into the path of McAvoy who took a fresh air swipe at it.

Within a minute Talbot had another half chance. Gillies whipped over a good cross from the left which Thomson met at the back post but he was stretching to reach it and couldn’t control his effort.

In the 39th minute Sime angled a ball across goal from the left of the area but it had too much on it for McAvoy to get on the end of it.

Three minutes before the break Larkhall tested Armour for the first time. Schoneville couldn’t get any distance on his clearing header from a cross from the left and it went straight out to Jones wide on the right. He fired it low into the near post where Armour gathered it.

Action then switched to the other end where Talbot came close to the opener. Boyd did well on the right, whipping over a good cross which broke to Gillies on the left of the area. He fired it low back across goal but just wide of the left hand post.

A minute from the break McAvoy picked up what looked to be a harsh caution when he was a fraction late going for a loose ball in the Larkhall penalty area and soon after the ref signalled an end to the first half.

During the interval the weather took a decided turn for the worse and the teams came back out to sheets of rain being driven toward the clubhouse by a gale force wind.

The 2nd half was only five minutes old when Talbot made their first change with Nimmo coming on in place of McAvoy.

The wind was quite literally in Talbot’s sails and nearly led to the opener in the 55th minute. Gillies swung in a cross from the left that nearly caught Alexander out with the keeper forced to tip it over the bar.

In the 62nd minute Talbot made the breakthrough. CONNOR BOYD raced up the right and slung it low into the near post where Alexander only succeeded in parrying it inside his own post and into the back of the net.

Before Larkhall had a chance to regroup Talbot doubled their lead in the 65th minute. Gillies touched it inside to RUARIDH LANGAN whose swirling effort from 20 yards curled over the keeper to make it 2-0.

A minute later Talbot had a chance to add to their lead. McPherson fired a good low ball across goal to find Gillies beyond the far post and he side-footed it on target but it went straight to the keeper.

In the 70th minute Larkhall made a double switch with Mackiewicz & McLeod departing for the visitors to be replaced by Stevenson & McVey.

Two minutes later Talbot added their third to put the game beyond any doubt. Thomson cut in off the right and swept over a left foot cross to find ALEX NIMMO in the centre and he guided his header into the roof of the net to make it 3-0.

Talbot now made a couple of changes with Kerr and Clark joining the fray.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot won a free kick 35 yards out for a foul on Langan. McPherson touched it short to Kerr who fired a low shot wide of the left hand post.

Talbot now made their final change with Miller coming on for Slooves.

Eleven minutes from time Talbot completed the scoring. Clark squared it inside off the left to find RUARIDH LANGAN who fired it low inside the right post from 20 yards to put Talbot 4-0 ahead.

The Bot came close to adding to their tally in the 81st minute. A free kick out on the right was curled in by Kerr and found McPherson who headed it down into the turf and on target only for Alexander to tip it over the bar.

A minute later Schoneville had a go from distance forcing another stop from the keeper who got down low to his left to push his shot wide.

Larkhall pushed forward in the dying stages looking for a consolation but the Bot defence held firm for the clean sheet and saw the tie out.

A good win for the Bot on a day that was an advert for the advantages of summer football. That’s it for 2024 as far as competitive football with Talbot heading through to Ardrossan next Saturday for a friendly. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all at Talbot.

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

Subs – Nimmo, Abed, Boyle, Clark, Kerr, Miller, Hanlon

Larkhall Thistle – Alexander, Jones, O’Kane, McMillan, McCrae, Kennedy, Phairs, Mackiewicz, McLeod, Morris, Carlin

Subs – Reid, Lindsay, Inglis, Fraser, Stevenson, McVey, Campbell (gk)

Auchinleck Talbot v Pollok

BOYD DOUBLE SEALS THE POINTS

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

Talbot got back to winning ways with a deserved victory over Pollok at Beechwood.

The Bot got off to a shaky start with the visitors doing the early pressing. In the 5th minute Main had a half chance from the edge of the area but saw his shot blocked.

Pollok should have taken the lead in the 12th minute. A ball up the right went behind off Wilson’s head for a Lok corner. The corner was taken short and whipped into the near post where Gow steered a free header over the bar from 5 yards out.

A minute later down the other end Gillies swept a deep cross over from the left which Thomson met beyond the back post. He cushioned it back across goal where it broke off a defender and behind for a corner which Talbot failed to make the most of.

In the 16th minute Talbot went close to taking the lead. A shy from the left found Boyd inside the area and he did well to cut inside on his right foot and drill a shot just over the crossbar.

Black became the first name in the notebook a minute later when he was cautioned for a trip out on the touchline.

Pollok’s next attack saw Tran knock a dangerous cross in from the left which was well defended by Schoneville who headed it out to safety.

The opening goal came Talbot’s way with 21 mins gone. Langan squared it across to find Schoneville bursting forward. He pinged it into the area where CONNOR BOYD took a good 1st touch to take him away from his marker before slotting the ball low past the keeper.

The visitors looked for an early response and had an effort on target in the 24th minute when Docherty latched onto a headed clearance but his low drive from 16 yards went straight at Armour.

In the 34th minute McAvoy combined well with Boyd – flicking the ball on to release him down the left but Boyd’s ball back across goal for McAvoy was too close to Truesdale who cut it out.

Shortly before the interval the ball fell for Main 20 yards out but he blazed his shot well over. Down the other end Talbot had a half chance when Thomson released McPherson on the overlap. His ball back across was cut out but broke to Thomson who switched inside onto his left foot and fired wide from 18 yards and the sides went off with Talbot a goal to the good.

Pollok had a chance to level 2 minutes after the restart. Lapsley’s ball up the right found Docherty in space and when he played it across the area it ran through to Tran who fired it into the side-netting.

Talbot then threatened down the other end. McPherson played it on to Thomson whose cross was met by Boyd but he couldn’t get enough on it and glanced his header across goal and wide.

The Bot doubled their lead in the 52nd minute. Thomson cut in off the right and angled a pinpoint cross to the far post to pick out the unmarked McAvoy. He cushioned a header back across goal to Gillies who looked a cert to score only to be denied by a good stop from Truesdale but the keeper was helpless to prevent CONNOR BOYD who had followed it in to tap home the rebound.

Pollok now pushed bodies forward but without really looking like scoring. On the hour mark they won a free kick 30 yards out which saw Sime booked. Forde took it but sent his shot straight into the wall.

The visitors did have the ball in the net in the 63rd minute but the celebrations were short lived as the stand side assistant’s flag went up straight away.

Pollok now made a change with Gaffney coming on for Black.

Forrester became the 2nd Lok player in the ref’s notebook when he received a caution for a shirt tug on halfway.

Another Talbot goal would’ve killed the game off and the Bot had a chance to nab it in the 69th minute. McAvoy & Boyd did well down the left before the ball was squared across the area to find Thomson in space 12 yards out. He took a touch before hitting it and a defender was able to get back to deflect it over the bar for a corner. The corner was taken short back to Langan whose cross into the back post was just nicked away. It came out to Gillies on the left of the area who angled it across goal. Truesdale flapped at it and it came to Sime beyond the far post but the angle proved too tight and all he could do was guide it back into the goal mouth where it was eventually cleared.

Talbot now made a double change with Thomson & Sime making way for Boyle & Abed. Pollok also made a further change with Gallacher on for Duncanson.

In the 72nd minute a cushioned header back found Abed in the area but just as he went to hit it a defender slid it to put it behind for the corner.

In the 76th minute Docherty received a yellow card for a late challenge on Schoneville out on the left. Schoneville took the resultant free kick and flighted it high into the area. Truesdale came for it but got nowhere near it; however it didn’t break Talbot’s way and the defence were able to scramble clear.

Two minutes later Boyle won the ball in the Lok half and carried it forward before firing it wide of target.

Ten minutes from time Pollok made their final change with O’Donnell on in place of Tran.

The Bot came very close to putting the game to bed in their next attack. Abed sped up the right and crossed it into the centre where McAvoy looked set to meet it with a diving header but a defender just managed to get a touch to take it away from him and behind for a corner. When the corner came over McPherson met it at the back post and powered a header on target that had the keeper well beaten but was headed off the line and onto the crossbar by a defender and Talbot then saw a subsequent shot from the rebound blocked en route to goal.

With 3 minutes remaining Talbot made another change with Nimmo on for McAvoy.

The Bot support were ensured of a nervy ending when Pollok pulled one back a minute from time. O’Donnell forced a corner down the right and when the ball came over the defence were caught flat footed as MAIN bundled it home from close range at the near post.

As the game headed into added time Talbot had another chance to put the game away. Nimmo pounced on a slip by a Lok defender to get away down the left. He whipped a cross into the centre but it was marginally behind Boyd who couldn’t direct his header on target.

Deep into added time Pollok’s manager was cautioned for dissent after challenging the decision not to award them a late corner and the final whistle blew as Armour took the goal kick.

A much improved performance from Talbot which sees the Bot climb to 7th in the table. Next up Talbot are back in cup action when they host Larkhall Thistle in the 5th round of the South Challenge cup.

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

Subs – Nimmo, Abed, Boyle, Walker, Healey, Kerr, Miller

Pollok – Truesdale, Duncanson, Forrester, Gow, Main, Forde, Docherty, Lapsley, Tran, Black, Bain

Subs – O’Donnell, Gallacher, Gaffney, Fry (gk)

Auchinleck Talbot v Forth Wanderers

Auchinleck Talbot v Cumbernauld United

LATE SHOW SINKS CUMBERNAULD

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

Talbot made it to the last 16 of the South Challenge cup but did it the hard way seeing off Cumbernauld with a late goal.

The opening spell was high on commitment but low on quality with neither side able to retain possession or threaten in the final third.

The first clear chance came Talbot’s way in the 10^th minute. Gillies fizzed a low ball in off the left which Law pushed out into the path of Abed. He tried to place it back across goal but his shot was blocked by a defender.

A minute later Boyd’s low drive from the left of the area forced a decent stop out of Law who turned it round his right post.

The visitors had rarely visited Talbot’s half but came within a whisker of taking the lead with quarter of an hour gone. Kearney let fly from 30 yards out and Armour did well to get across and tip it onto the crossbar and behind for the corner kick. Once again Talbot were troubled by corners – the first one in off the left wasn’t cleared initially and ended up being knocked behind following a scramble in the 6 yard area. When the 2^nd corner came over beyond the back post it fell to Brodie who volleyed it over the bar.

Talbot came close to the opener in the 20^th minute. Gillies cut the ball back from the left bye line to find Nimmo in the heart of the area and his shot slipped just wide of the left hand post.

In the 24^th minute Nimmo won Talbot a corner down the left. Wardrope caught the defence napping when he passed it in short to find Abed whose curling right foot effort came off the left post and came at Boyd who headed the rebound over.

The game again then became a midfield slog with neither side offering any threat. The next meaningful attack came in the 34^th minute when Brodie whipped in a dangerous cross from the right. Slooves headed it clear but it came out to a Nauld player and a bout of headie tennis ensued before it was finally cleared.

The Bot had a good chance to take the lead in their next attack. Boyd met a ball up the centre and flicked it on into the path of Abed who burst through on the keeper but Law did well to block his shot low to his left and the rebound cannoned back off Abed and behind for the goal kick.

In the 39^th minute Boyd came close when he gathered outside the area and fired just over the bar.

Three minutes from half-time Talbot nearly gifted the visitors an opening out of nothing. There appeared no danger when the ball was pinged up the left for Cunningham to chase. Armour seemed in control of it but tried to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick allowing Cunningham to keep it in. Fortunately McPherson got back to make the challenge to halt Cunningham’s progress and the ball broke through to Armour.

In the final action of the half Nimmo met a ball up the right and cushioned a header inside to find Boyd in the penalty area but the keeper had read the danger and was quickly off his line to smother at Boyd’s feet and the half ended goal less.

Talbot made a change at the start of the 2^nd half with Langan coming on for Nimmo.

The half got off to a rocky start for Talbot when they were almost caught out within a minute. A ball in behind the defence just eluded Cunningham who couldn’t get a touch on it as it ran through to Armour.

In the 50^th minute Wardrope fed the ball out wide to McPherson whose cross into the near post was met by Boyd who saw his effort deflected wide of the left hand post.

Two minutes later Wilson’s ball up the left came off the top of Whitmore’s head to Boyd on the left of the area. He swung over a good cross which was well cleared by Watt who headed it away in the centre at full stretch.

A good passage of possession in the 58^th minute ended with Talbot winning a corner down the right through Abed. When Wardrope swept it over to the far post McPherson looked certain to score but steered a free header over the bar from 5 yards.

In the 61^st minute the visitors made a change with Hughes replacing Cunningham.

Two minutes later Lafferty had his name taken for a shove on Clark resulting in a Bot free kick 22 yards out. Gillies tapped it square for Wardrope to hit but his shot was charged down.

With 66 mins gone the visitors made a further change with Bowie on for Lafferty.

The first goal looked like it might be the only goal and the visitors nearly nabbed it in the 69^th minute. An accurate diagonal ball found Kearney racing into space down the left and he hit it early with his shot clipping the outside of the right post and behind for the goal kick.

Talbot now made a triple change with McAvoy, Thomson & Schoneville coming on for Abed, Kerr & Wardrope.

In the 71^st minute Gillies whipped in a great cross off the left but there were no takers in the middle and Cumbernauld broke quickly to the other end where Hughes cut in off the left but shot tamely straight at Armour.

The Bot’s next attack saw Schoneville fire a low ball into the area that broke to Sime on the left of the penalty area but he snatched at his shot and pulled it well wide.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot passed up a good chance to take the lead. The ball was played in off the left to find McAvoy who managed to tie up his marker with the ball running through to Sime in a good area. He only had the keeper to beat but his low drive went straight at Law.

In the 81^st minute Talbot squandered another clear chance and the Bot fans were beginning to think it just wasn’t going to go in. Thomson won a corner down the right and when he swept the corner over Slooves met it inside the front post where he glanced a header across goal and wide of the right post.

Cumbernauld now made another change with McClair replacing Mackie.

In the 87^th minute Hogg took one for the team when he received a caution for hauling back McAvoy as he threatened to burst forward.

Just when it looked like the game was heading for extra time Talbot grabbed a late winner. Schoneville did well to wriggle free down the left and pulled it back to find CONNOR BOYD who steered a shot high inside the left post to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

There was still time for a late scare in added time. The impressive Kearney tried his luck with a first time volley from out wide on the left that forced Armour to turn it round the post. The visitors could make nothing of the corner and Talbot had the last attack of the afternoon deep into added time when McAvoy raced down the right and angled a ball across the face of goal which was just out of Boyd’s reach.

Another afternoon where Talbot failed to put away decent chances but a welcome win after a couple of draws on the bounce. Next up for Talbot it’s an away day at Yoker to face in form Clydebank in the league.

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, McPherson, Kerr, Slooves, Wilson, Wardrope, Sime, Gillies, Boyd, Nimmo, Abed

Subs – McAvoy, Thomson, Walker, Langan, Boyle, Schoneville, Clark

Cumbernauld United – Law, Whitmore, McLachlan, Watt, Stobie, Hogg, Brodie, Lafferty, Cunningham, Mackie, Kearney

Subs – Hughes, Burns, McClair, Bowie, Brennan, Smith (gk)

Auchinleck Talbot v Gartcairn

A CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

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

Talbot’s sticky spell continued as they were held to a draw at home by Gartcairn.

The first half was a bit of a non-event. The first real threat came after 10 mins when Stirling got wide of McPherson and fired a ball into the near post which Armour gathered.

A minute later Talbot should have taken the lead. McPherson clipped it up the right where Boyd flicked it inside to find Nimmo in space inside the area but his left foot drive from 15 yards was too near the keeper who kept it out.

The game had been marred by a series of niggly fouls and the referee spoke to A McDonald in the 18^th minute for his 3^rd or 4^th wrestling bout with Nimmo.

In the 28^th minute Sime squared the ball across to Wardrope who fired over the bar from 25 yards out.

On the half hour mark the ref reached for his cards – booking Wood for persistent fouling.

In the 38^th minute Gartcairn took the lead after their first effort on target. Stirling cut in off the left and drilled a shot on target. Armour parried it out but straight to THOMSON who put the rebound away from 6 yards.

As the half moved into added time the visitors nearly doubled their advantage. Stirling won a free kick down the left that was taken short to K Macdonald. He swung it beyond the far post where Krol met it and Armour did well to save his angled drive at his left hand post.

Talbot made a change at the start of the 2^nd half with Abed on for Thomson.

The Bot had a half chance a minute after the restart. A ball down the right found Nimmo in behind the defence. His pull back went between two Bot players but came out to Boyd at the edge of the box who fired it wide of the right hand post.

The next goal was going to be vital and Talbot had a let off in the 50^th minute. Stirling slipped a pass through to find K Macdonald in space on the left of the area. He slid it across the face of goal where Black flicked it against the base of the left hand post.

In the 54^th minute A McDonald received a yellow card for persistent fouling after impeding Nimmo – resulting in a Bot free kick 25 yards out. Wardrope touched it off to LUKE GILLIES who rocketed an unstoppable shot into the top corner to draw Talbot level.

A minute later Talbot were back on the attack. Sime’s cross from the right was put behind for a corner and when the corner came over Gartcairn failed to clear it and it came to Boyd who guided a header over the bar.

Talbot took the lead in the 61^st minute. Wardrope’s corner from the left went to the back post looking for Slooves. The defence could only partially clear it and it fell to CONNOR BOYD who drilled a low shot home to put Talbot 2-1 ahead.

Two minutes later, down the other end, Krol came close to levelling when he steered a shot from 20 yards just wide of the left post.

The Bot’s next attack saw a strong penalty appeal turned down. Boyd raced into the area and looked to be getting held all the way. He managed to squeeze off a shot on target that the keeper turned round the post for a corner.

In the 68^th minute Talbot had a great chance to give themselves a two goal cushion. Wardrope helped it on to Abed out on the right and he swept a great cross into the near post to find Nimmo unmarked but he sent his header wide of target.

In the 72^nd minute Talbot made their 2^nd change with Smith replacing Nimmo.

Two minutes later Gartcairn got in behind the Bot defence when a well-weighted pass found Millar breaking free. He slid a dangerous ball across goal where Black was penalised for a shove.

The Bot’s next chance came in the 77^th minute. Sime squared the ball to Kerr who pinged it into the feet of Smith. He turned his man and fired wide of the left hand post.

Ten minutes from time Talbot were hauled back to level pegging. Black won a corner down the right and when it came over A MCDONALD beat Wilson to it to glance a header across goal and inside the right post.

Within a minute of the game restarting the visitors had a man sent off. K Macdonald conceded a free kick for a foul on Abed down by the corner flag and then got sent to the dressing room for his reaction. Wardrope took the set piece and pulled it back across goal but behind the Bot players in the area.

Five minutes from time Abed swung a good cross into the near post area which Boyd attacked but he was just beaten to it by Cowie who managed to punch clear.

As the clock ran down Mitchell had his name taken for time-wasting.

Two minutes from time Talbot put together a good passage of play that ended with Boyd being up-ended 20 yards from goal. Wardrope took the free kick but got underneath it and his shot sailed over the bar.

In the final minute of play Slooves picked up a yellow card for a shirt tug on Millar.

Talbot huffed and puffed in added time but Gartcairn had plenty of bodies back and were able to hold out for the point with Cowie also receiving a late caution for time-wasting.

A disappointing day for Talbot who looked to have the game in hand after coming from behind but couldn’t hold on to their lead. It’s a break from league action next Saturday as Talbot host Cumbernauld United in the 4^th round of the South Challenge cup.

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Kerr, Wilson, Slooves, McPherson, Sime, Wardrope, Gillies, Boyd, Nimmo, Thomson

Subs – McAvoy, Abed, Smith, Boyle, Langan, Clark, Schoneville

Gartcairn – Cowie, Kieran Macdonald, Rumsby, Andrew McDonald, Thomson, Mitchell, Stirling, Wood, Caldwell, Black, Krol

Subs – Woods, Boyle, Bronsky, Millar, Rogerson, Barr

Auchinleck Talbot v Benburb

LATE GOAL SAVES TALBOT’S BLUSHES

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

Talbot snatched a point from the jaws of defeat with a late, late leveller on a disappointing afternoon at Beechwood.

The Bot made the worst possible start – falling behind to a soft goal with only 4 minutes on the clock.

Clark blocked McGuire’s cross behind for a corner kick and when it came over to the back post Armour opted to punch it rather than try to gather it in. His punch sailed straight out to McKinlay in space at the edge of the area and he steered a half-volley goalwards which TURAY headed home from close range.

Talbot tried to respond and had an effort on target 2 minutes later. Clark slid the ball through to find Boyle on the right of the area and his powerful strike was palmed away by Maliska.

The Bot had a chance to level in the 11^th minute. Nimmo fed it out right to find Sime inside the area and his low ball across the face of goal was met by Nimmo a few yards out but Maliska got down to smother it.

Talbot then had a spell sitting in the Benburb half – forcing a few corners – but without really troubling the Benburb goal.

The visitors threatened again in the 21^st minute when Armour flapped at a cross from the right, with the ball sailing across to the back post where Clark stretched to put it behind.

Benburb had to make an enforced change in the 24^th minute with E Clark leaving to be replaced by Bow.

Talbot again pressed but with no real end product and down the other end Schoneville did well to cut out McKinlay’s dangerous low cross.

On the half hour mark Halliday lifted a long ball over the top to find Turay racing into the area. He had a wrestling match with Schoneville with the Bens bench appealing loudly for a penalty and the ref deeming it six of one and half a dozen of the other and waving play on to the relief of the home support.

Two minutes later Talbot put together a good move when Langan switched play out to the left to find Gillies. He tapped it on for Kerr on the overlap and his low cross was bundled behind for the corner. When the corner came over the defence failed to clear their lines and it broke to Sime whose low drive looked net bound but was blocked by a defender in the goal mouth.

In the 39^th minute Benburb came close to a second with a touch of good fortune. McGuire played a ball across the area that broke out to the edge of the box. It fell to McKinlay who was challenged as he went to hit it and the ball ricocheted off him and arrowed on target where Armour got down low to his left to make the stop.

Talbot’s next attack saw Sime cut it back to find Langan 18 yards out and his shot was well saved by Maliska.

The half ended with the visitors in the ascendancy. Wilson conceded a free kick 30 yards out which Smith took and he curled his shot over the bar. Armour played the goal kick short to Wilson who was caught in possession with Talbot conceding a corner but fortunately no harm came of it and the half-time whistle saw Talbot troop in a goal behind.

Talbot made 2 changes during the interval with Kerr & Boyle making way for McPherson & Wardrope with Schoneville moving to left-back.

A minute after the restart Talbot came close to drawing level. The Bot won a corner down the right and when Wardrope swept it over it was met by McPherson who hit it into the turf and it skipped up and just over the bar.

In the 55^th minute Talbot won a free kick 22 yards out after Nimmo was wrestled to the ground. Wardrope shoved it wide of the wall to find Schoneville who fired it low into the near post where it was cleared.

Three minutes later Sime turned inside the penalty area and fired on target but his shot lacked the power to test the keeper.

On the hour mark Schoneville played it down the left wing to find McAvoy who forced a corner. The corner was delivered to the back post where a Bens defender headed over his own bar. When the 2^nd corner came over from the right the defence failed to clear and it came to Clark on the left of the area who won another corner. Once again it was lifted into the back post but this time the defence managed to head it clear.

In the 64^th minute the visitors had a half chance following a series of lost 50/50s in the middle in the park. The ball was hooked through to find Turay in the area but he was forced wide by McPherson and his low shot didn’t trouble Armour.

A minute later Benburb won a free kick out on the right. McGuire angled it across the penalty area where McPherson had to head it behind.

Clark became the first name in the ref’s notebook when he was cautioned in the 66^th minute. A short pass by Wardrope left him 2^nd favourite and he caught his man a fraction a late.

Talbot now made another double change with Nimmo & Langan making way for Abed & Thomson.

The change nearly paid off straight away as Thomson fed the ball right to find Wardrope in the penalty area. He hit it 1^st time looking to catch Malaski stranded off his line but his shot flew at the keeper.

With quarter of an hour remaining McDonald came on in place of Turay for the visitors.

In the 78^th minute Abed broke down the left and Halliday had to slide it behind to concede the corner. When the corner came in McPherson rushed in to meet it only for a defender to nick it off his head at the last second.

Down the other end Talbot then had a lucky escape. A low ball in from the right was only partially cleared by Clark and it came to McDonald 15 yards out. He scuffed his shot but it ended up a good pass to McKinlay who fired it well wide of the right post from 8 yards out.

With 82 mins gone Benburb made a double change with McWilliams & McGuire making way for Fraser & Bell.

Two minutes later Clark swung a cross in from the right that overhit everyone in the centre but Schoneville latched onto it to force a corner down the left. The corner over was met by McPherson who glanced a header wide of the far post.

The Bot had a glorious chance to equalise in the 87^th minute. Abed angled a low ball in off the left. A defender slipped in the centre and the ball came across to McAvoy in space 12 yards out but he blazed his shot over the bar.

A minute later Schoneville raced down the left and drilled a low ball into the goal mouth that the defence managed to clear. It came out to Wardrope 18 yards out who switched it onto his right foot and hammered a shot on target that Maliska parried away with Halliday then putting it behind for Talbot’s umpteenth corner of the 2^nd half. Wardrope lifted it to the back post where McAvoy got his head to it but it went wide of target.

The game appeared to have slipped away when Talbot produced an equaliser 3 minutes into added time. Clark hoisted a long diagonal ball forward which McPherson managed to head on. McAvoy won the 2^nd header and sent it left to find TAREK ABED who dinked a header over the keeper to make it 1-1 and gain Talbot a point.

Not a great day at the office for Talbot who were far from their best. Next week it’s back to Beechwood where Talbot host Gartcairn in the league.

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Kerr, Schoneville, Wilson, Langan, Boyle, Gillies, McAvoy, Nimmo, Sime

Subs – Thomson, Abed, Wardrope, Walker, Miller, McPherson, Cameron (gk)

Benburb – Maliska, Halliday, E Clark, Giovanazzi, Taylor, Urquhart, McKinlay, McWilliams, Turay, Smith, McGuire

Subs – Fraser, McDonald, Watt, Bell, A Taylor, Bow, Hay (gk)