Beechwood Park – Page 2 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

TALBOT HIT POLLOK FOR FOUR.

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

The Bot made it two out of two to start the league campaign with a comprehensive win over Pollok at Beechwood.

The visitors had the first chance of the evening when a ball up the centre skipped off a defender’s head and came to McHugh on the right of the area. He prodded it across goal but wide of the right post.

Talbot’s first glimpse at goal came after 7 mins. Wardrope was caught outside the box resulting in a free kick 20 yards out. Boyle took it and placed a low effort on target which White pushed wide of his left post. Gillies took the corner and fired it low into the near post where the defence made a meal of it but eventually scrambled it clear. It came out to McPherson on the right of the area and he hammered it across goal where White fumbled it wide of the left post. When the corner came in McPherson got his head to it but White gathered comfortably.

The Bot were well in control and threatened again in the 12th minute. Wilson pinged a good ball up the left to find Gillies running in behind. He tried to cut it back into the centre but it was cut out.

A minute later Nimmo succeeded in forcing a corner down the right. Gillies swept it over to the back post where Main glanced a header wide of target.

Shortly after Talbot were back on the attack. Kerr stole the ball in the Lok half and fed it on to Gillies. He hit over an early cross that found Wardrope in space on the right of the area. He might have went for goal but tried to lay it off inside where it came off a defender for a corner.

In the 20th min a shy from the left found Main inside the box. He turned & shot only to see his effort blocked. It fell into the path of McAvoy but he lost his footing as he went to hit it.

Pollok had a half chance in the 25th minute. Kerr took a touch too many and lost the ball to S O’Donnell. He played it back to Leyden who in turn found Stirling. He cut the ball back for McHugh to hit but he scooped his shot well over from 15 yards.

Talbot had two decent chances in quick succession in the 28th minute. Gillies whipped a good early cross into the near post where Scott only succeeded in knocking the ball out into the path of Main. His low drive at goal was saved by White and the rebound came out to Clark on the right of the area who saw his shot blocked by the keeper.

Talbot’s pressure finally paid off in the 29th minute. Wardrope found himself in space down the right and curled a cross into the middle where ALEX NIMMO rose to power a header back across and into the net to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

Going a goal behind spurred Pollok to raise their game and they had their best spell of the game in the 10 mins after Talbot scored.

In the 34th minute Walsh had a go from 20 odd yards but his shot never troubled the Bot goal.

Two mins later the visitors came close to levelling. Scott gathered out on the left & fired it into the feet of M O’Donnell inside the area. He turned his man and fired across goal but sent his shot just wide of the left post.

The Lok’s next attack saw M O’Donnell whip a cross in from the right touchline to McHugh who could only steer it wide outside the near post under pressure from McPherson.

In the closing minute of the half Wardrope was caught in possession by Leyden just inside the Lok half. He strode forward and spotting Muir off his line went for the lob but Muir recovered well – backpedalling to tip his effort over the bar and ensure Talbot went in a goal ahead at the break.

Two mins after the re-start Main had his name taken for a late challenge on McHugh.

The Bot’s first attack of the 2nd half came in the 51st min. Kerr played it down the line to find Gillies who fed it into the area to Nimmo. He laid it back for McAvoy to hit but his shot was blocked by a defender and went through to the keeper.

Two mins later Gaffney saw yellow after he kicked the ball away at a Talbot free kick after Stirling had fouled Main.

In the 54th minute McAvoy made his way down the left of the penalty area but eventually found himself crowded out. The ball broke back to Gillies whose low drive for goal was blocked.

A minute later Talbot nearly doubled their lead. Main burst into the right of the area and played it inside to Nimmo who angled a shot across the face of goal and just wide of the right post.

On the hour mark Gillies won a corner down the left. When it was delivered to the back post McAvoy met it but saw his header drift just wide.

Talbot now made a triple change with Main, Wardrope & Nimmo making way for Sime, Thomson & Boyd.

In the 64th min a ball was lifted over the defence for McAvoy to chase. White came out his area to clear and nearly misjudged it – only just managing to head it out for a shy.

Pollok now made a double change with Scott & M O’Donnell replaced by McNair & Watt.

The subs didn’t have a chance to touch the ball before Talbot doubled their lead in the 68th minute. Gillies won a corner down the left and when he delivered it into the centre NEIL MCPHERSON ghosted in to glance a free header home.

Pollok had barely crossed the halfway line in the 2nd half but had a half chance in the 71st minute. A good diagonal ball picked out the run of McNair who sped in behind the defence down the left. He raced into the area but Clark proved equal to the task – racing back to dispossess him and clear the danger.

Action then switched to the other end where McAvoy’s snap shot from the right of the area brought out a good save from White.

In the 74th min Leyden took one for the team when he tripped Boyd as he raced forward on the left.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot passed up a good chance to add to their tally. Thomson surged forward before releasing it to McAvoy on the right of the box. He had the option to go for goal but chose to square it across toward Boyd for a tap in with Henry able to get back and turn it over his own bar. When the corner came over McAvoy guided a header on target but couldn’t generate the power to trouble White.

The points were made safe in the 77th min when Talbot added their 3rd. McAvoy got in behind down the right and laid it across to LUKE GILLIES who met it beyond the back post to slide it home.

Talbot now made another double change with McAvoy & Boyle making way for Scullion & Kazoka.

Pollok also made further changes with Millerick & Gibson on in place of Stirling & Gaffney.

In the 82nd minute Talbot grabbed their 4th of the evening. Muir’s ball over the defence picked out Kerr down the left and his ball across the face of goal was turned behind by McCreath. When Thomson’s corner came over CONNOR BOYD bulleted home a header from close range.

Four mins from time Pollok could have found themselves a man down. McCreath launched Kazoka into the pitch side wall with a rash challenge but the ref decided a yellow card sufficed.

Deep into added time Pollok threatened to grab a late consolation through McHugh but his shot was deflected behind for a corner and Talbot saw the game out without conceding.

Next up Talbot hit the road this Saturday as they travel through to Barrhead to face Arthurlie.

Auchinleck Talbot – Muir, Clark, Kerr, Wilson, McPherson, Boyle, Wardrope, Main, Nimmo, McAvoy, Gillies

Subs – Schoneville, Sime, Boyd, Thomson, Scullion, Kazoka, Brown (gk)

Pollok – White, Henry, Walsh, Scott, McCreath, Stirling, S O’Donnell, Leyden, McHugh, Gaffney, M O’Donnell

Subs – Tran, Millerick, McNair, Gibson, Watt, O’Raw, Wallace (gk)

Continue reading “Auchinleck Talbot v Pollok”

Auchinleck Talbot v Ardrossan Winton Rovers

LATE GOAL GETS THE WIN,

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

Talbot largely dominated this final home pre-season match against Winton Rovers whilst lacking a cutting edge in the final third.

In the 5th min Talbot had a chance from a set piece when F Frye caught Wardrope just at the left corner of the penalty area. Wardrope rolled the free kick back into the path of Boyle but his shot sailed wide.

The visitors had a half chance in the 7th minute. Kemp squared the ball inside from the left to find F Frye 20 yards out but he shot over the bar.

Clark came to Talbot’s rescue in the 13th minute. McIver turned Wilson at the edge of the area and carried it into the heart of the box but just as he went to hit it Clark got back to nick it off his toes.

Talbot were having a wobbly spell and on the quarter hour mark a ball over the top skipped off a Talbot head and came to McIver on the right of the box; however the angle was too tight to shoot and his pass across the face of goal was cleared.

A minute later Talbot Boyle held off a challenge before releasing Wardrope down the right. He slung an early ball over to find Thomson 16 yards out but he took a heavy touch and the chance was lost.

In the 18th minute Boyle slid it into the feet of Wardrope who drilled a low shot wide of the right post from 20 yards out.

The Bot forced a corner down the right after 21 mins. Wardrope lifted it beyond the back post where McAvoy aimed a header on target that was blocked in the goal mouth. It came back to him & he tried to place it but his 2nd effort was also blocked.

Shortly after Wood played it out from the back to Wardrope whose early ball over the top found Talbot 9 down the left. He cut back inside but sent his final shot well off target.

In the 25th min Sime’s accurate diagonal ball picked out Thomson on the right. He paced away from Cairns and cut it back across the penalty area to find Wardrope in space on the left of the area; however he didn’t make a clean connection.

A minute later Thomson had a go from 20 yards but sent his effort over the bar.

On the half hour mark a quickly taken shy found McAvoy and he turned his man before angling a shot wide of the left post.

Talbot ought to have moved ahead in the 35th minute. McAvoy got free down the right and fired it across the face of goal. Talbot 9 just failed to reach it in the centre and it came to Wardrope 8 yards out but he took too long to get his shot off and his low drive was blocked.

The visitors nearly gifted Talbot the lead in the 42nd minute. A square ball across their own penalty area was read by McAvoy who stretched out a leg to intercept it and fire a shot on goal which went straight at Semple.

It was all change for Talbot at the start of the 2nd half with the Bot making 7 changes. Muir, Langan, Gillies, Scullion, Schoneville & 3 trialists came on for Brown, Kerr, Boyle, Wardrope, Thomson, McAvoy and Talbot 9.

Talbot started the 2nd half strongly and forced a few corners in the opening minutes. In the 48th minute Gillies delivered a good corner from the right which Wood just failed to meet in front of goal.

**WARDROPE SWINGS A CROSS INTO THE DANGER AREA**

In the 51st minute another Gillies corner from the right was headed on and came beyond the back post to Langan but he fired wide of target.

Two mins later Langan fed it on to Gillies who in turn passed it on to Talbot 15. He slid it back through to Gillies who hit a great low ball across the face of goal but there was no one on hand to turn it home.

In the 55th minute Schoneville slid it on to the overlapping Gillies who drilled it low across goal where a defender did well to cut it out.

It had been one-way traffic up to now but Muir was called into action in the 58th minute. Ferris raced up the left where Clark tracked back to put it behind for the corner. When the corner came in it was cleared out but only as far as Kemp. His shot from 20 yards was blocked but spun kindly for the visitors finding Sewell in space and his volley on target was blocked by Muir.

Talbot passed up a chance to take the lead in the 65th minute. Cairns was penalised for a clumsy challenge on Scullion just wide of the penalty area. Gillies bent it beyond the far post where Talbot 15 ran onto it but sent his header wide.

The Bot now made further changes with Wilson & Wood off to be replaced by McPherson & Hanlon.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot came close in quick succession. Schoneville got away down the wing and cut it back into the path of Gillies inside the box. He tried to place it only to see Smith save with his outstretched leg. The rebound came to Talbot 12 who saw his shot deflected over the bar and when Gillies corner came in off the right McPherson met it 5 yards out but headed over the bar.

In the 79th minute Talbot won a free kick just wide of the box after Cairns shoved over Talbot 17. Before the free kick could be taken Talbot made their final change with Nimmo on for Clark. Gillies curled the free kick over and Smith did well to gather it at the back post.

Five mins from time Langan saw his cross deflected behind for Talbot’s umpteenth corner of the evening. When it was delivered into the box Talbot 12 met it only to see his header cleared off the line.

Just when it looked like Talbot would never score the Bot took the lead. TALBOT 17 cut in off the left and fired a shot at goal that beat Smith to his right with the aid of a deflection to put Talbot ahead in the 86th minute and the Bot saw the remainder out without any problems.

Next up for Talbot it’s the final game of pre-season as they travel through to Holm Park to face Clydebank this Saturday.

Auchinleck Talbot – Brown, Clark, Kerr, Wilson, Wood, Sime, Boyle, Wardrope, Trialist 9, McAvoy, Thomson

Subs – Trialist 12, Nimmo, Trialist 15, Gillies, Trialist 17, Langan, Scullion, Schoneville, Hewitt, Hanlon, Muir (gk)

Ardrossan Winton Rovers – Semple, Trialist 2, Cairns, Sewell, Gray, F Frye, D Frye, Struthers, Trialist, E McIver, Kemp

Subs – Wall, R McIver, Ferris, Montgomery, Simpson, Smith (gk)

Auchinleck Talbot v Irvine Meadow

COMEDY OF ERRORS LEADS TO TALBOT DEFEAT.

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

Talbot started brightly but faded as they fell to defeat against Meadow in their 2^nd pre-season friendly.

**LUKE GILLIES GET’S SOME SPECIAL ATTENTION FROM A MEADOW DEFENDER.**

The game got off to a nondescript start with the first effort at goal not arriving til the 9^th minute. Scullion drilled a low shot on target from 20 yards which Barclay couldn’t gather but he recovered to block Nimmo’s effort from the rebound.

A minute later Scullion’s pass released Gillies down the left. He lifted over a good early cross which was headed behind at the near post by a defender.

The Bot took the lead with 12 mins on the clock. Thomson’s ball up the right saw Talbot 11 force a corner kick down the right. Gillies took it and delivered it into the near post where it was headed back out to the right touchline. MICHAEL WARDROPE gathered and he was allowed the time & space to cut inside onto his left foot and drill a low shot beyond Barclay’s right hand.

Gradually Meadow began to play their way into the game and had a chance to level in the 19^th minute. A counter-attack saw the ball pinged up the left to Caig who slid it into the box to find J Baird on the left side of the box. He fired it across goal but wide of the far post.

Kerr had his name taken in the 27^th minute when he pulled Caig down as he raced up the right. Miller took the free kick and fired it in low toward the near post where it was deflected back out to Caig who tamely volleyed it on target.

**ROSS CLARK TRIES TO SET UP A TALBOT ATTACK.**

There wasn’t much happening in the final third but that changed in the 36^th minute when Meadow drew level. A ball was lifted down the right where Caig battled for a 50/50 ball with Kerr. CAIG came out on top and angled a lob from the right edge of the area over Brown to make it 1-1.

Meadow were now forced into a change with Meadow 2 off injured to be replaced by Wright.

The Bot ought to have regained the lead in the 39^th minute. Meadow 6 was caught in possession in his own half and Talbot 19 burst forward toward the box. He slid a good pass to his left to find Talbot 11 inside the area but he took one touch too many and the chance was lost.

A minute later Nimmo tried his luck from 20 yards – sending a left foot effort off target.

Talbot had a let off in the 41^st minute. The visitors won a free kick just wide of the box which Wright drove low across goal where Schoneville deflected it behind for a corner. Miller played the corner into the near post where Caig met it but his header came off the top of the bar.

As the half entered added time Talbot won a free kick 30 yards out for a shove on Talbot 19. Wardrope took it and curled it over the wall but wide of the right post and the sides went in level at the break.

**ROBBIE SCULLION HEADS FOR THE MEADOW GOALS.**

Talbot made a triple change at the break with Talbot 12, Talbot 15 & McAvoy on in place of Nimmo, Talbot 11 and Talbot 19.

Within a minute of the restart Talbot had a half chance to take the lead. Gillies fed it onto Talbot 12 down the left & when he sped it low across the box it was met by McAvoy who side-footed it over the bar.

Two minutes later Talbot passed up a glaring chance. Clark won it deep in the Meadow half and surged forward to the edge of the area. When he was challenged it broke kindly to T15 in space inside the area but he fired wide of the right post.

In the 50^th minute Talbot saw another chance go a begging. Talbot 12 headed a ball into the path of Talbot 15 who was in behind down the left of the penalty area but snatched at his shot and sent it wide of target.

Down the other end Gallacher pulled the back into the path of Miller who steered a shot straight at Brown from 20 yards.

53 mins gone and McAvoy touched the ball inside to find Schoneville haring into the penalty area but he blazed his shot over the bar.

The Bot’s next attack saw Scullion pass it into the feet of McAvoy inside the area. He couldn’t shoot as the angle was too tight but fired it low into the near post towards Talbot 15 but a defender managed to cut it out.

**ALEX NIMMO CAUSES PANIC IN THE GOAL AREA.**

On the hour mark Meadow made a double change with Trialist 18 & Gillespie coming on.

A minute later Caig managed to get away from Kerr down the left of the penalty area but Brown was quickly off his line to make the challenge.

Talbot now made a double change with Thomson & Langan on for Scullion & Gillies.

The visitors took the lead in the 67^th minute. A cross from the left was missed in the centre and came out to MEADOW 18 beyond the far post and he fired it low across goal to make it 2-1.

Two mins later Talbot fell further behind after conceding a soft goal. A ball up the left aimed toward Meadow 18 was guided back into his own box by McPherson. Brown picked it up rather than clearing it and the ref awarded an indirect free kick. It was shoved sort to CADDIS who fired it low into the net from 15 yards.

In the 71^st minute Kerr raced down the left and floated a cross into the centre. Barclay punched it clear where it came out to McAvoy at the edge of the box. He managed to hit the target but couldn’t generate the power to test Barclay.

With quarter of an hour remaining the ref puzzled the Bot support when he penalised Clark. Kerr had hit a good diagonal to pick him out on the right and he cut inside Gallacher into the area only for the ref to halt play and award Meadow the free kick.

A minute later Wardrope tried his luck from 20 yards with Barclay smothering his effort at goal.

**IT’S ALL HANDS TO THE PUMPS AS TALBOT SEARCH FOR AN EQUALISER.**

In the 79^th minute Talbot pulled a goal back. TALBOT 12 angled a shot from the left of the area that seemed to creep home in slow motion after squeezing under Barclay.

The goal perked Talbot up for the closing stages. In the 84^th minute Clark got into the area down the right and tried to fire it low across goal but it was cut out at the near post.

With 5 mins remaining Talbot 12 had a half chance. He was found on the left of the penalty area but his right foot shot drifted wide of the left post.

As the game moved into added time Talbot squandered a good chance to level. Langan slid the ball into the box and into the feet of Talbot 12 but with only Barclay to beat he fired it low at the keeper.

Talbot are on their travels this Saturday as they travel east to face Linlithgow Rose.

Auchinleck Talbot – Brown, Clark, Schoneville, Kerr, McPherson, Gillies, Wardrope, Scullion, Nimmo, Trialist 19, Trialist 11

Subs – Trialist 12, Thomson, Trialist 15, Langan, Hewitt, McAvoy, Muir (gk)

**IF A PICTURE COULD PAINT A THOUSAND WORDS AS ANOTHER CHANCE IS SQUANDERED.**

Irvine Meadow – Barclay, Trialist 2, Gallacher, Trialist 4, Trialist 5, Trialist 6, E Baird, Caddis, Caig, Miller, J Baird

Subs – Kinnaird, Wright, Trialist 15, Davidson, Anderson, Trialist 18, Gillespie, Trialist (gk)

Auchinleck Talbot v Kilbirnie Ladeside

SHOT SHY TALBOT GET THERE.

**Scullion gives the “Blasties” midfield the slip.**

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

It was an unfamiliar line-up that kicked off Talbot’s 25/26 pre-season as the Bot saw off Kilbirnie at Beechwood.

Talbot couldn’t have asked for a better start – taking the lead with their first attack in the 2^nd minute.

A ball down the left was flicked on into the path of Gillies and when he drilled it low across goal WHYTE stuck out a leg and sent it looping over his own keeper to put Talbot a goal ahead.

A minute later Talbot threatened again. Scullion threaded a pass down the right to Talbot 11 and he cut in on his left foot and curled over a dangerous cross that came off a Kilbirnie head and behind for the corner. When the corner came in it was met by Schoneville who glanced a header over the bar.

**Talbot’s trialist striker intercepts a loose ball**

The Blasties first chance came in the 6^th minute. Walker whipped over a good cross from the left that forced Schoneville to head it behind. When the corner was played in deep Talbot managed to head it clear where it came out to Walker who drilled a shot from 20 yards well wide of the right post.

The Bot’s next attack saw Scullion released down the left. He dinked a cross into the near post where McGowan managed to punch it clear.

In the 18^th minute Talbot came within a whisker of doubling their lead. Talbot 11 fed the ball wide to the overlapping Thomson who beat his man and cut into the penalty area. He pulled it back for Talbot 17 in front of goal but his low drive was blocked. It fell to Talbot 9 who saw his effort cleared off the line by a defender.

Talbot became more dominant as the half wore on, monopolising the ball but without producing any great threat in the final third. A number of free kicks were won in promising areas but Talbot ended up with nothing to show for it.

**Another Talbot trialist striker tries to give the visitors defence the slip.**

In the 33^rd minute Schoneville fed it on to the overlapping Gillies and he whipped a great low ball across the face of goal with Talbot 9 just failing to meet it on the 6-yard line.

Four mins later Langan surged through the centre before spreading it out left to find Gillies. He played it back across to Thomson but it went just behind him and when he spun and shot he sent his effort well wide.

In the 41^st minute Talbot had a half chance to extend their advantage. Following a good spell of possession Thomson slid the ball through to find Talbot 11 in space on the right edge of the box but he snatched at his shot and sent it wide of target.

Talbot kept pressing but to no avail and the sides went off at half-time with the Bot a goal to the good.

Talbot made a triple substitution during the interval with Talbot 9, 17 & Scullion making way for Nimmo, Wardrope & Talbot 12. Kilbirnie also made a couple of changes with Boyd and a trialist coming on.

**Mick Wardrope sends a teasing ball into the Kilbirnie box.**

The 2^nd half started as the first had ended with Talbot pushing for another. In the 49^th minute Talbot 12 rode a couple of challenges before the ball broke to Nimmo. He switched it out right to pick out Thomson in the area but when he pulled it back across goal there were no takers.

In the 52^nd minute Thomson raced forward into the box where he saw his low drive blocked by a defender. It fell kindly to Talbot 11 whose low shot was well saved by McGowan who pushed it wide of the left post.

Kilbirnie hadn’t offered much going forward but came within inches of levelling in the 56^th minute. A Kilbirnie trialist got in behind down the left and carried it into the area. He tried to find the bottom corner only to see his shot come back off the base of the left post. It came out to a Kilbirnie player 5 yards out but Schoneville managed to block his shot behind for a corner.

On the hour mark Talbot made their final change with Kerr on in place of Hanlon.

Again, Talbot began to dominate the ball but were maybe a bit guilty of over-egging it in the final third. In the 68^th minute Wardrope burst forward towards the box. He had the chance to shoot but opted to slip a pass in behind which the defence intercepted.

**The Talbot players congratulate Alex Nimmo for the goal, but was it a Kilbirnie player who did the damage.**

Whilst it was never a dirty game the visitors were riding their luck with a succession of fouls that would have resulted in a flurry of yellow cards on another day.

In the 79^th minute Talbot finally made their pressure count with the 2^nd goal of the afternoon. Nimmo was fouled 30 odd yards out and Langan angled the free kick down the left of the area to find McPherson. He guided a header back across goal where ALEX NIMMO reacted to turn it home from close range after a defender had sliced it off his own bar.

Six minutes from time the ref’s patience finally ran out and he carded Kilbirnie 10 for his umpteenth foul after he up-ended Talbot 11.

In the 87^th minute the visitors grabbed a goal back. They were awarded a free kick out on the right which Wilson curled over to the far post. The clearing header came out to WHYTE who drilled a low shot inside the right post to make it 2-1.

The Bot saw the remaining time out to claim the win. Next up Talbot are back in midweek action when they host Irvine Meadow on Wednesday night.

Auchinleck Talbot – Muir, Thomson, Schoneville, Hanlon, McPherson, Langan, Scullion, Gillies, Trialist 9, Trialist 17, Trialist 11

Subs – Trialist, Nimmo, Wardrope, Kerr, Brown (gk)

Kilbirnie Ladeside – McGowan, Tennent, Wilson, Isherwood, Whyte, Cooper, Connelly, Walker, McCloy, Trialist, Trialist

Subs – Trialist, Boyd, McMenemy, Bamford, Trialist

Auchinleck Talbot v Troon

TALBOT SECURE RUNNER-UP SPOT IN THE LEAGUE

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

A tired looking Talbot didn’t bring their A game to their final home game of the league campaign but did just enough to see off Troon and collect all 3 points to ensure a 2nd place finish.

The game got off to a sluggish start and the first effort on target didn’t arrive until the 8th minute. Gillies caught Gallagher 25 yards out and Dunlop took the free kick sending it over the wall and straight down the centre where Armour helped it on over the bar. Troon had made the brighter start and had a half chance after 12 mins. Jamieson floated a cross over to the back post which Schoneville managed to head clear. It came out to Viviani who squared it across for Jamieson to hit but he got no purchase no it. In the 17th minute Clark broke inside into the Troon penalty area and saw his final shot blocked behind for a corner which came to nothing.

Talbot ought to have taken the lead in the 22nd minute. Nimmo hit the bye line and pulled a cross back right onto the head of McAvoy who met in front of goal but his header hit off Burgess from close range. With 31 mins gone the visitors took the lead. Jamieson sprung forward and released it out wide right to Viviani. He angled it across the penalty box to find ALLAN in space and he placed it home from close range. Within a minute Troon squandered a good chance to double their lead. Viviani got away on the right and powered in a shot from a tight angle. Armour parried it out and it came straight to Jamieson who took a fresh air swipe at it 12 yards out

In the 33rd minute Fulton had his name taken for a foul on Clark. It proved an expensive foul in more way than one for the visitors as Langan angled the ball out beyond the left post where McPherson headed it back across goal for ALEX NIMMO to sweep home from close range to level the score.

The remainder of the half ebbed and flowed but with neither side offering any real goal threat and the sides went in a goal apiece at half-time.

Troon made a change at the start of the 2nd half with Hood on for Ferguson.

The visitors made a strong start to the 2nd half and won a free kick in a dangerous area after Schoneville impeded Viviani just wide of the area. Gallagher played it short to find Dunlop but his shot went high and wide. In Talbot’s first attack of the 2nd half Clark looked to be fouled but the ref waved play on. The ball broke out to Nimmo wide on the right who floated a cross under the bar which Burgess claimed. Two Troon players going for the same ball gifted the ball to McAvoy just outside the penalty area and he tried to thread a pass through to Boyd but got a touch too much on it and Burgess was quickly off his line to smother it.

In the 54th minute Talbot won a free kick 25 yards out in a central position. Langan stroked it out to the right to find McAvoy whose powerful hit was parried by Burgess. It came back out to Langan but he wasn’t able to keep his header down and it sailed over the bar. With 64 mins gone Talbot won a corner down the right. When it came in the visiting defence failed to clear their lines and it came out to Boyd 12 yards out but his low drive was blocked in the crowded 6-yard area.

In the 66th minute Talbot made their first change with Mitchell on for Boyd.

Troon then had a chance to regain the lead. Allan turned smartly before sliding a pass through to find Viviani on the right of the penalty area. He hit it low on target but Armour was well positioned to turn it wide. This proved a crucial save as Talbot moved down the park and took the lead within a minute. The Troon defence were posted missing as LUKE GILLIES got in behind down the left and carried it into the box before slotting it past Burgess and inside the right post to put Talbot 2-1 ahead.

Talbot now made a further change with Boyle on for Langan.

With quarter of an hour remaining Troon were awarded a free kick 30 yards out when Boyle impeded Dunlop. He took the free kick and passed it down the right wing to find McMurdo in space. He squared it into the box where it was cleared.

Troon now made a double change with Black & Fulton on for Allan & Gallagher.

The Bot had a good chance to kill the game off in the 83rd minute. Sime switched it out right to Clark who cut inside his man before hitting a good ball across the 6-yard area which found Gillies in space. He cut it back across into the path of Nimmo who met it 8 yards out but didn’t get enough on his side-footed finish which was cleared from the goalmouth. It came out to McAvoy 16 yards out who fired just over the bar.

Five mins from time Talbot made a double switch with Gillies & Nimmo making way for Kerr & McCluskie.

Troon kept at it and came close to an equaliser in the 87th minute. McMurdo swept over a good cross into the near post which Jamieson met but it was more a case of the ball hitting him rather than the other way round and it sailed wide of the left post. The visitors came closer still in the final minute. Black’s cross was blocked behind by Schoneville and when Dunlop’s corner came into the near post area McCloskey met it unopposed but missed a sitter – his header from 3 yards clipping the top of the bar on the way over.

Talbot saw out added time without any further alarms to secure the win and 2nd place.

The Bot now complete their season this Saturday when they travel through to Newlandsfield to face Pollok.

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

Subs – Mitchell, McCluskie, Darnbrough, Kerr, Boyle, Wardrope