Venue: Beechwood Park

TALBOT GET THERE IN THE END

Report: Murray Steele, Photography: Craig McGhee, Media: Lee Conn

Talbot maintained their 100% record in local derbies with a fine win over Glenafton at Beechwood.

The windy conditions made it tricky for both sets of players and the game got off to a slow start with the first real threat coming in the 8^th minute when the ball broke to Glasgow just outside the area. He played it through towards Smith but Rowe did well to intercept and clear.

In the 11^th minute the Glens won a corner down the left that was taken short and worked to O’Kane just inside the penalty area who saw his shot for goal charged down.

The visitors threatened in the 17^th minute when Viviani cut in off the right but as he set up to shoot he was impeded by a team mate and the chance was lost.

Talbot were on the attack in the 21^st minute when Smith sent Gillies free on the left. His cross took a slight deflection and flew across goal and behind for the corner. Glasgow hit the corner into the near post where it was headed clear. It came out to Boyle who sent it wide right to find Glasgow who whipped a good ball into the centre. The ball broke back out to Slooves who fired a half-volley over the bar from 15 yards.

A minute later Talbot took the lead. Smith cut in off the left and swirled an in swinging cross into the goal mouth. Markey flapped at it on the goal line and RUARIDH LANGAN was on hand to bundle it over the line to make it 1-0.

Talbot now stepped up a gear or two and in the 26^th minute Smith burst into the left of the Glens area only to see his low drive blocked by Pettigrew. The ball was recycled out to the right touchline where Glasgow fired a good cross into the near post for CONNOR BOYD to flash a header into the far corner to double Talbot’s lead.

Two minutes later Talbot added their third of the afternoon. Smith hit a short free kick to Boyle who slid a pass through toward Glasgow who was bundled over from behind inside the box and the ref pointed to the spot. ROSS SMITH took it and gave the keeper no chance as he placed it inside the left post.

The Glens looked shell-shocked at this stage with Talbot looking likely to add to their tally. A slick passing move ended with Wilson firing the ball into the feet of Gillies inside the area but it cannoned off him and behind for the goal kick.

In the 35^th minute Boyd turned and fired on target but he was slightly off balance and his low drive was held by Markey.

McCracken then joined the attack, bursting forward into space, before drilling a powerful low shot on target that Markey spilled and just managed to gather at the 2^nd attempt before Glasgow reached it.

Five minutes from half-time Talbot had a great chance to make it four. Boyd played an inch perfect pass from the right touchline to find Smith in space inside the area. He tried to place it beyond Markey who did well to save with his feet.

Markey again had to look lively in the 42^nd minute when McPherson raced down the right and slung over a cross that was heading inside the near post til the keeper got across to punch it clear and Talbot had to content themselves with a 3 goal advantage at the break.

Talbot started the 2^nd half positively and in the 47^th minute Glasgow did well to hold the ball up before releasing it to the overlapping Gillies whose low ball across the area was cut out by Sinnamon.

A minute later Talbot won a free kick in a good area when Glasgow was fouled 22 yards out. Smith took it and found the target but his low drive lacked the power to test Markey.

The Glens keeper then launched a quick ball down the left where O’Kane got goal side of McPherson inside the box and when he caught his heels the ref pointed to the spot. MOFFAT hit it down the middle and Glavin almost stopped it with his trailing leg but it floated up and into the back of the net to make it 3-1.

Talbot looked for an immediate response and won a corner down the left. Glasgow curled it beyond the far post where Boyd ran onto it to place a header on target that Markey held comfortably at his left hand post.

In the 53^rd minute Talbot were on the wrong end of an officiating blunder. The ball came out wide to a Glens player on the stand-side touchline who clearly handled the ball when he miscontrolled it. Everyone in Beechwood seemed to spot it bar the ref and his assistants and play was allowed to continue. He cut in off the left and won a free kick 25 yards out. MCLEAN then hit a peach of a free kick into the top right hand corner to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

Talbot made their first change in the 61^st minute with McAvoy on in place of Smith.

The Bot were unlucky in the 64^th minute. Wilson hit a good deep cross to find Glasgow beyond the back post and he guided a header back across the face of goal that just went behind McAvoy.

With 20 minutes remaining Talbot made a double switch with Langan & Glasgow making way for Armstrong & Thomson.

There was then action at both ends of the field – firstly Viviani cut inside Wilson and hammered a low ball across the face but there was too much on it for any Glens player to get near. Then Talbot’s next attack saw Boyle carry the ball forward before drilling a left foot shot wide of the right hand post.

The Glens hopes of a spectacular comeback were scuppered with quarter of an hour remaining when Talbot moved 4-2 ahead. Wilson fed the ball into CONNOR BOYD on the left of the area and he made something out of nothing – pinging a perfect lob into the far top corner to give Markey no chance.

The Glens had a half chance to pull one back a few minutes later when McLean drilled a low ball in off the right but it went slightly behind Viviani who steered it well wide for the goal kick.

Talbot were then back on the attack – Boyle winning a free kick that Thomson fed out to Gillies on the wing and his ball sped across the face of goal with no takers.

In the 82^nd minute Boyd fired a shot wide of the right hand post.

Talbot now completed their substitutions with another double change – Gillies & Boyd being replaced by Schoneville & Urquhart.

With 6 minutes remaining Talbot had another half chance. A hanging cross from the left saw McAvoy out-leap Markey in the goal mouth but his header drifted wide of the right post.

The scoring was completed in the 86^th minute. Thomson’s corner from the right wasn’t dealt with by the defence and broke off McCracken into the path of ROSS URQUHART who steered a low left foot shot past Markey to make it 5-2.

In the closing stages Talbot nearly added a sixth when a cross was only cleared as far as Boyle who fired just over the bar from the edge of the area.

A good performance and result that sees Talbot climb to 7^th in the table. Next up it’s back to Beechwood when Talbot host Hurlford United in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Junior cup.

Auchinleck Talbot – Glavin, McPherson, Wilson, Slooves, McCracken, Langan, Boyle, Gillies, Boyd, Glasgow, Smith                                                 Subs – Thomson, McAvoy, Urquhart, Armstrong, Abed, Schoneville, Henry

Glenafton Athletic – Markey, McLean, Sinnamon, Pettigrew, Paton, Fraser, Viviani, Moffat, Buchanan, O’Kane, Rowe                                                Subs – McWaters, Caddis, McMullen, Holding

TALBOT EDGE PAST TROON IN FIVE GOAL THRILLER

Report: Murray Steele, Photography: Craig McGhee, Media: Lee Conn.

A minute later Talbot grabbed their 3rd of the afternoon. Schoneville raced past Moore down the stand side and swung a cross into the centre that the defence were only able to clear to the edge of the box where EWAN THOMSON met it and took a touch before placing a low shot inside the right post.

TALBOT GRAB THE POINTS

Report: Murray Steele, Photography: Craig McGhee. Media: Lee Conn

It was a case of the end justifying the means as Talbot ground out a result over an impressive Largs side at Beechwood.

Talbot had a chance from a set piece within 2 minutes when Smith was fouled just wide of the penalty area. Wardrope drove it in low but the defence cleared.

Glavin prevented the visitors moving ahead in the 5^th minute. McPherson’s headed clearance came out to Sewell and he threaded a pass through for the run of Adam. Glavin dived at his feet to make the block and the loose ball came out to McMaster whose heavily deflected effort was heading in til Glavin dived low to his left to tip it away.

Adam had his name taken in the 6^th minute for a late challenge on Gillies.

A minute later Thomson swung a good cross over from the right that just flew over Smith in the centre. Talbot kept the pressure up and Smith gathered out on the left before squaring it across to Thomson whose low drive was well-saved by Wilson.

In the 14^th minute Urquhart turned smartly and fed it into the feet of Smith just outside the box but his shot was blocked en route and spun through to the keeper.

Moments later Talbot failed to make the most of a promising opening. Smith’s perfectly weighted ball found Boylan racing free down the left and he carried it into the box but his final ball across goal failed to find a Talbot jersey.

McGrath became the 2^nd Largs player in the book when he was cautioned for leaving a foot in on Boylan in the 20^th minute.

The visitors threatened again in the 24^th minute. An attempted clearance travelled 30 yards out before hitting off a Largs player and ricocheting through to Adam in space on the right of the area. He hit a good early cross into the centre that just cleared the waiting Largs players.

In the 28^th minute Largs won a corner down the right. Davidson delivered it into the centre where McCreath got his head to it but steered it well-wide of the left post.

On the half hour mark Urquhart had his name taken for a challenge in the Largs half.

Talbot had a lucky escape in the 35^th minute. McMaster sped up the left and floated a cross onto the head of Adam who hit the crossbar from close range before Talbot cleared the rebound.

A minute from the interval Largs won a corner down the left when Slooves blocked Sewell’s attempted cross. When the ball came into the back post Talbot managed to clear it to the edge of the area and Sewell fired a low drive on target that Glavin held

Having weathered a lot of Largs pressure Talbot stunned the visitors with a superb strike on the stroke of half-time. MICHAEL WARDROPE’s swerving effort from 20 yards gave the keeper no chance as it flew in off the left hand post to send Talbot in a goal ahead.

Largs made a change at the start of the 2^nd half with McBryde on for McCreath.

Talbot started the 2^nd half positively and had a half chance within 2 mins of the restart. Urquhart met a shy from the left and played it 1^st time to Wardrope who in turn knocked a first time ball to his right to find Boylan and he fired wide from 20 yards.

In the 48^th minute Boylan received a yellow card for a late tackle on McMaster.

Glavin came to Talbot’s rescue in the 49^th minute. A ball over the top found Ramsay racing down the right of the penalty area and his low drive was turned round the left post.

Largs had Talbot pushed back and forced a series of corners but without being able to find a way through.

In the 56^th minute McPherson raced up the touchline and cut the back to Urquhart who drilled a shot on target from 18 yards that Wilson held.

Talbot now made a double change with Boylan & Thomson making way for Glasgow & Boyd. Largs also made a further change with Duffyreplacing Adam.

Faulds took one for the team and received a caution in the 63^rd min for a professional foul to halt a Talbot break.

Ramsay was causing problems down the right and in Largs next attack he swung a dangerous cross over to the far post which Talbot did well to head clear.

Talbot then raced to the other end as Smith broke down the left. He slid a pass through to Gillies who appeared to be caught late after playing the ball across the area but the ref waved away his appeal.

In the 69^th minute Boyd played it back from the right of the area to pick out Smith who toe poked it on target but straight at the keeper.

With 20 mins remaining Talbot made another double switch with Urquhart & Wardrope being replaced by Langan & Boyle.

A 2^nd goal for Talbot would have put a tin lid on it and the Bot came agonisingly close in the 73^rd minute. Langan found Boyle out wide on the left and his ball across was cut out for a corner. When the corner came over Armstrong met it and powered a header on target that had the keeper helpless but was headed off the goal line by a defender.

Down the other end Sewell won Largs a corner down the left and when was swung into the back post Glavin confidently gathered it.

Largs now made another change with Martin on for Davidson.

Nine minutes from time Talbot were caught on their heels at a Largs shy down the left, allowing time for the cross to come over which just cleared the head of Ramsay before being gathered by Glavin.

A minute later Langan tried his luck from distance – firing wide of target from 25 yards.

Largs next attack saw them with a man spare down the right but with McLeod available on the overlap, Ramsay opted to go for goal himself and fired it wide of target.

Tucker now made a final change with Lennox on for Smith.

Five minutes from time McLeod won a corner down the right off Armstrong. The corner was cleared out to the edge of the area where McBryde met it and his low strike was deflected just wide of the right post.

It was now all Largs and with 3 minutes remaining Langan ensured Talbot would claim all 3 points when he cleared a goal bound header off the line inside the left post following a corner.

Largs kept piling forward but Talbot withstood the pressure and held out for the win that takes them up to 7^th in the table. Next up for Talbot it’s a trip through to the east to face current East Premier league leaders Broxburn in the South Challenge cup

Auchinleck Talbot – Glavin, Wilson, Gillies, Slooves, McPherson, Armstrong, Wardrope, Urquhart, Boylan, Smith, Thomson

Subs – Glasgow, McAvoy, Boyd, Langan, Lennox, Boyle, Schoneville

Largs Thistle – Wilson, McLeod, McMaster, McCreath, Hughes, Faulds, Ramsay, Davidson, Sewell, Adam, McGrath

Subs – Duffy, McBryde, Devine, Martin, Forbes, Cumming, Johnson

ARMSTRONG GOAL SINKS THE RABS

Report: Jim McAuley, Photography: Craig McGhee, Media: Lee Conn

Talbot continued on their winning ways by picking up all three points at Beechwood against a Rob Roy side who had lost their previous three league matches and like Talbot were perched in the bottom half of the league. In the end the “Bot” deserved their win, but the one goal lead which they held for 70 minutes of the match proved enough to win the game which in reality is what the bottom of the table struggles are all about.

Don’t get me wrong this was an entertaining match even though it only had the solitary goal, but to be honest if it wasn’t for the heroics of Roy keeper Chris Smith then this game would have had a different outcome. However looking back he must put his hand up when the Talbot goal is dissected as he looks to be caught out in no mans land when Mick Wardrope swung in a superb corner.

There was only one change in the Talbot ranks with Craig McCracken in for Aiden Wilson and with the system reverting to a 4-4-2 Connor Boyd and Bryan Boylan were handed the job of getting goals on the score board.

The game was minutes started when Talbot had their first serious attempt on goal. The Roy defence had seemed to have mopped up a Talbot attack when the ball was cleared to McCracken who picked out Armstrong lurking near the edge of the box. He in turn flicked the ball to McPherson who was progressing up the stand side wing. With the visitors expecting an attack towards the corner flag he switched the ball to Armstrong whose slide rule pass found the feet of Boyd who although being pressured by a number of Roy players managed to turn the ball into a space in the defence where Thomson slammed the ball at goal forcing a terrific save from Smith who palmed the ball to the feet of Wardrope but his narrow strike just flashed past the foot of right hand post

Shortly after this fright for the visitors they were dealt a severe blow when Greene was forced to retire and be replaced by McDonald who fitted into the central defence roll.

Connor Boyd should have got himself on the score sheet when a superb cross from Gillies was won in the air by McPherson and as his header bounced off the ground and up into the air the big striker met it on the run and headed the ball off the underside of the bar but the ball decided to spin the wrong way as it thumped off the goal line and spun to safety.

The Talbot support were less than impressed with the stand side assistant in the 16th minute when McPherson burst into the box and as his shot was blocked it fell to Boyd who chipped the ball past Smith and into the net, but the official decided he was offside. It was Talbot who were doing all the pressing and Boylan found himself with only the goalie to beat but struck the ball into Smith’s legs

The breakthrough came in the 20 minute mark when Mick Wardrope swung a delightful corner into the box and as McDonald and Smith failed to clear the ball, the unmarked Armstrong headed into the net to put the home side 1-0 .

The visitors had a moment where they proved the were still in the game on the half hour mark when O’Kane presented Docherty a decent chance when he whipped the ball onto the front man’s head but he squandered it by heading well past the target. The stand side linesman was certainly not making any friends amongst the Talbot faithful when he flagged Boyd offside even though the ball had come off the head of Hussain

Just before half time Rob Roy’s Gilday found himself first in the box for a foul on McPherson and was joined by Walker who was mouthing off in the direction of the referee.

There were no changes to the personnel on both sides for the start of the second half but Thomson was on the wrong end of a head knock that drew blood from the youngster, but after a session with the magic sponge he was fit to continue. Langan should have doubled Talbot’s lead in the 55th minute when Boylan lifted a decent cross onto the head of the midfielder and with all the time in the world he tried to guide the ball past Smith but instead his header went well past.

McPherson entertained the crowd with a Franz Beckenbuaer stroll up through the middle of the park before off loading the ball to the feet of Boyd who somehow got the ball stuck about his boots but luckily for him Thomson was following up and his shot was deflected from the target by Gilday .

Craig McCracken is renowned for his prowess at corner kicks but this would be one he would rather forget when it looked like Bryan Boylan was going to get his head to a Wardrope corner but as the ball dipped over him, it hit the big defender square on the face which put him on his backside. The “Rab’s decided to change it on the hour mark when McVey replaced Smith and he should have levelled the match when he found himself unmarked at a rare Roy corner but his glancing header put the ball wide of Glavin’s goals.

The players and the fans were well aware that a second goal was crucial and Boylan was unlucky not to get it when he latched onto a Thomson pass and hammered a cannonball shot just wide of Smith’s goal. The visitors finally started playing like a team needing an equaliser and with 15 minutes  left on the clock Baber managed to get down the wing and chip a good effort into the path of McDonald who dwelt on the ball long enough for Thomson to get a block on it which spun into the path of Max Gillies who ballooned the ball over the bar.

Boylan found himself on the end of another missed chance when he found himself unmarked at a Gillies free kick where he cushioned his header just inches over the bar. Wardrope turned provider moments later when his cross was ping ponged around Smith’s six yard box with Thomson, Boylan and Armstrong all having a dig before the ball was cleared away.

The visitors replaced McDonald with Pirrie as they chased an all important goal and as they made the push Mick Wardrop was carded for a trip on substitute and he was followed by O’Kane and Boylan into Mr Timmons book as the game spiced itself up for the closing finale.

As the match headed to the final whistle both sides had decent chances but Pirrie squandered a free kick when he hammered the ball into the midriff of Glavin, while at the other end Smith denied Boyd when he pulled off a worldly one handed save as the striker had his diving header from a Wardrope cross all but counted.

In the dying moments Bryan Boylan was replaced by Jamie Glasgow as the Talbot hung onto their slender lead. It was a much needed three points, but once again Talbot missed a number of decent chances albeit some were down to excellent keeping by Chris Smith.

TALBOT: Glavin, McPherson, Gillies, Slooves, McCracken, Langan, Armstrong, Wardrope, Boyd, Boylan, Thomson. SUBS: Glasgow, Smith, Wilson, Lennox, Hendry, Boyle, Urquhart.

ROB ROY: Smith, Walker, Gilday, Hussain, Greene, Stirling, Gillies, O’Kane, Baber, Docherty, Smith. SUBS. Anderson, Pirrie, Campbell, McVey, McDonald, Bell, Aitken

QUICKFIRE TALBOT SINK THE MEADOW

Report: Murray Steele, Photography: Craig McGhee, Media: Lee Conn.

Talbot bounced back from the disappointment of last week with a crucial win over Meadow to secure the first home win of the league campaign.

Before kick-off there was a minute’s silence in memory of Robbie Meiklem – former Talbot youth squad player.

Talbot’s main problem this season has been hitting the back of the net but against Meadow, Talbot found themselves two goals ahead within the opening 3 minutes.

The Bot’s first attack saw McPherson clip the ball up to Wardrope who chested it down into the path of Smith. He rolled it out to LUKE GILLIES overlapping down the left and his cross took a deflection off Wallace and ended up in the back of the net.

A minute later Talbot doubled their lead. Thomson swung over a cross from the left that broke off Wardrope 6 yards out and fell to JAMIE GLASGOW to stab it home on his return to Beechwood.

Talbot kept pressing forward and created another chance in the 8^th minute. Wardrope & Glasgow worked it out left to Gillies whose low ball into the centre was cut out at the near post. Meadow were unable to clear their lines and the ball was fed back out to Gillies who dropped a cross right onto the head of Smith who saw his header held by Waters.

In the 11^th minute Talbot were awarded a free kick deep in the Meadow half. Wardrope played it into the feet of Smith who turned it wide left to find Thomson whose angled ball across goal to the back post only needed a touch but sped behind for the goal kick.

Talbot were well in control and it took until the 28^th minute before Meadow offered any kind of threat. O’Donnell’s floated free kick was headed behind by McPherson and when the corner came over McDowall met it at the back post but headed over the bar.

A minute later Glasgow latched onto a ball over the top of the defence and fired over the bar on the half-volley.

Meadow’s only real threat appeared to be Ross down the left wing and he whipped over a dangerous cross on the half hour mark that McCracken headed clear at the back post.

A 3^rd goal would have settled things and Talbot nearly got it in the 32^nd minute. Wardrope’s corner came off a Meadow head and skipped out to the left where it was crossed back into the 6-yard area and Waters produced a quality save – diving to his left to turn McPherson’s header round the post.

From the resultant corner Waters again produced a top save. Wardrope’s driven corner was dummied by Smith and came to Glasgow who guided a shot on target that Waters tipped wide of his right hand post.

Meadow’s keeper was let off the hook in the 36^th minute when he fumbled McCracken’s long range daisy cutter – spilling it behind for the corner. When the corner came over Slooves just failed to connect at the back post.

A minute later Smith came close when he drilled a low shot from 20 yards just past the right hand post.

The chances were coming thick & fast and Smith ought to have extended Talbot’s lead in the 38^th minute. A ball up the left was met by Wardrope who laid it back into the path of Gillies. He crossed it straight onto Smith’s head but he directed the free header off target.

Three minutes before the break Ross was cautioned for a foul on McPherson out on the touchline and soon after the whistle blew with Talbot fans happy with the performance whilst knowing that the game could have been done and dusted.

Meadow made a change at the start of the 2^nd period with Faulds on for Brennan.

Talbot started the 2^nd half positively and McPherson won a corner in the 48^th minute. When it came over McCracken met it and a scramble ensued in the Meadow 6-yard box with first McCracken’s effort then McPherson’s shot blocked before spinning through to the keeper.

A minute later Findlay had his name taken for going through the back of Thomson.

The Bot had a half chance to move further ahead in the 51^st minute. Wardrope’s reverse pass sent Smith away down the left and he cut into the penalty area and fired into the side-netting at the near post. Shortly after Smith had his name taken for a shirt tug on Faulds.

Glavin had been a virtual spectator but did well in the 53^rd minute when O’Donnell let fly from 30 yards – tipping his shot over the crossbar. When the resultant corner came over Slooves headed it clear but Meadow were first to the loose ball and whipped in a good low ball from the right that Glavin held.

Any hopes Meadow harboured of a fightback evaporated in the 57^th minute when Findlay received a 2^nd yellow card and his marching orders for a clumsy barge on Thomson.

In the 63^rd minute Armstrong tried to thread a pass through the centre that was cut out by the defence. It came out to McCracken who played it first time out to the left to find Smith in space and he broke into the area and fired it just wide of the near post.

Within a minute Water came to Meadow’s rescue to deny Talbot a further goal. Armstrong slipped a pass through to find Thomson running in behind the defence but the keeper reacted quickly – racing off his line and managing to block Thomson’s effort.

McCracken received a caution in the 65^th minute when he halted Ross’s progress down the left.

Both sides now made a change with Boyd on in place of Smith for Talbot and Ross making way for Ewart for the visitors.

In the 69^th minute Gillies played it into the feet of Boyd inside the area and he laid it off first time into the path of Glasgow who drilled a low shot across goal and narrowly wide of the left post.

Meadow made a further change in the 73^rd minute with Lambert on in place of Boyd.

Talbot were caught out in the 77^th minute when a ball through the centre saw Lambert breaking free. Slooves appeared to tug his shirt but the referee waved play on.

With 10 minutes remaining Abed came on in place of Glasgow.

The Bot won a corner down the right in the 81^st minute and when it came across goal and beyond the far post Thomson appeared to be bundled over on the by line but the ref ignored Talbot’s appeals for a penalty.

Five minutes from time Lennox was booked for a foul as he halted a Talbot break.

Talbot had a late chance to add to their tally when Boyle slid a pass through the defence to find Abed in the area but again Waters was quickly off his line to narrow the angle and make the block.

In the closing stages Thomson was replaced by Lennox and Talbot kept possession to see out time and claim a deserved victory.

A good win for the Bot who will look to take heart from this going into next week’s Scottish Junior cup tie away to old rivals Cumnock.

Auchinleck Talbot – Glavin, McCracken, Gillies, Slooves, McPherson, Wardrope, Armstrong, Boyle, Thomson, Smith, Glasgow

Subs – Boyd, Lennox, Abed, Park, Wilson, Schoneville, Henr

Irvine Meadow – Waters, Wallace, Byrne, Findlay, Lennox, McDowall, Brennan, O’Donnell, Boyd, Baird, Ross

Subs – Faulds, Ewart, Isaac Kerr, George, Louis Kerr, Lambert, McInnes