Beechwood Park – Page 24 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Auchinleck Talbot v Pollok

A strong 2nd half performance saw Talbot overpower Pollok & run out comfortable winners, and the win also now means it is officially a two horse race for the title, as Hurlford are now the only team who can overhaul the Bot.
Talbot might have won a penalty in the 2nd minute when Milliken went down inside the box under Walker’s clumsy challenge but the referee waved away the appeals.
Milliken then had a good chance to put Talbot ahead in the 5th minute. G Wilson stroked a pass through the defence to find Milky clear on the left side of the area. He shot on target but his effort lacked power & Longmuir was able to block with his feet.
Two minutes later Pollok ought to have taken the lead. A swiftly taken free kick caught out the Bot defence allowing Bradley to stroll straight through on Leishman but Andy produced a superb stop to keep out his effort.
The opening goal came in the 11th minute. MILLIKEN flicked a ball inside Sideserf into space. He reacted quickest to the situation & raced onto his own pass before drilling a low shot across goal & inside Longmuir’s right post.
Pollok were looking threatening in the final third and Leishman did well to maintain Talbot’s slender lead in the 26th minute when he parried Rowan’s powerful drive behind for a corner. McAleenan swept the corner beyond the far post where Winters headed it back across goal for Bradley to flick on target but it lacked the power to test Leishman.
Milliken did well in the 28th minute, showing quick feet to create some space 22 yards out before drilling a left foot shot over the crossbar.
Pollok then equalised via route one. Longmuir’s hefty clearance went straight down the middle & bounced over McCracken. D WINTERS ran onto it & had the easy task of passing it beyond Leishman to level the score.
The goal lifted Pollok who began to dominate possession, forcing Talbot back into their own half. However, they couldn’t make their possession pay & had nothing to show for it beyond a few corners & free kicks which the Talbot defence fielded confidently.
In the final minute of the half it was Talbot who had a good chance to regain the lead. Rowan fouled Milliken just outside the penalty area & Young whipped the free kick into the centre & onto the head of McCracken but he nodded over the bar from 6 yards out.
The 1st opening of the 2nd half went the way of the visitors. Bradley got free down the right & hit a cross to the far post. White cleared it out the area where Rowan reacted quicker than S Wilson, beating him to the loose ball & firing just wide of Leishman’s left post.
D Winters picked up the first caution of the afternoon after 49 mins when he was penalised for simulation.
From the resultant free kick, G Wilson had a decent chance to put Talbot back ahead. The ball was flighted down the centre, the Lok central defence made a hash of dealing with it, and the ball broke to G Wilson 8 yards out but he lashed his shot over the bar.
Milliken came close to his 2nd of the afternoon in the 52nd minute. Hyslop slid the ball through to him & his effort was heading into the roof of the net until Longmuir tipped it over the bar.
At the other end of the field, Leishman produced an equally fine stop to deny Monti; diving to his left to turn his 25 yard shot wide of target.
Talbot made a change in the 63rd minute when Latta had to leave the field injured. Shankland came on in his place & Boyd dropped back to fill in at right-back.
McAleenan became the 2nd Lok player in the book when he was cautioned for a late challenge on Milliken.
The game was delicately poised but that all changed in the 67th minute due to a calamitous backpass from Walker. He left it woefully short & Shankland raced onto it, and rounded Longmuir who hauled him to the deck. The ref was left with little choice but to send the keeper off & point to the spot. Hanlon took over goalkeeping duties but there was little he could do to prevent G WILSON from restoring Talbot’s lead, as he thumped the penalty inside the right post.
Pollok made a change in the 72nd minute with McCabe coming on for Williamson.
Talbot came close to extending their lead in the 74th minute. Milliken won a corner on the left & Shankland curled it to the far post where Hylsop was inches from connecting.
Tucker made his 2nd change with quarter of an hour remaining, going for fresh legs up front with Love on for G Wilson and Pollok followed suit a few minutes later with Mackenzie replacing Monti.
The game was done & dusted in the 81st minute when Talbot moved 3-1 ahead. Shankland placed a cross right onto the head of HYSLOP and he did the rest, steering it inside the right post.
Talbot completed the scoring in the 84th minute. Pope threaded a ball through to find Love free on the left & he clipped it across goal for SHANKLAND to head home.
With 3 minutes remaining Talbot made their final change with Gillies on for Milliken.
This was a very good win for Talbot, not only for the 3 points but also because it helped extend their goal difference advantage over Hurlford.
Next up for Talbot is another league clash, this time with the other Junior finalist, as they travel through to Beith on Monday night.

Talbot – Leishman, Latta, Pope, White, McCracken, Boyd, Young, Hyslop, G Wilson, Milliken, S Wilson

Subs – Shankland, Love, Gillies, Findlay, Johnstone

Pollok – Longmuir, Hanlon, Sideserf, Gallacher, Walker, Rowan, Bradley, Williamson, D Winters, Monti, McAleenan

Subs – McCabe, R Winters, Mackenzie, Hepburn, Higgins

Auchinleck Talbot v Glenafton Athletic

Talbot extended their lead at the top of the table with thanks to a hard fought derby win over Glenafton.
Talbot dominated the opening period & had a couple of half chances to take an early lead. Hyslop bent a good ball over from the right to find G Wilson in front of goals but the ball broke off him & ran through to McGarrity.
Hyslop created the next chance too, clipping the ball over the defence for the run of S Wilson. He was challenged before he could shoot but the ball fell kindly to Latta who shoved his effort wide of the post under pressure from Cairns.
S Wilson would have been clean through on the keeper in the 12th min after a one-two with Young but Butch’s final pass was too heavy.
G Wilson came close to the opener in the 14th min. Milliken intercepted the ball just the Glens box & fed a quick pass through to G Wilson who knocked it past the advancing keeper but wide of the right post.
The Glens 1st look at goal came after 19 mins when McGuffie forced a corner on the left. Hay drove it in & McCann glanced a header well wide of target.
Talbot won a free kick in a dangerous area in the 24th min when G Wilson was tripped just outside the box. Hyslop’s shot smacked into the wall & spun out to S Wilson on the right of the area. He didn’t make the best of connections but managed to steer his shot inside the left post. The goal should have stood but bizarrely was chalked off for an offside call only the standside linesman spotted.
Justice was done though a minute later as Talbot took the lead & a cracking goal it was too.
G WILSON outpaced Meikle down the left before rifling an unstoppable shot over McGarrity to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Glenafton now began to come into the game & Cairns tested Leishman with a long range effort.
There was a momentary panic in the Bot defence when McGuffie got in behind on the right & stood a cross up into the centre where Leishman failed to take it under the challenge of McCann. It came out to Andrew on the left & Latta did well to block his shot behind. When Hay’s corner came over McCann nodded it wide of the far post.
Talbot’s rocky spell continued when Latta lost his footing inside the area. McGill pounced on the loose ball & fired a low shot on target that Leishman smothered.
Right on the stroke of halftime Talbot almost gifted the Glens an equaliser. White misjudged a high ball down the middle as it bounced in behind him he was outmuscled by McCann who prodded a shot on target that Leishman gathered at the 2nd time of asking.
Talbot started the 2nd half sluggishly & their cause wasn’t helped when the ref harshly booked Milliken for an innocuous challenge. The Bot were then temporarily reduced to ten men when McCracken left the field for treatment & the Glens nearly took advantage. A cross into the centre skidded off Hyslop & landed at Andrew whose low drive was blocked by Pope.
Glenafton were on top & they forced a string of corners around the hour mark but could find no way through the Bot defence. From the last of these corners Talbot looked to counterattack through Milliken but he was hauled down by McChesney who received a caution.
A minute later he was joined in the book by Cairns who scythed down Boyd.
Talbot settled their nerves with a 2nd goal in the 65th minute. BOYD capitalised on Meikle’s error to nip in behind the centre half & carry on into the box before coolly passing it inside McGarrity’s right post.
The two Wilson brothers were involved in Talbot’s next chance. Steven robbed McGuffie of the ball before releasing Graham down the left and he saw his shot turned behind at the near post.
Glenafton made a change in the 73rd min bringing Marlow on for Cairns & Talbot soon made their first change with Shankland replacing G Wilson.
Tucker had to make a further change in the 79th min when Latta limped off to be replaced by Love.
Talbot largely controlled the game in the closing stages, though McGill forced a decent stop from Leishman with five mins remaining.
Menzies let frustration get the better of him in the final minute and picked up a silly caution for booting the ball away.
This win sets Talbot up nicely for the weekend visit of Pollok.Talbot – Leishman Latta Pope McCracken White Boyd Young Hyslop Milliken G Wilson S WilsonSubs – Shankland Love Findlay Johnstone

Glenafton – McGarrity Menzies Cairns Meikle McChesney Hay McGuffie Gray Andrew McCann McGill

Subs – Dallas Marlow Orsi Potter Buchanan

Auchinleck Talbot v Beith Juniors

Auchinleck Talbot v Clydebank

Talbot Goal — Very early in the second half, Shankland races into the box, rounds the ‘keeper and slots the ball into the net. 1-0

Talbot Goal Celeb — As the Clydebank ‘keeper roars in anguish, ‘Shankers’ wheels away in delight after scoring.

Clydebank Goal — With the game entering the final quarter, Clydebank manage to equalise, as they get on to the end of a free-kick and poke the ball home at the back post. 1-1.

Penalty Save 2 — Although Leishman guesses correctly he doesn’t need to save it, as the Clydebank penalty smashes into the crossbar instead.

Talbot Winning Penalty Celeb — With Talbot just needing to score in order to go through to the semi-finals, up steps Stevie Wilson and smashes the ball into the back of the net from the spot and then runs off to begin the celebrations.

Action 3 — Due to this challenge on James Latta, Clydebank are reduced to 10 men as the player here receives his second yellow card.

Action 2 — With the first-half drawing to a close, Mark Shankland fires a ferocious freekick towards goal but is thwarted by a stunning save from the Clydebank ‘keeper.

Action 5 — From very close range, Love makes the ‘keeper pull off a great save, as Robert tries his best to put Talbot back into the lead.

Action 4 — The orders get roared out for Clydebank.

Action 1 — As the three Talbot Amigos watch the action unfold, ‘Pee-Wee’ tries to win back possession.

Action 8 — McCracken goes on a big run up the park before releasing the ball.

Action 6 — The players look on, as the ‘Bankies get another attack going.

Action 7 — A healthy crowd watch from the terrace, as Lyle tries to get the ball back into play. Photographs by Paul Flynn

Auchinleck Talbot v Cambuslang Rangers

Talbot booked their place in the last 8 of the West of Scotland with a bit to spare as they breezed past Cambuslang Rangers at Beechwood.
The writing was on the wall for the visitors as soon as the 4th minute when Talbot took the lead in the 1st meaningful attack of the match. Love raced to the bye line down the right & whipped a cross over to the back post. Gillies brought it down & fired a shot on target which Lynch did well to save but YOUNG was following up to place the rebound into the roof of the net.
Within a minute Talbot nearly doubled their lead. Gillies jousted in the air when Leishman launched it down field & although he didn’t win it, he did enough to prevent Newman heading it clear & the ball ran through to Shankland on the right of the penalty area who directed a shot inches wide of the far post.
Only the width of the woodwork prevented Talbot extending their lead in the 7th minute. Young’s square pass found Pope in space & he played it up the left to Shankland. He jinked inside his man into the area & curled an ambitious effort from a tight angle that had the keeper well beaten but came back off the face of the bar.
Talbot continued to control the game but it took until the 19th minute to double their lead.

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GILLIES bent a curling effort from the left, just outside the area, toward the far corner which should have been saved by Lynch but the ball skipped up off the surface just before the keeper & squirmed over his trailing arm into the back of the net.
Any dream of a Cambuslang fightback ended in the 24th minute when Talbot killed the tie off with a 3rd goal. Lyle knocked a good cross over that Shankland gathered just beyond the far post. He angled it back into the area where Young coolly stepped over the ball & his dummy allowed POPE the time & space to fire a low drive past Lynch.
The visitors had to make a change on the half hour mark. Brogan picked up an injury and had to be replaced by A Scanlan.
Gillies almost grabbed his 2nd in the 34th minute. He twisted & turned just outside the 6-yard area before firing for goal, only to see his shot deflected just over the bar.
Cambuslang had offered little in attack but should have pulled a goal back in the 36th minute. Ryan Scanlan won a corner down the left & when it was delivered into the centre, Newman met it unchallenged but sent his free header straight at Leishman.

Davie Gillies celebrates after second goal

Talbot ended the 1st half on the front foot & were unlucky not to add to their lead in the last minute of the half. Shankland whipped a quality in swinging corner over from the left that forced Lynch into a block at his near post. It came out to Young on the 6-yard line & his effort at goal was deflected past for another corner. This time Shankland hit it deeper & McCracken met it just beyond the far post but steered a free header over the bar.

Tucker made a change before a ball was kicked in the 2nd half, with Findlay on for Lyle.
With the comfort of a 3 goal cushion Talbot were on easy street & might have extended their lead in the 52nd minute. Love nicked possession off a defender 25 yards out & slid a great ball through to Steven Wilson. He had the chance to go one on one with the keeper but took a heavy touch & it ran away from him out for a goal kick.
One minute later Cambuslang gift wrapped Talbot’s fourth. Newman looked to be in control as he tried to shield it back to Lynch but he left it to the keeper & GILLIES nicked in to take advantage of their mix-up to steer it into the empty net.

Lynch produced a quality save a minute later to prevent further damage to the visitors. Shankland raced onto a ball over the top of the static defence & his shot was heading into the bottom corner until Lynch dived to his left to turn it round the post.
Love had a good chance to add to Talbot’s lead in the 55th minute. Steven Wilson broke down the right & hit the bye line before cutting it back to Love who placed a shot just wide of the right post from the opposite end of the 6-yard box.
Tucker now made a change with Hyslop on for Young.
It was still all Talbot & shortly after coming on Hyslop saw his short from distance held by Lynch & then in the 64th minute Pope drilled a low shot straight at the keeper from just inside the area.
Gillies had a good opportunity to claim his hat-trick in the 69th minute. Shankland floated an inch perfect cross in from the left to the back post where Gillies met it, only to direct his volley over the bar.
Talbot now made a further change with Graham Wilson on for Boyd.
With 10 minutes to go Talbot completed the scoring with a perfectly executed counter-attack. Cambuslang had a corner on the right that they knocked to the back post. McCracken turned defence into attack with one ball when he hit it from his own box to find Love racing down the right touchline. He made tracks before cutting the ball back to HYSLOP who placed a great finish behind Lynch to make it 5-0.
Five minutes from time Cambuslang threatened a consolation goal. McBeth spun inside the box to turn away from McGoldrick & Leishman did well to turn his shot over the bar from 6 yards out.

Talbot kept pressing & threatening but couldn’t add to their tally and the game ended 5-0 to the delight of the home fans & the relief of Cambuslang.
Next up for Talbot is a crucial mid-week double header in the league, as they visit Glenafton & Kilbirnie before facing Clydebank at Beechwood next Saturday in the next round of the West.

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, McCracken, Boyd, Young, S Wilson, Gillies, Love, Shankland

Subs – Milliken, G Wilson, White, Findlay, Hyslop

Cambuslang – Lynch, Brogan, Chalmers, Newman, Gillan, McBeth, S Davidson, R Scanlan, R Davidson, Kilmartin, McLeod

Subs – Faulds, A Scanlan

Auchinleck Talbot v Dalry Thistle

Talbot rotated their squad to good effect as they hammered Dalry 8-0 in the 2nd rd of the Ayrshire Weekly Press cup.
Talbot started as they meant to go on, with a goal within 2 mins. Shankland popped the ball in behind for LOVE to run onto & he placed it beyond Hewitt.
Dalry had to make an early change when Stewart limped off to be replaced by McLaughlin.
It was one way traffic & Love nearly added to the lead in the 9th min but he steered Shankland’s cross wide of target.
Hyslop wasted a good chance to extend the lead when sent through on goal by Steven Wilson. He scuffed his shot & it went tamely at Hewitt.
The chances came one after another, with Love testing the keeper twice and Gillies also working the keeper.
The only surprise was that Dalry held out until the 32nd min before conceding again. Pope hit a superb diagonal pass to S Wilson & he threaded it through for GILLIES to bury it beyond Hewitt.
Dalry were under the cosh & the pressure told just before half time. Shankland’s corner was flicked goal ward by Hyslop & although Hewitt saved his header, GILLIES pounced to nod home the rebound.
The 2nd half was only 2 mins old when Talbot grabbed their 4th. HYSLOP met a corner from the left to glance a header into the roof of the net.
It was 5 after 53 mins. A slick move saw Gillies touch it into Love whose short pass sent HYSLOP through on the keeper. Hewitt did well to block his shot but Hyslop kept his cool to dispatch the rebound.
Tucker made a change on the hour mark with Young replacing Hyslop and the sub made an early impact, whipping a ball in from the right touchline for GILLIES to volley home for his hat-trick.
Talbot’s 7th of the night came after 68 mins. Shankland swung in a dangerous cross & LOVE converted with a diving header.
With 20 mins remaining Talbot made a double switch with Milliken & G Wilson on for Boyd & Gillies.
Graham Wilson passed up a decent chance in the 80th min. Love played in Milliken & he squared it to Wilson who took too long to get his shot away & saw it blocked by Brown.
The scoring was completed in the 86th min. S Wilson found Milliken free on the right of the area & he drilled a shot on target. Hewitt saved at his near post but it came straight back to Milliken who laid it across goal for SHANKLAND to finish from close range.

Talbot – Johnstone, Findlay, Pope, Lyle, White, Boyd, S Wilson, Hyslop, Gillies, Shankland, Love

Subs – Young, Milliken, G Wilson, Leishman

Dalry – Hewitt, Gallagher, Marshall, Brown, McFadzean, Guthrie, Gray, Irvine, Mills, Stewart, Archdeacon

Subs – McLaughlin, McGivern, McMunn, McVeigh, Hood

Auchinleck Talbot v Arthurlie

Talbot Goal 1 — ‘G’ looks on, as Milliken races into the box, fires the ball past the ‘Lie ‘keeper and puts Talbot into the lead. 1-0.

Talbot were left to rue a late collapse which saw what looked like a comfortable home win end in a 2-2 draw as the Bot threw away a two goal lead.
In a 1st half of few clear chances it was the visitors who made the brighter start. Carroll had an opportunity to put Arthurlie ahead in the 2nd minute when he met Gribben’s ball in from the right but from only 6 yards out he failed to generate any power & Leishman made a comfortable save at his left post.

Talbot Goal 1 Celeb — As Keir wheels away to celebrate, the Talbot faithful goes absolutely nuts!

A defensive mix-up nearly gifted Arthurlie the lead in the 10th minute. There seemed no danger when a cross from the right came into the area but Lyle ducked under it to leave it to Leishman who was never getting there. The ball sped across to the left of the area where Carroll gathered it & hammered a shot on target that Leishman turned round the right post.

Talbot Goal 2 — Graham Wilson extends Talbot’s lead, as he gets onto the end of Milliken’s cross and powers a low header past the ‘keeper. 2-0.

Talbot’s 1st effort on target came in the 11th minute. Young intercepted a slack clearance & played it into the area to find Wilson. He got the ball stuck under his feet & although he managed to prod it on target it lacked power & White made an easy save.
There was little to choose between the sides & little goal mouth action with neither keeper involved.

Arthurlie Goal 1 — And so the comeback begins….With the game entering the final five mintues, Arthurlie’s captain slots the ball past Leishman from inside the box. 2-1.

Gradually Talbot began to settle into the game & play some football, with the game increasingly being played in the Arthurlie half. Talbot put together a good move in the 28th minute. Boyd found Young on the left & he hit a great diagonal ball in behind to find Milliken down the right. He cut it back into the path of Lyle inside the box but he failed to test the keeper with a weak shot.
In the 35th minute Hyslop fed a good ball down the line toward Young who forced a corner off McGregor. Young whipped the corner over to the far corner of the 6-yard box where McGoldrick’s header clipped the top of the bar.

Arthurlie Goal 2 — Not long after pulling one back, Arthurlie complete the comeback. Boyd and McGoldrick try in vain to block the shot but Arthurlie manage to fire the ball into the bottom left corner of the net. 2-2.

Talbot won a free kick in a promising area in the 39th minute when Gair wrestled Milliken to the ground 30 yards from goal. Pope took it but scooped his shot well over the bar and the half petered to an end without any further chances.
Talbot started the 2nd half in fine fettle and had an opportunity within the opening minute. Hyslop was sent sprawling out on the right but the ref awarded the advantage to allow Milliken to fire a low ball into the centre where Wilson volleyed over the bar.

Arthurlie Goal 2 Celeb — With less than five mintues to go, down two goals and they manage to level the match….the Arthurlie players have every right to go ‘mental’ when celebrating their equaliser!

Tucker was forced into a change in the 51st minute when McCracken limped off with a hip injury. S Wilson came on & White dropped into central defence.
It was now all Talbot & the opening goal came in the 55th minute. McGoldrick charged out from the back & carried it into the down the left before releasing an accurate pass inside to find G Wilson. He flicked it 1st time into the path of MILLIKEN who strolled through & placed a low drive past White to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

It should have been 2-0 in the 59th minute. Steven Wilson raced through the centre of the defence & unselfishly passed it left to Graham Wilson who blazed his shot over the bar from 12 yards.
Arthurlie won a free kick out on the right in the 61st minute which Gribben delivered to the far post. The Bot defence managed to head it clear & Young then launched a counter-attack with a great pass to release Milliken down the left. He raced down the wing & whipped a cross to the back post where GRAHAM WILSON met it with a diving header to put Talbot 2-0 ahead.

Young had a half chance to extend Talbot’s lead in the 64th minute when the ball broke to him outside the area. He had space 20 yards out but curled his shot well off target.
Arthurlie hadn’t offered anything so far in the 2nd half but Pope made a crucial interception in the 65th min to block Mackie’s pass which was heading straight for McGregor.
Lyle picked up what looked to be a very harsh yellow card in the 67th minute. He slid in & took the ball but the referee judged it a foul & booked him.

The visitors made a double substitution in the 68th minute with Mackie & Devlin making way for McTernan & Young.
Arthurlie made a further change in the 72nd minute when Tart replaced Gair.
Palmer almost fluked a goal back for Arthurlie in the 73rd minute. The left-back swung a cross over which clipped the top of the bar before going behind for the goal kick.
Talbot now made their 2nd change with Shankland on in place of Graham Wilson.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot put together a decent move. Milliken made the bye line & cut it back into the area. The defence only cleared it as far as S Wilson & he played it left to find Shankland whose low drive was well saved by White to his left.
Two minutes later Shankland again tested the Lie keeper. He powered a good shot on target from 20 yards but White was well positioned to take it inside his left post.

Tucker made his final change in the 78th minute with Love coming on for Milliken.
Talbot came close to killing the game off in the 84th minute. Leishman hoisted a long ball down the centre that the defence failed to deal with. It was headed out but came straight to Young 20 yards out & he lashed a shot just over the crossbar.

Arthurlie hadn’t looked remotely dangerous but it was game on again as they went straight down the other end & pulled a goal back. The Bot defence were caught sleeping as Gribben gathered on the left & slipped a ball inside to send MCGREGOR clean through on goal & he steered a low shot past Leishman.

Nimmo was penalised in the 85th minute when he picked up a caution for persistent fouling.
Talbot’s defence hadn’t covered themselves in glory at the 1st goal and poor defending played its part in Arthurlie’s equaliser in the 86th minute. Nimmo dribbled into the box & with the defence backing off he kept going. He eventually ran into a wall of defenders but the ball broke left to YOUNG & the sub drilled a low shot that for the bottom corner that Leishman did well to get a hand to but couldn’t keep out.
Carroll picked up a caution for a late tackle on Steven Wilson as Talbot went pushing for a late winner but time was against them and Arthurlie ran the clock down to see the game out.
This was a sore one for Talbot who were well in control, only to lose the plot in the final 5 minutes.
Next for Talbot is a home tie against Dalry on Tuesday night in the Ayrshire cup where Talbot will be looking to get back to winning ways.

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, McCracken, White, Young, Hyslop, G Wilson, Milliken, Boyd

Subs – Shankland, S Wilson, Love, Gillies, Johnstone

Arthurlie – White, McGlinchey, Palmer, Rushford, Gair, Nimmo, McGregor, Devlin, Mackie, Gribben, Carroll

Subs – McTernan, Blakey, Tart, Young, Nugent

George Mitchell — Ok…I hold my hands up……I’m Talbot’s new signing!

Auchinleck Talbot v Cambuslang Rangers

Auchinleck Talbot v Irvine Meadow

Auchinleck Talbot v Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Talbot produced one of their best performances of the season to leapfrog Rob Roy in the table and keep pace with leaders Pollok.
The Bot might have taken the lead as early as the 5th minute. Pope delivered a good ball in behind the defence to find S Wilson but the ball came to him at an awkward height & he knocked his shot well past the post.
Two minutes later, Leishman came to Talbot’s rescue. McKenzie’s long diagonal ball sailed over Pope to pick out Sawyer just inside the box. He rolled the ball back across to Aitken whose low drive was heading inside the left post until stopped by Leishman’s legs.
In the 17th minute Milliken slid a great pass through to S Wilson on the right of the penalty area. He took a touch before firing for goal & McGuire got across to block it behind for the corner. Young whipped the corner straight along the 6-yard line where HYSLOP ran onto it to power a header beyond Brown.
McGuire became the 1st player booked when shown a yellow card for a late challenge after 19 mins.
Talbot were looking threatening and came close to adding to their lead in the 23rd minute. Milliken gathered a ball down the right & laid it back to Wilson. He whipped over a 1st time cross toward Hyslop which he just failed to connect with in the centre.
Boyd paid the price for a fractionally mistimed challenge when he was booked for a 50/50 tackle out on the stand side touchline.
McGoldrick launched Talbot’s next attack with a perfectly weighted ball down the right to send Milliken scampering clear. He fired a dangerous ball across goal but there was no one in the centre to take advantage.

Steven Wilson looked like he would have to come off injured after 38 mins when he was caught late by McMenamin. The ex-Nock player was cautioned for the challenge but after a bout of treatment he was able to continue.
As the half drew to a close Talbot twice came close to extending their lead. Shankland’s pass sent Milliken racing free down the left & he forced a fine stop from Brown who turned his powerful drive past the post for a corner. McGoldrick met Young’s corner just inside the front post and his flick was heading into the net until Carter cleared it off the line, and the half finished with Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Talbot raced out the traps at the start of the 2nd half and carved out a couple of chances within the opening minutes.

Firstly, Hyslop sped down the left & swung a ball to the far post to S Wilson who saw his shot on target blocked away by a defender. A minute later, Pope blocked McKenzie’s attempted pass and the ball spun to Milliken who cut in off the left wing before swerving a shot wide of the left post.
Talbot took a firm grip on the match when they doubled their lead after 53 minutes. Milliken challenged for a long ball down the centre and as he went up with Boyle the ball came back to HYSLOP. He strode onto the loose ball, cutting inside onto his right foot before lashing an unstoppable shot past Brown into the roof of the net.
Teams are often at their most vulnerable just after scoring & Rob Roy nearly pulled a goal back immediately. The Bot defence were caught out as the visitors played it in behind for Aitken but Leishman had read the danger & was quickly off his line to beat the winger to it.
Rob Roy made their 1st change in the 59th minute with Gallacher coming on for Aitken and a minute later Talbot made their 1st switch with G Wilson on in place of Shankland.

Talbot were looking comfortable and very nearly added another goal in the 68th minute. Pope let fly from long range & Brown was relieved to see his shot race just wide of the left hand upright.
Rob Roy made a further change after 70 minutes when Mackie replaced Watt up front.
Two minutes later Brown produced a top save to deny Pope. He pounced on a poor touch from McKenzie & surged into the box before drilling a low right foot shot that was heading inside the right post until Brown dived full length to tip it wide.
Young’s corner had the Rabs defence in a fankle & when they failed to clear their lines, G Wilson pounced on the loose ball, only to see his shot blocked by Finnigan.
Boyle had his name taken with quarter of an hour remaining for taking out S Wilson as he broke down the right. The free kick was within shooting range, and Young tapped the ball to the side for Pope to belt a low drive on target that Brown held at the 2nd attempt by his left post.
Rob Roy now made their final change with Martin on for McGuire.
Mackie had a half chance to reduce the deficit in the 79th minute. Talbot’s defence made a meal of clearing their lines allowing Mackie the chance to shoot from just inside the penalty area but he blasted his shot over the bar.

Hyslop was inches from his hat-trick moments later. Milliken fired a great ball across goal which he just failed to connect with a few yards out.
Talbot’s next effort at goal came from Young. Pope dinked a free kick into the area which Butch ran onto it but he lifted his volley over the crossbar.
Tucker now made a further change with Gillies on in place of Milliken.
Gillies almost made an immediate impact. Pope rolled the ball into his feet to send him one on one with the keeper, only for Brown to make a great save to his left to keep out Davie’s shot. The rebound hit off Boyle and looked set to spin into the net for an o.g but Boyle recovered well to hook the ball off the goal line.

Lyle came close in the 85th minute when he lashed a shot just over the bar from outside the area and 2 minutes later G Wilson saw his header from Pope’s cross clip the bar as Talbot piled on the pressure.
With 2 minutes remaining Talbot again nearly scored. G Wilson sent Boyd through on the right and rather than shoot he opted to slide it across goal for Gillies. He stretched out a boot but slid his shot just wide of Brown’s right post.
Deep into injury time Talbot had one final chance. Pope laid the ball out to Gillies who hammered a low shot on target which Brown parried away. It came straight to G Wilson but it bounced up & hit him on the arm, and the ref awarded a free kick.
This was a very impressive display by the Bot, especially in the 2nd half as they pegged Rob Roy back for long spells and but for a good display by Brown Talbot would have won by a more convincing margin.
Next up for Talbot is an away trip to Shettleston whose confidence will be high after their thrashing of Petershill.

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, White, Boyd, Young, S Wilson, Milliken, Shankland, Hyslop

Subs – Gillies, G Wilson, Love, Findlay
Rob Roy – Brown, Finnigan, McKenzie, Carter, Boyle, Whelan, McGuire, McMenamin, Sawyer, Watt, Aitken

Subs – Gallacher, Barr, Martin, Mackie, Murdoch (gk)