Venue: Beechwood Park

Match report by Murray
Kilbirnie proved unwelcome first footers to Beechwood as they claimed all 3 points in this league fixture courtesy of a very soft penalty award.
The surface had held up well considering the amount of rain that’s fallen but a strong breeze made playing conditions far from ideal for both sides.
The opening exchanges saw both keepers put under pressure following free kicks. Firstly, Leishman had to race off his line to punch Miller’s free kick out the danger zone and minutes later Hughes just beat Hyslop to an aerial ball after Pope’s free kick deflected off Gray’s head.
The only goal of the game came in the 11th minute. Lyle intercepted an intended through ball & passed it straight back at Leishman. He tried to take a touch but mis-controlled it and the ball broke straight out to Forde. Leishman threw himself out to make the block but Forde got his shot away, firing well wide of the post, however to the shock of the Bot team and home support the referee awarded a penalty because Leishman made contact after he’d got the shot away.
Latta was booked for protesting the decision but once the dust settled, MILLER stepped up to send Leishman the wrong way and put Kilbirnie 1-0 ahead.
Talbot looked to grab an early goal back and had an effort on target within a minute. Young’s cross found Latta in space at the back post and he steered a header back across goal where Hyslop met it but his header went straight at Hughes.
The next effort at target came in the 20th minute. Talbot were caught offside midway inside the Blasties half and Hughes launched a free kick down the left. White failed to cut it out and it came straight to Gold who hit it 1st time but his effort swerved away from target and wide of the left post.
In the 24th minute Boyd intercepted the ball inside Talbot’s half and played it up to Wilson. He laid it back into the path of Milliken who drilled a powerful shot goal ward that Hughes parried.
O’Byrne, who had a good afternoon for the visitors, had a bit of good fortune in the 27th minute. Hyslop met Pope’s cross beyond the back post and cushioned a header across the 6-yard area where O’Byrne took a wild swipe at it but sliced it wide of target and behind for a corner.
Kilbirnie won a free kick in a good area after half an hour when Lyle impeded Gold just outside the box. Miller’s low strike clipped the wall but broke out into the path of Anderson whose shot was blocked by Latta. Once the ball went dead, the referee cautioned Boyd for an earlier offence.
Hylsop had a half chance in the 35th minute. Lyle’s cross found Milliken’s head and he nodded it down into Hyslop’s path but he didn’t make a clean connection and scuffed his shot wide of the left post.
Talbot continued to huff & puff but without making any real headway and for all their endeavour only tested Hughes once more before the interval, when Boyd picked the ball up and charged forward before firing a piledriver that unfortunately went straight at Hughes who parried it and gathered at the 2nd attempt.
The 2nd half got off to an inauspicious start for the Bot when Lyle conceded a free kick 25 yards out in the 48th minute. It looked to be too wide for a crack at goal but Miller tried to angle a shot inside the near post where Leishman gathered.
Talbot had a good chance to level in the 51st minute. A free kick out on the right touchline was hit square to Pope in space on the left. He played it up to Milliken who in turn laid it wide toward Wilson. He was challenged inside the area but the ball broke kindly to Young on the left of the penalty area; however, he pulled his shot across goal and wide of the far post.
It wasn’t Butch’s day in front of goal, and a minute later he spurned another opportunity to equalise. Latta’s hanging cross eluded the defence and landed at the feet of Young 8 yards out, unfortunately he didn’t connect properly, trundling a shot across the face of goal which Hyslop prodded home at the far post but it didn’t count as he’d been flagged offside.
Talbot came close again in the 58th minute. Hughes managed to punch a corner clear under pressure but it only came out as far as Latta whose 1st time volley took a slight deflection and flew inches wide of the right hand post.
On the hour mark Pope’s diagonal pass found Wilson running free on the right. He took a good 1st touch then rolled it inside for Hyslop who was in space at the edge of the box but he ballooned his shot high over the bar.
The referee, already unpopular with the Beechwood crowd for his poor penalty call, didn’t win anyone over with his next call either. It looked a guaranteed straight red for Ladeside’s Miller when he kicked out at Lyle with the ball nowhere near but the referee bottled the decision in front of the visiting fans and only produced a yellow card.
Talbot had dominated the start of the half and had their chances but crucially failed to make any of them count and another one got away in the 62nd minute. Pope fired a great cross into the centre which spun high into the air off O’Byrne’s head. It dropped down onto the head of Milliken at the back post but the ball seemed to hit him rather than him heading the ball and fell wide of target.
The Bot fans knew it wasn’t to be a few minutes later. O’Byrne conceded a free kick just outside the box for a foul on Milliken which Pope struck. He curled it over the wall & had the keeper beaten but it cannoned back off the crossbar.
Forde picked up a caution in the 69th minute for a reckless challenge on Lyle and was followed into the book soon after by Wilson for a late tackle on Gold.
Tucker made a double switch in the 72nd minute with Steven Wilson on for Graham and Shankland replacing Boyd, however the longer the half wore on the more comfortable Ladeside looked with Talbot making no impression in the final third.
Talbot’s final chance came in the 84th minute. Pope swept forward and hit a good, deep cross to find Young at the far post. With players lining up in the centre Young tried to head it across the face of goal but Hughes was well positioned and snatched it out the air inside his left post.
With 5 minutes remaining Talbot made their final change with Gillies coming on for Latta.
In the closing stages Talbot were caught on the counter and Ladeside nearly added a second. Milliken looked to be fouled inside the Ladeside half but the ref waved play on and Ladeside broke forward. The ball was slid through to Forde inside the area but Leishman was quickly off his line to narrow the angle and make the stop.
A disappointing afternoon for Talbot who now have to dust themselves off and prepare for next Saturday’s visit to Pollok.

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

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

Kilbirnie – Hughes, Haxton, McKeown, Gray, O’Byrne, Anderson, Miller, Rafferty, Forde, Turner, Gold

Subs – Bennett, Gallacher, Duncan, Gemmell

Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/7093/talbot-kilbirnie-1#ixzz3wHh0LcZW

Talbot ensured they ended 2015 sitting atop the league table thanks to a hard fought win over Troon.
The playing surface was in pristine condition, considering the amount of rain that’s fallen recently, though a strong, swirling wind made it a difficult afternoon for both sets of players.
Talbot won the toss and elected to play to the Coal Road end, against the wind, an inspired decision as it turned out.
The 1st clear chance came Talbot’s way in the 6th minute. Cochrane swung a good cross into the centre which Wilson flicked on toward the back post. Young ran onto it and hit it 1st time but sent his shot wide of target.
Troon threatened on the counter-attack in the 9th minute. Spence broke down the centre before releasing it wide right to Harvey. He whipped a cross over that swirled beyond Leishman but carried past the far post and out for a goal kick.
Talbot won a free kick in shooting range in the 14th minute following a foul on Hyslop. Pope & Wilson both left it to one another, before Wilson finally took it but he got too much on it and sent his shot sailing high off target.
The breakthrough came in the 17th minute and it was a well-worked move. Young sent the ball inside to Boyd who switched play out to Cochrane on the right. He freed Lyle on the overlap and he fired a cross to the back post where Young guided a header back across goal and HYSLOP applied the finishing touch from close range.
The lead almost proved short-lived when McGoldrick came close to an own goal in the 19th minute. Harvey’s low cross cannoned off him and flew up onto the crossbar before going behind for a corner kick.
Wilson did well in the 27th minute when he spun on the edge of the area before releasing a reverse pass toward Young. Butch would’ve been clean through on Semple but for a timely interception from Keenan.
The next effort at goal came on the half hour mark. Pope played it into the feet of Wilson and he teed it up for Hyslop to strike but he fired it well wide of target.
Keenan tested Leishman in the 35th minute when he drilled a daisy cutter on target from 25 yards that Leishman held low to his left.
Two minutes later it was Talbot back on the attack. Milliken knocked the ball out wide to Young who did well to keep the ball in play. He then skinned Harvey, raced into the box and fired a dangerous low ball across goal which McKnight cleared. It came straight back out to Young who hit it 1st time and curled it wide of the far post.
Harvey was proving to be Troon’s most dangerous player and he had the Bot defence at full stretch in the 40th minute. He found space on the right and whipped a cross into the centre which McGoldrick managed to scramble clear.
Talbot doubled their lead in the 42nd minute. Wilson won a corner off Collins on the right and when Young whipped the corner across the 6-yard box it appeared to hit the hand of a Troon defender. The ball fell to HYSLOP and he stretched out a leg to fire it into the roof of the net to send Talbot in 2 goals ahead at the interval.
Troon came out flying at the start of the 2nd half as they looked to get an early goal back and their 1st chance came in the 47th minute when Lyle conceded a free kick 30 yards out. Keenan took it and curled a shot past the wall that Leishman gathered inside his right post.
Two minutes later Troon threatened down the right. Harvey looked to be caught by Pope just outside the area but the ref allowed the advantage as it broke to Forsyth inside the area. He took a touch and fired for goal but his shot was blocked by McGoldrick.
Troon continued to press and they had the Bot defence at full stretch in the 56th minute. Harvey swept a cross in from the right that eluded everyone in the centre before coming out to Moore on the left edge of the penalty area. He angled a shot at goal that Lyle blocked behind for a corner.
Talbot managed to clear the resultant corner out the area but only as far as Keenan and he knocked an early ball back into the 6-yard box where Forsyth managed to get on the end of it but he only succeeded in flicking it straight at Leishman.
Troon now made their 1st change with Muir coming on for McKenna.
The visitors very nearly pulled one back in the 62nd minute. Milliken lost possession around halfway and Troon swiftly countered down the right, feeding the ball into the feet of Forsyth and he fired a shot an inch wide of Leishman’s left post.
Tucker made a double switch in the 64th minute with Gillies replacing Wilson up front and Latta coming on in place of Cochrane.
Talbot had spent most of the 2nd period on the back foot but very nearly moved 3 ahead in the 70th minute. Milliken’s ball in from the left wing found Hyslop inside the box and he laid it off to Latta whose shot was arrowing into the back of the net until Semple dived full length to his right to touch it round the post.
Two minutes later Milliken had a golden chance to kill the game off. Latta flighted a good ball over the defence and Milliken sped away from Collins clean through on Semple. He could’ve carried on into the box but instead opted to hit it early and blazed his shot way over the bar.
Talbot made their final change in the 77th minute when Shankland came on to replace Milliken.
Having weathered Troon’s early 2nd half pressure Talbot were now comfortably in control and looked the more likely to grab the next goal.
In the 79th minute Pope swung a free kick in behind the defence that Gillies was inches from connecting with.
Two minutes later and Talbot won another free kick, this time just outside the penalty area for a foul on Shankland. Pope swung it into the centre where Collins headed it clear.
Troon made a change with 7 minutes remaining when Curragh came on for Harvey.
The referee hadn’t produced a card all afternoon but that changed in the 86th minute when he booked 3 players over the one incident. Muir was shown a yellow card for a cynical challenge that sent Pope to the turf as he raced free on the left. Pope was then cautioned for his reaction to the challenge and Keenan also received a booking for getting involved.
Deep into injury time Talbot had a final chance to add to their lead. Boyd played a great pass through to Shankland to send him through down the left. He raced into the area and fired a low shot across goal but it slipped just past Semple’s left hand post.
This was an impressive win from Talbot who did all the damage in the 1st half and defended resolutely when Troon applied pressure after the interval.

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

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

Troon – Semple, Keenan, Armstrong, McKnight, Collins, Chatham, Harvey, Spence, Forsyth, McKenna, Moore

Subs – McCrea, Brown, Muir, Curragh, Fraser

Match Report by Murray
The fans at Beechwood were treated to a seven goal thriller and a superb Bot comeback as Talbot edged out Hurlford in this league encounter.
From the outset this game was fiercely contested although neither side could make any clear cut chances in the opening spell.
The 1st test for either keeper came in the 11th minute. Creaney let fly from outside the box and his shot deflected off Lyle; however Leishman dived to his left to make the stop.
Milliken came close to the opener after 15 minutes. Wilson swept a cross in from the left which Milliken met in the centre. He headed it back & down the way it’d come but it lacked power & Brown saved to his right.
Another Wilson cross caused the Ford defence problems minutes later. It looked to be heading straight for White in front of goal until McLune intercepted to put it behind with a diving header.
Young fired the corner over to the far corner of the 6-yard box where Campbell powered a header back across that flew wide of the right hand post.
The opening goal arrived in the 19th minute and it came Hurlford’s way. Brown hoisted a long ball down the left over Talbot’s backline. R Robertson chased it into the box and Leishman came racing out to gather. He reached it before Robertson but couldn’t hold it and the ball broke out to CHISHOLM who had the easy task of slotting it into the empty net.
Losing a bad goal was a blow in itself but Talbot suffered a worse setback in the 25th minute. Campbell was caught late by Chisholm as he stretched to clear the ball & as he fell to the turf it became apparent that he’d picked up a serious injury. Campbell was carried from the field on a stretcher and Latta was brought on. This necessitated a re-shuffle with White moving back into defence & Hyslop into central midfield.
The referee produced a yellow card a piece on the half hour mark to Pope & R Robertson after they tangled off the ball.
The Bot were left with an uphill battle when they fell two behind in the 31st minute. Hurlford won a corner on the left when McKenzie’s long range effort deflected behind and when the corner went deep beyond the back post R Robertson climbed to head it goal ward & KEAN touched it home from close range.
Talbot needed an early riposte and it duly arrived in the 35th minute. Latta lifted a ball into the area that McKillen failed to deal with. It broke off the Hurlford man into the path of MILLIKEN who lashed a right footed shot high past Brown to reduce the deficit.
A few minutes later Latta met Pope’s cross from the left touchline but his header flew wide of the left post.
Kean squandered a good chance to extend Hurlford’s lead in the 40th minute when he met a free kick flighted in behind the defence. With Leishman stranded off his line all that was required was for him to hit the target but he didn’t make a clean contact and glanced his header well wide.
Talbot finished the half strongly and produced a couple of chances in the dying minutes of the half. McGoldrick raced half the length of the field before releasing the ball to Wilson and his reverse pass to Milliken was just a fraction too firm, allowing Brown to smother the ball at Milliken’s feet.
In 1st half injury time Pope squared the ball across to Boyd whose drive from 20 yards flew just wide of Brown’s right post.
Talbot may have ended the 1st half strongly but they got off on the wrong foot after the re-start. Within a minute they were caught out when McKenzie intercepted Young’s pass. He hit a long diagonal ball which Kean reached just before Leishman. The angle was too tight to attempt a shot and he squared it across goal where White cleared it to safety.
Hurlford restored their two goal advantage in the 48th minute. McGoldrick’s headed clearance was returned straight back into the Talbot box where it fell to BORRIS on the right of the area and his shot took a nick off Pope on its way into the net.
The visitors were forced into a change in the 53rd minute. C Robertson went over on his ankle and had to go off and within a minute Talbot took advantage of the extra man and pulled a goal back.
Young swept a cross in from the left and Wilson cushioned a header back toward Hyslop. He was sent tumbling as he ran onto it and the ref pointed straight to the spot. POPE proved as reliable as ever from 12 yards and slotted it down the middle as Brown dived to his right to make it 3-2.
Hurlford very nearly restored their two goal cushion within a minute. They won a corner out on the right which Talbot only cleared out as far as M Brown and his shot from the edge of the area was deflected just past Leishman’s left post.
C Robertson wasn’t fit to continue so Hurlford made their 1st change with G Mitchell coming on in his place.
The next goal was going to be critical and Talbot grabbed it in the 58th minute. Milliken used his pace to run at G Mitchell who was forced to concede the corner. Young lifted it to the far post where POPE ran in unchallenged to head home the equaliser.
Hurlford sensed the game slipping away from them and made their 2nd change in the 62nd minute when D Mitchell replaced McLune.
The momentum was now with Talbot and only a fantastic stop from Brown prevented the Bot from taking the lead in the 70th minute. Young whipped a cross into the centre which Hyslop headed down to Wilson. He had his back to goal but turned and hit it 1st time forcing a top save from Brown before McKillen completed the clearance.
Hurlford made their final change in the 72nd minute with McKenzie making way for Nisbet.
Talbot thought they’d taken the lead in the 73rd minute. McGoldrick met Lyle’s free kick at the back post and he climbed to power a header into the roof of the net, only for it to be chalked off for a dubious offside call.
The game was flowing from end to end and White picked up a caution in the 76th minute when he his foul ended a Hurlford counter-attack midway inside Talbot’s half.
Tucker now made his 2nd change as Love replaced Milliken.
Talbot had a let off in the 78th minute when the woodwork came to the rescue. The defence were caught out when a corner from the left was fired low into the near post where M Brown side-footed it against the right post.
He was unlucky there but was guilty of a bad miss in the 81st minute, again from a corner kick on the left. This time he had a free header at the near post but failed to hit the target.
Borris picked up a yellow card in the 82nd minute for dissent. He conceded a free kick for a foul on Young and then talked himself into the book. Pope took the free kick short to Young who returned it out wide to Pope. He swept a dangerous ball across the face of goal but no Bot player could get on the end of it.
Talbot grabbed the winner in the 84th minute. Love combined well with Latta out on the right creating the space for Latta on the overlap. He fired a superb cross beyond the back post where YOUNG met it to head back across goal and beyond Brown to make it 4-3 to Talbot.
Two minutes later Talbot had a half chance to put the game beyond doubt. Pope’s disguised pass sent Love free on the left and he cut inside before unleashing a ferocious shot which swerved just wide of the left post.
With one minute remaining Talbot made their final change with Shankland on for Wilson.
As the game entered injury time Talbot had another effort at goal. Young stole the ball from Borris inside the Hurlford half and cut in from the left and drilled a shot over the bar.
Talbot still had defending to do and in the 3rd minute of added time Borris had a late chance. He gathered the ball out on the right before skipping inside into the area and shooting for the near post. It looked as though Leishman had it covered but in any case McGoldrick was guarding the post and thumped it clear, and soon after the referee signalled time up.
This was Talbot’s best performance in a good while with the team showing great character to come back from two goals down to claim the 3 points. Next up for Talbot is another away day in the cup as they travel to Ravenscraig park to face Greenock in the West.

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

Subs – Shankland, Love, Latta, Cochrane, Gillies

Hurlford – A Brown, M Brown, Creaney, McKillen, C Robertson, McLune, McKenzie, Chisholm, Kean, R Robertson, Borris

Subs – Nisbet, D Mitchell, G Mitchell, Cochrane, Blair

MATCH REPORT BY MURRAY

After Wednesday night’s disappointment, Talbot producd the goods when it mattered, opening their title defence with a win over Shettleston courtesy of a strong 2nd half performance.
The first 45 mins saw maximum effort and minimum football with both sides struggling to make any impact or test the opposing keeper.
It took until the 7th minute before the first incident of note. Milliken raced onto the end of Leishman’s ball up the right and tried to knock it past Halliwell who made the block.
The visitors spurned a rare chance in the 10th minute. They won a free kick on the right which Parker flighted into the area. Campbell headed it clear but Jugkowiak gathered on the left & skinned McGoldrick before crossing to the back post where McEwan glanced a free header wide.
Talbot’s next chance came to Milliken. Leishman’s ball down the left found him in space inside the area but he fired his shot wide of the right post.
Good football was at a premium in a dour 1st half though Talbot put together a good move in the 18th minute. Hyslop turned smartly in midfield and fed it out to Young whose well-weighted pass looked set to send Milliken through on the keeper but for a timely interception by Francis.
The officials angered both sides in the 27th minute. Talbot were aggrieved at the failure of the linesman to flag when McCormack ran in behind looking a yard offside and then the visiting bench were angered when McCormack went down under Campbell’s challenge; however the ref waved play on as the ball ran through to Leishman.
There was little goalmouth incident to get excited about but the ref had another big decision to make in the 35th minute. Leishman came off his line to clear a long ball through the centre and towered over Halliday to punch clear. The ball landed out at Ramage who fired an early shot but he didn’t get enough height on it and it was easily blocked. Meanwhile, Leishman & Halliday were involved in a tangle off the ball as the Ton player wrestled Leishman to prevent him getting back on his feet. When the dust settled, the referee spoke to both players and booked Halliday for his part.
As the half wore on it grew increasingly scrappy and ill tempered. Parker had his name taken in the 41st minute for a late challenge on Young.
A minute later Campbell came close for Talbot. The Bot won a free kick out on the left and Shankland swung a cross over to the far post where Campbell won it, only to send his header flying wide of the left post.
As the half drew to a close Talbot threatened again via a set piece. This time it was a corner from the right which Campbell won in the centre forcing Halliwell to tip his header over the crossbar.
Talbot continued pushing forward and slinging crosses into the Shettleston penalty area but it didn’t break kindly for a Bot player and the defence managed to clear by hook or by crook until the whistle signalled the end of the half.
After a slightly stuttering start Talbot got into their stride in the 2nd half and Milliken forced a good save from Weir in the 51st minute. He took advantage of hesitant defending to get in on the left and Weir had to turn his half volley round the post.
There was a loud penalty appeal in the 55th minute when Milliken raced down the wing and swung a cross over onto the head of Shankland that appeared to be blocked by a defender’s arm.
Two minutes later Talbot came close to the lead. Milliken whipped an early ball over to the back post for Shankland. His initial header went straight up in the air but as it dropped down he prodded it past the advancing keeper and just over the crossbar.
Shettleston were under the cosh and in an attempt to turn things round they made a double switch with Parker & Ramage making way for Martin & Marshal.
However, the subs had no time to make any difference before Talbot took the lead with 61 mins gone. Milliken cut the ball back from the left wing to the feet of Shankland & he stepped inside Francis who sent him tumbling with a clumsy challenge. POPE stepped forward and slammed the penalty into the back of the net.
Talbot were looking dangerous at corners and had the visiting defence on the ropes in the 69th minute when a corner beyond the far post was met by Campbell who angled it back across the goal mouth. The ball bounced around the 6-yard area without falling to a Talbot player before the defence finally cleared it out to the edge of the box where Pope drilled a shot wide.
Shettleston now played their final card with Anson coming on for McEwan whilst Talbot made a double switch with G Wilson & Boyd on for Shankland & Latta.
Talbot were unlucky not to add to their lead in the 75th minute. Hylsop sent a good ball through to release Milliken on the left and he fired it over early to find Wilson who was free in the centre, unfortunately it was a fraction behind him and got stuck between his feet as he tried to take it in his stride and broke through to Weir.
Milliken went on a lung bursting run in the 79th minute leaving McArthur in his wake as he sped down the left into the penalty area, however he’d used up his reserves of energy & hit a tired shot on target that Weir saved easily.
Tucker made his final change in the 82nd minute with Love on to replace Milliken.
Talbot’s threat from set plays was demonstrated again with 5 mins remaining. Love won a corner out on the right and when it came over to the back post Campbell climbed to nod it just wide of the right post.
The points were finally secured with 3 minutes remaining. Wilson went up in aerial challenge at the edge of the area and the ball bounced the way of LOVE who hooked it over his own shoulder and past Weir who was stranded off his line to make it 2-0 to the Bot.
Deep into injury time the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Francis was guilty of a reckless lunge at White. Fortunately no harm was done to White but the ref showed Francis a straight red to send him packing.
It took Talbot a while to get going but once they hit their stride the Bot ran out comfortable winners with Shettleston offering little in the final third. Next up for Talbot is the long trek to Bridge of Don to face Hermes in the senior cup.

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Campbell, White, Young, Hyslop, Milliken, Shankland, Latta

Subs – Love, G Wilson, Gillies, Boyd, S Wilson

Shettleston – Halliwell, McArthur, Jugkowiak, McIntosh, Francis, Boyle, Parker, McCormack, Ramage, McEwan, Halliday

Subs – Martin, McGillion, Scott, Anson, Marshal

MURRY’S MATCH REPORT
Talbot turned in their best performance of the season to date to sweep aside the Peasies 4-1; a score line that flattered the visitors.
From the 1st whistle Talbot looked the hungrier and more composed side and put Petershill under pressure right from the off.
The first effort at goal came in the 7th minute. Wilson played it inside to Milliken who swept it across the box for Young but he didn’t connect fully and slid his shot well wide of target.
A quickly taken free kick caught the Peasies cold in the 9th minute, sending Young free down the right. He fired it across the face of goal where only a last ditch interception by Brough prevented a certain goal.
White then came close to putting Talbot in front. He raced onto Hyslop’s short pass & ran through on goal only for McNeil’s left leg to deflect his shot wide of the left post.
Petershill weren’t switched on and were caught napping at a quickly taken corner. Pope rolled the ball out to Milliken who let fly from 20 yards but straight at the keeper.
Tucker was forced into an early change after 17 minutes when Boyd was caught with a late tackle and limped off to be replaced by Latta.
The Peasies defence was hanging by a thread and had another lucky escape in the 19th min. Pope’s ball down the left found Young and he hit a great first time ball into the centre which Brough hooked over his own bar.
Petershill’s first effort at goal came in the 20th minute. Hynes showed good feet to cut inside and create the room for a shot but his left foot effort from the edge of the box swerved well wide of goal.
The opening goal came in the 22nd minute. McGoldrick lifted a ball down to the left corner flag which Young chased down, winning a corner off Kennedy. Pope fired the corner over to the far side of the 6-yard box where Campbell directed it back across goal for MILLIKEN to run onto and head home from close range.
Talbot took complete control of the match two minutes later when they added a quick second goal to double their lead. Wilson was clipped just outside the penalty area and WILSON took the free kick himself, curling a peach of a shot over the wall and inside McNeil’s right post.
Milliken was popping up all over the place and had a good chance to put Talbot 3 ahead in the 28th minute. He raced through one on one with the keeper but sent his shot against the foot of the leftt hand post. Wilson gathered the ball out on the right and slung a cross into the centre which McNeil plucked out the air.
F Chisholm received a booking for the visitors on the half hour mark for a poor challenge on White in the centre of the park.
Talbot continued to dominate but it wasn’t until the closing minutes of the half that they turned their possession into clear cut chances.
In the 44th minute Pope’s cross into the middle was headed out but went straight to Milliken in space 16 yards out and he sent a low left foot drive just wide of the left post.
Just before the half time whistle Hyslop ghosted past Bradley and whipped a good cross into the goal mouth. Once again the defence got no great distance on the clearing header and it came out to Young who curled a shot wide of the left hand post, and so the sides went in with Talbot two goals to the good.
The 2nd half continued just where the 1st left off and Talbot nearly added to their lead within a minute of the re-start. Yet again the Peasies were slow to react at a set piece and when the corner was played back to Latta, his cross cum shot dipped just past the far post with McNeil scrambling.
A good ball over the top sent Young through on the right and J Chisholm did well at full stretch to cut out Young’s cutback in the centre.
Petershill made their 1st change on 49 minutes with Shields on in place of F Chisholm.
Talbot put together a good move in the 51st minute that only lacked the finishing touch. Milliken flicked the ball onto Wilson in the centre and he quickly switched play out to the left to find Young. He swept a great low ball across the 6-yard area which Wilson missed by inches for a tap in.
For all Talbot’s dominance a Peasies goal could have changed things and Hynes powerful strike from outside the area was heading on target until McGoldrick’s head got in the way.
Other than clutching a few floated crosses Leishman had been under occupied all afternoon but he produced a fine stop in the 54th minute. Bradley, comfortably Petershill’s best player on the day, swung a dangerous cross over to the back post. Pope dived to head it behind but got t wring and it looked an o.g all the way until Leishman dived to his left to turn it around the post.
After this mini wobble Talbot put the game to bed with a well-worked 3rd goal in the 55th minute. White started the move feeding the ball out to Pope. He passed it to Wilson at the edge of the box who laid the ball off to MILLIKEN who cut across the box before dispatching it into the bottom corner off his weaker right foot.
Petershill now made a further change with Davidson coming on to replace Daly.
The Peasies defence were slow learners and they were caught flat-footed again at Talbot’s 4th goal. Milliken was fouled out on the left touchline and Pope showed quick thinking to take the free kick early, sending a low ball into the near post where YOUNG buried it from 5 yards out.
A minute later Milliken had a great chance to extend Talbot’s lead. Young clipped a ball over the head of Brough to send Milliken through on goal but he failed to beat the advancing keeper who blocked his shot behind for the corner.
Milliken had another go at goal in the 62nd minute when he beat the offside trap before lashing a shot over the bar from wide on the left.
Hynes had an opportunity to nab a consolation effort in the 64th minute when he got his head onto Bradley’s cross; however he glanced his header wide of target.
Chisholm had his name taken in the 69th minute when he tripped Wilson outside the area. Wilson took it but couldn’t replicate his strike of the 1st half and fired over the wall but over the bar.
Tucker made two changes in rapid succession bringing on Shankland for Wilson and then Steven Wilson came on for Hyslop.
It didn’t take Shankland long to make an impact. He took a great touch out on the right to create the space for himself before sweeping a cross over which Milliken headed on target but it went straight at McNeil.
Shankland then combined well with Steven Wilson sending Wilson through on the right. He burst into the area and tried to fire it back across goal but McNeil cut it out at his near post.
With the game won Talbot took their foot off the pedal and the closing stages meandered along with Talbot still on top but lacking the urgency in the final 3rd to add to their tally.
As the game moved into injury time Petershill snatched a late consolation effort. Hynes sped down the right into the area and squared it across for CRAIG to slot home.
This was an impressive display by Talbot who maintained their 100% start to the league whilst doing their goal difference no harm either. Next up for Talbot is an away day at Cumbernauld to face Rob Roy.

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

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

Petershill – McNeil, F Chisholm, Bradley, Brough, J Chisholm, Kennedy, McLean, Ketterer, Daly, Hynes, Craig

Subs – Stevenson, Davidson, Dan, Shields, Cross