Venue: Beechwood Park

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

JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

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

Talbot snatched a draw from the jaws of victory after a Jekyll and Hyde performance saw them go from cruise control to hanging on at the final whistle.

The Bot couldn’t have started any better. In the 1^st minute they won a corner down the right that the defence only cleared back out to Wardrope and he fired wide from the edge of the area.

A few minutes later Wardrope surged between two Lie players and made for the box. He tried to find Smith in space to his left but his pass was cut out.

Nine minutes in and Kerr received a caution for a heavy challenge on Wardrope. He tried to continue but couldn’t shake off the knock and was replaced in the 13^th minute by Lennox.

In the 16^th minute Talbot’s pressure paid off when they won a penalty. McPherson lifted it long down the left for the run of Thomson and as he raced onto it inside the box he was clumsily up-ended by Magee. ROSS SMITH took the spot kick and fired it past the keeper inside the left post to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

Magee had injured himself conceding the penalty and he was replaced by Greenwood.

Talbot were gifted a corner out of nothing in the 26^th minute when McKinven sliced a clearance behind. Langan’s deep corner came to Boylan on the right and he volleyed it back across goal. There were loud appeals for hand-ball but the ref waved play on.

A minute later Talbot doubled their lead. A shy on the left came to Smith and he volleyed an accurate cross to the far post where BRYAN BOYLAN steered a header past McKinven.

It was all Talbot and the Bot had the visitors defence stretched again in the 32^nd minute. Boyle knocked a good ball up the right to free Boylan and he played it early trying to find Thomson but the defence did well to cut it out.

Two minutes later Leyden clipped Langan’s heels as he raced forward then kicked the ball away resulting in a booking. Langan played the free kick into the near post area where it just cleared the head of Slooves.

At this stage it looked to be a question of how many for Talbot and the Bot came close again in the 37^th minute. Langan intercepted the ball and sped down the left before cutting it back inside to find Boyle. He had time & space and let a screamer fly from 30 yards that just flew over the bar.

McNeil became the 3^rd Lie player in the book when he was cautioned in the 38^th minute for a foul on Boylan. Langan played the resultant free kick up the left to Boylan who saw his shot blocked. Talbot kept the pressure on and switched play out to the right where Armstrong forced a corner. When Langan’s corner came over Lennox met it and headed it back into the mix where the defence managed to clear.

Talbot’s next chance came when Armstrong whipped over a good cross that the defence were only able to head out to Boylan 20 yards out and his shot slipped just wide of the left hand post.

In the 42^nd minute Arthurlie made a change with Sugafara replacing Kangi-Soukpe.

A minute from the interval Talbot had a good chance to extend their lead. Thomson won a corner down the right and Langan delivered it into the centre where Lennox ran onto it unchallenged but didn’t make clean contact – glancing his header well wide.

Into added time Talbot had one last chance. Arthurlie were guilty of over-playing inside their own area and Thomson nicked in to steal it before firing wide of the left post.

Arthurlie made a change during the interval with Bradley coming on.

The sub got the benefit of a dubious call in the 49^th minute when he appeared to foul Smith whilst they were both lying on the deck. The ball went loose and broke to Boylan in space but the ref then blew up and awarded Arthurlie the foul.

The visitors were forced into a change in the 53^rd minute when McKinven went down injured with Clarke coming on as replacement keeper.

In the 59^th minute McPherson drove a diagonal ball from left to right that the defence failed to cut out. It came to Boylan inside the box and he fired a low drive on target that was comfortably held by Clarke.

Arthurlie had offered little up to this point but gave Talbot a warning in the 61^st minute. Langan conceded a free kick for a challenge on Bolger out on the right. Docherty swung it into the centre where it was cleared but straight back out to him. He played it back into the area toward McGuigan who swivelled and steered a shot just wide of the right post.

In the 63^rd minute Langan raced down the left and got to the bye line before cutting it back into the centre but it didn’t break Talbot’s way and Arthurlie swept to the other end when a long diagonal ball cleared Armstrong’s head allowing Kerr to race onto it and fire a low shot on target that Glavin held at his near post.

A minute later Talbot nearly had their third. Langan’s cross from the left took a deflection and landed at the feet of Smith just outside the near post. He fired it on target but couldn’t beat Clarke from a tight angle with the keeper blocking it behind for a corner.

In the 67^th minute Boyle won the ball in the Lie half and spread play out wide right to find Boylan. He cut in on his left foot and curled a cross into the centre that was fractionally too high for Thomson who got his head to it but couldn’t keep it down.

The game was turned on its head a minute later when Talbot conceded a needless penalty. Arthurlie won a free kick down the standside which Docherty took quickly – lifting it into the area. There appeared no danger as Glavin came to claim it but he flapped it away and then chased after it and caught Kerr and the ref pointed to the spot. DYKES took the penalty and sent Glavin the wrong way to make it 2-1.

The goal energised Arthurlie whilst giving Talbot the jitters and Talbot had a let off in the 73^rd minute. An attempted shot was blocked on the left of the area and broke kindly to Kerr who drilled it low across goal but there was too much on it for anyone to get on the end of it.

In the 76^th minute Bolger skipped past Gillies and played a dangerous low ball across the face of goal that Glavin turned away at the expense of a corner. Talbot now made a change with McMillan coming on for Armstrong.

Lennox had his name taken in the 78^th minute for what appeared to be an innocuous challenge on Docherty.

Nine minutes from time a ball out left found Kerr racing for the bye line but McMillan got back to make the tackle and put it behind for the corner. When the corner came over it was only partially cleared and Arthurlie switched it out to the right where Docherty won a free kick near the corner flag. He whipped the free kick into the centre where Glavin clutched it under the bar.

Talbot now made a double change with Smith & Thomson making way for Boyd & Black.

In the 86^th minute Black played it out wide left for Lennox whose low ball across goal was touched behind by Clarke. Talbot’s attempted short corner didn’t come off but it broke back to Langan whose cross to the far post was headed wide by Slooves.

With a minute to go Boyle received a booking for a foul midway inside his own half on Leyden. Docherty took it and flighted it into the area where it was headed out for a shy on the right. When the shy came in the Bot defence were found wanting. The throw coming into the near post where it was laid back into the path of Roulston who had plenty of time & space to pick out a pass to the far post where GREENWOOD bundled home from close range to level it.

Deep into injury time Talbot looked to have a stonewall penalty appeal turned down. Black curled over a great cross from the left that Boylan looked set to meet until he was shoved in the back but the referee ignored Talbot’s appeals.

In the final action of the match Arthurlie nearly stole all 3 points. They were awarded a free kick 40 yards out for handball. Docherty took it and angled a dangerous ball across the box that McNeil just failed to connect with and the game ended 2-2.

A disappointing result for Talbot who had the game in the bag but let it slip. Talbot are back in action today when a Davie Gillies select faces off against Graham Wilson’s 11 in G’s testimonial at Beechwood.

Talbot are back in competitive action next Saturday when they host Blantyre Vics in the South Challenge cup but as I’m getting married that afternoon Jim will be back on reporting duties.

Auchinleck Talbot – Glavin, Armstrong, Gillies, Slooves, McPherson, Langan, Boyle, Wardrope, Boylan, Smith, Thomson

Subs – Boyd, Black, Kennedy, Lennox, McMillan, Abed, Henry (gk)

Arthurlie – McKinven, Kerr, Roulston, Kangi-Soukpe, Bolger, Leyden, McGuigan, Dykes, McNeil, Magee, Docherty

Subs – Sugafara, Bradley, Fletcher, Greenwood, McPherson, Clarke (gk)

SHOT SHY TALBOT PUNISHED AGAIN

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

Talbot’s faltering start to the season continued with a single goal loss to Clydebank at Beechwood.

The Bot started positively and in the 2^nd minute Langan fed it out right to Boyd whose low drive was turned round the post by Hughes. When Wardrope’s corner came over it flew just over McPherson in the centre.

In the 5^th minute Talbot nearly gifted Clydebank the lead. Wardrope’s slack pass at the back went straight to Little who raced into the area before sliding it left toward Graham but Henry was quickly off his line to make the block.

Action then swept to the other end as Talbot countered through Thomson down the right. He pulled it back into the path of Armstrong who hammered a shot from 18 yards that Hughes brilliantly saved – tipping it onto the bar and over.

The Bot’s next effort at goal saw Langan find Thomson on the left of the area and Hughes saved his low drive on target.

In the 25^th minute Talbot won a free kick wide left when Smith was caught by Hodge. Wardrope took it short to Smith who returned it to Wardrope and his cross into the centre was glanced wide by McPherson.

Talbot then won a couple of corner in quick succession from the 2^nd of which Langan fired over the bar from the edge of the area.

The Bot fans thought Talbot were in on goal in the 28^th minute. Niven’s poor pass was intercepted by Smith who threaded it through to Thomson who raced for the box but Niven got back and did enough to halt Thomson.

It should have been one nil to Clydebank in the 31^st minute. Slooves took a heavy 1^st touch and Gallacher took advantage to slide a pass through to Little who had time & space 15 yards out but blazed his shot way over.

A few minutes later Clydebank won a corner out on the right and when it came Talbot failed to deal with it in the centre but managed to scramble it clear at the back post.

The half ended with Clydebank in the ascendancy and they had 2 decent chances to take the lead.

These came in the 43^rd minute when Gallacher’s dangerous cross was headed clear but fell straight to Little who tried to pass it inside the left post with Henry getting down well to turn it away. Clydebank retrieved it and switched play out to the left where Gallacher was in space but he fired wide of the right post.

The visitors started the 2^nd half brightly and in the 49^th minute Low broke forward and tried his luck from 30 yards with a powerful drive that rose over the bar.

In the 51^st minute a ball down the left found Gallacher running free and he swept it low across the box where Slooves turned it behind. When the corner came over deep beyond the back post Niven guided a header back into the goal mouth that Talbot managed to scramble clear.

Four mins later Talbot conceded a free kick 30 yards out which Gallacher flighted into the box and Niven headed over the bar.

Talbot hadn’t got going but in the 56^th minute they won a free kick on the left that was played into the path of Wilson who drilled it low first time into the centre but the defence did well to cut it out.

Johnstone became the first name in the book when he was cautioned in 61 mins for a shirt tug on Langan.

In the 63^rd minute a shy from the right found Wardrope and he fed it inside to Boyd who fired over the bar.

Down the other end Talbot conceded a free kick 35 yards out for handball. Low took it and went for goal but it went straight at Henry.

Clydebank now made a change with McGonigle on for Graham.

Talbot’s next attack saw Smith & Wilson combining down the left before Smith lifted a cross into the centre toward Langan but with his back to goal he was crowded out and the ball cleared.

The game’s only goal came in the 69^th minute. A cross from the left was headed out by Wilson. It came to Low just outside the area and he slipped a pass through to LITTLE who steered a shot beyond Henry.

The goal seemed to deflate Talbot as much as it lifted Clydebank and the visitors ought to have doubled their lead in the 74^th minute. Little flicked the ball into the path of Grant who failed to hit the target – driving wide of goal from a good position.

Tucker now made a double switch with Langan & Smith making way for Gillies & Boylan.

In the 81^st minute Talbot made a further change with Black on for Thomson. Black was barely on the park when he picked up what looked a harsh booking for a challenge on Hodge.

Three mins from time Talbot made their final change with Abed coming on for Wardrope.

There had been a few stoppages and the ref added plenty of added time and deep into added time Little nearly grabbed his 2^nd but his shot took a slight deflection and went just over the bar.

A disappointing afternoon for Talbot who will have to try and pick themselves up for next week’s trip to Bellsdale to face Beith.

Auchinleck Talbot – Henry, Boyle, Wilson, Slooves, McPherson, Armstrong, Langan, Wardrope, Boyd, Smith, Thomson

Subs – Lennox, Park, McMillan, Black, Abed, Boylan, Gillies

Clydebank – Hughes, Hodge, Niven, McHugh, Grant, Johnstone, N Little, Low, Gallacher, Graham, Collins

Subs – Ross, McMahon, McGonigle, Black, McKenzie, Darroch, C Little

SECOND HALF NO-SHOW COSTS TALBOT DEARLY

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

Talbot failed to show up after half-time and paid the price as they slumped to a home defeat against Darvel.

The visitors had the first effort of the match in the 5^th minute. A long diagonal pass found Murphy on the right and he took a good first touch to kill it and cut inside but scuffed his shot well wide from 18 yards.

On a day of few clear cut chances Talbot had a half chance to take the lead in the 7^th minute. Boyle slid a pass through to Thomson down the left channel and his cross found Boyd beyond the back post where he volleyed it into the side-netting.

In the 11^th minute a ball over from the left found Boyd 8 yards out with his back to goal but he was well marshalled and unable to turn and get his shot away.

Sixteen minutes in and McShane switched it out to the left to find Wilson in space but his ball in was gathered at the near post by Glavin.

Talbot’s next attack saw the win a free kick 40 yards out for a foul on Boyd but Talbot failed to make anything of it – Wardrope’s ball in being cleared and Darvel then breaking up field through Moore whose cross hit Slooves in the arm resulting in a Darvel free kick wide on the right. McShane floated it over and Darvel thought they’d taken the lead when Wilson met it and guided a header back across and into the net but the stand side assistant’s flag was up early for offside.

The opening goal arrived in the 27^th minute and it went Talbot’s way. The Bot were awarded a free kick midway in Darvel’s half for a foul on Smith. Wardrope took it and passed it down the right channel to find Boyd whose cross was headed home by EWAN THOMSON.

Two mins later a ball from the left found Smith 16 yards out and his low drive was held by Leishman.

McPherson did well in the 36^th minute when Darvel countered down the right through Moore with Neil able to match his run allowing Glavin to gather it.

Darvel caught Talbot out a few minutes later with a long ball over the top that found Moore down the left. He squared it across to Wilson who fired wide of target.

In the 41^st minute it was all square. Ferguson spotted Glavin off his line and let fly with a wind assisted effort from 40 + yards. It cannoned off the crossbar and MOORE was first to it to drill the rebound home and send the sides in level at the interval.

Early in the 2^nd half Smith was harshly cautioned when he went over in the penalty area following a Bot corner from the right. The ref had a decision to make but it didn’t go Talbot’s way.

The 2^nd half was becoming increasingly scrappy and Bronsky had his name taken in the 54^th minute for a late challenge on Thomson. Talbot now made their first change with Armstrong on for Gillies.

On the hour mark the visitors took the lead with a goal eerily reminiscent of the one conceded late on against Pollok. A ball over the top found Moore down the left and he cut it back to FERGUSON who cut inside and curled a right foot effort inside the far post.

This proved to be his last involvement as he picked up a knock soon after and left to be replaced by Caldwell.

A few minutes later Talbot made a double switch with Boyd & Boyle making way for McMillan & Langan.

In the 72^nd minute Cairns picked up a long overdue yellow card for his umpteenth foul but Talbot failed to make anything of the set piece wide on the left.

Darvel now made a further change with Glasgow on for Murphy.

As the game moved into the closing stages Talbot made their final changes with Kennedy & Black coming on for Wardrope and Smith.

Darvel finished the game a man down when Cairns received a 2^nd yellow card for a professional foul on Black. The ref ought to have let play continue as Talbot were racing clear up the right but he whistled too early and Darvel went a man down and Talbot got the free kick in their own half.

Talbot huffed and puffed but never really looked like levelling and as the game headed into added time Kennedy picked up a yellow card for a challenge on Barbour with Darvel able to see it out and claim all 3 points.

A disappointing result but Talbot will need to dismiss it to the back of their minds as they’re back in action this Wednesday evening when they travel down the coast to face Troon at Portland Park.

Auchinleck Talbot – Glavin, Healy, Wilson, Slooves, McPherson, Boyle, Wardrope, Gillies, Boyd, Smith, Thomson

Subs – Park, Langan, McMillan, Armstrong, Black, Kennedy, Henry

Darvel – Leishma, Barbour, Syme, Bronsky, McShane, Murphy, Cairns, J Moore, Sideserf, G Wilson, Ferguson

Subs –  O’Halloran, Reilly, C Moore, Urquhart, Glasgow, A Wilson, Caldwell