Venue: Loch Park

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

A CASE FOR THE DEFENCE.

Talbot’s unbeaten run ended at Loch Park as they paid the price for failing to turn pressure into goals.

The Bot got off to a shaky start and conceded a soft goal in the 7^th minute. A long punt down the centre didn’t appear to offer much threat but KERR did well to out-muscle Slooves in the area and turned and fired high beyond Glavin to put the home side one up.

Talbot responded positively and had a half chance in the 13^th minute. Smith played it wide to Schoneville who drilled a great ball across the face of goal but as was to become a pattern no one could get on the end of it.

In the 16^th minute Schoneville combined with Boyd down the left to force a corner. Smith swept it beyond the far post where Armstrong guided a header back across goal which Rowe cleared out the goalmouth.

Talbot kept the pressure going and won a free kick in a good area when Smith knocked it past Rowe and was taken out inches wide of the penalty area. Smith took the free kick but got too much on it and curled it harmlessly behind for the goal kick.

The Bot’s luck was out in the 20^th minute. Boyd slipped it wide left to Urquhart who whipped over a dangerous ball that Pettigrew threw out a leg at and deflected it just wide of the left post.

The chances kept coming and going and Talbot passed up a good chance to level in the 23^rd minute. Abed went on a surging run down the right, hitting the bye line before cutting it back into the path of Slooves who met it 6 yards out but passed it at the keeper.

Two minutes later Talbot won another corner down the left. When Smith’s cross came in Markey did well to punch it clear of the area. It came out to Boyle 30 yards out and he hammered a shot on target but unfortunately it flew straight at Markey who parried it up into the air and gathered at the 2^nd attempt.

It was all Talbot at this stage but the Bot again missed a gilt edged chance in the 32^nd minute. McPherson’s pass found Abed in behind the defence on the left of the area but he scooped his shot over the bar from a good area.

The Bot’s next attack saw Abed feeding it on to Schoneville whose low driven ball into the near post caused problems but didn’t break Talbot’s way and was scrambled clear.

Having dominated proceedings since the early opener Talbot could have found themselves two adrift after 37 minutes. Talbot played it around at the back and when McPherson tried to beat Fraser he was robbed just inside his own box. Fraser looked sure to score but Glavin did well to make the stop.

Pettigrew picked up the night’s first caution after 38 mins when he was booked for dissent

In the 42^nd minute Smith got away on the right and fired it low across the 6-yard area looking for Abed but Markey managed to cut it out.

The Glens had a half chance right at the end of the half when Talbot lost possession just outside the area but Crooks shot didn’t trouble Glavin and the Glens went in a goal ahead at the break.

Talbot started the 2^nd half brightly and won a free kick 22 yards out in the 48^th minute after Urquhart’s promising run forward was halted by a shirt pull. Schoneville took it and struck it well but Markey was in the right spot to tip it over his crossbar.

In the 51^st minute Talbot did grab a leveller. Abed’s cross was blocked behind for a corner on the right. Smith’s first corner went into the near post for the run of Armstrong but the defence did well to beat him to it. The ball came back out to Smith and this time he curled a cross to the back post where NEIL SLOOVES glanced a header home to make it 1-1.

Within a minute of scoring Talbot were back on the front foot as Abed whipped in a good cross from the right that the Glens defence just managed to head clear

In the 53^rd minute Talbot had a decent chance to take the lead. The ball broke to Smith on the right of the area and he fired it low on target but Markey managed to save it with his outstretched leg.

The Glens couldn’t clear their lines and Talbot switched the ball out right to find Smith in the area who fizzed a low ball across goal that only needed a touch but went a begging.

The Bot then had another good chance to take the lead. Abed’s neat flick sent it inside to Boyle who had a chance to go for goal from 12 yards but instead opted to square it across to Boyd who was crowded out in the centre.

In the 55^th minute the home support were riled when O’Kane went down in the penalty area under Slooves’ challenge. There were loud appeals for a penalty but the ref waved play on.

The Glens were back on the attack in the 61^st minute when Fraser took it wide of McPherson and knocked a dangerous ball to the back post which Slooves cleared.

Action then switched to the other end where Talbot had another chance to move in front. The ball came to Smith 16 yards out with Markey stranded off his line but the keeper came out on top – diving low to his left to save Smith’s effort.

The visiting fans were getting a feeling it wasn’t to be our night and this was underlined in the 72^nd minute. Abed used his pace to get free on the right and cut it back to Smith who turned and fired but hit it wide from 8 yards.

Talbot won umpteen corners on the night, one of which came in the 73^rd minute when Boyle hit over a good cross that was headed behind. The corner was played into the near post where a scramble ensued. The defence failed to clear their lines and it came to Slooves but he couldn’t get his shot away.

The Bot now made a triple substitution with Boyle, Urquhart & Smith making way for Wardrope, Langan & McAvoy.

In the 77^th minute Talbot paid the price for their missed chances. Langan conceded a free kick 35 yards out which McMullin dinked over the defence to find KERR down the left and he angled it aross goal and beyond Glavin to put Glenafton 2-1 ahead.

Talbot looked for an immediate response and McAvoy got away wide right and cut it back across the box but there were no takers.

The Glens should have made the points safe in the 82^nd minute. The ball was pulled back from the left bye line right into the path of Kerr but he pulled his shot wide of the far post.

Five minutes from time McPherson slid a pass through to Boyd on the right of the area. He fired it low toward the back post where again a touch was all that was needed but it flew wide and behind for the goal kick.

With 2 minutes remaining Talbot made their final change with Gillies on for Abed.

Deep into added time Talbot had one final attack. Wardrope gathered on the right edge of the penalty area and whipped a cross over to the back post which Markey managed to tip away and the Glens held out for the win.

A frustrating night for Talbot who played well for the most part and had the bulk of possession and chances but left with nothing to show for it.

Next up for Talbot it’s back to Beechwood this Saturday when they face Pollok in the semi-final of the West.

Glenafton Athletic – Markey, Holding, McMullin, Rowe, Pettigrew, McKee, Fraser, Crooks, Paton, O’Kane, Kerr

Subs – Sinnamon, McWaters, Ross, Caddis, Gilmour, Semple (gk)

Auchinleck Talbot – Glavin, McPherson, Schoneville, Slooves, Wilson, Armstrong, Urquhart, Boyle, Boyd, Smith, Abed

Subs – Kennedy, Wardrope, Gillies, Langan, McAvoy, Henry (gk)

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot left Loch Park with all 3 points after a hard fought derby win over the Glens but it came too late to have any impact on the title due to Darvel’s win over the Buffs.

The Bot started brightly and won a free kick out wide in the 1^st minute following a shove on Samson. Wardrope took it short to release Wilson on the overlap and he whipped a decent ball into the centre which was cleared.

A few minutes later Wilson’s hanging cross caused Markey problems with the Glens keeper dropping it near the back post but it didn’t break for Talbot and the defence were able to clear.

In the 8^th minute Leishman fired a free kick down the right to find the head of Hyslop. He nodded it into the path of Glasgow who released McCracken down the right and his driven ball was blocked behind for a corner. When Wardrope’s corner came over the defence failed to clear their lines and it broke to Hyslop 16 yards out. He tried to pass it into the corner but his shot was blocked and rebounded out to Wardrope on the right. He swung over a good cross that Markey managed to punch clear.

The Glens keeper did well in the 11^th minute when Hyslop played a ball in behind the defence for Wardrope; with the keeper quickly off his line to narrowly beat him to it and clear the danger.

Talbot had a nervy moment in the 17^th minute when a ball up the centre landed in behind the defence between Crawford and Leishman. Andy came to claim it at the edge of the box but it wasn’t coming into the area and he had to improvise a clearance under pressure from Kerr.

Blyth had his name taken in the 20^th minute for a late challenge on Hyslop.

The home side threatened the Bot goal in the 23^rd minute. A cross from the left was headed up into the air by Wilson and dropped down to Martin on the right edge of the area. He cut inside onto his left foot and fired for goal only for McCracken to make the block and send it wide for the corner. The corner was whipped in dangerously but no one anticipated and it flew across goal.

Talbot’s next attack saw Wilson sling over a deep cross to find Wardope beyond the far post. He drilled it back across goal but it slipped wide of the right hand post.

The Glens picked up a 2^nd yellow card in the 29^th minute when Martin went right through the back of Wardrope.

In the 33^rd minute the Glens had a chance to take the lead following a corner from the left. When it came over Kemp got his head to it and nodded it beyond the far post where McKee side-footed it into the side-netting.

Talbot came close to grabbing the lead in the 42^nd minute. Glenafton won a contentious free kick wide on the left for what appeared to be a hard but fair tackle from McCracken. When the ball came in Talbot cleared it and broke through Glasgow who raced up field before sliding it left to Samson who cut inside and went for a curling effort that was heading inside the left post until Markey tipped it round.

A minute before the interval Martin raced half the length of the field unchallenged; firing a low drive from 18 yards that was deflected wide of the left post.

Glenafton ended the half strongly though Talbot were left frustrated when the Glens were awarded a very soft free kick just outside the Bot penalty area. The referee came across to speak to Tucker before McKernon took it but he fired it straight into the wall and that was that for the 1^st half.

Talbot made a change at the start of the 2^nd period with Armstrong on for Wilson. This led to a defensive re-shuffle with Stafford going into the centre and Crawford to right-back.

The Bot looked a bit uncertain in the early stages of the half with Glenafton doing most of the pressing. The home side had a half chance in the 49^th minute. They won a corner on the right which was cleared but straight back to the corner taker who lobbed it deep beyond the far post where Rowe had a free header but steered it straight at Leishman.

Talbot had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 52^nd minute. Crawford made ground down the right and swung over a great cross that landed at the feet of Wardrope 15 yards out. He could have went for goal but instead laid it off first time into the path of Glasgow who took it round the keeper but couldn’t force it home.

In the 55^th minute Glens won a free kick 12 yards out wide on the right following a foul by Armstrong. McKernon flighted it into the centre where Leishman punched it clear.

A minute later the Glens were on the attack again. Markey bowled the ball out to Martin who raced through the centre of midfield before slipping a pass left to Kerr but he was closed down inside the area before he could get his shot away.

Just shy of the hour mark Leishman produced a top save to keep the score level. The Glens switched the ball out to the right where Blyth was in space. He lifted a cross over to the far post to find Kerr in space but his free header was saved at the right hand post by Leishman.

Down the other end Talbot came close when Crawford’s cross was glanced just wide of target by Samson.

Armstrong had his name taken in the 62^nd minute when he conceded a free kick 35 yards from goal that McKernon fired straight into the wall.

Talbot now made their 2^nd change of the afternoon with McCracken making way for Mason.

The Glens next attack looked well offside but the flag stayed down as McKee raced onto a ball down the left and when he whipped a cross into the centre Kerr met it only to see his header tipped over the bar by Leishman.

Kemp received a caution in the 70^th minute for a foul on Wardrope and a few minutes later Glasgow left the field injured to be replaced by Boyd.

With quarter of an hour remaining McPherson charged forward from the back & slid a pass into the feet of Mason but he was falling back as he hit it and scooped his shot well over.

Three minutes later Wardope won Talbot a corner down the left which he took himself. The delivery was spot on and only needed a touch to turn it home but no one had gambled and the ball sped across the face of goal.

Ten minutes from time Healy picked up a yellow card for a trip on Martin and a minute later Rowe received a caution for going through the back of Healy. From the resultant free kick Talbot worked it to Armstrong who flighted a cross onto the head of Samson but he headed it past the left post from a good area.

Two minutes from time Talbot grabbed the late winner. Mason cut inside off the left but was crowded out before he could get his shot away. The ball broke back to GARETH ARMSTRONG on the 18 yard line and his low drive ended up in the back of the net following a deflection.

The Glens piled men forward in added time but to no avail and Talbot saw the game out to secure the win.

Next week Talbot are back on their travels as they head through to Cumbernauld for the final league game of the season.

Glenafton Athletic – Markey, Martin, Cairns, Pettigrew, Murphy, McKernon, Blyth, Rowe, Kerr, Kemp, McKee

Subs – Nisbet, Miller, Fisher, Bennie, Johnson

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Crawford, Healy, Hyslop, Wardrope, Samson, Glasgow, Robbie McCracken

Subs – Mason, Armstrong, Boyd, White, Hewitt