Venue: New Tinto Park
St Cadocs v Auchinleck Talbot
Report: Murray Steele, Photography: Craig McGhee, Media: Lee Conn.
TALBOT WIN 7 GOAL THRILLER
The fans certainly got their money’s worth at New Tinto Park as Talbot came out on top of a 7 goal thriller to close the gap at the top of the table.
The home side nearly made a dream start within a minute. They won a free kick just inside the Bot half and with a strong wind at his back Coll took everyone by surprise by hitting it early and going for goal, forcing Glavin to backpedal to tip it over the bar.
Talbot successfully defended the resultant corner and moved onto the counter-attack through Wardrope. He sent it wide to Thomson who out-paced the full-back and drilled a dangerous ball across goal that took a deflection off a defender at the far post. The ball broke into the path of Boyd whose low drive was blocked at his left post by Currie.
The Bot passed up a good chance to take the lead in the 5th minute. Thomson hooked the ball up the right where Boyd got past his man and burst into the area. He drilled it low across goal where Langan looked set to score but he bundled his effort wide of the left hand post.
Two minutes later Talbot moved in front. Gillies played it into the feet of McAvoy who helped it inside to CONNOR BOYD who turned his marker and slotted it low inside the right hand post from the edge of the box.
Within a minute Talbot doubled their advantage. Thomson won it deep inside the St Cadocs half and angled a ball across to find KYLE MCAVOY on the left of the area and he smashed it high inside the right post to make it 2-0.
In the 14th minute the home side could have found themselves a man down. Miller was caught in possession and dispossessed by McAvoy who was breaking through towards the box when Miller pulled him down. There was a strong case for a red card but the ref stuck with a yellow. Wardrope took the free kick and shoved it down the line to Gillies whose cross to the back post went high off a defender’s head before finally being cleared.
St Cadocs put together a good move in the 17th minute. Hughes, wide on the right, played it across to find McLaughlin in space on the left and his low shot across goal had to be tipped behind by Glavin.
In the 21st minute Breen tried his luck from 30 yards but his wind assisted effort sailed over the bar.
Play then switched to the other end where Wardrope cut in off the left wing and curled a good cross to the far post where Currie punched clear under pressure from Thomson.
If Talbot had a case for an earlier red card there was no doubt that St Cadocs should’ve been a man down in the 23rd minute. Coll fouled Boyle twice in quick succession and his 2nd tackle was clearly two-footed, reckless and right in front of the ref and his assistant; however he escape with just a caution.
When Wardrope whipped over the free kick there were loud appeals for handball but the ref waved play on.
St Cadocs threatened to pull one back when a good ball up the right found the run of Hughes. He played it across the face of goal where it was gathered by McLaughlin who tried to tee it up for Brady but he was closed down before he could hit it.
On the half hour mark Talbot had a chance to go three ahead. Thomson’s ball down the right found McAvoy who laid it back toward Boyd who scooped his shot over the bar from 16 yards out.
In the 36th minute a pass through the defence found Boyd wide on the left. He fizzed it across goal where Currie blocked it and it came out to Boyle at the edge of the box. He had a chance to hit it but instead tried to thread a pass through and the move fizzled out.
Two minutes later a shy from the left found Wardrope just outside the area and he showed quick feet to get away from his man and get a shot away on target but it lacked the power to test the keeper.
In added time Langan conceded a free kick out by the left corner flag which McLaughlin whipped into the centre but it was well-defended and Talbot made the short trip to the changing rooms 2 goals ahead.
The home side made a double change during the interval with McHugh & Taylor on in place of Breen & Munro.
Talbot started the 2nd half positively with McAvoy doing well out wide left before lifting a cross to the far post which just floated over the head of Wardrope.
The referee made another blunder in the 49th minute which ended with St Cadocs pulling a goal back. McKillen chipped a good ball up the left to McHugh and he played it low into the near post where MCTAGGART turned it home. However, there were clearly 2 balls on the pitch in the build-up to the goal which the ref somehow missed.
St Cadocs now had their tails up and levelled the match in the 53rd minute. McKillen lifted over a cross from the left wing that found MCLAUGHLIN unmarked in the centre and he guided a header inside the left post to make it 2-2.
The home side had the momentum and would have moved ahead in the 59th minute but for a wonderful save from Glavin. The ball was squared inside to McLaughlin 20 yards out and his shot was heading inside the left post til Glavin dived across and got a good hand to it to turn it wide.
When the corner came over Talbot managed to clear it out the area only to concede a free kick just outside the box for handball. McLaughlin took it and tried to place it but Glavin got down low to his left to smother it.
Gradually Talbot worked their way back into it and had the home defence under pressure in the 61st minute. McPherson’s cross was met by Thomson whose header was cleared out the goal mouth by Taylor.
Talbot kept the pressure on and forced a corner down the right. When Wardrope’s ball came in Slooves just failed to connect in front of goal and the ball broke loose to McPherson. He laid it to Langan whose low drive from 17 yards was blocked and spun out right to Wardrope who drilled a powerful effort that clipped the bar on its way over.
It was all Talbot now and McAvoy’s cross from the left was nearly turned into his own net by McKillen as he deflected it behind to prevent Boyd tapping home. When the corner came over Slooves headed it goal ward where it was blocked by Slattery. It fell to McAvoy 6 yards out and his shot hit Slattery’s arm and the ref pointed to the spot. EWAN THOMSON took the spot kick and gave the keeper no chance as he blasted it high down the centre to restore Talbot’s lead.
This proved to be his last touch as Tucker now made a double substitution with Smith & Glasgow on for Thomson & Boyd.
In the 68th minute Smith got onto a ball up the middle and laid it back into the path of McAvoy who pulled his shot wide of target.
Down the other end Talbot had a let off when Taylor swept a dangerous angled ball in from the right that drifted across goal with no one in the centre to take advantage.
With 73 mins gone Brady clipped a ball in behind the defence that McLaughlin ran onto. He just beat Glavin to it but was forced out wide and when he tried to play it across Glavin turned it behind for the corner.
The game had seesawed back and forth and in the 79th minute it swung back St Cadoc’s way as they scored a well-worked leveller. Taylor played it out wide right to McTaggart who cut it back across goal where MCHUGH side-footed it home at the near post.
The goal could have deflated Talbot but instead re-energised them and Talbot went on to dominate the closing stages.
In the 81st minute Talbot made another double switch with Armstrong & Urquhart on for Langan & Boyle.
Talbot won a corner in the 83rd minute when Taylor headed Wardrope’s cross behind. It was taken short and worked to Wardrope who swung a great cross to the back post where Armstrong looked sure to touch it home but he failed to make contact and it went behind for the goal kick
Five minutes from time McAvoy raced down the right and cut it back into the heart of the box where Smith challenged for it. The ball broke loose back to Gillies whose low drive was saved by the outstretched leg of the keeper. Talbot kept the pressure going and forced a corner down the right. When it came into the near post Urquhart laid it back to McAvoy whose low drive was saved at the left post by Currie.
With 2 minutes remaining St Cadocs made their final changes with Muir & McGuire coming on for Hughes & McTaggart.
In the final minute of regulation time Talbot came close again. A ball in from the right deflected off a defender and drifted just wide of the right post. Glasgow took the corner and swung it into the 6-yard area where Currie managed to punch it clear.
Just when it looked like St Cadocs were going to hold on for a point Talbot bagged a late winner. Smith slid the ball wide to find McAvoy who drove it across the face of goal where JAMIE GLASGOW slid in to make it 4-3 to the delight of the bulk of the crowd.
A hard fought but deserved 3 points for the Bot who never gave up looking for the win. Next up Talbot are back in league action as they make a midweek trip to Recreation Park to face Darvel.
St Cadoc’s – Currie, Slattery, Coll, McKillen, Miller, Breen, Munro, Brady, McTaggart, Hughes, McLaughlin
Subs – Taylor, Muir, McManus, McHugh, Fellowes, McGuire, Truesdale
Auchinleck Talbot – Glavin, McPherson, Gillies, Slooves, Wilson, Langan, Boyle, Wardrope, Boyd, McAvoy, Thomson
Subs – Smith, Glasgow, Urquhart, Armstrong, Abed, Kennedy
Benburb FC v Auchinleck Talbot
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
MURRAY’S REPORT
Talbot lost their spot at the top of the table after a frustrating afternoon at New Tinto park which ended all square.
The first half was a bit of a non-event with Talbot struggling to cope against a stiff breeze and Benburb constantly going long and overhitting it.
The first of very chances in the 1st half came Talbot’s way in the 12th minute. A shy from the right wasn’t cleared by the home defence and came to Graham Wilson 16 yards out but he fired wide of the left hand post.
Benburb’s first attack came in the 23rd minute when Black sent a good square pass out to Lovering on the left wing and his cross into the near post was well cleared by Stafford.
In the 33rd minute Docherty picked up a caution for petulantly kicking the ball away after conceding a free kick for a foul on Stafford.
The Bot had a half chance in the 40th minute when Wardope played a good ball in behind the Bens defence for Boylan to race onto. He burst down the left side of the penalty area but the ball wouldn’t sit down for him and he drilled a left foot shot across goal and wide of the far post.
In the final minute of the half McPherson was caught late in an aerial challenge by Lovering but the ref took no further action and the sides went in goal less at the break.
The 2nd half got off to a much livelier start than the insipid first and both sides threatened within a minute of the restart. The ball broke to Duncanson on the right of Talbot’s penalty area and he played a dangerous ball across goal towards McDonald but he lost his footing and the chance was lost. Play then immediately switched to the other end where Wardrope’s ball up the right found Boylan racing down the wing and he whipped a great ball into the centre but there were no takers.
Black had his name taken in the 48th minute for a late challenge on McCracken as he cleared the ball.
A minute later he ought to have given Bens the lead. McDonald knocked the ball into his path but with time and space he snatched at it and blazed a shot off target.
With 54 mins gone Talbot made their 1st change with Shankland coming on for Mason.
One minute later Talbot took the lead. Shankland laid the ball off to Graham Wilson and his pass up the left wing found BRYAN BOYLAN who swung a cross over to the back post that deceived the keeper and landed in the net.
Benburb now made a change with McDonald making way for Meechan.
Talbot had a let off in the 59th minute. A shy from the left was only partially cleared and fell to Taylor whose shot was deflected just past the left hand post.
In the 61st minute Talbot might have wrapped it up. Shankland’s short pass found Graham Wilson and he rolled it into the path of Aiden Wilson whose fierce drive was saved at his near post by McCready. The ball came across the face of goal to Samson who saw his effort cleared off the line.
A minute later Samson had his name taken for what looked like a fairly innocuous challenge.
It was all level after 63 minutes as the Bens scored a controversial equaliser. McCracken hit a poor clearance that was intercepted and played out to BLACK on the right. He got past McPherson and lobbed it home only for the assistant to raise his flag and call the ref over to advise it had hit his hand in the build-up. It looked like the goal was going to be chalked off but the referee over-ruled his assistant and the goal stood.
Talbot now made a defensive re-shuffle with McCracken who appeared to be suffering a knock making way for Crawford who went to right-back with Stafford going into the centre.
Benburb’s tails were up and they should have taken the lead in the 66th minute. A long shy from the left was head flicked on by Meechan toward the back post where it hit off Black and went just wide of the post.
In the 73rd minute Talbot regained the lead. Crawford did well on the right; surging forward before firing a cross into the near post. His cross took a slight deflection and Samson pounced on it only for McCready to make a good stop at his left post. The ball came out to KIERAN HEALY on the 18 yard line and he drilled a low left foot shot inside the left post.
Tucker now made a further change with Armstrong coming on for Boylan and Benburb were forced into a defensive change with Bow limping off to be replaced by McTaggart.
Talbot’s next attack saw Crawford hare up the right and win a corner when his cross was blocked. Wardrope played the corner into the near post where Samson tried to turn it home but failed to make contact.
The home side were reduced to 10 men with 10 minutes remaining when Docherty picked up a 2nd yellow card for a late challenge on Shankland.
Two minutes later the referee again infuriated the travelling support and Talbot bench when he turned down what appeared a stonewall penalty. Crawford raced up the right and swung a ball into the near post where the Bens defender controlled it with his arm before clearing but the referee waved away Talbot’s appeals.
Two minutes later Talbot conceded a soft 2nd goal and it was all level again. Benburb had looked threatening from throw ins and it was a shy from the left that led to the equaliser. It was hurled into the near post where Meechan head flicked it on across goal where it came off a Bot defender and crept into the far corner to make it 2-2.
As the game moved into injury time Benburb came close to grabbing all 3 points. They won a free kick out on the left that was crossed into the centre where Meechan met it but his header came back off the left post.
Talbot threw men forward in added time and had plenty of pressure but all they had to show for it was a late chance when Wardope was caught outside the box. The ball broke to Healy and the ref gave the advantage but his shot flew over the bar and the game ended 2-2.
Next up for Talbot it’s back to Beechwood for a midweek league encounter with Rossvale where the Bot will look to get back to winning ways.
Benburb – McCready, O’Hear, Leadbetter, Bow, Docherty, Taylor, Duncanson, Livingston, McDonald, Black, Lovering
Subs – McCrone, Langan, Brennan, McTaggart, Miller, Meechan
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Healy, Wardrope, Graham Wilson, Boylan, Mason, Samson
Subs – Shankland, Glasgow, Armstrong, Hyslop, Crawford, Hewitt
Rossvale v Auchinleck Talbot
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.
MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
Talbot left it late again but succeeded in claiming all 3 points in an incident packed encounter that saw the referee send off 4 players; with Rossvale finishing the match with 8 men & Talbot reduced to 10.
The Bot got off to the perfect start and took the lead with only 2 minutes gone. Armstrong lifted in a cross that Samson met in the centre & his glancing header was deflected wide of target off a defender. Shankland lifted the corner over & DWAYNE HYSLOP met it to nod Talbot into the lead.
The home side weren’t discouraged & Rossvale had a chance to test the Talbot defence in the 4th minute when McCracken conceded a free kick out on the right. It was angled in toward the far post where Hyslop did enough to glance it behind for the corner. When the corner came over it came to Higgins beyond the back post & and he fired a volley on target that Leishman blocked at his left post.
Talbot now raced onto the counter-attack with Shankland releasing Stephen Wilson & he in turn swiftly switched play to free Samson down the left. He drilled a low ball across the face of goal but it was just behind Graham Wilson in the centre & Niven swept it out for a shy.
Talbot were soon back on the attack & Stephen Wilson did well to win the ball deep in Rosssvale’s half before drilling a low ball across the face of goal but there were no takers in the centre.
The next chance also came Talbot’s way. Pope’s ball over the top found Graham Wilson pacing clear down the left & Healy met his cross beyond the far post but blasted it high & wide from a tight angle.
Samson missed a glorious chance to double Talbot’s lead in the 10th minute when he raced clear of the defence into the box but fired his shot straight at the keeper.
Rossvale showed their own attacking intent two minutes later. A diagonal ball released Leadbetter down the left & he skipped past Armstrong before firing a ball across goal that Leishman tipped away to safety.
Talbot were soon back on the front foot & came close to moving two clear in the 16th minute. Graham Wilson slid a pass through to send Samson through on the keeper & he attempted to pass it under Donnelly but it caught the keeper’s heels.
Within a minute Talbot hit the woodwork when Shankland jinked in off the left & curled a right foot shot off the face of the crossbar.
The first of the afternoon’s dismissals came after 27 minutes. Graham Wilson played it early to release Samson down the right & as he raced toward the penalty area he was tripped by Donnelly who had raced out his area. The referee had no choice but to send the keeper packing & Higgins took over in between the sticks.
Strangely, the red card seemed to knock Talbot out their rhythm & it took until the 36th minute before they tested the makeshift keeper. Shankland stepped in off the left & fired a low shot on target that Johnstone parried & he just managed to gather at 2nd attempt before Samson could prod it home.
Rossvale levelled in the 39th minute. McCracken was beaten to the ball outside the box by McNab who broke down the right before cutting it across goal where MGONIGLE knocked it past Leishman.
Two minutes later Talbot thought they’d restored their lead. Hyslop played it into Graham Wilson & he in turn found Shankland on the left of the area. He passed it into the opposite bottom corner of the net but the goal was chalked off by a debatable call from the assistant ref.
In the final action of the half Rossvale conceded a cheap corner down the left. Shankland curled it beyond the far post where Pope headed it back across goal but Graham Wilson couldn’t keep his header down & so the sides went in level at the break.
Talbot started the 2nd half positively up to a point; that point being the final third. Rossvale were pinned back deep in their own half but Talbot failed to find the necessary quality in their final pass or crosses to test the keeper.
The Bot did have a clear chance to regain the lead in the 58th minute. Pope angled a cross to the back post where Hyslop cushioned a header back across goal that Graham Wilson met 6 yards out but he blasted his shot over the bar.
In the 62nd minute Rossvale found themselves two men down. Johnstone slid in late on Hyslop. It looked like a caution would suffice but the ref went straight to the top pocket and sent him off.
The game exploded in the 67th minute with both sides seeing a player sent to the clubhouse. McGonigle was guilty of a shocking challenge on Healy who then lashed out in retaliation & off they both went.
Down to 8 men Rossvale were left with little option but to pack their defence & McNab was sacrificed to make way for Alexander.
The game re-started with a Bot free kick which Shankland shoved wide of the wall into the path of Graham Wilson. He crosssed it to the far post where Hyslop headed it back across goal & Shankland fired a shot at goal that was blocked in the crowded goalmouth.
Talbot seemed to have left the shooting boots at home. In the 72nd minute Samson raced up the right & swept over a cross that Hyslop headed down into the path of Shankland but he tugged his shot wide of target from the edge of the area.
Two minutes later Talbot had a penalty shout. Pope fired a ball across goal where Graham Wilson went over in the centre. The ref waved play on & it came to Shankland who blasted it into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Tucker now made a double switch with Shankland & Samson making way for Boylan & Glasgow.
In the 76th minute Graham Wilson had a half chance when he found himself in space 18 yards out but failed to test Higgins who stopped his shot with his outstretched foot.
The match officials took centre stage again in the 78th minute. Armstrong pinged over a cross from the right that Boylan met with his head. Higgins threw himself to his right to claw the ball away with Talbot claiming the ball was well over the line before Higgins scooped it back out but the referee dismissed Talbot’s appeals for the goal.
Talbot were camped out about midway inside the Rossvale half but the longer the game wore on the less likely it looked that they’d manage to find a winner; with crosses either being over hit or not beating the first man & shots either being blocked by a wall of defenders or sailing harmlessly high or wide.
Just when it looked as though Talbot had run out of steam the Bot grabbed a late winner from an unlikely source. NEIL MCPHERSON steered a left foot shot from the edge of the area that came through a ruck of players & into the back of the net.
It wasn’t over yet though & Talbot had one last bit of defending to do deep into injury time. The referee awarded a dubious offside call against Graham Wilson just inside the Rossvale half allowing them one final chance. The free kick was floated straight down the centre where Niven glanced a header on that was floating toward the top right hand corner until Leishman touched it over to ensure Talbot left with all 3 points.
A frustrating afternoon for Talbot who made heavy work of it for spells in the 2nd half but will be relieved to have ground out a valuable away win. Next up for Talbot it’s back to Beechwood where they host Rutherglen Glencairn in the league.
Rossvale Juniors – Donnelly, McDowall, Leadbetter, Niven, Bradley, McGrath, Higgins, Johnstone, McNab, Slattery, McGonigle
Subs – O’Sullivan, Giffin, Alexander, Biggar, Brennan
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Armstrong, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Healy, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Samson, Shankland
Subs – Boylan, Glasgow, White, A Wilson, Young
