New Tinto Park – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Benburb FC v Auchinleck Talbot

Rossvale v Auchinleck Talbot


August 13, 2022 14:00 N/A Cambuslang Rangers v Auchinleck Talbot


May 6, 2023 14:00 N/A Irvine Meadow v Auchinleck Talbot

Player	Appearances	Goals	Assists	YC
Andrew Leishman	57	0	1	1
Aiden Wilson	57	5	3	3
Kieran Healy	54	3	1	5
Keir Samson	54	27	5	6

Samson tries to muscle his way through early on in the game.

Wardrope makes his presence known, as he tries to win the ball back.

Aaron Mason fires in a low cross into the box.

Samson feels the pain, as he plays through the pain barrier.

With a break in the game, ‘Tucker’ gets some vital tactical info across to Healy.

Boylan tries to thread through a clever ball for Mason but he can only watch the Benburb defence get to the ball first instead.

Stafford looks to get another attack started, as the Black ‘n’ Gold faithful look on.

CHANCE!!! With half-time looming, Boylan races through and, from a difficult angle, he fires the ball towards goal but the ball goes agonisingly wide of the post.

WHAT-A-CHANCE!!! Benburb go very close to scoring but from right in front of goal, they some how fire the ball wide of the net.

GOOOAAALLL!!! Talbot open the scoring via Bryan Boylan’s cross-come-shot strike, as it sails over the ‘keeper and into the back of the net. 0-1.

Boylan gets swamped by his team-mates after putting Talbot into the lead.

From just inside the box, Samson has a dig but fails to find the back of the net.

BENBURB PULL LEVEL!!! The Benburb fans behind the goal begin to celebrate, as Leishman can only watch the ball sail over his head and into the back of the net. 1-1.

AGONY!!! However, as Aaron Black races away to celebrate, the linesman flags for offside but…

…after a brief discussion between the officials, the referee makes the goal stand and you can see the delight in Black’s face after that call.

Wilson cleverly skips past his opponent.

WHAT-A-GOAL!!! Talbot regain the lead through a great long range strike from Healy. 1-2.

Healy gets congratulated by his team-mates after netting Talbot’s second.

OWN GOAL!!! Benburb pull level again, as the ball takes a deflection off a man in black ‘n’ gold and ends up in the back of the net. 2-2.

Benburb go wild after pulling level for a second time in the match.

POSSIBLE PENALTY??? ‘Shankers’ tries to race in on goal but his way through gets blocked by his opponent.

WHAT-A-CHANCE!!! With the full-time whistle fastly approaching Talbot go very close to winning it, as Crawford finds himself in acres of space but he can only watch his effort go straight to the ‘keeper.

Last chance of the game falls to Talbot but ‘Gee’ can only watch his header go wide of the goal.

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 1^st half came Talbot’s way in the 12^th 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 23^rd 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 33^rd 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 40^th 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 2^nd 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 48^th 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 1^st 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 59^th 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 61^st 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 66^th 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 73^rd 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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

Beith Juniors

Irvine Meadow

Auchinleck Talbot

Largs Thistle

Cambuslang Rangers

EARLY TALBOT GOAL!!! With the game barely aged, up steps ‘Pee-wee’ who heads Talbot in front. 0-1.

Sheer delight is written all over Dwayne’s face, as he celebrates his opening goal.

Stephen Wilson blocks the clearance and wins the ball back.

A frustrated look from Samson after a missed opportunity.

OFF THE WOODWORK!!! ‘Shankers’ comes very close to scoring, as his curling effort careers off the crossbar.

Big Andy hits the deck and bravely makes the save at the feet of the Rossvale striker.

Samson gets his opponent tied up in knots, as he waves his way through the defence.

All roads are blocked for Rossvale, as they are forced to pass the ball backwards.

As Samson races in on goal, the Rossvale ‘keeper makes a reckless challenge on Keir in order to stop the attack.

The Rossvale ‘keeper gets shown a straight red card for his challenge on Samson.

This Rossvale player is all smiles, as he makes the sacrifice to go in between the sticks after his team-mate got sent off.

An acrobatic clearance from the Rossvale defence, as Gormley looks on.

McCracken makes sure he heads the ball clear.

‘Popey’ keeps the attack motoring, as the Talbot bench closely watch.

Kieran Healy coolly flicks the ball forward.

10 MAN ROSSVALE EQUALISE!!! Rossvale level the scoring, as they calmly slot the ball into the back of the net from close range. 1-1.

Mark Shankland brilliantly slots the ball home into the bottom corner of the net but…

…he is left frustrated, as the goal gets disallowed for offside.

‘Shankers’ goes on a brilliant run up the wing and skips past this sliding tackle.

Gordon looks to get the ball back in play, as the Talbot faithful watch the action.

The Rossvale players shout for a foul, as Healy races into the box.

Graham tries to link up with his brother and fires the ball forward.

‘Gee’ vents his anger after missing a great chance to score.

Rossvale are reduced to 9 men after receiving another straight red card.

Graham does his best to keep hold of the ball inside the box.

More red card drama, as Kieran Healy gets shown a straight red card for Talbot and Rossvale are reduced to 8 men as they receive their 3rd straight red card of the game.

Graham’s strike gets blocked on the edge of the box by the Rossvale defence.

Gordon Pope goes for the spectacular but the ball sails over the crossbar.

Craig McCracken finds himself in space and has a go at goal but he gets flagged for offside.

LATE WINNER FOR TALBOT!!! The ball smashes into the back of the net in injury time but was it ‘Gee’, ‘Shankers’ or Boylan that scored it…no, it was none other than Big Neilly!!! 1-2.

The Talbot bench go wild, as they celebrate McPherson’s injury time winner.

With time still left in the game, Glasgow tries to race into the box.

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