Venue: New Tinto Park

TALBOT’S GOOD FORM CONTINUES.

Report: Murray Steele, Photo’s: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

good run of form continued with their 2^nd comprehensive win at New Tinto Park within a week – this time Benburb being on the receiving end of 5 goals.

The Bot’s first attack came after 7 mins when McAvoy laid the ball out wide to Gillies whose low ball into the near post was cleared.

Down the other end Giovanazzi fed the ball back to Taylor who whipped over a dangerous cross to the far post which Clark headed behind. When the corner came over Schoneville cleared the danger.

In the 12^th minute Talbot won a free kick out wide on the left. McPherson clipped it down field where McAvoy’s header on sent Gillies in behind the defence. He went for goal from a tight angle and sent his shot across and wide of the far post.

A minute later Talbot nearly made the breakthrough. McAvoy won the ball wide of the Bens penalty area. The ball was played it into the box where Wardrope ran onto it and cracked a low drive off the base of the right hand post.

were now in command and in the 16^th minute Sime’s defence splitting pass found Gillies free down the left. He tried to square it across the face of goal but his ball was blocked behind for a corner. When the corner came over to the back post McPherson headed it back down but the defence reacted to clear.

In the 18^th minute Talbot took the lead. Armour lifted it up the centre where KYLE MCAVOY met it 30 yards out with his back to goal. He wasn’t closed down and took full advantage cutting across onto his right foot and skipping a low drive past Hay and inside his left post.

McAvoy was causing the defence problems and he created Talbot’s next chance in the 21^st minute. Clark pinged it into him down the right where he rolled his marker before lobbing a cross into the centre. It broke back toward Gillies whose powerful header was heading on target but blocked en route by Lithgow.

With 27 mins played Clark won Talbot a corner down the right. When Wardrope delivered it into the centre McAvoy’s header for goal was blocked and spun back to McPherson who fired wide of the left post.

The Bot’s next attack saw Sime meet Slooves ball up the centre where he head flicked it into the path of McAvoy. He hit it first time from 25 yards forcing a decent stop from Hay who got down to his left to parry it away

The one-way traffic continued and when Wardrope won it in the middle he played it out left to Gillies. He swept it low into the near post where Thomson was lurking but a defender managed to touch it behind for the corner. When the corner came in off the left Hay punched it clear.

The incessant pressure paid off in the 33^rd minute when Talbot doubled their lead. Armour launched it down field where McAvoy headed it on into the right side of the area. Thomson got in behind Bow and held off his challenge before delivering a cross into the centre which LUKE GILLIES headed inside the right post to make it 2-0.

In the final minute of the half Bell received a yellow card for a late challenge on Clark. The resultant free kick was switched to the left where EUAN THOMSON controlled it before coolly slotting the ball low inside the right post from 18 yards to send Talbot in three ahead at the interval.

Both sides made changes at the break. McPherson had picked up a knock late in the half and was replaced by Wilson and Benburb made a double switch with Wright & Fraser on in place of Bow & McWilliams.

The 2^nd half was only 2 mins old when the Bens were a bit lucky not to be reduced to 10 men. Bell caught Sime late and already on a yellow card he looked set to go but the referee kept his cards in his pocket.

In the 54^th minute Thomson won Talbot a corner down the right. Wardrope took it short to Thomson who delivered a good ball to the back post which McCrone just managed to head to safety.

Three mins later Talbot nearly grabbed another. A ball up the right found McAvoy in space and he fired it low across goal where Gillies just failed to connect inside the near post.

There were now further changes with Kane replacing Bell for the home side and Talbot bringing on Mitchell & Langan for Gillies & Wardrope.

In the 65^th minute Sime played it into the feet of Langan just outside the area. He had the option to go for goal but opted to slide it left where Mitchell was waiting but the pass was intercepted.

A minute later Benburb caused the Bot defence a few problems. Kane skipped a ball across the face of goal from the right which was retrieved out on the left wing by Wright. He whipped a dangerous cross to the far post which was well defended by Schoneville.

Thomson had his name taken in the 68^th minute for a late challenge on McCrone.

The Bot now made further changes with McAvoy & Thomson exiting to be replaced by Nimmo & Abed.

Twenty mins from time Talbot made it 4-0. Langan’s ball in behind the defence found TAREK ABED racing free and as the keeper rushed out his area he stroked it past him into the empty net.

Benburb now made their final change with Grady on for Taylor.

The sub had a chance to make an immediate impact when a ball over the top found him in space on the left of the penalty area but he took a swipe at it and the ball ran harmlessly through to Armour.

With the game effectively over as a contest Talbot had switched down a gear and for the first time in the afternoon Benburb were on the front foot.

In the 74^th minute Kane tested Armour with a low angled shot across goal that the Bot keeper put wide for the corner. When the corner came over it was only partially cleared and fell to Kane at the edge of the box where he shanked it wide of goal.

Talbot’s next attack saw Mitchell fire over a cross from the left flank which Nimmo met in the centre but headed wide of target under pressure from a defender.

Ten mins from time Schoneville received a caution after conceding a free kick out on the right. McCrone lifted it into the middle where Armour punched it out to the edge of the area. It came to Grady at the edge of the area and he lofted a half-volley toward goal that came off the top of the bar.

In the 83^rd minute Talbot carved out another chance. Mitchell played it down the left into Abed and he fired it across goal and past the far post.

As the game moved into added time Talbot sealed the win with their 5^th goal. Nimmo did well to hold the ball up down by the right corner flag before laying it off to Langan. He made it to the bye line and crossed it to the far post where SCOTT SCHONEVILLE turned it home.

There was still time for a late booking a piece, Mitchell being penalised for an aerial challenge and then Giovanazzi receiving a caution for a professional foul as Talbot looked to break through the middle.

Ten goals scored with only one conceded in two visits to Govan – a good week for the Bot that sees them end it 4^th in the table and going into next week’s semi-final encounter with Thorniewood in fine form.

Benburb – Hay, Giovanazzi, Taylor, Lithgow, Bow, McWilliams, Bell, Taylor, McDonald, Smith, McCrone

Subs – Grady, Wright, Dunsmore, Fraser, Kane, Lickrish, Winters

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Schoneville, McPherson, Slooves, Sime, Boyle, Wardrope, McAvoy, Thomson, Gillies

Subs – Nimmo, Abed, Mitchell, Langan, Wilson, Hanlon

TALBOT GO TONTO AT THE TINTO

Report: Murray Steele, Photo’s: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

Talbot turned in their best away display of the season to brush aside St Cadoc’s in the first of their two visits this week to New Tinto Park.

The home side take risks in possession & were caught out as early as the 2^nd minute when Talbot’s high press paid off. Boyd latched onto a slack pass just outside the penalty area but he fired his shot wide from 20 yards.

Two minutes later Talbot worked it well down the right flank between Wardrope & Clark. When the ball came into the area Boyd drilled a low shot at goal that was blocked by a defender. It came out to Clark at the edge of the box and his effort was heading goal ward but was deflected behind for a corner.

In the 7^th minute the home side had a half chance. Wilson was beaten by the bounce of the ball and the ball skipped through to McTaggart on the right who fired it across goal and wide of target.

Soon after St Cadoc’s won a free kick wide of the Talbot penalty area following a foul by Sime. Borland whipped it into the centre where Armour punched it clear.

The next effort at goal came from Talbot in the 11^th minute. The Bot countered through Thomson who burst forward through the centre before releasing Clark on the right. He cut in and fired a shot on target that was smothered by Currie.

Talbot now took control and had St Cadoc’s pegged back with only the final ball lacking.

In the 17^th minute Gillies touched it on to the overlapping Schoneville whose deep cross sailed just past the far post.

Against the run of play the home side came close in the 18^th minute. Borland swept in a dangerous cross from the left wing which Schoneville headed clear. St Cadoc’s retrieved it and Brady showed good feet in the box to elude a couple of challenges and squeeze off a shot that took a deflection as it flew over the bar.

Talbot had a good chance to grab the opener in the 22^nd minute. The defence were guilty again of being a bit tippy tappy under pressure and conceded possession to Boyd inside the area; however he didn’t catch his shot cleanly and trundled it straight at Currie.

On the half hour mark Talbot had a shout for a penalty. Wilson angled a good ball out to Schoneville who hit it first time into the area. It appeared to hit a defender’s hand but the ref waved play on. Talbot kept the pressure up and won a free kick just wide of the area for a foul on Wardrope.

Wardrope took it and curled it beyond the far post where McPherson headed it back down into the mix. The ball broke loose and came out to Sime at the edge and his effort at goal came off a defender before clipping the left post and behind for the corner. When Wardrope’s corner came over from the right RUARIDH LANGAN met it unopposed at the near post to head Talbot into the lead after 31 mins.

Talbot now pushed forward looking to add to their lead. In the 37^th minute Thomson’s touch sent Boyd in behind the defence down the left. He had a chance to hit it first time but took a touch and then saw his shot blocked for a corner. Wardrope lifted the corner to the back post where again McPherson got his head to it. The ball broke back to Langan whose half-volley was held by Currie.

St Cadoc’s were struggling badly to cope with Talbot’s corners and the Bot had another half chance in the 39^th minute. Wardrope’s corner from the left went to the back post where a defender put it behind. When the subsequent corner came over from the right it wasn’t cleared and landed at McPherson with his back to goal and he turned and shot over the bar.

Despite Talbot’s dominance it was only one nil and the home side gave Talbot a fright in the 42^nd minute. Brady played a good ball out right to find Sweeney who drilled a low cross into the centre which was well cleared.

A minute before the interval Talbot doubled their lead. Thomson had a chance to hit it on the left of the area but opted to square it across to Clark. His shot at goal was blocked but came to CONNOR BOYD who forced it home from close range to send Talbot in 2-0 ahead.

The home side made a change at the interval with Millar on in place of Sweeney.

Talbot were out to kill the game off and started the 2^nd half positively – forcing a couple of corners in quick succession.

In the 54^th minute Schoneville did well to keep the ball in play down the left and then teed it back for Gillies to cross. He floated it into the centre where Thomson met it but it was a fraction too high for him to get above it and direct on target.

With 58 mins gone Talbot made it 3-0. Wardrope carried it forward before switching play out left to find Gillies. He drilled it across the face of goal where RUARIDH LANGAN bundled it home.

It looked to be game over but the home side were thrown a lifeline a minute later when they pulled one back. Schoneville took a heavy touch outside the box which Borland pounced on. He carried on into the area where Armour did well to block his shot but was helpless to prevent MCTAGGART from prodding home the rebound from close range.

Talbot responded well to this set back and were soon back on the front foot. In the 61^st min Talbot won a free kick which Wardrope played low into the feet of Gillies.  He found Boyd inside the area and Currie produced a good stop to deny him. The goal though was only delayed by moments as Talbot kept the pressure on and when the ball came over from the left EUAN THOMSON tucked it home to make it 4-1 to the Bot.

In the 66^th minute Thomson came close to his 2^nd of the evening when he fired a low drive wide of target.

Talbot now made their first change with Nimmo on for Boyd. There followed a raft of substitutions with the home side replacing Borland, Brady & McTaggart with Coll, McIlduff & Gallacher.

The Bot also made a triple change with Abed, Boyle & Mitchell on for Thomson, Sime & Gillies.

With 77 on the clock Talbot had a good chance for another. Langan’s slide rule pass found Nimmo in space in the area but his shot from 15 yards was blocked by the keeper.

It was all Talbot now and the only question was whether Talbot would manage to add to their tally.

In the 86^th minute Nimmo showed good strength in the box to power through and then square it for Langan who missed out on a hat-trick as his shot went just wide of the right hand post.

Two mins from time Mitchell hit a good switch of play to find Abed in space down the right. He looped it back across to find Mitchell inside the area who took it on his chest but a covering defender marshalled it behind for a corner before he could hit it.

As the game headed into added time Talbot sealed their emphatic win with a 5^th. Wardrope slid it through to Abed down the right of the area and he squared it across goal for ALEX NIMMO to prod home from close range.

A good night’s work from Talbot that sees them climb back to 5^th in the table and close the gap on St Cadoc’s. Talbot return to Govan this Saturday when they face Benburb in the league.

St Cadoc’s – Currie, Slattery, Munro, McKillen, McLuckie, Kelly, Sweeney, Brady, McHugh, McTaggart, Borland

Subs – McIlduff, Millar, Gallacher, Coll, MacMillan, Fellowes

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Schoneville, Wilson, McPherson, Sime, Wardrope, Langan, Boyd, Thomson, Gillies

Subs – McAvoy, Abed, Nimmo, Mitchell, Boyle, Hanlon, Slooves

NARROW WIN IN GOVAN

Report: Jim McAuley, Photography: Craig McGhee, Media: Lee Conn.

The final match of the season had Talbot visiting Benburb in the penultimate league match which was classed as a dead rubber.  The kick-off was moved to 1pm due to Talbot having a Sportsman’s Dinner later on in the evening and with the Old Firm derby taking place at the other end of the city the small crowd that decided to turn up were treated to nothing more then some end of season fare.

The only highlight of the day was the magnificent weather which beat down on the players, and with Talbot’s recent glut of games you could see that the players were were less than happy with the conditions.

Talbot had a decent start to the proceedings when Ross Smith tried his luck from the edge of the box but Law was equal to the shot. Talbot continued to pressure when Schoneville sent over a cross but it was over hit and floated harmlessly over the bar.

Connor Boyd was gifted a chance when Clark failed to control the ball and although the chasing defence forced him wide he managed to cut the ball across the 18 yard line and into the path of Wardrope who dinked the ball into the path of Langan but Law managed to smother the ball and avert the danger.

The Bens were finding the bounce of the ball difficult and this was proved again when Smith robbed Bell, picked out Boyd but his pass across the box was diverted for a corner.

With 25 minutes gone the home side had their first chance when a loose ball by Schoneville was pounced upon by McCrone but his shot from distance went well over the bar. Minutes later Fraser latched onto a clearance from McPherson and hammered a shot from 30 yards that sailed past the post.

The only goal of the match came on the 45th minute when Armstrong picked out Boyd who after a tidy one two with Smith rifled the ball past Law from just inside the box.

The second half started much like the first and Law was forced into a great block at the feet of Smith as Talbot tried to put the game to bed. Law was proving to be the barrier to stop Talbot adding to their slim lead and he proved his worth when Boyd’s cross took a wicked bounce in the box forcing the keeper to make an outstanding reaction save.

The home defence were not covering themselves in glory in this particular game and once again Boyd found himself excepting a poor pass, before bearing down on goals but his shot just whistled past the post.

Smith was to have the miss of the game when Wardrope’s inch perfect pass had the striker with only the keeper to beat and he hammered the ball into the side netting.

The game finally livened up as it drew to a close with Ally Boyle chipping the keeper from distance but the ball bounced passed the post and B9 tried his luck from outside the box but he fired his shot straight into the arms of Glavin. B1 was once again the hero for the home side when he turned a Scott Schoneville rasper past the post.

Benburb were to have the last say in the match when Glavin dived to clear a dangerous pass into the box which McDonald had his eyes on resulting in the player going down but the referee was having none of it.

The win catapulted Talbot into second place in the league, the third time in the last three years.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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