Talbot travel to face Arthurlie this Saturday in the opening league match of the season and Allan McLuckie is desperate to see a winning performance at Dunterlie Park. Allan told the Web “It couldn’t have been a harder start to the season with a visit to Dunterlie but we have to meet sometime and we are looking forward to the visit. Games at Arthurlie have never really been showstoppers and I expect a war of attrition rather than silky football. It will be a cagey event with both sides not wanting to lose on the opening game of the league campaign.”
When asked about the squad Allan added “We will definitely be missing Graham Wilson after he picked up a two match ban after his red card at Kello, while Mark Shankland will be left to the last kick but he has shown signs that his injury was superficial and he has a good chance of starting.”
Arthurlie have had a less than promising start to their season failing to qualify from the sectional group after defeats at the hands of Neilston and Benburb but they did give a good account of themselves in the Southside derby against Pollok where they secured a 1-1 draw. Talbot will be buoyant after a superb Ardagh Cup quarter final win down at Troon where Keir Milliken and Dwayne Hyslop’s goals were enough to see of the “Seasiders” and set them up with a home tie next Wednesday against Beith in the semi finals.
Allan commented “We were pleased with the performance especially how we coped with a second half onslaught. However we made some decent chances throughout the match and poor finishing cost us especially in the first 45 minutes. Although we lost a goal in the first half I felt we were very comfortable throughout the match. Troon are an excellent footballing side but we knew where their weakness was and we exploited it at every opportunity. The only down side to the game was we gave the ball away to cheaply on some occasions and we need to concentrate on this aspect. “
When cornered about the up and coming Beith matches Allan added “Beith are next week this Saturday is what we are concentrating on. Three points on the board raises moral and we will be going all out the get those points. We are the current champions and everybody is desperate to beat us. Defending your title away from home in the first match is something new to me, but as I have said we had to come to Arthurlie at some point and with a superb win against Troon behind us we have a good feeling in the camp.”
Allan finished by thanking the great support that travelled down to Troon.
