Report

MURRAY’S REPORT

A bad day at the office for Talbot who slumped to a 3-0 defeat with the damage being done in the last 5 minutes of the 1^st half.

The game started positively flowing from end to end with both sides having early chances. Darvel had an opportunity in the opening minute when they won a free kick out on the left touchline. It was swept into the centre where Ferguson steered a free header over the bar.

In the 3^rd minute Talbot had a good chance to take the lead. Graham Wilson did well in the build-up holding the ball up before sliding a pass left to send Samson through on goal but Truesdale produced a fine stop – saving with his outstretched leg to deny Samson.

Two minutes later and Samson had a golden chance for the opener. Graham Wilson touched the ball on into his path to send him clear through the centre and in on goal but he took a slightly heavy 1^st touch and Truesdale was quickly off his line to make the block.

It was then Darvel’s turn to threaten when a shy from the right found Mackenzie in the area and he spun McPherson before firing a shot across goal and wide of the far post.

Stafford had his name taken in the 9^th minute when he obstructed Stirling as he burst forward. McShane took the resultant free kick but sent it well wide of target.

Talbot conceded a soft corner in the 16^th minute and nearly paid for it when the corner in ricocheted into the path of Mackenzie but he fired a half volley over the bar from 8 yards.

The Bot’s next attack saw Graham Wilson show good close control before releasing Samson down the left and he saw his shot blocked behind for the corner. When the corner came over deep beyond the far post McCracken glanced a header wide of target.

In the 34^th minute Samson fashioned a chance out of nothing when his persistence saw him close down & dispossess Eadie. He raced into the area and cut it back to Park but he went for the wrong option trying to square it into the centre rather than shooting and the chance was lost.

Three minutes later Graham Wilson angled a good 1^st time ball over beyond the far post where Taylor met it and volleyed wide of the left post.

The game began to slip away from Talbot in the 40^th minute when Armstrong lunged into a tackle on Mackenzie. The referee produced a straight red and things went from bad to worse for Talbot as they conceded the opener a minute later. Darvel won a corner on the right and when it came over a Darvel player headed it on in the crowded 6-yard box and MEGGETT prodded it home from close range to give Darvel the lead.

It was all over bar the shouting deep into 1^st half injury time when Darvel doubled their lead. The ball was switched left to right to find Meechan in space and he had time to look up and drill it across the face of goal where MACKENZIE turned it home at the near post to send Darvel in 2 ahead at the interval.

Tucker made a switch during the break with Wardrope on in place of Park.

The 2^nd half was a bit of a non-event with Darvel content to keep possession for the most part. Taylor picked up a caution in the 55^th minute for clipping the heels of Stirling and he was joined in the book a minute later by Meggett who was penalised for kicking the ball away after shoving over Samson.

Darvel nearly added to their lead in the 57^th minute. Ferguson beat Leishman to a ball down the left and slid it for goal from a tight angle but Aiden Wilson got back to clear.

Talbot were offered a glimmer of hope in the 64^th minute. Taylor met Aiden Wilson’s hanging cross only to be bundled over inside the box. The ref pointed to the spot but when it’s not your day it’s not your day and Graham Wilson’s tame spot kick was easily saved by Truesdale.

Two minutes later and Darvel completed the scoring. STIRLING gathered the ball 30 yards out and surged forward into the area before firing a shot in off the underside of the bar.

With the game gone Talbot made a slew of changes bringing on Glasgow and Boylan for Taylor and Samson and late on making a further double change with Ballantyne and Crawford getting a run out in place of Stafford and McPherson.

A disappointing afternoon but Talbot will look to dust themselves down and get back to winning ways next Saturday when they travel through to Somervell Park to face newly promoted Cambuslang Rangers.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Park, Healy, Graham Wilson, Samson, Taylor

Subs – Glasgow, Boylan, Wardrope, Crawford, Ballantyne, Heaney

Darvel – Truesdale, Eadie, Allan, Meggett, McShane, Stirling, Mackenzie, Meechan, Ferguson, Robertson, Caldwell

Subs – Ferguson, Miller, C Truesdale, Moore