Report

Tucker must have fired a rocket or two at half-time as Talbot went from a damp squib of a first half to a different level after the break to run out comfortable winners over Glenafton.

The opening effort came in the 3^rd minute when Stevenson hurtled a shot on target from 40 yards that flew straight at Leishman.

Talbot’s first threat came in the 10^th minute when Shankland fed the ball to Boylan down the left and he played it low into the centre where Park just failed to reach it and Markey gathered.

Two minutes later a Glens defender was caught on the ball by Boylan who robbed him before sliding it to Shankland in space to his right. He blasted it on target where Markey blocked it with his legs.

With quarter of an hour gone Talbot fell behind, thanks in large part to the assistant ref. A ball in behind down the right found KERR who looked a couple of yards offside but the flag stayed down and he ran on before slotting the ball past Leishman.

Two minutes later Talbot won a free kick in a good area when Wardrope was fouled just outside the area. Shankland took it but his shot hit off the wall and spun behind for the corner.

In the 24^th minute Talbot nearly drew level through an own goal. Wardrope played it out left to Aiden Wilson and he in turn fed it up the line to Graham Wilson whose dangerous cross hit off McMullin and went just wide of the right post.

It was Glenafton’s turn to threaten the Bot goal in the 32^nd minute. Stevenson won a free kick 35 yards out which Paton played into the area. McPherson managed to head it clear but Glenafton retrieved it outside the area and played it to Stevenson on the right. He got past his man and knocked over a dangerous cross that was heading for Kerr at the back post til McCracken got a slight touch on it to put it behind for the corner.

A defensive blunder gave Talbot their next opening. McMullin’s back pass was too heavy and Markey was at full stretch to prevent it going out for a corner; however he only succeeded in playing the ball straight to Boylan. He passed it to Shankland who swept a cross over to the back post but there were no takers.

In the 40^th minute Rowe had his name taken for taking out Park and moments later Shankland was up in arms when he latched onto Wardrope’s through ball and thought he was clean through only for a marginal offside call to go against him.

Shortly before half-time McCracken took a knock when challenging Murphy but was able to run it off and the sides went in with Glens having a slender lead at the break.

Talbot made a change during the break with Samson on in place of Boylan.

The Bot made the perfect start to the 2^nd half – drawing level within a minute of the restart. From a shy on the left Graham Wilson played it on to Shankland who hit the bye line and swung over a cross for KIER SAMSON to head home from close range.

In the 49^th minute Talbot had a good chance to take the lead. Graham Wilson fired a ball in from the left that saw shouts for handball. Nothing was given and the ball broke to Shankland 12 yards out but he sent his right foot shot wide of the left post.

The Glens then nearly regained the lead in their next attack. The defence stood off Sean McKenzie and he slid a pass in behind to send Kerr through on the keeper but Leishman spread himself to make a big save.

Talbot were soon back on the attack and the Glens defence did well in the 52^nd minute to cut out Samson’s cross before it found Shankland in space in front of goal.

Two minutes later Wardrope gathered on the left and swung a good cross over to the far post which just eluded Graham Wilson and Samson.

The Bot’s next chance came from a well-worked counter-attack. Wardrope hit a good early ball to find Samson racing down the left and he switched it to the far side of the area to pick out Shankland racing in on goal but Markey got down to make a good save to deny him but there was nothing he could do seconds later when the ball came out to MICHAEL WARDROPE 25 yards from goal who arrowed a shot across goal and into the far corner to put Talbot ahead after 56 mins.

Within a minute Talbot nearly added to their lead. Armstrong’s pass found Shankland in space inside the box and his angled drive took a slight deflection as it headed wide of the right hand post. Wardrope took the resultant corner and delivered it into a good area but no one could get a touch on it.

The chances kept coming and Markey produced a good stop in the 59^th minute to prevent Talbot extending their lead. Samson raced onto Shankland’s cutback and drilled a powerful shot on target that the keeper managed to block.

In the 62^nd minute route one almost paid off for the Bot. Samson challenged for Leishman’s long ball down the centre and the ball broke back to the feet of Park. He dinked a pass through the defence for Samson that had just a fraction too much on it for him to get on the end of it and Markey was able to gather.

A minute later Armstrong chipped a ball down the right that Shankland headed on into the path of Samson whose low drive produced a fine save from Markey who turned it behind. When Wardrope’s corner came over MARK SHANKLAND met it inside the front post to glance a header home to make it 3-1.

Glenafton now made a change with Cameron McKenzie coming on for Stevenson and Talbot made their 2^nd change soon after with Taylor on for Shankland.

In the 69^th minute Taylor cut in off the left and fired a shot at goal that was blocked into the path of Wardrope on the right. His cross took a deflection as it dropped just over the bar to land on the roof of the net.

The Glens now made a further change with Kerr making way for Blyth.

With quarter of an hour remaining McPherson did well, out-muscling Cameron McKenzie before lifting a ball over the defence that Markey had to race out his area to head clear to prevent Taylor getting on the end of it.

A minute later Glenafton had a chance to pull one back when Sean McKenzie’s cutback from the right found Blyth in space inside the area but he lashed his shot over the bar.

Talbot now made a double switch with Park and Graham Wilson making way for Ballantyne & Crawford.

With 10 minutes remaining McKee swung a good cross beyond the back post where Cameron McKenzie headed it back down and across. Paton was first to it but his shot for goal was blocked by McCracken.

Six minutes from time Armstrong picked up a yellow card for a challenge on Blyth.

A minute later Talbot were in behind the Glens defence when Armstrong’s header found its way through to Samson who hit it first time sending it wide of the right hand post.

Two minutes from time Talbot had a strong penalty appeal dismissed. A ball was flighted in behind the defence for Samson to chase. Pettigrew just got there first but then stumbled and appeared to handle the ball on the deck but the referee waved play on.

Deep into injury time Talbot almost added a fourth. Ballantyne’s ball in from the left broke to Taylor in space on the left of the area and he tried to pass it into the far corner only for Markey to dive to his left to make the stop.

A good win for Talbot who similarly to last week could have won by a bigger margin. Next up Talbot are on their travels as they head through to Kilwinning on Wednesday night to face the Buffs.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Wardrope, Park, Graham Wilson, Boylan, Shankland

Subs – Taylor, Samson, Mason, Crawford, Ballantyne, White

Glenafton Athletic – Markey, El-Zubaidi, McMullin, Pettigrew, Rowe, Paton, McKee, S McKenzie, Kerr, Stevenson, Murphy

Subs – Caldwell, Blyth, Nisbet, Martin, Okane, C McKenzie