Report

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT. SARAH JANES PHOTO’S
Talbot’s impressive start to 2023 continued with a hard fought win over Pollok at Beechwood Park. A result that saw Talbot climb to 3rd in the table and move above Pollok on goal difference with 5 games in hand over the Lok.

The first effort of the afternoon came in the 7th minute. Burns beat Samson in the air down the standside and the header came through to Lyon who dragged a shot well wide of target from 25 yards.

With quarter of an hour on the clock Lumsden was tested when Taylor’s hanging cross from the left was drifting under the crossbar forcing the Lok keeper to tip it over and behind for the corner. The corner was hit deep where Samson headed it back across goal. The defence failed to clear their lines & Mason prodded a shot across goal that Burns turned over his own bar.

Talbot’s next effort came in the 19th minute. A shy from the right found Stafford who played it into the feet of Samson inside the area. He wheeled round and drilled a low shot on target that Lumsden saved low to his right.

A minute later, the first of many bookings occurred when Armstrong was penalised for a shirt tug on Lyons. Twenty two mins in Talbot received their 2nd caution of the afternoon when Mason was shown a yellow for a challenge on Esplin.

Pollok were nearly in a moment later. Christie squared the ball across to Forde who slipped a pass through for G McCann on the left of the penalty area; however, McPherson recovered quickly to get across him and the ball ran harmlessly through to Leishman.

Route one nearly paid off for the Lok in the 24th minute. Lumsden’s long punt down the right landed at Lyon just inside the box whose lobbed effort was tipped over the bar by Leishman.

When the corner came in a Pollok head got on the end of it and steered a header toward target. Forde got a slight flick on it but not enough to deflect it past Leishman.

Esplin had his name taken in the 27th minute for a late challenge on Samson.

The opening goal came Talbot’s way in the 29th minute. Stafford won the ball deep in Pollok’s half and spread it out to the right for Samson. He fired it low into the centre where Mason’s shot was well-saved by Lumsden but GRAHAM WILSON was on hand to tuck the rebound home from close range.

A touchline stramash in the 34th minute saw a number of players from both sides involved with the end result being a booking apiece – Wardrope for Talbot and Burns for the visitors.

Two minutes before the interval Talbot nearly doubled their lead. A free kick was lifted high up the left where Wilson climbed to head it down into the path of Samson. His low drive was heading in but Lumsden produced a fine save low to his left to turn it round the post.

Pollok had the final chance of the half right on the stroke of half-time. A ball into the penalty area broke to Forde on the left of the box but his low drive went straight at Leishman and Talbot left the field a goal to the good.

Talbot made a change at the interval with Boylan coming on in place of Mason.

Pollok had an early chance in the 2nd half when McCracken failed to cut out a ball up the right. It came to G McCann in space but he floated a poor cross straight at Leishman.

Talbot then came close to grabbing a 2nd in the 49th minute. Boylan gathered on the left and whipped a great cross into the centre where Samson just failed to connect with it.

In the 57th minute Pollok won a free kick out wide on the left. Mullen whipped in a dangerous ball that Leishman had to punch clear. It came out to Barr whose pass clipped off Wardrope and behind for a corner. When the corner came over a Pollok player managed to get his head on it but under pressure sent the header well-wide of goal.

A swift counter saw Talbot get in behind the Lok defence in the 59th minute. Wardrope sent a good ball down the right to find Boylan who cut inside onto his left and drilled a shot on target that Lumsden turned round his left post. When Wardrope’s corner came into the near post Wilson met it but didn’t make clean contact and his header flashed across the 6-yard area.

Pollok could have, and arguably should have been a man down in the 61st minute. Boylan burst beyond the defence and was heading for the penalty box when he was hauled down by Rumsby who escaped with a caution.

Lumsden was having a good afternoon and he came to Lok’s rescue again in the 63rd minute. Wardrope delivered a great cross from the left toward Samson but the keeper got there first to tip it away.

Taylor became the latest name in the ref’s book when he was cautioned in the 64th minute for a shirt pull.

Pollok now made a double change with Barr & Forde making way for S McCann & Buchanan.

Taylor had picked up a knock and left the field in the 67th minute to be replaced by Healy.

Pollok levelled the score in the 70th minute. Lumsden hoisted a long ball down the left where S McCann rose to head it down into the path of G MCCANN who fired it low past Leishman into the opposite corner.

Two minutes later the ref was busy writing again – firstly booking Wilson for an aerial challenge and then carding Pollok’s Gow for dissent.

Tucker now made another change with Shankland coming on for Wilson.

In the 81st minute Pollok failed to make the most of space when Mullen found Christie in behind on the right but his cross failed to beat the 1st man.

Talbot took full advantage regaining the lead a minute later. Armstrong switched the ball out to find Samson on the right touchline and when his cross came over BRYAN BOYLAN guided a header inside the left post to put Talbot 2-1 ahead.

Pollok now made further changes with Burns & Lyon making way for Sideserf & Duff.

Five minutes from time Healy received a yellow card for a challenge on Buchanan. Mullen took the resultant free kick and knocked it over beyond the back post where it reached Christie who was crowded out before he could get a shot away.

Action then switched to the other end where Shankland fired a dangerous low ball across the face of goal that Gow cut out at the expense of a corner.

Talbot now made their final change with Park on for Boyle.

Pollok pushed bodies forward looking for a late equaliser but the Talbot defence stood firm and the Bot held on for all 3 points.

A feisty game and a hard earned 3 points for the Bot to keep the title chase going. Next week the Bot are off to Cumbernauld to face Rob Roy.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Taylor, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Wardrope, Boyle, Mason, Samson, Wilson

Subs – Shankland, Boylan, Smith, Healy, Crawford, Sinnamon, Park

Pollok – Lumsden, Mullen, Burns, Rumsby, Gow, Esplin, Christie, Barr, Forde, Lyon, G McCann

Subs – Menzies, S McCann, Nelson, Buchanan, Duff, Sideserf, Longmuir

SPONSOR’S MAN OF THE MATCH AWARDS

Martin Speirs & Friends award was won by Chris Stafford and presented by Greg Whisker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alex Duffy & Friends award was won by Bryan Boylan. Ally Park picked up the award from Colin Barton on Bryan’s behalf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graham & Yvonne Wilson & Friends award was won by Ali Boyle and presented by Yvonne Wilson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Old Crocks award was won by Chris Stafford and presented by Max Kuberski.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Loons award was won by Neil McPherson and presented by Andrew McPheators.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mauchline BC & The Killie Travel Club award was won by Graham Wilson and presented by Johnnie Eaglesham & Allan Campbell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom & Kevin Brown, Gordon Lees and Billy Harvey’s award was won by Ally Park and presented by Gordon Lees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Shankland & Friends award was won by Mark and presented by Jake Drummond.