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.

The home side nearly made a dream start within a minute. They won a free kick just inside the Bot half and with a strong wind at his back Coll took everyone by surprise by hitting it early and going for goal, forcing Glavin to backpedal to tip it over the bar.

Talbot successfully defended the resultant corner and moved onto the counter-attack through Wardrope. He sent it wide to Thomson who out-paced the full-back and drilled a dangerous ball across goal that took a deflection off a defender at the far post. The ball broke into the path of Boyd whose low drive was blocked at his left post by Currie.

The Bot passed up a good chance to take the lead in the 5th minute. Thomson hooked the ball up the right where Boyd got past his man and burst into the area. He drilled it low across goal where Langan looked set to score but he bundled his effort wide of the left hand post.

Two minutes later Talbot moved in front. Gillies played it into the feet of McAvoy who helped it inside to CONNOR BOYD who turned his marker and slotted it low inside the right hand post from the edge of the box.

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.

In the 14th minute the home side could have found themselves a man down. Miller was caught in possession and dispossessed by McAvoy who was breaking through towards the box when Miller pulled him down. There was a strong case for a red card but the ref stuck with a yellow. Wardrope took the free kick and shoved it down the line to Gillies whose cross to the back post went high off a defender’s head before finally being cleared.

St Cadocs put together a good move in the 17th minute. Hughes, wide on the right, played it across to find McLaughlin in space on the left and his low shot across goal had to be tipped behind by Glavin.

In the 21st minute Breen tried his luck from 30 yards but his wind assisted effort sailed over the bar.

Play then switched to the other end where Wardrope cut in off the left wing and curled a good cross to the far post where Currie punched clear under pressure from Thomson.

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.

When Wardrope whipped over the free kick there were loud appeals for handball but the ref waved play on.

St Cadocs threatened to pull one back when a good ball up the right found the run of Hughes. He played it across the face of goal where it was gathered by McLaughlin who tried to tee it up for Brady but he was closed down before he could hit it.

On the half hour mark Talbot had a chance to go three ahead. Thomson’s ball down the right found McAvoy who laid it back toward Boyd who scooped his shot over the bar from 16 yards out.

In the 36th minute a pass through the defence found Boyd wide on the left. He fizzed it across goal where Currie blocked it and it came out to Boyle at the edge of the box. He had a chance to hit it but instead tried to thread a pass through and the move fizzled out.

Two minutes later a shy from the left found Wardrope just outside the area and he showed quick feet to get away from his man and get a shot away on target but it lacked the power to test the keeper.

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 made a double change during the interval with McHugh & Taylor on in place of Breen & Munro.

Talbot started the 2nd half positively with McAvoy doing well out wide left before lifting a cross to the far post which just floated over the head of Wardrope.

The referee made another blunder in the 49th minute which ended with St Cadocs pulling a goal back. McKillen chipped a good ball up the left to McHugh and he played it low into the near post where MCTAGGART turned it home. However, there were clearly 2 balls on the pitch in the build-up to the goal which the ref somehow missed.

St Cadocs now had their tails up and levelled the match in the 53rd minute. McKillen lifted over a cross from the left wing that found MCLAUGHLIN unmarked in the centre and he guided a header inside the left post to make it 2-2.

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.

When the corner came over Talbot managed to clear it out the area only to concede a free kick just outside the box for handball. McLaughlin took it and tried to place it but Glavin got down low to his left to smother it.

Gradually Talbot worked their way back into it and had the home defence under pressure in the 61st minute. McPherson’s cross was met by Thomson whose header was cleared out the goal mouth by Taylor.

Talbot kept the pressure on and forced a corner down the right. When Wardrope’s ball came in Slooves just failed to connect in front of goal and the ball broke loose to McPherson. He laid it to Langan whose low drive from 17 yards was blocked and spun out right to Wardrope who drilled a powerful effort that clipped the bar on its way over.

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.

This proved to be his last touch as Tucker now made a double substitution with Smith & Glasgow on for Thomson & Boyd.

In the 68th minute Smith got onto a ball up the middle and laid it back into the path of McAvoy who pulled his shot wide of target.

Down the other end Talbot had a let off when Taylor swept a dangerous angled ball in from the right that drifted across goal with no one in the centre to take advantage.

With 73 mins gone Brady clipped a ball in behind the defence that McLaughlin ran onto. He just beat Glavin to it but was forced out wide and when he tried to play it across Glavin turned it behind for the corner.

The game had seesawed back and forth and in the 79th minute it swung back St Cadoc’s way as they scored a well-worked leveller. Taylor played it out wide right to McTaggart who cut it back across goal where MCHUGH side-footed it home at the near post.

The goal could have deflated Talbot but instead re-energised them and Talbot went on to dominate the closing stages.

In the 81st minute Talbot made another double switch with Armstrong & Urquhart on for Langan & Boyle.

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

Five minutes from time McAvoy raced down the right and cut it back into the heart of the box where Smith challenged for it. The ball broke loose back to Gillies whose low drive was saved by the outstretched leg of the keeper. Talbot kept the pressure going and forced a corner down the right. When it came into the near post Urquhart laid it back to McAvoy whose low drive was saved at the left post by Currie.

With 2 minutes remaining St Cadocs made their final changes with Muir & McGuire coming on for Hughes & McTaggart.

In the final minute of regulation time Talbot came close again. A ball in from the right deflected off a defender and drifted just wide of the right post. Glasgow took the corner and swung it into the 6-yard area where Currie managed to punch it clear.

Just when it looked like St Cadocs were going to hold on for a point Talbot bagged a late winner. Smith slid the ball wide to find McAvoy who drove it across the face of goal where JAMIE GLASGOW slid in to make it 4-3 to the delight of the bulk of the crowd.

A hard fought but deserved 3 points for the Bot who never gave up looking for the win. Next up Talbot are back in league action as they make a midweek trip to Recreation Park to face Darvel.

St Cadoc’s – Currie, Slattery, Coll, McKillen, Miller, Breen, Munro, Brady, McTaggart, Hughes, McLaughlin

Subs – Taylor, Muir, McManus, McHugh, Fellowes, McGuire, Truesdale