Report

A “FORDABLE” WIN

Report: Murray Steele, Photo’s Craig McGhee, Media: Lee Conn.

Talbot have struggled in the past at Blair Park but a dominant display saw them emerge comfortable winners in yesterday’s league tie.

From the outset Talbot were on the front foot. In the 2^nd minute Clark fed it on to McPherson who played it down the line to McAvoy. He whipped over a dangerous cross that Anderson headed away to safety.

The action was all flowing down toward the clubhouse end with Talbot managing to force a few corners in the opening 10 minutes without being able to test the home keeper.

In the 11^th minute Clark won a corner down the right which was swung over deep beyond the far post. McPherson retrieved it and teed it up for Gillies whose low drive on target was blocked at his near post by O’Connor.

With 19 minutes gone Boyd played it short to McAvoy whose shot from 20 yards was blocked by a defender. It spun out to Boyle who fired a low drive wide of the right hand post.

Talbot did have the ball in the back of the net in the 24^th minute but a harsh call saw it disallowed. A corner from the right was met by Gillies who steered his header beyond the keeper only for the assistant’s flag to put paid to the celebrations – for what offence it was unclear.

Two minutes later Talbot again found the back of the net. This time McAvoy pulled it back from the bye line for Boyd to head home at the near post but the assistant flagged that the ball had been out before McAvoy crossed it.

It was all Talbot and the Bot threatened again a minute later. Clark squared it across to Schoneville in space and he angled in a cross that just cleared the head of McAvoy.

The goal had been coming and duly arrived in the 28^th minute. Talbot worked it well down the left and Schoneville pulled an inch perfect cross back from the bye line to find ROSS CLARK who glanced a header beyond the keeper to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

The Bot came close to doubling their lead in the 32^nd minute. Schoneville played it into Gillies wide on the left of the penalty area and he hammered a shot that came back off the near post.

In the 35^th minute Boyle’s well-weighted pass switched play out to the left to find Schoneville in space. He knocked it inside to Gillies who feigned to shoot before switching inside only to see his eventual shot from 16 yards blocked by another defender.

Two minutes later a debatable offside call came to Ford’s rescue. Slooves pinged it up field to McAvoy who headed it down into the path of Clark. He switched play out left to find Gillies breaking in behind the defence but the assistant’s flag halted him in his tracks.

Hurlford had offered nothing going forward until the 39^th minute. Morrison got in behind down the right and fired it low back across goal where Armour saved with his feet at his near post.

In the 41^st minute Slooves played it into the feet of Wardrope who was racing forward until caught late by Miller resulting in a Bot free kick and a booking for the Ford midfielder. Boyle took the free kick and caught the defence cold with a well disguised pass out left to find Schoneville. He pulled it back across goal where Clark met it but sent his shot over the bar from a good area.

In the closing action of the half Hurlford won a free kick 22 yards out for a shove on McKenzie. Morrison took it but sent his shot straight into the wall and Talbot trooped off a goal to the good.

Talbot started the 2^nd half as strongly as they had the 1^st. Schoneville marauded up the the left winning a free kick wide of the area after being bundled over by McPherson. Wardrope took it and whipped over a great ball that McPherson met in the centre but his header flew straight at the keeper.

In the 49^th minute Clark got in behind down the right making it to the bye line before cutting it back low across goal. O’Connor shoved it out at his near post but unfortunately for Talbot they couldn’t get on the loose ball and the defence eventually cleared.

A minute later Boyle cracked a low drive on target from 16 yards that the keeper held; however the constant pressure paid off in the 51^st minute when Talbot were awarded a penalty. Schoneville lifted a ball over the defence to find Wardrope inside the penalty area and when McPherson took him down the ref pointed straight to the spot and booked the Hurlford player. CONNOR BOYD stepped up to take it and sent the keeper the wrong way to put Talbot 2-0 in front.

Hurlford now made a change with Watt on in place of McPherson.

The Bot came close to extending their lead in the 54^th minute. A shy from the left was met inside the area by McAvoy who touched it inside to Boyd whose right foot shot took a deflection en route as it flew just wide of the left hand post.

When Wardrope’s corner came over the defence failed to clear their lines and it broke to Slooves 12 yards out but he sliced his shot wide of target.

In the 56^th minute Clark sent it out wide right to find McAvoy and his deep cross sailed right across goal and just past the right hand post.

Hurlford now made a 2^nd change with Frew replacing Miller.

Talbot kept pressing and threatened again on the hour mark. Schoneville sent it wide to find Gillies who swept over a dangerous cross. The defence could only clear it as far as Clark whose low drive looked net bound but was blocked away by a defender.

A minute later Schoneville cut in off the left flank only to have his heels clipped by Watt who received a caution for the challenge. Wardrope took the free kick and tried to find McAvoy beyond the far post but got too much on it.

Hurlford won a free kick on the left touchline for Clark’s challenge on Kerr. Lidington took it and angled a cross toward the back post where R Robertson got his head on it but it sailed well up and over the bar.

The home side were now forced to make another change when Watt picked up a knock and had to hobble off to be replaced by Mackie.

In the 71^st minute a ball over the top caused panic in the Hurlford defence with O’Connor racing out his area to clear and he ended up colliding with Love before recovering to slice the ball out for a throw in.

With 13 minutes remaining Talbot made a triple change with McAvoy, Wardrope & Gillies making way for Abed, Sime & Kerr.

Abed & Kerr were involved straight away with Abed’s ball finding Kerr on the left of the penalty area where he drilled a dangerous ball across the face of goal toward the back post that just didn’t break Talbot’s way.

In the 78^th minute Mackie tried his luck from distance. His effort from 35 yards was well struck but always heading over.

Talbot now made a further change with Langan on for Clark.

Ten minutes from time Schoneville sent a hanging cross beyond the far post where Sime climbed above his marker to head over.

A minute later Talbot were back on the attack. Boyd sent it through for Abed on the left of the area who saw his effort well saved by O’Connor. Abed latched onto the rebound and cut it back into the heart of the box where it broke for Boyle who lashed a shot over from 16 yards.

The Bot’s next effort at goal came when Langan turned 25 yards out and fired it on the half-volley wide of target.

Down the other end McPherson did well to get back to slide it behind for a corner when Morrison was breaking down the left. Morrison took the corner short and played a one-two with Lidington before whipping a cross into the near post that Armour gathered.

Six minutes from time Talbot nearly grabbed another. Langan slipped a pass in behind the defence for Abed to chase and he beat O’Connor to it outside the box. The keeper did enough to force him wide and Abed rolled the ball back to the edge of the area where Kerr fired it just wide of the left hand post.

Hurlford had a half chance to pull one back in the 86^th minute. Morrison cut in off the left but ran into traffic and it appeared the danger was over; however, the ball broke loose into the path of Kerr who fired over the bar from 18 yards.

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

Hurlford pushed forward in the dying stages but to no avail and Talbot saw it out to claim all 3 points.

A very good afternoon for Talbot who pretty much dominated from the off and on another day may well have won by a tidier margin. Next up for Talbot it’s back to Beechwood in midweek where they host the defending champions Beith.

Hurlford United – O’Connor, Anderson, Lidington, Love, C Robertson, McPherson, McKenzie, Miller, R Robertson, Morrison, Kerr

Subs – Frew, Watt, Fisher, McKnight, Mackie, Dunnett, Brown

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, McPherson, Schoneville, Slooves, Wilson, Boyle, Wardrope, Gillies, Boyd, McAvoy, Clark

Subs – Abed, Sime, Glasgow, Langan, Kerr, Armstrong, Cameron (gk)