Report

SECOND HALF DISPLAY SINKS THE “HI HI”

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

A strong 2^nd half and a Connor Boyd hat-trick did the job for Talbot as they beat Haddington 4-1 to progress into the 1^st round draw of the Senior Scottish.

Talbot started brightly forcing a couple of early corners but failed to make the most of them.

There was nothing for either keeper to do in the early exchanges and the first effort on target came in the 15^th minute when the home side won a free kick 22 yards out for a foul on Davies. He took it himself but his shot lacked any power and ended up a passback at Armour.

Two minutes later Talbot took the lead. Abed swung over a good cross from the left which KYLE MCAVOY met in the centre to plant a low header past Stirling.

Unfortunately Talbot couldn’t build on the opener and gradually the home side came more into it without really troubling the Talbot goal.

In the 28^th minute Davies cut in off the left and hit a low drive for goal but it was blocked by a defender.

Schoneville had his name taken in the 32^nd minute for a foul on Kennedy. The free kick was swept over to the back post where Wilson headed it behind for the corner and when the corner came over Slooves headed it clear.

In the 42^nd minute Talbot nearly doubled their lead. Abed caught Russell in possession just inside his own half and spotting the keeper off his line went for the early shot which sailed just over the bar with the keeper scrambling back.

Just when it looked as though Talbot were going to go in ahead at the break Haddington equalised with a quality strike. After a bout of headie tennis Talbot failed to clear it and the ball landed at the feet of KENNEDY 20 yards out and he gave Armour no chance with a shot that curled just inside the right post to send the sides in 1-1 at the interval.

Talbot made a positive start to the 2^nd half with Gillies cutting in off the left flank and angling a dangerous ball across goal that Aitchison cleared over his own crossbar. The resultant corner was over hit and went out for a shy. A few minutes later Boyd won Talbot a corner down the left but this time it was headed clear at the near post.

Haddington had a half chance in the 55^th minute. Davies came inside onto his right foot but pulled his shot wide of target.

The Bot regained the lead in the 57^th minute. McAvoy’s head flick found Wardrope inside the penalty area. He cut in past Russell and squared it across to CONNOR BOYD who drilled it low back across goal and into the bottom corner.

The next goal was going to be crucial and Talbot nearly grabbed it on the hour mark. Boyd’s header on found McAvoy in behind the defence and he took it first time but the keeper did well to get a hand to it to deflect it wide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stirling came to Haddington’s rescue again 2 minutes later. A long ball over the defence found Boyd racing into the area but the keeper was quickly off his line to dive at his feet and retrieve the situation.

Talbot now made their first change of the match with Clark coming on for McAvoy.

The home side came close twice in quick succession to levelling the tie. A ball through the centre found Windram racing between the central defenders but he got the ball stuck between his feet and couldn’t continue on into the box. Talbot were unable to clear their lines and the ball was shifted out left to Davies who jinked inside and angled a low drive at goal that Armour brilliantly turned around the left post.

When the corner came over Talbot failed to clear it and it came to Davies out on the left. He cut it back into the path of Simpson who drilled a powerful shot on target which was again well stopped by Armour.

Tucker now made a triple substitution to freshen things up with Schoneville, Abed & Wardrope making way for Kerr, Smith & Langan.

In the 77^th minute Talbot got the crucial 3^rd goal to put the tie beyond Haddington. Haddingt

on were guilty of being ponderous in defence & Smith punished them when he nicked it off Aitchison inside the box and laid it across goal for CONNOR BOYD to tap home from close range.

Haddington now made a double change with Aitchison & Bathgate making way for Tait & McGarrey.

With 10 minutes remaining Talbot made it 4-1. Smith slipped the ball through the defence to find CONNOR BOYD and he stroked it past the keeper to complete a 2^nd half hat-trick.

Talbot now made a further change with Sime on for Boyle.

Six minutes from time Langan curled over a cross from the left that nearly went straight in but just sailed beyond the far post.

The Bot’s next attack saw Smith in on goal but he took a fresh air swipe at it and the keeper was able to gather it.

In the final minute of regulation time Gillies drilled a low ball across the face of goal where the keeper beat Smith to it but couldn’t hold it. The ball broke loose to Clark but Stirling recovered quickly and managed to smother it.

In added time Talbot had a couple of chances to add to their tally. A good move down the right between Smith, Clark & Boyd ended with Clark shoving the ball wide to Boyd who fired wide from a tight angle.

Deep into injury time Smith raced onto a ball in behind the defence only to see his low strike well saved by Stirling’s outstretched leg.

A good win for Talbot in the end with a few wobbles on the way. Next up Talbot are back at home in the Scottish Junior cup where they host Lossiemouth United.

Haddington Athletic – Stirling, C Robertson, King, Reid, Aitchison, Russell, Simpson, Bathgate, Windram, Davies, Kennedy

Subs – Tait, Peffers, M Robertson, McGarrey, Thomas, Rose, McLellan (gk)

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

Subs – Smith, Sime, Nimmo, Langan, Clark, Kerr, Hanlon, Cameron (gk)