Report

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAYS REPORT

Talbot booked their place in the 5th round of the Scottish Junior cup with a commanding away win over Blantyre Victoria.

The Bot couldn’t have asked for a better start, taking the lead seconds after kick off without Blantyre touching the ball. Sean McIlroy played it to Stephen Wilson who fed the ball up the wing where McIlroy had continued his run. He lifted a cross to the back post where GRAHAM WILSON headed home from close range.

The Bot came close to doubling their lead in the 2nd minute. McIlroy lifted a cross over from the left wing which Hylsop headed back across goal. It was heading on target but it was cleared out the goal mouth by a defender.

It was nonstop pressure in the early stages and the Vics defence had another close call in the 4th minute. Stephen Wilson won a corner down the right & when Glasgow fired it in low to the near post Stephen Wilson flicked it across goal where it was scrambled clear. It only came out as far as Pope whose shot from just inside the area was blocked on its way through to goal.

11 minutes in & Talbot ought to have doubled their advantage.. Trainor produced a superb stop to deny McIlroy when he flew to his right to palm away his strike from 20 yards. The rebound came to Glasgow 8 yards out & he cannoned his shot off the bar.

The gluey surface was making it difficult for both sides and play got bogged down for a spell in midfield.

Talbot’s next attack came in the 21st minute. Stephen Wilson gathered the ball inside his own half & raked an early ball down the right to send Graham Wilson clear. He squared it across toward the waiting McIlroy but Campbell got there first to clear the danger.

Glasgow very nearly got the Bot’s 2nd in the 24th minute. McIlroy nicked possession just outside the area & shoved the ball through to Glasgow on the left of the box. He knocked it wide of the advancing Trainor & flicked it goal ward from a tight angle but Law was on hand to clear inside the right post.

Hughes became the first man booked when he received a caution after 28 mins for a late challenge on Stephen Wilson.

Trainor had a lucky escape two minutes later. The Bot won a free kick out on the right that Pope bent toward the back post. The keeper came to claim it but missed it completely & it sailed just wide of the far post.

Next up for Talbot was McIlroy. Glasgow whipped a great cross over from the right onto his head but he couldn’t generate enough power to beat Trainor.

Coleman became the 2nd Blantyre player in the book when he was cautioned for dissent after conceding a foul on Hyslop.

Talbot’s set pieces were causing havoc in the home defence & the Bot had a half chance in the 38th minute following a corner from the right. Glasgow’s cross was headed back by Hyslop, the defence failed to clear, and it broke to McCracken whose effort was blocked.
In the final minute of the half Talbot almost fluked a second. Trainor showed quick reactions to dive low to his left to prevent a deflected cross from sneaking into the bottom corner & so for all Talbot’s pressure they only went in a goal ahead at the interval.

The 2nd half started off much as the 1st had finished with Talbot on the front foot & the home side labouring to cope with set pieces. Three minutes after the re-start Hyslop was unlucky not to add to Talbot’s lead when he met a corner from the right & flicked it for goal only to see Jones clear it off the line.

A minute later McCracken received a caution for a trip inside the Blantyre half.

Talbot grabbed their 2nd of the afternoon in the 53rd minute. Glasgow played it down the line to McIlroy who in turn sent GRAHAM WILSON through one on one with the keeper. He took it round Trainor before rolling it into the empty net to make it 2-0.

Talbot continued to get joy from cross balls and their next effort at goal came in the 59th minute when Hyslop climbed well to meet Pope’s cross but sent his header wide of the right post.

Blantyre were forced into a change on the hour mark when Hughes limped off to be replaced by Connelly.

Tucker made his first change in the 67th minute with McDowall on in place of Hyslop.

Blantyre now had their first shot on target when MacDonald gathered out on the left & fired on target from 20 yards but it went straight at Leishman.

The home side now made a 2nd switch with Henderson coming on for Kerr and Tucker responded soon after; completing Talbot’s changes with a double substitution, Samson & Kemp replacing Graham Wilson & McIlroy up front.

Boyle came close to reducing the deficit in the 74th min when he latched onto a clearance & fired a low drive just wide of the right post from 25 yards.

Talbot then immediately went down the field and made it 3-0. Samson’s head flick found JAMIE GLASGOW running in behind the defence & he steadied himself before slotting a left foot shot past the keeper.

Three minutes later Talbot had an opportunity to extend their lead. Pope knocked it into the feet of Samson & he spun his marker to create the space before firing a shot across goal & wide of the left post.

Connelly had a chance to grab a consolation effort with 10 mins remaining when Boyle’s pass sent him through on the right of the area but he hurried his shot & blasted it well wide of the left post.

Three minutes later Blantyre were unlucky twice in quick succession. A corner from the left was headed on target & Lyle had to clear it off the line at the right post. The ball came out to Boyle at the edge of the area & his shot was heading into the roof of the net til Leishman tipped it over the bar.

As the game entered the closing stages it was Talbot back on the attack & Talbot nearly got their 4th in the 89th minute. Glasgow won the ball inside the Blantyre half & slotted a pass through to Kemp on the edge of the box. Trainor did well to dive to his left to palm away Kemp’s net bound shot & then Jones reacted smartly to slide in & block Samson’s follow up behind for the corner.

Deep into injury time Talbot grabbed their 4th goal to complete the scoring. A pass down the left sent JAMIE GLASGOW through & although Trainor got a slight hand to his low drive he couldn’t prevent it from landing inside the near post.

A good win for the Bot in testing conditions & they’ve earned a home draw against Rutherglen Glencairn in the last 16. Next up for Talbot it is back to league duties as they travel through to Blair Park looking to close the gap on runaway leaders Hurlford.

Blantyre Victoria – Trainor, Law, Jones, Campbell, Coleman, Caldwell, Kerr, Boyle, Hughes, MacDonald, Zeb

Subs – Henderson, Allan, Connelly

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Stephen Wilson, Hyslop, Armstrong, McIlroy, Graham Wilson, Glasgow

Subs – Samson, Kemp, McDowall, White, Hewitt