Report

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot dug deep to grind out a win in a match where the Bot struggled to find their touch.

The first half was more or less a nonevent. Nine minutes in and Talbot had one of the half’s rare chances. A corner from the right was met by Hyslop at the back post but his header bounced wide of the right post.

In the 20th minute Stephen Wilson whipped a great cross over from the right touchline but Hyslop just failed to connect in the centre.

Kilbirnie had a chance on the counter in the 36th minute. Stephen Wilson lost the ball cheaply allowing the Blasties to break down the left. Play was switched to Finlay on the right of the penalty area but he fell over in the box; the 1st of Kilbirnie’s two cautions for woeful dives.

The closest either side came to a goal in the 1st half was Armstrong’s mis-hit cross that sailed just over Wilton’s bar in the 39th minute.

Both sides looked a bit livelier after the break and it was the visitors who carried the early threat. Ramsay threatened to burst through the defence in the 48th minute but Lyle read the danger & got across in time to clear the danger.

A minute later the Blasties squandered a decent opening. McGill lifted in a good cross from the left to find Ramsay unmarked 8 yards out but he mis-timed his jump and thee ball skited off the top of his head.

Talbot put together a good move in the 53rd minute. Armstrong found Glasgow & he slid it out right to Stephen Wilson as he burst inside the box but his shot sailed high & wide.

Finally Talbot had come to life & a minute later Glasgow skipped past a couple of challenges before releasing the ball to McIlroy on the left of the area; however his shot failed to test the keeper.

An error at the back almost proved costly soon after. McCracken sclaffed a clearance that ended up spinning to Finlay on the left of the box. He laid it back to Scullion whose lob clipped the top of the bar on the way over.

Talbot now began to exert some concerted pressure & pegged Kilbirnie back for the first time. In the 64th minute Hyslop directed a header wide of target and two minutes later Samson cut in off the left into the box and fired over the bar.

Tucker made a change on 67 mins with Graham Wilson on in place of McIlroy.

A minute later Wilton produced a fine save to keep out Glasgow’s 20 yard half volley at the expense of a corner. When the corner came over Pope met it at the back stick & laid it back into the path of McCracken who mis-hit his shot from 8 yards out.

The crucial goal came in the 72 minute. Graham Wilson’s persistence paid off as he chased what looked to be a lost cause to force a corner off Wood down the left. Glasgow delivered a quality ball over to the back post where DWAYNE HYSLOP decisively headed it home.

Two minutes after taking the lead Talbot faced a free kick in a dangerous area. Armstrong hauled McGill down 25 yards out allowing Scullion the chance from the set play. He hit it well enough but his shot clattered into the top of the wall & Talbot were able to clear.
In the 78th minute McGill had his name taken after he indulged in a spot of wrestling with Lyle.

Talbot now made a further change with McDowall coming on for Glasgow.

Wilton was called into action again in the 82nd minute. The Blasties failed to clear a Talbot corner & the Bot were able to work it to Lyle on the overlap. He whipped in a dangerous cross that Wilton did well to punch clear under pressure from Samson. The ball came out to Graham Wilson at the edge and his volley was blocked by a defender.

Talbot were on top but unable to grab the 2nd goal needed to seal the win and as time ran out Kilbirnie threw bodies forward and went route one in an attempt to salvage a point.

In the final minute of regulation time a free kick was lumped into the Talbot goal mouth where Leishman punched it clear. It came out to Anderson who dinked it back into the box where Talbot made a meal of clearing their lines. The ball eventually broke to Ramsay on the left 15 yards out but he collapsed like a pack of cards with no one near him & rightly received a yellow card for simulation.

Soon after the final whistle sounded and it was job done and another 3 points to Talbot in their quest to claim the league title. Next up for Talbot it is a table topping clash as the Bot entertain a resurgent Hurlford at Beechwood with Talbot looking to narrow the gap the top.

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

Subs – McDowall, Graham Wilson, Waite, Kemp, White

Kilbirnie Ladeside – Wilton, Wood, Mitchell, Juskowiak, Hughes, McGuinness, Finlay, Anderson, Ramsay, Scullion, McGill

Subs – McVey, Rafferty, Gray, O’Byrne