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PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

Talbot booked their place in the 3^rd round draw for the William Hill Scottish cup thanks to a couple of late goals which was enough to see off Preston at Pennypit park.

The breeze was in the home side’s favour in the first half and it was Preston who made the early running. They won a free kick in the 3^rd minute about 30 yards out on the left which Archibald hit for goal rather than crossing but his shot went straight at Leishman.

A minute later Talbot had a chance down the other end. The Preston defence didn’t cope with Samson’s long throw in from the right and it broke out to Boylan who squared it for Graham Wilson who fired at the keeper from 15 yards.

Seven minutes in a sloppy corner kick saw Talbot turn attack into defence. Healy’s corner from the left was easily cleared at the near post and the hosts raced onto the counter-attack; releasing Grotlin down the left but McPherson read it & got across to make the tackle.

Talbot almost took the lead in the 12^th minute. Samson won a corner on the right and when the ball came over Armstrong met it only to see his header deflected just past Newman’s right post.

The Bot put themselves under pressure again in the 20^th minute when Healy’s pass was intercepted in midfield allowing Preston to counter down the left. Once again McPherson was on hand to get across and beat Grotlin to it and put it out for a shy.

Preston were dealt a blow in the 23^rd minute when they went down to 10 men. Aiden Wilson conceded a free kick in the centre for a foul on Currie but the Preston midfielder reacted angrily, getting into Wilson’s face, and was sent off for foul language.

The loss of a man didn’t make any immediate impact and the game was at a stalemate; with neither side really threatening in the final third. Preston won a free kick 30 yards out following a clumsy challenge by Hyslop which Archibald took but Leishman wasn’t called upon as it sailed a yard over the bar.

The home side had a let off in the 33^rd minute. A ball up the right saw Boylan race clear in behind the defence and he drilled it across goal where Samson met it at the near post but it clipped the outside of the post and went behind.

As half time approached Talbot began to exert some pressure but without creating too much; although Talbot did have a gilt edged chance in the 43^rd minute. Boylan released Aiden Wilson on the left and his shot was blocked behind for the corner. When it came over McCracken raced onto it but glanced a free header wide of target from 6 yards out and the sides went in goal less at the break.

Tucker made a change at the interval with Jamie Glasgow coming on in place of Armstrong.

The Bot had an early chance soon after the re-start when a ball up the left found Boylan racing into the area but his shot was well saved by Newman.

Preston made their first change in the 52^nd minute when Young replaced Jack.

Leishman didn’t have the busiest of afternoons but he did well when called upon in the 55^th minute. A cross into the area was headed clear by McCracken but only came as far as Archibald whose low drive was held by Leishman low to his left.

Talbot threatened down the other end in the 56^th minute when they won a free kick out on the left. The home defence cleared it but it was quickly knocked back into the box where Hylsop headed it down to Boylan and Newman had to be alert to halt his drive from 15 yards that skipped up off the surface.

Two minutes later Talbot were back on the attack. Healy slid a good ball down the right channel that found Glasgow racing into the penalty area but he fired wide of target under pressure from a defender.

With 68 minutes gone Tucker made a double switch with Boylan & Hyslop making way for Shankland & Boyd.

In the 72^nd minute Shankland cut in off the left and tried his luck from 25 yards but his shot sailed over the crossbar.

Talbot had a real chance to grab the opener in the 76^th minute. Aiden Wilson pinged over a great cross from the left that found Samson free 10 yards out but he glanced his header well wide.

However two minutes later Talbot took the lead. Graham Wilson gathered midway inside the Preston half and tried to slide a ball through to Samson. The defender cleared it but the ball came to JAMIE GLASGOW who took a touch before rifling a left foot shot wide of the keeper & inside the left post from 22 yards.

The goal lifted Talbot & demoralised Preston with the Bot pushing hard for a 2^nd to kill the tie off and it duly came in the 83^rd minute. Stafford’s cross from the right was headed toward goal by Graham Wilson and KEIR SAMSON beat the keeper to it to head it over him and into the empty net.

Twice in the closing minutes Talbot came close to adding to their tally. In the 87^th minute Stafford played Glasgow in down the right and he skipped inside Innes before firing fractionally wide of the left post.

As the game headed into injury time Samson came in off the left & drilled a low shot from 20 yards that clipped the outside of the right post.

A good away win for Talbot, who weren’t at their best, but did enough on the day. Next up Talbot are back on the road, this time in the Scottish Junior cup where they travel across East Ayrshire to face Craigmark next Saturday.

Preston Athletic – Newman, Austin, Innes, O’Connor, O’Prior, Currie, Jack, Archibald, Grotlin, Malloy,

Somers

Subs – Forsyth, Young, McNeill, Hamilton, McCoolie, Stokes

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Armstrong, Healy, Hyslop, Graham Wilson, Boylan, Samson

Subs – Glasgow, Shankland, Boyd, Mason, Lyle, McDowall, White, Hewitt, Robbie McCracken