Report

WARDROPE STRIKE SINKS GARTCAIRN

Report: Murray Steele, Photo’s: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

A depleted Talbot squad got back to winning ways with a one goal win away at Gartcairn.

The first threat of the afternoon came from the home side in the 7^th minute. Moore raced into the area down the right but Kerr did enough to hold him up before it was eventually cleared. Two minutes later Talbot came close down the other end. Thomson’s cross from the left was headed out by a defender and came straight to McAvoy whose first time volley flew just over the bar.

In the 9^th minute Caldwell slipped a pass down the wing to release McGowan in behind. He raced to the bye line and cut it back across the face of goal but there was no one at the back post to turn it home. Gartcairn had a half chance in the 12^th minute when Krol shot from a tight angle but his shot went wide of the left post.

The home side ought to have scored on the quarter hour mark. Wharton clipped a ball up the centre that found Moore racing clear of the defence but with only Armour to beat he steered his shot just wide of the left post in a let off for Talbot. Two mins later Talbot had a decent chance at the other end. Kerr lifted it down the left where McAvoy jousted for it in the air. He reacted first to the loose ball and prodded it through to find Thomson running in behind the defence. Cowie raced quickly off his line and blocked Thomson’s shot which came back off him and behind for the goal kick.

Cowie was called upon again in the 26^th minute when he made a top class save to deny Talbot the lead. Wardrope cut inside onto his right foot and curled a shot that looked destined for the net but Cowie managed to tip it over the crossbar. In the 33^rd minute McAvoy made tracks down the right and lifted a cross into the centre. It skipped off a defender’s head before finding Thomson who laid it back into the path of Wardrope. He met it sweetly on the volley but unfortunately his net bound effort was blocked by a defender. McAvoy went for the rebound and received a harsh yellow card.

In the 37^th minute Talbot were denied by the woodwork twice in quick succession. Wardrope hit a good early pass to release Nimmo down the right. He squared it across the area where McAvoy met it only to see his side-footed effort come back off the left hand post. It rebounded out to Sime on the left of the penalty area and his effort came off the outside of the right hand post. Talbot won a free kick in a good area in the 40^th minute. Schoneville headed the ball down into the path of McAvoy who was caught by Wharton just outside the penalty area. However, Talbot failed to make the most of it, Wardrope taking it short to Thomson who teed it back up for him but by the time he hit it he’d been closed down.

The Bot ended the half on the front foot but couldn’t find a way through and the half ended goal less.

Both sides came out unchanged for the 2^nd half but only five mins into the 2^nd period Gartcairn made a change with Thomson on for Caldwell. In the 52^nd minute Wardrope picked out the run of Nimmo down the right and he delivered a dangerous low ball across the face of goal where there were no takers and Wharton was able to clear. Hutton had his name taken in the 54^th minute for a professional foul as he hauled down Thomson to prevent him breaking forward.

The home side then threatened down their left when Thomson released McGowan on the overlap. He angled it across to the back post but no could get on the end of it. Talbot tested Cowie in the 56^th minute. Gartcairn failed to clear their lines allowing Sime to pounce on the loose ball just inside the left of the area. He carried it into the box and fired a low effort on target which Cowie smothered at the 2^nd attempt.A minute later Talbot had another chance. Sime fed the ball into the feet of Thomson inside the penalty area. He checked onto his right foot and drilled a low shot on target but it arrowed straight at the keeper.

In the 59^th minute McAvoy showed good strength to hold the ball up and lay it back into the path of Wardrope. He released Schoneville on the overlap and he swung over a dangerous cross that Wharton headed clear in the centre. Talbot had started the 2^nd half well but nearly found themselves behind in the 61^st minute. Clark’s pass through the centre was intercepted and a quick ball down the right released McGowan. He raced into the penalty area but couldn’t beat Armour who’d come out to narrow the angle and make the block. Clark swept the rebound behind for a corner. When the corner came over from the right Hutton met it but steered his header over the bar.

The Bot’s next attack saw McAvoy’s cross from the left of the area met by Nimmo. He helped it on to Thomson who met it at a tight angle and fired it back across goal where it was cleared.In the 65^th minute Lockie chipped it over the defence looking to find Moore running in behind but Schoneville got back to nod it back to Armour.

Krol then had his name taken for a foul on Boyle. Talbot now made a change with Mitchell coming on for Nimmo.

The change paid off soon after when Talbot took the lead in the 69^th minute. Thomson’s ball over the top found Mitchell racing clear down the right. He burst into the area and cut in on his left and fired a low shot on target. Cowie made the block but was helpless to prevent MICHAEL WARDROPE from passing the rebound into the net.

Gartcairn made a further change in the 71^st minute with McDonald on in place of Wharton. In the 77^th minute Clark played in Thomson down the right. He hit the bye line and whipped a cross back into the centre which the defence were able to head clear.With 9 mins remaining Gartcairn made their final change with Simeone replacing Mitchell.In the 83^rd minute Lockie slid a pass down the left to find McGowan bursting forward but Clark recovered well to get back and put it behind for the corner.

Five mins from time Lockie swept over a cross from the left toward the back post which was headed clear. It came to Thomson on the right of the area but he shot tamely at Armour. Gartcairn were pushing forward looking for a leveller but Talbot held firm and as the game moved into added time Thomson was taken out in a last man challenge by Lockie. The ball broke forward into the path of McAvoy who only had the keeper to beat but the ref pulled it back and showed Lockie a straight red. Talbot barely had time to take the free kick before the ref blew for full time.

Another three points on the road for Talbot who are back in action in midweek when they host Largs Thistle in the league.

Gartcairn – Cowie, Wood, Lockie, Wharton, Caldwell, Hutton, Krol, Mitchell, Moore, McGowan, Barr. Subs – Thomson, McDonald, Simeone

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Schoneville, Kerr, Wilson, Sime, Boyle, Wardrope, McAvoy, Nimmo, Thomson Subs – Mitchell, Langan, Slooves, Scott, Darnbrough