Report

A goal in each half was enough for Talbot to triumph in this festive friendly, but like their competitive season the scoreline could have been a lot higher if they had cashed in on the numerous chances that they fashioned throughout the game.

There was a few tweeks to the starting line-up with Brian Hewitt replacing Andy Leishman in nets, while Martin McGoldrick moved to right back and Neil McPherson slotted in beside Danny Boyle. James Latta was handed a start after a couple of months on the injury list while Dylan Pooler and Dylan Stevenson were given the nod.

Talbot were quick off the mark and in 2 minutes Steven Wilson threaded Keir Milliken through on goals but the stand-side linesman was quick to flag. Winton were looking rather dangerous up the right hand side and when a long weighted ball was sent into the Talbot area Hewitt who had came out his box to clear the danger actually fluffed his kick which fell to Caddis who’s 35 yard first time shot blew well past the empty net.

Talbot were having the better of the opening stages and on numerous occasions they had the home side well pinned back. Dwayne Hyslop  had a couple of decent chances but ballooned a shot well over and did the same with a Stevenson cross. You could sense that Talbot were going to open the scoring and this came about on the 33rd minute when Steven Wilson picked out the unmarked Gordon Pope and he rifled a daisy cutter past Mullen from 25 yards.

Near the end of the first half Talbot squandered two good chances when Milliken pounced on a defensive error which broke to Stevenson but he had little chance to control the ball and Mullen did well to block the danger. Right on the half time whistle Pooler should have scored when he darted into the box to collect a through ball but shot straight into the keepers midriff.

Graham Wilson replaced Keir Milliken at half time and seven minutes later Shankland and McCracken came on for Latta and Hyslop. A minute after the substitutions Colligan blew a great chance for the home side when he cut in from the right but hurried his shot past Hewitt and well past the target. This was the last we saw of the home side as an attacking force and on the 65th minute Craig McCracken doubled the scoreline when a drop of the shoulder got him enough space to hammer the ball low past Mullen.

The game finished with Talbot camped around the home goalmouth and two decent chances fell to Shankland. One when he was crowded out by the defense before he got a shot off and another when he did get the ball on target but shot tamely into the hands of the keeper. With minutes remaining Graham Wilson was unlucky to add to the scoring when he ghosted into the area leaving three players in his wake but his finished effort was poorly hit and the keeper saved easily.

TALBOT: Hewitt, McGoldrick, Pope, McPherson, Boyle, S.Wilson, Stevenson, Hyslop (McCracken 52), Pooler, Milliken (G.Wilson 45), Latta (Shankland 52). Sub not used Lyle.