Report

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Sometimes it’s just not your night, and despite a 2^nd half fight back Talbot came up a touch short as Beith won to strengthen their grip on the league title.

The game got off to a lively start in front of the bumper crowd with Beith winning a free kick out wide right following Wardrope’s challenge on Monti. Rossiter swung it into the centre where it was cleared and Talbot broke forward through Mason who sped down the right but his final ball across was too near Stott who smothered it.

In the 11^th minute Boylan got away down the left and played it across goal but there were no takers in the centre.

The opener came in the 12^th minute and it came Beith’s way. Taylor tried to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick but Monk nipped in and when Taylor caught him the referee pointed to the spot. MCGLINCHEY stepped up and gave Leishman no chance as he lashed it inside the left post.

Two minutes later Talbot won a free kick midway inside the Beith half when Rossiter held back Wardrope. Talbot worked the free kick short and played it out to Wardrope on the left. His cross was headed clear but came to Armstrong who dinked a cross beyond the far post to find Boylan and his side-footer from a tight angle was held by Stott.

Talbot’s next attack saw then win a corner down the right that was taken quickly to Taylor. He whipped a great ball in toward Mason but it was well-defended and headed over their own bar by a defender for a 2^nd corner. This one came over from the left and was head flicked on at the near post and came to Boylan who headed over.

Disaster struck for Talbot in the 19^th minute when they conceded a cheap 2^nd goal. Monti played a ball over the top that skidded off the top of Stafford’s head and with Leishman coming off his line it fell straight to MONK who had the simple task of passing it into the empty net.

The 2^nd goal rocked Talbot back on their heels and the visitors threatened again in the 26^th minute. A shy from the right found Frize who turned his man before drilling a ball across the face of goal that only needed a touch.

Two minutes later Talbot nearly got back into it via a slice of fortune. Mason gathered out on the right touchline and swung over a cross that was dipping just under the bar until Stott tipped it over. When Wardrope’s corner came in low from the left Samson met it and side-footed on target but Stott made the save.

Frize had his name taken in the 34^th minute for dissent although why he was complaining was unclear as it was a free kick for Beith.

Five minutes from the interval Talbot were guilty of being shot shy when Boylan got free on the left and delivered a good cut back into the path of Boyle. He had the space to hit it from 19 yards but opted instead to shift it to the right to pick out Wardrope. He delivered a dangerous cross into the centre but the defence headed clear under pressure.

A minute later Armstrong was cautioned for a challenge on Monti.

Talbot had a let off soon after when Monti cut in off the right and laid it back into the path of Rossiter who curled a shot well over from a good position and the sides left the field with Beith in a commanding position.

There were no changes at the interval but Talbot started the 2^nd half with the greater intensity and Monti found his name in the book two minutes after the re-start for time-wasting.

The Talbot fans were left annoyed in the 51^st minute when Taylor had his heels clipped and fell to the turf with the ref waving play on but fortunately Beith weren’t able to make anything of it.

In the 56^th minute Mason found Boylan on the left of the penalty area and his low drive was deflected wide for a corner. When Wardrope’s corner came in the defence headed out and it came to Taylor on the left whose cross to the back post just eluded Boylan.

Two minutes later Talbot won a free kick 30 yards out following a foul on Wardrope. Samson touched it off to Wardrope whose shot took a slight deflection en route and was comfortably held by Stott.

Talbot had a half chance in the 61^st minute when Taylor won a corner down the right. When the corner came in Wilson had a chance to hit it but miscued it.

Two minutes later Talbot had another opportunity. Taylor swept a good low ball in off the right that Boylan couldn’t reach at the near post. It came across to Mason who teed it back toward Wilson who blazed over the bar from 15 yards.

In the 65^th minute Wardrope laid it out to Boylan on the right and when he fired it low across goal it was deflected behind for a corner. When the corner came over Samson glanced a header wide of target.

Talbot’s persistence paid off in the 69^th minute when they pulled one back. Boyle gathered on the right and hit a low ball into the area. The defence didn’t clear their lines and the ball broke out to GARETH ARMSTRONG 22 yards out and he sent a screamer past Stott and inside the left post to make it 2-1.

Beith hadn’t shown much in the 2^nd half but they had a chance to extend their lead in the 71^st minute. A ball over the top saw Rossiter beat the offside trap and make it into the area but his low drive was easily held by Leishman.

A minute later at the other end Mason dribbled into the Beith box down the left and had a chance to hit it but opted for the pass and the move fizzled out.

The Bot players and fans all appealed loudly, but in vain, for a penalty in the 74^th minute. Taylor’s cross from the right came across a defender who appeared to control it with his arm before clearing but the officials waved play on.

With quarter of an hour left Wardrope fired a good ball across goal from the right that Mason latched onto but his drive for target was blocked on its way by a defender.

Twelve mins from time Beith won a free kick 30 yards out wide on the right when McPherson was penalised for a shoulder charge on Rossiter. This was Rossiter’s last involvement as he left to be replaced by Langan. The free kick was swept low into the box where Frize met it but his effort lacked any power.

Talbot now made their first change with Graham Wilson on for Boylan.

In the 82^nd minute Graham Wilson picked up a yellow card when he caught Hughes and he was joined in the book moments later by McPherson.

Beith now made another change with Burns on for Monti.

Three minutes from time Talbot made a 2^nd change with Smith on for Wardrope and the sub nearly paid off a minute later when Smith’s pass sent Taylor free on the right and his low ball into the near post was met by Samson who saw his effort brilliantly saved by Stott.

As the game moved into added time Talbot kept pressing and Boyle tried his luck from 30 yards – hitting a good effort on target that Stott held.

With seconds to go Talbot were denied a stonewall penalty. Taylor tried to break along the byline only to be upended by McGlinchey but the ref and his assistant gave nothing and soon after blew up for full-time.

A disappointing result but a decent performance with Talbot leaving themselves too much to do after gifting a two goal lead. There’s no time for Talbot to dwell on it though as they’re back in action this Wednesday night when they host Troon in the league.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Taylor, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Stafford, Armstrong, Boyle, Wardrope, Mason, Boylan, Samson

Subs – Smith, Lennox, Sinnamon, Graham Wilson, Ballantyne, Crawford, Park

Beith – Stott, McGlinchey, Noble, Rough, O’Neill, Hughes, Monti, Frize, Fowler, Rossiter, Monk

Subs – Docherty, Burns, Watt, Scullion, Langan, Barclay, McKinvey (gk)