Report

A makeshift Talbot eleven were comfortably beaten by Bo’ness in this pre-season encounter at Beechwood.
The visitors took the lead in the 7th minute. A shy from the left found WRIGHT just outside the area turned he turned smartly before hitting a 1st time volley which flew over a surprised Hewitt into the roof of the net.
Bo’ness almost doubled their advantage in the 23rd min. Rod McLennan played it into the feet of Wright who laid the ball off into the path of Ruari McLennan. His low drive was heading inside the post until Hewitt dived low to his right to turn it wide.
Talbot’s 1st meaningful attack came in the 25th minute. Shankland squared it across for White & he drilled a shot inches wide of the right post.
The game meandered on without purpose in typical friendly fashion until 4 minutes before the interval when Bo’ness moved two ahead. A Bo’ness corner from the right was headed clear in the centre but only came out as far as WRIGHT whose shot from 15 yards crept past Hewitt with the aid of a deflection to send the visitors in 2-0 ahead at the interval.
The opening phase of the 2nd half passed without incident but when a chance did finally arrive it came for the visitors who should have moved three ahead in the 59th minute. Wright laid the ball out right to find Walker racing into space and his early cross found Ruari McLennan in the centre but he missed a sitter; side-footing it wide from 6 yards out.
Ritchie had a lucky escape in the 61st minute. Wilson was racing to get onto the end of Pope’s ball through the centre when the Bo’ness keeper flattened him outside the area. In a competitive game he might have seen red but the ref contented himself with awarding a free kick just outside the area. Shankland hit it, and his shot clipped the wall & sailed a cat’s whisker past the left post with the keeper beaten.
Talbot’s 1st effort on target came in the 68th minute. Wilson headed Hewitt’s long ball downfield into the path of Shankland & Ritchie had to turn his powerful drive over the bar.
A minute later Wilson came very close to pulling one back for Talbot. He turned on the left outside the area & curled a shot just wide of the left hand post.
Talbot were having a good spell but made and missed a few good chances in a short period.
Wilson nearly converted Pope’s cross at the back post and a few minutes later Wilson set up Shankland in the centre but he sclaffed his shot wide of the far post where McGoldrick couldn’t quite reach it to turn it home.
Wilson spurned a good chance to pull one back in the 74th minute. Shankland did well down the left & cut it back for Wilson but from 6 yard out he scooped it over the bar.
Bo’ness completed the scoring in the 76th minute. Talbot were caught napping at a short corner & Sloan slung a high hanging ball into the centre which MURPHY headed back across goal & inside the right post.
Talbot’s stretched squad was stretched thinner with 10 mins to go when Lyle picked up a facial knock & couldn’t continue, leading to a late cameo appearance from Tucker.
Next Saturday it’s down to business as Talbot visit Muirkirk for the opening game of the season.

Talbot – Hewitt, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, Boyle, Drummond, Michael McGoldrick, White, S Wilson, Shankland, Latta
Subs – Kirkpatrick, Sloan, Martin McGoldrick

Bo’ness – Ritchie, Gemmell, Donnelly, Murphy, Hunter, Ruari McLennan, Walker, Philp, Wright, Sloan, Rod McLennan
Subs – Eddington, Keast, Smith