Report

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT.

Talbot produced their best performance of the season to date to blow away in form Clydebank in this entertaining league encounter.

The Bot nearly got off to a nightmare start. In the 4th minute McPherson slipped on the greasy surface when he went to head clear & as he lost his footing the ball skipped off his head & straight to the feet of Little who was through one on one with Leishman. Fortunately for Talbot, Little looked the gift horse in the mouth & Leishman stood tall to make the block at the expense of a corner. Talbot now had a second let off when the corner was only cleared out as far as Hepburn. He had the time & space to measure his shot from the edge of the box & curled an effort just over the bar.

Clydebank had started well & the next effort at goal came their way after 10 minutes. They won a free kick out on the left which McIndoe swirled to the back post where Vezza headed wide of the far post.

Talbot’s first real threat came in the 13th minute via a set piece. Graham Wilson was fouled out on the left & Shankland whipped a dangerous delivery into the centre that Darroch did well to head clear.

A minute later Glasgow skipped inside off the right & drilled a low shot wide of the left post.

Rowan conceded a free kick within shooting distance in the 16th minute for a foul on Shankland and received the first caution of the afternoon into the bargain. Shankland took it & fired a low drive wide of the wall but straight at Waters.

Two minutes later Talbot won another free kick in a promising area when Vezza tripped Graham Wilson just outside the area. Again Shankland took it but he sent his shot straight into the wall.

Sean Higgins became the 2nd Bankies player in the notebook when he was cautioned for a late challenge on White.

Glasgow came close to giving Talbot the lead in the 24th minute. White headed a ball on inside the box to Glasgow who turned smartly before shooting just wide of the left post.

Moments later Talbot threatened again. McDowall broke up field & released the ball to Graham Wilson on the left. He hammered a low drive across the face of goal that Waters got a hand to as it sped out for a corner.

Talbot’s purple patch continued and they were on the front foot again in the 27th minute. McDowall feeding it out to Pope on the overlap & Darroch had to be at full stretch to clear his ball into the centre.

The visitors had a promising break in the 33rd minute. McClair raced away down the left & cut inside into the penalty area but it ended tamely with a weak shot trundled at Leishman.

The game was now swinging back Clydebank’s way & they gave the home support a fright in the 38th minute. Sean Higgins out-muscled McPherson as they chased a ball up the right & got into a good area before firing a dangerous ball across the 6-yard area that was just beyond the reach of Steven Higgins in front of goal.

Both sides kept at it in the closing stages of the half but neither side could make a breakthrough and they went in goal less at the interval.

The first goal was going to prove crucial and the Bankies had an opportunity to break the deadlock in the 52nd minute. Steven Higgins went on a mazy run into the box but instead of shooting he opted to square it to Hepburn & Talbot were able to clear.

Talbot put together a good move in the 55th minute. Glasgow played it onto Shankland & he swept a ball across the box to McDowall at the far post. He laid it inside to White who side-footed it wide of the left post.

Two minutes later and Talbot took the lead. Leishman lifted it down the left & Shankland took a great 1st touch, controlling the ball instantly & striding clear down the wing before sliding the ball into the centre where GRAHAM WILSON swept a low shot beyond Waters.

Tucker now made a change with Kemp coming on in place of Glasgow.

Talbot took firm control of the match when they doubled their advantage on the hour mark. Graham Wilson won a free kick right on the edge of the area which Shankland slid out wide to Harvey. He was clipped by Hepburn and the ref pointed straight to the spot. GRAHAM WILSON took the penalty & couldn’t have hit it any better, blazing it into the top corner of the net to make it 2-0.

Clydebank were rattled and their defence opened up again in the 63rd minute when they failed to cope with a ball down the centre. Kemp swiped at his first attempt but got fully behind his second bite of the cherry forcing Waters to turn his fierce drive over the bar.

The visitors had a half chance to reduce the deficit in the 66th minute. Waters long ball down the left broke out to Steven Higgins & he lashed a shot wide of the left post from 20 yards.

Tucker now made a second change with Hyslop replacing McDowall.

Hyslop made an early impact from the bench, sliding a pass through to Graham Wilson on the left & his low ball across the 6-yard area eluded Waters but there was no one at the back post to turn it home.

Talbot effectively killed the tie as a contest in the 74th minute when they moved 3-0 ahead.

Shankland gathered on the left & skipped past the challenge of Lightbody to the bye line before cutting the ball across goal where GRAHAM WILSON slammed it home from close range at the back post.

The Bankies had a chance to grab a consolation in the 76th minute. Steven Higgins raced onto a ball in behind the defence but was forced wide by the advancing Leishman. He laid it back to Sean Higgins whose shot was blocked & it spun back to Steven Higgins who fired a shot just over from 15 yards.

Talbot now made their final change of the afternoon with Armstrong coming on for Steven Wilson.

Little became the 3rd Bankies player to be cautioned when he received a yellow card in the 78th minute for a late challenge on White.

Talbot weren’t content to sit on their lead and as the game entered the last 10 minutes they pegged Clydebank back, forcing a series of corners. The home fans thought Talbot had won a 2nd penalty in the 81st minute when Kemp looked to be downed as he burst into the box but the referee awarded a free kick right on the edge of the area. Shankland angled a low drive toward goal that Darroch slid in to put over his own bar.

When the corner came over from the right HYSLOP rose unchallenged to power a header home to make it 4-0 to the Bot.

As the game moved into injury time Talbot had one final chance. Shankland nutmegged Lightbody on the left & headed into the box before lobbing the ball just over the bar.

A comfortable win in the end for Talbot who now return to cup duty on Monday night when they host Whitletts Vics in the quarter-finals of the Sectional cup.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, McPherson, S Wilson, White, McDowall, G Wilson, Glasgow, Shankland

Subs – Kemp, McIlroy, Hyslop, Armstrong, McCracken

Clydebank – Waters, Lightbody, McIndoe, Vezza, Darroch, Little, McClair, Sean Higgins, Steven Higgins, Rowan, Hepburn

Subs – Alexander, Asghar, Paterson, Black, Morrison (gk)