Report

SHOT SHY TALBOT PUNISHED AGAIN

Report: Murray Steele, Media: Lee Conn, Photography: Craig McGhee

Talbot’s faltering start to the season continued with a single goal loss to Clydebank at Beechwood.

The Bot started positively and in the 2^nd minute Langan fed it out right to Boyd whose low drive was turned round the post by Hughes. When Wardrope’s corner came over it flew just over McPherson in the centre.

In the 5^th minute Talbot nearly gifted Clydebank the lead. Wardrope’s slack pass at the back went straight to Little who raced into the area before sliding it left toward Graham but Henry was quickly off his line to make the block.

Action then swept to the other end as Talbot countered through Thomson down the right. He pulled it back into the path of Armstrong who hammered a shot from 18 yards that Hughes brilliantly saved – tipping it onto the bar and over.

The Bot’s next effort at goal saw Langan find Thomson on the left of the area and Hughes saved his low drive on target.

In the 25^th minute Talbot won a free kick wide left when Smith was caught by Hodge. Wardrope took it short to Smith who returned it to Wardrope and his cross into the centre was glanced wide by McPherson.

Talbot then won a couple of corner in quick succession from the 2^nd of which Langan fired over the bar from the edge of the area.

The Bot fans thought Talbot were in on goal in the 28^th minute. Niven’s poor pass was intercepted by Smith who threaded it through to Thomson who raced for the box but Niven got back and did enough to halt Thomson.

It should have been one nil to Clydebank in the 31^st minute. Slooves took a heavy 1^st touch and Gallacher took advantage to slide a pass through to Little who had time & space 15 yards out but blazed his shot way over.

A few minutes later Clydebank won a corner out on the right and when it came Talbot failed to deal with it in the centre but managed to scramble it clear at the back post.

The half ended with Clydebank in the ascendancy and they had 2 decent chances to take the lead.

These came in the 43^rd minute when Gallacher’s dangerous cross was headed clear but fell straight to Little who tried to pass it inside the left post with Henry getting down well to turn it away. Clydebank retrieved it and switched play out to the left where Gallacher was in space but he fired wide of the right post.

The visitors started the 2^nd half brightly and in the 49^th minute Low broke forward and tried his luck from 30 yards with a powerful drive that rose over the bar.

In the 51^st minute a ball down the left found Gallacher running free and he swept it low across the box where Slooves turned it behind. When the corner came over deep beyond the back post Niven guided a header back into the goal mouth that Talbot managed to scramble clear.

Four mins later Talbot conceded a free kick 30 yards out which Gallacher flighted into the box and Niven headed over the bar.

Talbot hadn’t got going but in the 56^th minute they won a free kick on the left that was played into the path of Wilson who drilled it low first time into the centre but the defence did well to cut it out.

Johnstone became the first name in the book when he was cautioned in 61 mins for a shirt tug on Langan.

In the 63^rd minute a shy from the right found Wardrope and he fed it inside to Boyd who fired over the bar.

Down the other end Talbot conceded a free kick 35 yards out for handball. Low took it and went for goal but it went straight at Henry.

Clydebank now made a change with McGonigle on for Graham.

Talbot’s next attack saw Smith & Wilson combining down the left before Smith lifted a cross into the centre toward Langan but with his back to goal he was crowded out and the ball cleared.

The game’s only goal came in the 69^th minute. A cross from the left was headed out by Wilson. It came to Low just outside the area and he slipped a pass through to LITTLE who steered a shot beyond Henry.

The goal seemed to deflate Talbot as much as it lifted Clydebank and the visitors ought to have doubled their lead in the 74^th minute. Little flicked the ball into the path of Grant who failed to hit the target – driving wide of goal from a good position.

Tucker now made a double switch with Langan & Smith making way for Gillies & Boylan.

In the 81^st minute Talbot made a further change with Black on for Thomson. Black was barely on the park when he picked up what looked a harsh booking for a challenge on Hodge.

Three mins from time Talbot made their final change with Abed coming on for Wardrope.

There had been a few stoppages and the ref added plenty of added time and deep into added time Little nearly grabbed his 2^nd but his shot took a slight deflection and went just over the bar.

A disappointing afternoon for Talbot who will have to try and pick themselves up for next week’s trip to Bellsdale to face Beith.

Auchinleck Talbot – Henry, Boyle, Wilson, Slooves, McPherson, Armstrong, Langan, Wardrope, Boyd, Smith, Thomson

Subs – Lennox, Park, McMillan, Black, Abed, Boylan, Gillies

Clydebank – Hughes, Hodge, Niven, McHugh, Grant, Johnstone, N Little, Low, Gallacher, Graham, Collins

Subs – Ross, McMahon, McGonigle, Black, McKenzie, Darroch, C Little