Talbot made it a hat-trick of wins this season over Cumnock as the Bot put an emphatic end to Cumnock’s unbeaten run with a 4 goal show at Beechwood.

The Bot started the game in top gear and tested Barclay as early as the 2nd minute when Boyd was played through down the left but his low drive was saved by the Nock keeper.

In the 6th minute only the woodwork prevented Talbot taking the lead. McAvoy laid it off to Gillies who burst into the area, wide on the left, and drilled a low shot that had the beating of Barclay but came back off the right hand post.

Down the other end Buchanan whipped in a dangerous ball from the right but there were no takers in the centre for Cumnock.

Talbot came close for a 3rd time in the 9th minute. Gillies cut the ball back into the centre where it ran through to Thomson who set himself up on his left foot only to blast his shot over from 12 yards.

On the quarter hour mark Talbot threatened again. Boyle swept a great low ball across goal that Thomson just failed to reach in the centre.

Cumnock gradually began to play themselves into the game and gave Talbot a nervous moment in the 20th minute. An inswinging corner from the right was only headed out as far as Frye who powered a volley toward goal that was blocked by Slooves head.

A minute later Cumnock came within a whisker of scoring the goal of the season. There seemed no danger when the ball came to McLennan all of 40 yards out but he smacked it on the half-volley and his shot clattered off the inside of Glavin’s left hand post before spinning across goal where McPherson was fouled to take the pressure off.

In the 23rd minute Cumnock squandered a chance when Wilson & McPherson got into a fankle dealing with a ball down the left. It ran in behind to McKenzie but his ball across the face had too much on it.

Langan became the first player booked when he was penalised for a challenge on Stevenson as he broke forward.

Just when it looked like Cumnock were gaining the upper hand Talbot took the lead. A shirt tug on McAvoy resulted in a Bot free kick in front of the Cumnock dug-out. Langan curled the ball into the box where NEIL SLOOVES met it to head low inside the left post to put Talbot 1-0 ahead in the 27th minute.

A minute later Thomson looked to be blatantly impeded as he tried to move forward down the right but the ref thought otherwise.

The game now settled into the usual 100 mph hurly-burly expected of a derby with the ball moving around like a hot potato. Cumnock were pushing forward but to little effect, other than winning the odd corner down the right, all of which Talbot successfully defended.

Three minutes from the interval Talbot threatened to double their lead. Thomson robbed Cook of the ball at the edge of the area and then took it wide of Ellis before firing it back across goal where Barclay blocked it before it was put behind for the corner

When the corner came into the near post it was headed clear but came back out to Thomson who floated a cross into the middle which found Boyd but his header lacked the power to trouble Barclay.

As the half moved into added time Langan was decked just inside the Nock half but again the referee gave Cumnock the benefit of the doubt and waved play on with Talbot going in soon after with a goal lead.

Talbot made an encouraging start to the 2nd half when Gillies nicked the ball off McLennan and fired a low ball in that resulted in a corner. When Thomson’s corner came to the near post Slooves met it but couldn’t direct it on target under pressure.

In the 48th minute Talbot won another corner down the left. This time it floated deep to the back post where Boyd looped a header over the bar. It was then Cumnock’s turn to threaten the Talbot goal. A shy from the left found Jamieson inside the box and he turned quickly before firing over the bar.

In the 56th minute the Bot defence was undone by McLennan’s ball over the top that landed nicely for Buchanan inside the area but he failed to make the most of it – driving his shot straight at Glavin who held it comfortably.

Cumnock made a change in the 58th minute with Buchanan making way for McLaughlin.

The visitors had a half chance in the 61st minute when Talbot failed to clear a shy in from the left. It was laid back into the path of Frye 15 yards out whose low drive was blocked by Slooves

Talbot needed a 2nd goal to settle the nerves and it duly arrived in the 64th minute. Gillies played it into Schoneville who was dumped to the turf by Ellis resulting in a booking for the centre-half and a Bot free kick 22 yards out. With Cumnock anticipating a shot, Langan rolled it square to ALI BOYLE who thumped a low drive inside the right post to put Talbot 2-0 ahead.

Two minutes later it was nearly game over as McAvoy latched onto a loose ball outside the area and hammered a left foot shot just wide of the top corner.

McLaughlin then had his name taken for a shirt tug on Boyd.

In the 68th minute both sides made a double substitution. Talbot bringing on Armstrong & Wardrope for Gillies & Langan with Cumnock replacing Jamieson & Stevenson with Veitch & Conn.

Boyd was penalised for playing on and shooting after the whistle soon after and received a caution for kicking the ball away.

Talbot’s next attack saw Schoneville whip a great ball over to the far post where McAvoy just failed to connect with it

Cumnock weren’t offering much going forward and were reduced to long range efforts with McLennan firing on target from 30 yards but Glavin saved comfortably to his right.

With 11 minutes remaining Schoneville surged up the left and played a good ball toward the back post but there was no one on hand to take advantage.

Tucker now made another double change with Thomson & Boyd making way for Glasgow & Smith.

Five minutes from time Talbot added their third. Schoneville showed quick feet to beat his man down the left before hanging a cross beyond the far post where JAMIE GLASGOW coolly placed a header beyond Barclay.

Within a minute it was nearly four. Smith got in behind the Nock defence but Barclay raced quickly off his line to block his effort.

In the 87th minute Smith skipped inside his man down the right and played it into the near post where McAvoy steered a scissor kick wide.

A minute later it was role reversal time as McAvoy played the ball in off the right to find ROSS SMITH and he steered it across goal and beyond Barclay to make it 4-0.

Talbot now made a late change with Urquhart on for Boyle.

In the 90th minute Frye received a yellow card for a high feet challenge on Urquhart.

As the game moved into added time Talbot nearly finished with a flourish. A neat passing move ended with the ball played into the path of Glasgow whose powerful drive from 20 yards was pushed wide by Barclay.

The game had been devoid of any unpleasantness until deep into added time when Cook rattled into Smith on the touchline. It sparked off a stramash on the touchline before the ref managed to regain control and showed Cook a yellow card.

Another good home performance from Talbot and another clean sheet. Next week Talbot are at home to  Hurlford where I hope to enjoy my hospitality day with another home win.

Auchinleck Talbot – Glavin, McPherson, Schoneville, Slooves, Wilson, Langan, Boyle, Gillies, Boyd, McAvoy, Thomson

Subs – Smith, Glasgow, Urquhart, Armstrong, Abed, Henry (gk)

Cumnock Juniors – Barclay, McLennan, Willett, Cook, Ellis, Wilson, Buchanan, Frye, Mackenzie, Jamieson, Stevenson

Subs – Veitch, McLaughlin, Conn, McLaughlin, Ferry, Young, Nelson (gk)