Report

Talbot’s fans were happy when it rains as the Bot opened their campaign with a derby demolition of local rivals Glenafton.

Before kick off the fans had a chance to show their appreciation to two Bot legends, Jimmy McMillan & Gavin Collins who were applauded onto the park before later being inducted into the hall of fame before it was down to business.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with both sides testing the opposing defence without being able to work the goal keepers. The visitors had a penalty shout in the 6th minute when Moore floated a cross over from the left. McCann crumpled to the deck as the ball sailed over him but the ref wasn’t interested.

The breakthrough came in the 17th minute. Graham Wilson slid the ball out right to find Glasgow & he burst up the wing before slinging a dangerous cross into the centre. Stephen Wilson looked set to touch it home but was nudged in the back & the ref pointed to the spot. GORDON POPE took it & sent McGarrity the wrong way as he rolled it into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later Talbot were back on the attack. McIntyre shrugged off a couple of challenges before releasing a pass to Armstrong in the centre. He fed it out to McDowall on the right who cut inside only to see his shot blocked by a defender.

The Glens threatened down Talbot’s right in the 20th minute. Gallagher released Park down the flank & pulled it back across the area where McDowall knocked it behind for a corner.

In the 24th minute action swiftly switched from one end to the other. Down the Coal Road end McAusland whipped a dangerous low ball in that Stephen Wilson did well to cut out at the near post. Talbot then raced up field where Graham Wilson sent Glasgow racing free down the left & continued his run to meet Glasgow’s cut back inside the area but his side-foot shot went straight at McGarrity.

A minute later it was Leishman to the rescue. The ball came to Moore in acres of space on the left of the penalty area and he looked set to score but his low drive was brilliantly kept out by Leishman who saved with his feet at his right post.

Talbot had a penalty appeal denied in the 27th minute. The Bot won a free kick 30 yards out when McChesney wrestled Glasgow to the turf. Pope took it but with everyone anticipating a shot he angled a pass out to Glasgow on the left of the box. He checked inside onto his right foot & went down under McAusland’s sliding tackle but the referee waved play on.

McGarrity prevented Talbot from extending their lead soon after. McDowall gathered on the right, a few yards in from the bye line, and powered a shot across goal that McGarrity parried clear in the centre.

The Glens were forced into a change in the 33rd minute when Cairns limped off to be replaced by Orsi.

Glasgow spurned a clear chance to double Talbot’s lead in the 38th minute. The Glens defence were opened up when Glasgow dummied a ball through the centre and raced past the flat-footed central defence; however he tried to pass it beyond the advancing McGarrity who dived to his right to make the stop.

There was plenty of endeavour but no further near misses as the half wound to a close and Talbot left the field a goal ahead at the break.

Talbot couldn’t have asked for a better start to the 2nd half as the Glens conceded a 2nd penalty in the 52nd min. Stephen Wilson chipped the ball toward Glasgow inside the area but it was blocked en route by the arm of Menzies. The ref had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and once again GORDON POPE made no mistake, tucking it away inside the left post to put Talbot 2-0 ahead.

A few minutes later McGarrity had a lucky escape when he was too casual with a clearance. He tried to pass it up field when fielding a back pass but Glasgow read it & managed to block only for it to spin wide.

In the 57th min the Glens made their 2nd change when Nisbet replaced McCann up front.

The Glens now had their best spell of the match as they pushed Talbot back. In the 62nd min Andrew turned smartly outside the Talbot area & fired a shot on target but it went straight at Leishman.

McAusland had his name taken in the 65th minute for a late challenge on Lyle and Talbot also made a double substitution with McIntyre & Glasgow making way for McKinlay & Shankland.

A minute later Leishman made his 2nd top class save of the afternoon. Andrew won the ball midway inside the Bot half & slid a defence splitting pass through to Park. He raced clear but was denied by Leishman who’d raced to the edge of his area where he made the block.

Park tested Leishman again in the 68th minute. The Glens broke up the right where Moore flighted a cross over to the far post. Park ran onto it and Leishman turned his half-volley over the bar.

With 71 mins gone Menzies became the 2nd Glens name in the book when he was cautioned for a late challenge on McDowall.

It was game over in the 72nd minute when Talbot grabbed their third. There looked to be a foul on Graham Wilson in the build up by Orsi but the ref let play continue and the ball came to Shankland on the left edge of the area where he proceeded to waltz past several defenders before attempting to chip McGarrity. The keeper tipped it out but HAMISH MCKINLAY was on hand to tuck the rebound home from close range.

Tucker completed his changes with quarter of an hour remaining when Healy replaced Stephen Wilson.

With 10 minutes remaining Talbot had a chance to extend their lead. Armstrong intercepted the ball inside the Glens half and knocked it to Graham Wilson. He spotted McKinlay in space to his right & squared the ball to send him through one on one with the keeper. McKinlay attempted to lob McGarrity as he advanced to the edge of the area but didn’t catch it right & plunked the ball straight at the keeper.

Talbot kept pushing to the end and were rewarded with a fourth goal deep in injury time. McKinlay had an opportunity to shoot on the right of the area but hesitated and was closed down. He managed to shove the ball across the area where MARK SHANKLAND curled a right foot shot into the roof of the net to make the final score 4-0.

It’s a short break for Talbot as they return to action on Monday night when they travel to Blair Park to face Hurlford.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle,Pope, Aiden Wilson, Young, Armstrong, Stephen Wilson, McIntyre, Graham Wilson, Glasgow, McDowall

Subs – Shankland, Samson, Healy, Pearson, McKinlay

Glenafton Athletic – McGarrity, McAusland, Cairns, Menzies, McChesney, Park, Gallagher, Marlowe, McCann, Andrew, Moore

Subs – Orsi, Nisbet, Potter, Burns (gk)

Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/8565/auchinleck-talbot-4-glenafton-athletic#ixzz5uzvsrGgq

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.