Report

MURRAYS REPORT

Talbot kept their place at the top of the table thanks to an impressive home win over Glenafton; with the final score not really reflecting Talbot’s dominance.

It wasn’t the ideal start for the Bot as Graham Wilson picked up an injury only 3 mins in with Kier Samson coming on in his place.

The Bot’s first chance came after 6 minutes. Shankland played a good ball in from the left toward the front post where Healy met it and flicked it over the bar.

A minute later Talbot had another half chance. Mason held the ball up well on the left before passing it back to White. He in turn squared it to Lyle who fired over from 18 yards.

Talbot’s next chance came following a free kick in the 11^th minute. Shankland was tripped & Armstrong took the free kick quickly to release Shankland down the left. He whipped a cross over which Mason glanced wide of target.

Mason was involved again shortly after when a shy from the right found him inside the box & he showed good feet to create the space for a shot, before drilling it over the crossbar.

The Glens hadn’t really threatened but did give Talbot a scare in the 16^th minute. McKee gathered on the left & hit a teasing cross into the centre. Leishman came for it but was beaten to it by McIlroy whose header sailed over.

Down the other end Talbot came close to opening the scoring with their next attack. The Bot won a corner down the right and Shankland delivered it to the far post where McDowall rose to meet it but his header flew just over Johnson’s bar.

Sherrie did well for the Glens in the 25^th minute when he surged in off the right, skipping past a couple of challenges, to make his way into the box but then hit a weak finish straight at Leishman.

The opening goal came in the 29^th minute and it was a cracker. Mason played a good ball down the right touchline to find McDowall & his ball across the face of goal was turned behind by Bennie. Shankland took the corner, and with everyone anticipating a cross, he pulled it back to AARON MASON who ran onto it at the right edge of the box & thundered an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

In keeping with the general standard of officiating the referee made an absolute howler in the 31^st minute when he somehow awarded the Glens a corner after McKee had ballooned the ball over the bar with nary a Talbot player in sight.

A minute later Johnson prevented Talbot from extending their lead. Samson met a ball up the left & flicked it on into the path of Shankland who stepped inside Marlow’s challenge & powered a shot on target that Johnson parried wide of his right post.

The Glens keeper was called into action again in the 35^th minute. Armstrong swung a cross over from the right touchline to find Shankland at the back post and his header back across was tipped over the bar.

The Bot put together a slick move in the 41^st minute – quick one-touch football – which ended with Shankland laying the ball off to Mason on the right of the area but he pulled his shot wide of target.

A minute before the interval McPherson’s header bamboozled the Glens defence as it bounced past Bennie & Samson would’ve been in on goal but for Johnson reading the situation & racing out to gather.

The half drew to a close with another questionable call from the officials who again awarded the Glens a corner for nothing after McKee shot over but the Bot defended it to go in a goal to the good.

The visitors made a change at half-time with Fisher on to replace Bennie in defence.

Talbot made a strong start to the half and it looked as though Mason was through on goal after he got the better of Cairns but the referee gave the Glens defender the benefit of the doubt and awarded them a soft free kick.

Slack play from Marlow gifted Talbot a chance in the 50^th minute. His pass from right-back was easily intercepted outside the area by Healy & he threaded it through to Samson whose shot was blocked by Fisher.

The Bot made their pressure count and doubled their advantage in the 53^rd minute. Armstrong picked up on the left of midfield & played it down the left channel to KIER SAMSON who raced into the area & slid it past Johnson at his right hand post.

Within a minute Talbot nearly added to their lead. Armstrong’s slide rule pass found McDowall inside the area & Johnson dived at his feet to put it behind for the corner. When the corner came over Samson got his head on it and his header was cleared off the line inside the left post.

McDowall was next to threaten for Talbot when he burst in off the right & hammered a shot at goal that was deflected behind for a corner. The Glens defence were again caught out when Shankland opted to pull the corner back to the angle of the box but Healy got under it and lifted his shot well over.

The Glens were now forced to sub their sub with Fisher limping off to be replaced by Ryan and McIlroy moving back to fill in at centre half.

Talbot made their first change in the 67^th minute with Boyd on in place of McDowall.

Glenafton had been bit part players for most of the night and were feeding off scraps. They did have a chance of sorts in the 72^nd minute courtesy of a long throw in from the right which came to McKee but he sent his header wide.

The clock ticked on without the Glens looking like scoring and with 8 minutes remaining Tucker made a further change with Hyslop making his first appearance in a long while when he replaced Mason.

In the closing stages Shankland had a chance to get on the score sheet when Samson’s pass found him inside the area. He jinked inside his man but wanted a fraction too long to get his shot away & his effort was blocked.

As the game moved into injury time the Glens had a late chance at a consolation. Talbot gave the ball away inside their own half & it was played down the right channel to find Ryan who raced down the right edge of the area before firing across goal & wide of the far post.

A good win, in front of a big crowd, and next up Talbot are back on the road when they travel through to face Rutherglen Glencairn this Saturday.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, White, Armstrong, McDowall, Healy, Graham Wilson, Shankland, Mason

Subs – Boyd, Samson, Robbie McCracken, Hyslop, Hewitt

Glenafton Athletic – Johnson, Marlow, Cairns, Bennie, Curtis, Pettigrew, McKee, Gilmour, McIlroy, Miller, Sherrie

Subs – Ryan, Fisher, Thomson