Not one for the football purists as Talbot saw off the challenge of a one-dimensional Hurlford to secure all 3 points at Beechwood.

There was nothing of note in the early exchanges though Talbot caused themselves a needless scare in the 8th minute. Armour initially did well fielding a back pass but then having waltzed it round Hurlford’s lone striker he inexplicably took an age to clear it and was nearly robbed of it but fortunately it came to nothing.

In the 11th minute McMahon had his name taken after he theatrically went down.

Moments later we had the first effort at goal. Clark lost the ball on halfway when trying to break forward and Ford broke down the left through Whittaker. He touched it wide to Kerr who angled a drive across goal but comfortably wide of the left post.

Talbot’s first effort at goal came in the 19th minute. Armour lifted it down field where McAvoy managed to head it into the path of Boyd who fired just over from 20 yards.

Hurlford picked up a 2nd yellow card of the afternoon in the 24th min when Whittaker was penalised for clashing with Schoneville after he’d shielded the ball out.

There hadn’t been much to shout about but Talbot gave the home fans something to cheer in the 26th minute when they took the lead. A volleyed cross from the left touchline was met by KYLE MCAVOY who powered a header inside the right hand post to give Talbot the lead.

On the half hour mark Talbot threatened to double their advantage. McAvoy played it into the feet of Gillies whose low drive from 20 yards was turned wide of the left post by O’Connor.

Down the other end Armour did well in the 32nd minute. Armstrong got free down the right and floated it back into the path of Hughes whose first time effort was well saved to his left by Talbot’s keeper.

A few minutes later Hurlford had another chance to test the Bot defence when they won a free kick out on the stand side for a foul by Thomson. Lidington played it short and wide to free Whittaker whose cross to the back post was well defended.

In the 37th minute a good save from O’Connor prevented Talbot extending their lead. Wilson carried it forward before sliding a pass into McAvoy on the right of the area. He fired it back across goal and O’Connor got down to turn it wide of the right post. Wardrope fired the resultant corner into the near post where O’Connor again did well to claim it.

The remainder of the half petered out with neither side looking threatening and Talbot went in a goal to the good.

The 2ND half got off to a livelier start than the 1st with close calls at both ends of the field. In the 49th minute Gillies sped down the left and drilled it low across the face of goal. O’Connor spilled it and it came out to Boyd who laid it off right to Wardrope whose low strike was deflected behind for a corner. When the corner came over McPherson met it and his header appeared to be tipped over the bar by O’Connor but the ref gave a goal kick.

The Bot then had a let off down the other end. A good cross from the left found Kerr in acres of space beyond the far post and he had time to cut inside on his left foot and go for goal. His shot clattered off the left post and came back to him and his 2nd effort swerved wide of the far post.

Talbot’s next attack saw Boyd flash a shot across goal from a tight angle that Thomson just failed to reach at the far post.

In the 54th minute Talbot had a decent chance to double their lead. McAvoy broke forward and released it wide left to Wardrope. He pulled his cross back into the centre where it was met by Sime but he steered his header wide of the left post.

Talbot were turning the screws and in the 58th minute Boyd forced a corner down the right. Wardrope pinged it into the near post trying to find McAvoy and it broke out to Wilson on the right of the area. His drive at goal was blocked and spun out to McPherson at the edge of the area and he too saw his low drive blocked by a defender.

On the hour mark Talbot’s pressure paid off. A ball in behind saw Boyd bundled over. Play went on and it ran through to Gillies on the left of the area. He chipped it across to the right to pick out EUAN THOMSON who drilled it low back across and beyond the keeper to make it 2-0.

In the 63rd minute Clark received a caution for a foul out on the left touchline. When the free kick came in Talbot failed to clear it and it came to Kerr on the left of the area. Armour managed to block his shot at his right hand post and when it rebounded out to McKenzie his follow up effort took a deflection and went behind for the corner.

When the corner came over Armour punched it clear but didn’t get much distance on it. It came out to Hughes 16 yards out and when he went over when challenged by Thomson the ref pointed to the spot. WHITTAKER took the spot kick and sent Armour the wrong way to tuck it inside the left post to reduce the deficit to 2-1 with 64 mins played.

In the 71st minute a promising Talbot break was halted when Thomson appeared to be clearly obstructed by Lidington but the ref thought otherwise and waved play on.

Two mins later Sime nearly caught O’Connor out with a mishit cross with the keeper forced to back pedal and clutch it on the goal line.

The Bot’s next attack saw Wardrope fire it into the feet of McAvoy inside the area. He spun to turn his man but the ball just broke away from him and O’Connor reacted quickly to smother it.

With 11 mins remaining Hurlford hit the woodwork. The ball came to Hughes just outside the area and he tried to curl it home but got too much on it and his shot clipped the top of the bar and behind for the goal kick.

In the 83rd minute Tucker made a double change with Boyle & Langan on for Thomson & Wardrope.

Hurlford also made their first change with Dunnett replacing McMahon.

Five mins from time Talbot were denied what looked to be a stonewall penalty. Hesitant defending at a ball over the top saw Boyd latch onto it just inside the area and as he tried to burst through he was clearly having his shirt held but the ref somehow missed it.

Hurlford now made another change with Anderson on for Whittaker.

Just as they had all afternoon, Hurlford kept up their route one tactics in the closing stages but the Bot defence held firm and saw the match out to claim the win and climb to 5th in the table.

Talbot are back in league action this midweek when they host Shotts Bon Accord at Beechwood on Wednesday night.

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Schoneville, Wilson, McPherson, Sime, Wardrope, Gillies, Boyd, McAvoy, Thomson

Subs – Nimmo, Abed, Langan, Boyle, Slooves, Miller

Hurlford United – O’Connor, Armstrong, Lidington, Frew, Love, Hughes, McKenzie, Watt, McMahon, Whittaker, Kerr

Subs – Anderson, Fisher, Mackie, Dunnett, Brown (gk)