Auchinleck Talbot v Kello Rovers

Report

After a mini ricochet inside the Kello box, the ball finally lands at the feet of Sean McIlroy……

Talbot cruised to a 4-0 win over Kello Rovers that all but guarantees them a place in the last 8 of the Ardagh cup.
For all the comfort of the final margin, Kello ought to have taken the lead within seconds of the start. Hampson charged forward before releasing it right to find Wilson free inside the box but he drilled his low shot across target & wide of the right post.

……who fires it beyond the ‘keeper and opens the scoring for Talbot. 1-0.

Talbot opened the scoring with their 1st meaningful attack in the 5th minute. Weir carried it out from the back, deep into the Kello half before sliding it through to Pooler on the right. He cut it back toward Weir whose shot was blocked but the ball spun into the path of MCILROY who slotted it inside the left post.

McIlroy finds acres of space and time to easily and calmly slot the ball home for number two. 2-0.

The Bot doubled their advantage after quarter of an hour. Armstrong floated a high cross to the back post which Dunsmuir failed to cut out. The ball came to Pooler who squared it across goal for MCILROY to pass into the empty net to make it 2-0.
Kello had an effort on goal in their next attack. Weir diverted a ball into the path of Fleming & he struck a low drive straight at Leishman from 20 yards.

Although the Kello ‘keeper gets a hand to Sean McIlroy’s header……

Kemp then came close for Talbot. He closed down Bennie, blocking his attempted clearance & carrying on into the area where he fired narrowly past Dunsmuir’s left post.
The 3rd goal came in the 22nd minute when MCILROY rose to power home Kemp’s corner kick to score a quick fire hat-trick.
Kello had an opportunity to reduce the deficit in the 26th minute when they were awarded a free-kick 30 yards out. Hampson’s shot flew into the wall & the ref harshly judged that Weir had deliberately handled it, booking Weir, and awarding Kello a free kick right on the edge of the area. This time Shaw took it but sent his effort well over the bar.

And from this different angle, you can see Sean pretty much had an open goal in front of him for both his and Talbot’s second goal of the game.

Talbot threatened to extend their lead in the 31st minute. Kemp pulled a corner back into the path of Pope & Dunsmuir had to dive full length to turn his drive round the post.
Kello were having problems defending corners & Talbot nearly scored again a minute later when Pooler met a corner at the near post & glanced a header just over.

And so completes the connoisseur hat-trick, as McIlroy gets his head onto a corner kick and makes it three and easy for the boys in black ‘n’ gold. 3-0.

Pooler created Talbot’s next opening when his reverse pass sent Kemp racing through on the left where he shot across goal & past Dunsmuir’s left post.
Talbot continued to dominate and came close a couple of times before the interval. Lyle & McIlroy worked the ball down the right before Lyle fired a dangerous ball into the near post which was blocked behind for a corner. The corner was pulled back to Pettigrew who ran onto it & steered a shot on target which was cleared off the line inside the right post.

……it is unable to prevent the goal, as the ball still smashes into the back of the net.

The visitors had a chance in the 44th minute when Hampson latched onto a long ball down the centre. He took it in his stride & fired an early shot just wide of Leishman’s left post.
In the final action of the half Kemp broke in behind the Kello defence but couldn’t beat Dunsmuir who saved his low drive with his feet.

With the game nearing the end there was still one more goal to come, as ‘Shankers’ fires a wonder strike from the edge of the box and……

Kello made a change at the start of the 2nd half with Miller coming on in place of Fleming.
The visitors were forced into a 2nd change in the 53rd minute when Hampson pulled up injured & had to go off to be replaced by Mathieson.
Dunmsuir prevented McIlroy from grabbing his & Talbot’s 4th after 56 minutes. Lyle lifted a ball down the right to find McIlroy inside the area & he hammered a fierce shot on target that Kello’s keeper parried behind for a corner.

……it careers into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar. 4-0.

Talbot now made their own changes, firstly Thomson coming on for Steven Wilson & a few minutes later a double switch with Graham Wilson & Shankland replacing Kemp & Pooler.
The next attack saw Shankland making tracks down the left before crossing to the far post where McIlroy headed past the post.
Pope tested the keeper in the 68th minute, showing quick feet to beat a couple of men, and then drilling a low drive from outside the area which Dunsmuir smothered.

Wilson had a good chance a minute later to add to Talbot’s lead. A ball over the defence found him running free on the left of the area but he pulled his shot wide of the far post.
It was all Talbot and the Bot came close again in the 76th minute. Shankland swept a cross in from the right that found Wilson in front of goal but he steered his header wide of target.
Just as in mid-week Talbot finished the game with 10 men after McIlroy picked up a knock late on.
The final goal came a minute from time. Thomson released Pope down the left wing & when he cut it back to the edge of the area SHANKLAND stroked it into the roof of the net to make it 4-0.
Next up for Talbot is a Wednesday evening trip to Muirkirk to complete the Ardagh group stages.