Talbot produced their A game when it mattered, knocking 4 past Rob Roy to gain a valuable 3 points and a measure of revenge for the defeat earlier in the season.
The Bot got off to the perfect start, taking the lead after only 2 minutes. Stephen Wilson’s ball over the top found JAMIE GLASGOW racing free of the static defence & he rounded the advancing McNeil before slotting it into the empty net.
The Rabs would have levelled in the 7th minute but Leishman came to Talbot’s rescue. Slattery whipped a ball over from the left that found Watt in front of goals but Leishman produced a super stop to deny him.
Play then immediately switched to the other end where Glasgow sent Hyslop free down the right. He cut it back across goal & Graham Wilson side-footed it on target only for McNeil to smother it on the goal line.
Talbot strengthened their grip on the match when they doubled their advantage in the 12th minute. Glasgow gathered the ball outside the area before sliding a pass out to Shankland on the left. He cut into the area & curled a cross over that GRAHAM WILSON headed home from close range.
Rob Roy pushed forward looking for a way back into the match but had little to show for it. In the 20th minute Slattery cut a good ball back to the edge of the area where both McCulloch & Gallagher went for it, getting in each other’s way, & the chance was lost. Their next effort came when McCulloch latched onto a shy from the left & fired a low drive wide of the far post from 20 yards.
Some of Rob Roy’s antics in the previous encounter had left a lot to be desired & so it wasn’t a huge shock when the 1st caution of the match, after 29 mins, came as a result of diving; Fraser receiving a card for tumbling over.
Talbot’s next chance came via a set piece. Hyslop, dominant in the air all afternoon, was nudged in the back by Mackenzie resulting in a free kick 25 yards. Shankland curved it to the back post where Harvey powered a header on target but straight at McNeil who held it inside his right post.
Rob Roy should have reduced the deficit in the 32nd minute. Walker got to the byeline & placed a cross straight onto the head of Watt who glanced a header across goal & wide of the right post.
The visitors threatened again in the 38th minute. A ball over the top glanced off Lyle’s head & fell for Watt on the right of the area. He drove a low ball across goal that Sawyers just failed to reach.
Talbot saw out the remainder of the half to go in 2-0 up at the interval.
The Bot made a dream start to the 2nd half, effectively killing the game off within the 1st minute of the re-start. A ball over the Rabs defence picked out JAMIE GLASGOW racing clear & he sped in on goal before slotting the ball through the legs of McNeil to put Talbot 3-0 ahead.
Any lingering doubts over the result were ended soon after when Talbot grabbed their 4th in the 48th minute. Shankland’s corner from the right was met by Stephen Wilson who flicked it on for JAMIE GLASGOW to prod home & complete his hat-trick.
Rob Roy’s defence appeared to have given up the ghost & were posted missed again in the 51st minute. Hyslop led a Bot counter-attack charging up field before playing it to Glasgow. He switched play over to the right to find Graham Wilson in acres of space inside the area but he fired his shot over the bar.
It wasn’t Rob Roy’s day & Watt missed his 2nd snip of the afternoon in the 53rd minute. A long ball eluded the Talbot defence & landed at Watt inside the area. He looked certain to score but with only Leishman to beat he side-footed it wide of the right post.
Rob Roy made the game’s 1st change in the 55th minute with Morris making way for Boyle.
Stephen Wilson picked up a yellow card in the 61st minute when he failed to retreat at a Rob Roy free kick.
Rob Roy now made a further change with McGuire coming on for Watt.
The visitors pulled a goal back in the 67th minute. Slattery fired a ball in from the left & SAWYERS stretched out a leg to deflect it in at the back post.
A Talbot blunder gifted Rob Roy a free kick just outside the box in the 70th minute. Leishman came outside his area to pick up the ball & place it for a free kick but the ref deemed the free kick had already been taken when it was played back to him & booked Leishman for handling the ball & awarded Rob Roy a free kick 19 yards out. Fraser took it but whilst his effort would’ve earned him 3 points at Murrayfield it was only met with derision from the Bot fans as he ballooned it into Beechwood Road.
Talbot’s next attack saw them win a free kick out on the right but before Shankland could deliver it into the area the ref spotted Harvey & Boyle grappling in the box & booked both of them. When the ball did come in the Rabs defence failed to clear & the ball fell to Glasgow on the right whose shot was deflected over the bar. Shankland swept the corner in to the near post where Hyslop was just beaten to it by Boyle.
Tucker now made Talbot’s 1st change with McIlroy on for Graham Wilson.
The Rabs nearly pulled another goal back in the 76th minute. A long ball down the left caught out Lyle whose attempt to head it clear sent the ball straight to Sawyers 8 yards out & he fired a shot on target that Leishman blocked at his right post.
Talbot now made a further change with Faulds replacing Stephen Wilson.
Glasgow wasn’t content with his hat-trick & showed a clean pair of heels to Boyle racing past him as though Boyle was treading water. He hared into the area where McMenamin did enough to hold him up & Boyle recovered to slide it out for the corner.
Tucker completed Talbot’s changes in the 83rd minute when Armstrong came on for Shankland.
Rob Roy nearly grabbed a late consolation when Slattery turned Faulds 22 yards out & cracked an effort on goal that forced a top stop from Leishman who dived to his left to keep it out.
In the final minute McIlroy came close to extending Talbot’s lead but McNeil did well to turn his low drive wide of the post.
As the game moved into injury time Gallagher received a caution for a trip on Armstrong.
Deep into injury time Talbot nearly scored again. Pope led a counter-attack up the left before cutting the ball across the area to find Glasgow 8 yards out. He drilled it on target where McNeil made a good stop with his feet to deny him his 4th goal.
A good afternoon for the Bot; who will be looking for a similar level of performance next Saturday when they face a tricky away day in the Scottish through at Hill of Beath.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, Harvey, White, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Glasgow, Shankland

Subs – McIlroy, Armstrong, Faulds, Thomson, Pooler

Kirkintilloch Rob Roy – McNeil, Walker, Mackenzie, McMenamin, Morris, McCulloch, Gallagher, Fraser, Sawyers, Watt, Slattery

Subs – McGuire, Johnstone, Mackie, Carroll, Boyle