Report

The first of the testimonial matches proved to be a decent affair as select squad representing Talbot proved too strong for the Under 20 side from Maryhill. The Talbot faithful were reunited with some old favourites in the starting line up with Gavin Collins, Mick McCann, Kieran Paterson, Ricky Robb and John Boyle. With Talbot still in the hunt for silverware only Martin Findlay and David Gillies took an active part while James Latta and Bryan Young played for 10 minutes at the start of the game. However with Troon’s season done and dusted the crowd were treated to a sterling display by Colin Spence who proved to be a major player in a ding dong battle.

Spence was to prove to be a thorn in the young Jags defence and this was proved in the 7^th minute when he forced Cullen into a decent save. Findlay had a crack from way out on the 15^th minute but the shot ballooned over. Scott Johnstone who’s first half display kept Talbot in the game made a superb double save at the feet of McLaughlan and Nisbet on the 15^th minute mark and moments later the Talbot keeper was relieved to see a McLaughlan shot whistle past the foot of the post.

The game was being fought in the middle of the park but on 32 minutes Gillies crashed a wicked shot off the post and minutes later Johnstone was forced into a smart save from McLaughlan. With the game heading for half time Nisbet had a great chance to open the scoring but once again Johnstone thwarted his effort and on the last kick of the ball the keeper made a class one handed save from Nisbet.

Talbot introduced a trialist for Mick McCann at the start of the second half and he should have put Talbot in the lead but missed an open goal. Talbot were starting to find chinks in the Partick defence and Gillies tested Cullen with a stylish hook shot. Talbot’s trialist had another decent chance which he put over the bar and this saw him promptly hooked to be replaced by one of James Latta’s family. Talbot finally opened the scoring on the 75^th minute when they were awarded a penalty which Colin Spence hammered past Cullen. Partick hit back straight after their set back and Johnstone had to look lively as he  stopped a Prentice rocket.

Talbot doubled their lead on the 78^th minute when Gillies headed a Paterson corner past Cullen and two minutes later Spence pounced on a bad pass back to round Cullen and finish the scoring. The last chance of the game came from Alan McLuckie who thundered a 25 yarder towards goal but Cullen made a decent save.

Talbot: Johnstone, Findlay, Boyle, Baird, Collins, Paterson, Spence, Young, McCann, Gillies, Latta. Bench. Cochrane, Robb, Latta, Trialist, McLuckie, Trialist.