Report

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Last time round Talbot knocked seven past Petershill but at this stage of the season any win will do & Talbot ground out a 1-0 win to claim all 3 points.
The first chance of the evening came Talbot’s way in the 9th minute. Armstrong played it up the left to find Samson & he sped past Crawford before crossing it into the centre where Waite headed it down into the turf & it bounced up & over the bar.
The same two players were involved in the 15th minute. Once again Samson outpaced Crawford before crossing it to the back post but this time Waite misjudged it & fluffed his header from 6 yards out.
Talbot’s next effort came shortly after when Hyslop got on the end of Stephen Wilson’s cross but his header drifted wide of target.
Some of the Bot support thought Talbot had taken the lead after 20 mins. Talbot were awarded a free kick 22 yards out for handball which Hyslop fired past the wall. From a certain angle it looked like it had nestled into the bottom corner but had flew just wide of the left post & got tangled in the net behind the goal.
The referee turned down a strong Talbot penalty appeal in the 25th min. Waite’s cross into the area was allowed to bounce by the Peasies defence & when it came up off the surface it came off a defender’s arm but the ref waved away the appeals.
Muir had his name taken in the 27th minute for a foul on Hyslop.
Quinn produced a good stop on the half hour mark to prevent Talbot taking the lead. Armstrong threaded a ball through to McIlroy who let it run past him to Samson and his effor t from the left of the area was well saved by Quinn who turned it past for the corner.
The goal however was only slightly delayed as Waite whipped over a good delivery from the left & SEAN MCILROY nodded it home from close range.
The visitors barely crossed the halfway line all evening but they did have a decent effort in the 37th minute. A corner on the left was taken short to McMullin whose first shot at goal was blocked. It came back out to him and he sent a curling right foot effort just over the bar from 18 yards.
Muir became the 2nd Peasies player in the book when he received a caution for a lunging challenge on Armstrong and that was it for the 1st half.
The 2nd period followed the pattern of the 1st with untidy spells of play and frequent stoppages when Talbot were caught offside.
McMullin looked the liveliest for the Peasies and he forced Leishman into his 1st save of the evening in the 52nd minute. Talbot conceded a free kick 25 yards out that McMullin hit round the wall but Leishman got across to turn it wide of his left post.
The game was growing scrappier and Hyslop found himself in the notebook in the 64th minute for a late challege on Hamilton.
Tucker now made his first change with Shankland coming on for Waite.
With 68 mins gone Quinn prevented Talbot from doubling their lead. Samson raced clear on the right into the area & fired on target only for Quinn to block his shot. The ball spun in front of goal before Crawford knocked it behind for the corner.
Talbot were back on top but still unable to produce in the final third and with 74 mins gone Tucker made a further change with Graham Wilson on for McIlroy.
The referee took centre stage in the 77th minute. Shankland’s ball over the top found Samson racing through toward goal. Ketterer took him out but to the disbelief of the Bot players and support the referee only booked him; despite the fact Samson had a clear run through on the keeper. Shankland took the free kick and curled it over the wall but just over the crossbar.
Two minutes later McDowall had a good chance to make Talbot’s lead safe. Shankland lifted a great ball over from the left to find him bursting through on goal but he didn’t get enough on it to knock it past the advancing keeper.
With 8 mins remaining Quinn made an impressive stop to deny Shankland. Stephen Wilson found Shankland out on the left & he cut inside into the area on his right foot & curled it for the far corner only for Quinn to throw himself to his left to turn it away.
Talbot now made their final change when Glasgow came on for McDowall.
In the 85th minute only a reaction save from Quinn stopped from Graham Wilson from putting Talbot two ahead. Samson whipped a great low ball into the area which Wilson side-footed on target from 6 yards out but the keeper’s left leg prevented the goal.
In the closing stages Petershill threw a few more bodies forward in an attempt to snatch a draw but without creating anything of note and Talbot held out comfortably enough.
In truth Talbot should have won by a few more but the 3 points was the main thing so mission acomplished. Next up for Talbot it is this Saturday’s West of Scotland semi when Rob Roy visit Beechwood.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Armstrong, McPherson, McCracken, Stephen Wilson, Hyslop, McDowall, McIlroy, Samson, Waite
Subs – Graham Wilson, Glasgow, Shankland, Kemp, White

Petershill – Quinn, Crawford, McMullin, McCallum, Ketterer, Kennedy, Muir, Pearson, Cameron, Hamilton, Scott