SAINTS TAKE THE POINTS AS TALBOT TURN SINNERS

Report: Murray Steele, Photographs: Craig McGhee, Video Highlights: Lee Conn

Defensive lapses cost Talbot dear as they stumbled to defeat in the first home league game of the campaign.

Talbot started well enough with Boyd hitting the bye line down the left and his ball into the centre cut out at the near post.

In the 4^th minute Gillies broke forward and sent a left foot effort wide of the left post from 25 yards out.

A minute later Thomson had a half chance when he burst clear on the right – breaking into the penalty area but he got the ball stuck between his feet and the chance was lost.

The visitors settled after a shaky start and had their first chance in the 9^th minute. McKillen’s pass up the left found McLaughlan and he fired over the bar.

Talbot then had a half chance of their own. Boyd flicked on a ball down the centre that came to Smith inside the area. He lifted it over the advancing keeper but a defender got back to clear it behind for the corner.

In the 16^th minute McMillan drove a cross in from the right that Gillies met in the centre but he couldn’t direct his header on target under pressure.

Glavin was called upon in the 21^st minute. Miller squared the ball inside for McLaughlan who steered a low drive straight at Glavin.

Two minutes later a ball from the right found McLaughlan in space on the left of the area. He pulled his shot and it was heading wide of the far post until Muir stuck out a leg to turn it into the net but he was in an offside position.

The visitors were now having the best of it and nearly caught Talbot cold in the 29^th minute with a quickly taken free kick. The ball was flighted into the box where McKenzie met it unopposed but Glavin dived low to his right to keep out his header.

A minute later McKenzie passed up a great chance to give St Cadoc’s the lead. The Talbot defence failed to cope with a long shy from the left and it fell to McKenzie inside the 6-yard box but it wouldn’t sit down for him and he lifted it over the bar.

Langan has his name taken in the 34^th minute for a foul on McLaughlan.

Talbot rallied in the closing stages of the half but without offering any real goal threat and the sides went in level at the break.

Talbot started the 2^nd half on the front foot and had a half chance in the 47^th minute when McMillan’s long throw caused panic in the visitors defence. The ball came to Thomson in front of goal who saw his first effort blocked and then his follow up effort blocked in the goal mouth.

A defensive mix-up gifted St Cadoc’s the lead in the 49^th minute. A ball over the top saw Glavin come well off his line to gather. However, there was a breakdown in communication between the keeper and Slooves with Glavin leaping over the defender to claim it. He lost the ball in contact and the ball fell to MCKENZIE who steered it into the empty net from just inside the box.

Talbot pushed for an early response and had a half chance in the 52^nd minute when McMillan hurled the ball into the centre where McPherson glanced a header wide.

Four minutes later Langan played it to his right to find Smith inside the area whose low drive was held by the keeper.

Talbot passed up a good chance to draw level in the 58^th minute. The ball was switched right to left and found Boyd in space inside 10 yards out but his shot flew straight at Truesdale who made the block.

Around the hour mark Miller was booked for an aerial challenge on Boyd that saw Boyd require a lengthy period of treatment on the pitch.

In the 63^rd minute Smith was fouled just outside the area resulting in another booking for the visitors. However, Talbot failed to make the most of it, Healy taking it short to Gillies who blazed over the bar.

Talbot nearly conceded again in the 66^th minute. Muir whipped a cross over from the right where Slattery met it but sent his free header wide of target.

Talbot now made a change with Wardrope on for McMillan.

In the 69^th minute Talbot drew level. Thomson played it across to Boyd on the left of the area and although Truesdale got a touch on his shot, ROSS SMITH had followed up to tuck home the rebound at the far post.

St Cadoc’s now made a change with McManus on for Miller.

The Bot should have taken the lead in the 72^nd minute. Wardope fired in a great ball from the right touchline which Boyd met a few yards out but he lifted it over the crossbar.

A minute later Talbot had another chance. Again Wardrope played it in from the right to find Boyd on the left of the area and his powerful strike was kept out by Truesdale at his near post.

With 9 minutes remaining Talbot made a further change with Black on for Gillies and a few minutes later Kennedy replaced Thomson.

The game appeared to be heading for a draw until another defensive lapse gifted St Cadoc’s a winner in the 90^th minute. There appeared no danger when a ball was clipped over the top but Healy hesitated and MCLAUGHLAN nipped in to rob him of it and stride through before sliding it past Glavin.

The late goal deflated Talbot and the visitors were able to see out added time to secure the win. Talbot will now need to pick themselves up and go again this Saturday when they head through to Airdrie to take on Gartcairn.

Auchinleck Talbot – Glavin, Healy, Wilson, Slooves, McPherson, Langan, McMillan, Gillies, Smith, Thomson, Boyd

Subs – Kennedy, Wardrope, Black, Park, Boyle, Henry

St Cadoc’s – Truesdale, Slattery, Coll, McKillen, Lithgow, Miller, Muir, Brady, Mackenzie, McHugh, McLaughlan

Subs – Connor, McGarvey, Taylor, McManus, McTaggart, McGuire, Miller