Report

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot had to settle for a share of the spoils in what proved a low-key affair at Beechwood.

The Bot’s first opening came in the 8^th minute. Taylor fired a dangerous cross in from the right that a Troon defender dived to head behind for the corner. Smith pulled the corner back to find Crawford and his cross took a deflection over the bar. When the 2^nd corner came in Armstrong met it at the near post but glanced his header over.

In the 10^th minute Leishman was called into action. A corner from the left was headed clear at the near post by Park and came to Gallagher in space just outside the area. He had the time to place his shot and Leishman had to dive to his right to turn his effort wide.

Twelve mins in Crawford raced free on the right and sent over a good cross but there were no takers in the centre. Samson retrieved it beyond the far post and angled it back to Lennox whose low drive was held by Burgess.

Troon were edging it in the early stages and forced a number of corners without being able to create a clear cut chance.

Talbot had a chance in the 17^th minute when Graham Wilson squared the ball to find Aiden Wilson in space. He slid it into the feet of Smith who turned his man at the edge and fired over the bar.

The visitors threatened the Bot defence in the 33^rd minute when Gallagher evaded a couple of tackles and burst down the right of the area but his ball across goal was well cut out by Armstrong.

Down the other end Talbot had a decent chance in the 36^th minute. Crawford beat McCloskey and raced clear on the wing before firing a dangerous ball into the centre that Park met but he fired well wide of target.

Five minutes from the interval Lennox came close for Talbot. Armstrong won it in the centre and slid a pass through to Lennox who sent a shot just wide of the left post from 20 yards.

Action then switched to the other end. Samson’s pass was intercepted by Jamieson who burst forward and passed it on to Josh Black. He in turn rolled it right to Ben Black whose low drive was turned round the left post by Leishman.

When the corner came over Josh Black met it at the back post but glanced his header well over.

Troon ended the half on the front foot but the half ended goal less.

Talbot couldn’t have made a worst start to the 2^nd half when they conceded a soft penalty two minutes after the re-start. Gallagher chipped the ball down the right to find Ben Black on the byline and as he knocked it into the centre he was caught late by Armstrong and the ref pointed to the spot. GALLAGHER took the spot kick and made no mistake – chipping it inside the right post to put Troon 1-0 ahead.

Two minutes later Talbot had a chance to level. Smith was found in space on the right of the box and his low strike was blocked by Burgess’s out-stretched leg at the near post.

Stafford then had his name taken for hauling back Gilroy as Troon looked to break forward.

In the 54^th minute Talbot had another chance to level. Aiden Wilson’s cross was met by Graham Wilson who laid it back into the path of Lennox 15 yards out but his shot sailed well-wide of goal.

A minute later though Talbot were back on level terms. Talbot won a free kick out on the right that Crawford shoved short down the wing to Armstrong. He lifted a cross into the centre where GRAHAM WILSON met it and looped a header over Burgess to make it 1-1.

McPherson picked up a harsh booking in the 57^th minute. He slid in and cleared the ball out for a shy and caught Ben Black with his trailing leg. The Troon man took a sore one and had to be helped from the field, to be replaced by McKernon, and Troon were awarded the free kick 30 yards out.

Josh Black took it and got it up & over the wall but wide of the left hand post.

Talbot came close to taking the lead in the 64^th minute. Crawford hoisted a high cross into the back post where Park headed it back across goal. Graham Wilson ran onto it and fired a half-volley just over the crossbar.

Five minutes later Talbot again came close. Smith beat the offside trap and raced down the left of the penalty area before angling a shot across goal and narrowly wide of the left post.

Burgess kept the visitors level pegging in the 72^nd minute with a top save. Smith gathered on the left and slipped it inside to find Lennox in the area and he hammered a shot on target that Burgess palmed wide of the right post.

With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot made a double switch with Park & Smith making way for Mason & Taylor.

A minute later Troon nearly went in front. The ball bounced off Aiden Wilson into the path of Gilroy who advanced to the edge of the area before placing a shot just wide of Leishman’s left post.

In the 79^th minute McCloskey was cautioned for a foul on Samson resulting in a Bot free kick wide on the right. Crawford played it into the feet of Mason on the right of the area but his touch was too heavy and it ran behind for the goal kick.

Ten minutes from time McPherson picked up a knock and couldn’t continue with Ballantye on in his stead.

Two minutes later Talbot had a half chance. Graham Wilson played it down the left to Taylor whose cutback found Mason 17 yards out and his strike was heading on target but blocked by a defender.

Three minutes from time Talbot made another couple of changes with Wardrope & Boyle on for Lennox & Armstrong.

In the final minute of regulation time Crawford drove forward and played it on to Mason on the touchline. He swung a dangerous cross into the centre that eluded everyone and sailed wide of the far post.

Deep into added time Talbot had one final chance to claim all 3 points. Taylor’s cross was blocked by a hand and the Bot were awarded a free kick a yard wide of the box. Wardrope whipped a good ball over to the far post where a Troon defender just managed to take it off the head of the waiting Taylor and send it behind for a corner. The defence dealt with the resulting corner and Troon held out for the point.

Next up for Talbot it’s a trip to Holm Park this Saturday where they face Clydebank.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Crawford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Stafford, Armstrong, Lennox, Park, Graham Wilson, Smith, Samson

Subs – Mason, Boylan, Taylor, Wardrope, Ballantyne, Sinnamon, Boyle

Troon – Burgess, McLevy, McCloskey, Smith, Ben Black, Gilroy, Moore, Morrison, Josh Black, Jamieson, Gallagher

Subs – Richardson, Wilson, McKernon, Strain, Boyd, Marks, Gray (gk)