Report

TALBOT’S GOOD FORM CONTINUES.

Report: Murray Steele, Photo’s: Craig McGhee, Media: Ross Newlands.

good run of form continued with their 2^nd comprehensive win at New Tinto Park within a week – this time Benburb being on the receiving end of 5 goals.

The Bot’s first attack came after 7 mins when McAvoy laid the ball out wide to Gillies whose low ball into the near post was cleared.

Down the other end Giovanazzi fed the ball back to Taylor who whipped over a dangerous cross to the far post which Clark headed behind. When the corner came over Schoneville cleared the danger.

In the 12^th minute Talbot won a free kick out wide on the left. McPherson clipped it down field where McAvoy’s header on sent Gillies in behind the defence. He went for goal from a tight angle and sent his shot across and wide of the far post.

A minute later Talbot nearly made the breakthrough. McAvoy won the ball wide of the Bens penalty area. The ball was played it into the box where Wardrope ran onto it and cracked a low drive off the base of the right hand post.

were now in command and in the 16^th minute Sime’s defence splitting pass found Gillies free down the left. He tried to square it across the face of goal but his ball was blocked behind for a corner. When the corner came over to the back post McPherson headed it back down but the defence reacted to clear.

In the 18^th minute Talbot took the lead. Armour lifted it up the centre where KYLE MCAVOY met it 30 yards out with his back to goal. He wasn’t closed down and took full advantage cutting across onto his right foot and skipping a low drive past Hay and inside his left post.

McAvoy was causing the defence problems and he created Talbot’s next chance in the 21^st minute. Clark pinged it into him down the right where he rolled his marker before lobbing a cross into the centre. It broke back toward Gillies whose powerful header was heading on target but blocked en route by Lithgow.

With 27 mins played Clark won Talbot a corner down the right. When Wardrope delivered it into the centre McAvoy’s header for goal was blocked and spun back to McPherson who fired wide of the left post.

The Bot’s next attack saw Sime meet Slooves ball up the centre where he head flicked it into the path of McAvoy. He hit it first time from 25 yards forcing a decent stop from Hay who got down to his left to parry it away

The one-way traffic continued and when Wardrope won it in the middle he played it out left to Gillies. He swept it low into the near post where Thomson was lurking but a defender managed to touch it behind for the corner. When the corner came in off the left Hay punched it clear.

The incessant pressure paid off in the 33^rd minute when Talbot doubled their lead. Armour launched it down field where McAvoy headed it on into the right side of the area. Thomson got in behind Bow and held off his challenge before delivering a cross into the centre which LUKE GILLIES headed inside the right post to make it 2-0.

In the final minute of the half Bell received a yellow card for a late challenge on Clark. The resultant free kick was switched to the left where EUAN THOMSON controlled it before coolly slotting the ball low inside the right post from 18 yards to send Talbot in three ahead at the interval.

Both sides made changes at the break. McPherson had picked up a knock late in the half and was replaced by Wilson and Benburb made a double switch with Wright & Fraser on in place of Bow & McWilliams.

The 2^nd half was only 2 mins old when the Bens were a bit lucky not to be reduced to 10 men. Bell caught Sime late and already on a yellow card he looked set to go but the referee kept his cards in his pocket.

In the 54^th minute Thomson won Talbot a corner down the right. Wardrope took it short to Thomson who delivered a good ball to the back post which McCrone just managed to head to safety.

Three mins later Talbot nearly grabbed another. A ball up the right found McAvoy in space and he fired it low across goal where Gillies just failed to connect inside the near post.

There were now further changes with Kane replacing Bell for the home side and Talbot bringing on Mitchell & Langan for Gillies & Wardrope.

In the 65^th minute Sime played it into the feet of Langan just outside the area. He had the option to go for goal but opted to slide it left where Mitchell was waiting but the pass was intercepted.

A minute later Benburb caused the Bot defence a few problems. Kane skipped a ball across the face of goal from the right which was retrieved out on the left wing by Wright. He whipped a dangerous cross to the far post which was well defended by Schoneville.

Thomson had his name taken in the 68^th minute for a late challenge on McCrone.

The Bot now made further changes with McAvoy & Thomson exiting to be replaced by Nimmo & Abed.

Twenty mins from time Talbot made it 4-0. Langan’s ball in behind the defence found TAREK ABED racing free and as the keeper rushed out his area he stroked it past him into the empty net.

Benburb now made their final change with Grady on for Taylor.

The sub had a chance to make an immediate impact when a ball over the top found him in space on the left of the penalty area but he took a swipe at it and the ball ran harmlessly through to Armour.

With the game effectively over as a contest Talbot had switched down a gear and for the first time in the afternoon Benburb were on the front foot.

In the 74^th minute Kane tested Armour with a low angled shot across goal that the Bot keeper put wide for the corner. When the corner came over it was only partially cleared and fell to Kane at the edge of the box where he shanked it wide of goal.

Talbot’s next attack saw Mitchell fire over a cross from the left flank which Nimmo met in the centre but headed wide of target under pressure from a defender.

Ten mins from time Schoneville received a caution after conceding a free kick out on the right. McCrone lifted it into the middle where Armour punched it out to the edge of the area. It came to Grady at the edge of the area and he lofted a half-volley toward goal that came off the top of the bar.

In the 83^rd minute Talbot carved out another chance. Mitchell played it down the left into Abed and he fired it across goal and past the far post.

As the game moved into added time Talbot sealed the win with their 5^th goal. Nimmo did well to hold the ball up down by the right corner flag before laying it off to Langan. He made it to the bye line and crossed it to the far post where SCOTT SCHONEVILLE turned it home.

There was still time for a late booking a piece, Mitchell being penalised for an aerial challenge and then Giovanazzi receiving a caution for a professional foul as Talbot looked to break through the middle.

Ten goals scored with only one conceded in two visits to Govan – a good week for the Bot that sees them end it 4^th in the table and going into next week’s semi-final encounter with Thorniewood in fine form.

Benburb – Hay, Giovanazzi, Taylor, Lithgow, Bow, McWilliams, Bell, Taylor, McDonald, Smith, McCrone

Subs – Grady, Wright, Dunsmore, Fraser, Kane, Lickrish, Winters

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Schoneville, McPherson, Slooves, Sime, Boyle, Wardrope, McAvoy, Thomson, Gillies

Subs – Nimmo, Abed, Mitchell, Langan, Wilson, Hanlon