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PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

Talbot earned their place in the 2^nd round of the Scottish cup the hard way – having to come from a goal down to claim another away day win.

The Bot started the game reasonably well & did most of the early pressing. The first chance of the afternoon came Talbot’s way in the 6^th minute when Glasgow whipped a great cross over from the left that Boylan nodded over at the back post.

Slooves picked up an early caution when he was penalised for going straight through the back of Hyslop in the 8^th minute.

The Bot were on the attack again in the 10^th minute when Boylan raced across the pitch from right to left leaving McKie in his wake before sliding it back into the path of Healy who curled a shot wide of target from the edge of the area.

Up til now it had been pretty comfortable for Talbot but the 1^st warning sign came in the 13^th minute. Willett swung over a dangerous cross form the touchline that Boyd met at the back post. He headed it back across goal where Pooler met it for what looked a certain goal but somehow Leishman threw himself to his right to claw it away to safety.

Four minutes later and Talbot were caught out by a long diagonal ball down the right. Faulds burst forward into the Talbot box and as he headed for the bye line Wilson slid in to make the challenge. The visiting support thought it had went for a corner but the referee pointed to the spot and MCLENNAN gave Leishman no chance as he thumped it inside the left post to put Meadow 1-0 ahead.

Talbot tried to pick themselves up and Healy tested the keeper from 30 yards when he drilled a shot on target after being set up by Glasgow.

Leishman was called into action in the 27^th minute when Boyd gathered the ball on the left of the penalty area & fired a low shot at goal that Leishman held by his right post.

Meadow now had their best spell of the match, with Talbot finding themselves being pinned back in their own half, and conceding a number of free kicks and corners, all of which were resolutely defended.

In the 39^th minute Talbot were guilty of hesitancy at the edge of the Meadow area following a corner kick, allowing Martin to nick in & carry it up the centre before Boylan sent him crashing, resulting in a booking for Talbot’s striker.

The home side were in control but Talbot had a great chance to level in the 40^th minute on the counter-attack. Glasgow broke swiftly through the centre, carrying the ball up to the Meadow area before slipping the ball wide to release Samson through on goal. He raced through on the keeper but couldn’t beat Winters who managed to block his shot behind for the corner and Talbot went in a goal adrift at the interval.

Just as they had at the start of the match, Talbot made a positive start to the 2^nd half. In the 47^th minute Glasgow hooked the ball up the line to release Boylan down the right. He charged forward before pulling it back where Healy ran onto it but sent his low drive wide of target from 16 yards.

Two minutes later Talbot were back on the attack when Armstrong got the better of Faulds in the centre before sliding a pass up the right to Boylan. He whipped a dangerous cross over to the far post where McKie did well to head it behind.

The home side made the 1^st change of the afternoon in the 52^nd minute when they replaced one ex-Bot forward with another with Pooler making way for McIlroy.

A minute later Hyslop had his name taken for a late challenge on Slooves.

The pivotal moment of the match arrived in the 56^th minute. Stafford underhit a square pass to Armstrong allowing Faulds the chance to intercept midway inside the Talbot half. Faulds raced clean through on Leishman & looked a certainty to put Meadow 2 ahead but Leishman raced off his line & made a crucial save with his outstretched leg to turn Faulds shot away.

This spurred Talbot into life and within two minutes the Bot were level. Hyslop laid the ball out to GARETH ARMSTRONG on the right edge of the penalty area & he drilled it back across goal and into the opposite corner to make it 1-1.

Meadow were fortunate not to be a man down in the 59^th minute when Faulds reacted angrily after a tangle with Stafford. He clearly raised his hands but the referee bottled the decision and booked both players.

Talbot made their first change in the 62^nd minute when Shankland came on in place of Boylan.

It was now all Talbot and Meadow’s keeper had to pull off an impressive stop in the 66^th minute to prevent Armstrong from grabbing his 2^nd of the afternoon. Glasgow’s ball from the right wasn’t dealt with by the Meadow defence and it broke for Armstrong whose low strike was heading into the bottom corner but for Winters save.

The keeper was involved again a minute later. Talbot won a free kick out on the left that Shankland swept toward the back post where the keeper punched clear under pressure from Hyslop.

Meadow now made a further change with Carnwath on for Martin.

Samson very nearly put Talbot ahead in the 71^st minute. A shy into the penalty area wasn’t dealt with & it broke to Samson who fired a left foot shot off the inside of Winters’ left post. The ball spun across the face of goal where Glasgow just couldn’t reach it to tap it home.

The goal wasn’t long delayed though and a minute later Talbot moved in front. A cross from the left was headed down by Hyslop and came to MARK SHANKLAND who met it on the half volley to send a shot sailing inside the right post.

The large travelling support had barely stopped celebrating when Talbot grabbed their 3^rd of the afternoon in the 74^th minute.

Talbot were awarded a free kick 35 yards out that Shankland flighted into the centre. Once again the defence failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to KIER SAMSON who drilled a low strike inside the right post to put Talbot 3-1 ahead.

With 12 minutes to go Talbot made their 2^nd change with Graham Wilson coming on for the tiring Glasgow.

Meadow looked shell shocked by Talbot’s comeback and offered little threat in the closing stages.

In the 83^rd minute Talbot made their final change when Boyd came on to replace Samson.

As the game moved into added time Talbot almost added a fourth. Boyd won the ball in midfield before swiftly releasing it to Healy on the right. He stroked the ball across the 6-yard area where Shankland was waiting in front of goal but he couldn’t sort his feet out and he failed to connect with it.

Deep into added time Findlay received a yellow card after he up-ended Graham Wilson when he cut in past him off the left wing.

Another thrilling comeback from Talbot who again produced the goods when the chips were down. It’s back to cup duty and back to the road for Talbot next Saturday as they travel to face Carluke Rovers in the Scottish Junior cup.

Irvine Meadow – Winters, McKie, Willett, Findlay, Whyte, McLennan, Faulds, Slooves, Pooler, Boyd, Martin

Subs – McIlroy, Carnwath, Bilham, McLoy

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Healy, Armstrong, Hyslop, Boylan, Glasgow, Samson

Subs –    Graham Wilson, Shankland, Boyd, McDowall, Robbie McCracken, Lyle