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PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot entered the winter break on a low note as they slumped to their 2^nd 1-0 defeat in a row; losing narrowly to the Buffs at the Kilwinning Sports Centre.

The 1^st half made an excellent case for summer football with little to keep the fans warm on a Baltic day.

The Bot had a half chance early on when Samson burst free on the left but he fired into the side-netting.

Kilwinning had the half’s only real chance in the 8^th minute. Ramsay’s cross was blocked behind by Aiden Wilson and when the corner came over from the right it skimmed off Graham Wilson’s head and fell kindly for Wood but the full-back hoofed it over the bar from 8 yards out.

In the 17^th minute Samson looked like he was going to race through on goal but a Buffs defender got back to make a timely sliding tackle to knock it back to the keeper.

Kilwinning were slightly edging it on possession but neither side were asking any questions of the opposing goalie and the only other noteworthy incidents of the 1^st half were bookings for Shankland for a foul on the touchline and Graham Wilson also had his name taken in the 40^th minute.

Kilwinning came out with a bit more intent at the start of the 2^nd half and this proved to be the difference on the day. The Buffs forced a corner down the right within a minute of the restart which was cleared at the near post; however the linesman’s flag was raised and after consulting him with the referee awarded a penalty. Hanvey took it and although Leishman guessed right & did well to block it to his left he was helpless to prevent HANVEY bundling home the rebound from close range.

Talbot lifted it after falling behind and Barclay was called into action on 56 minutes when Graham Wilson raced down the left of the penalty area. He tried to square it across the face of goal and it took a deflection off a defender but Barclay was able to turn it behind. The resultant corner was played into the back post area where it bobbled about for a bit before the defence eventually cleared.

With 59 minutes gone Glasgow turned inside the area & drilled a shot on target but it was comfortably held by Barclay.

In the 63^rd minute Glasgow received a caution for kicking the ball away after the umpteenth marginal decision went the home side’s way.

The Buffs had went quiet since the goal but threatened to double their lead in the 65^th minute. A long shy from the right was cleared at the near post but came back out to Monti and he cut in off the right flank before shooting just over the crossbar.

Talbot won a free kick out wide on the left in the 68^th minute when Samson was obstructed. This also resulted in a booking for the Buffs player but who it was I couldn’t say as Kilwinning’s choice of having silhouette’s as opposed to numbers on their shirts made it all but impossible to tell.

Shankland took the free kick and swept it over to the back post where McCracken met it & directed a header for goal that Barclay saved well at his left post. The ball broke loose but didn’t fall Talbot’s way and the defence cleared.

Kilwinning picked up a further caution in the 75^th minute when Monti was booked.

11 minutes from time Talbot made their first change with Mason coming on in place of Healy.

A minute later the Buffs almost added a second. A long ball was floated up the left which Collins did well to keep in play. He then surged in off the left touchline into the area and fired a shot across goal and wide of the far post.

After this it was 10 minutes of one-way traffic with Talbot pegging the home side back in their final third looking for an equaliser.

A half chance came Talbot’s way in the 83^rd minute when Aiden Wilson picked out Mason on the overlap. His cross to the back post was met by Samson and his header fell to Graham Wilson who hit the target but without the power to trouble the keeper.

With 5 minutes remaining Talbot made another change with Boyd making way for Hyslop.

Talbot’s next chance came via a corner from the right. Shankland’s first ball in was well defended but it came back out wide to him and when he crossed it in a 2^nd time Graham Wilson got his head to it but it flew straight at the keeper.

It wasn’t Talbot’s day and this was underlined in the 87^th minute. Samson had an effort from 12 yards and his angled drive nearly squirmed through the keeper but he got enough of a deflection on it to send it up and over the crossbar. When the corner came in to the back post Barclay took command of it and punched clear under pressure.

A minute from time Talbot missed another opportunity to level. Glasgow whipped over a great ball from the right that went straight across the face of goal to Aiden Wilson beyond the back post but he lashed it off target from a tight angle.

As the game entered injury time Talbot forced another couple of corners – the first of which Barclay did well to turn over his own bar as the in swinger came in from the right but the Buffs defended the 2^nd one well and the ref’s whistle signalled the end.

That’s it for Talbot for 2021 and it’s not until January 8^th Talbot are back in action when they travel to Dalmellington to face Craigmark in the Junior cup. Merry Christmas when it comes to all in Talbot land.

Kilwinning Rangers – Barclay, Wood, McGowan, Syme, Caldwell, Hanvey, Monti, Gardiner, Ramsay, McColm, Colllins

Subs – F Anderson, D Anderson, McArthur, Millar, Crawford, Henderson

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Boyd, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Armstrong, Healy, Graham Wilson, Samson, Shankland, Glasgow

Subs – Robbie McCracken, Hyslop, Mason, Lyle, Hewitt