Report

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
This was a game to forget for the traveling Bot support with Talbot second best for much of the afternoon as they went down to a 2-0 defeat.
The warning signs were there from the off. Rob Roy won a corner in the 1st minute and when it came into the area Boyle cushioned a header down into the path of Upton who lifted his shot over the bar from 18 yards out.
Talbot put together a good move in the 4th minute. Pope fed the ball up the line to Milliken who swung an early cross into the area. Hyslop gathered the cross beyond the back post & laid it back to Latta who whipped a dangerous cross into the centre which Boyle did well to flick away.
The Talbot midfield were slow to react a minute later when the pacey Duff raced half the length of the park before firing a shot wide of Leishman’s left post from just outside the area.
Hyslop had a half chance in the 6th minute. He challenged in the air for Leishman’s long ball and reacted quickest when it broke loose but he stabbed his shot a foot over the bar from about 19 yards out.
Upton received an early yellow card for a late challenge on Latta.
Young didn’t make the most of a half chance in the 10th minute. Wilson released Lyle on the overlap and his low cross eluded the defence and came across to Young on the left edge of the penalty area; however he attempted to pass the ball into the net and his effort was blocked by a defender.
Leishman produced an early contender for save of the season in the 13th minute. Campbell misplaced a header across the penalty area and Watt looked certain to score as he headed home from close range but Andy somehow flew across to his right to claw the ball wide of the right post.
There was nothing Leishman could do though two mins later to prevent Rob Roy moving ahead. Talbot were caught out at a shy down the right which was thrown into the feet of Sawyers. He made for the bye line before cutting it back across goal where WATT hammered it home.
Talbot were struggling for any fluency but Milliken was unlucky in the 22nd minute. He gathered out on the right and curled a superb cross to the back post which Wilson just couldn’t reach.
The ref had a big decision to make in the 27th minute. Wilson surged forward only to be sent crashing down inside the box. Talbot appealed for the penalty but the referee judged that the tackle was just outside the box and awarded a free kick 19 yards out. Wilson took the free kick and fired it over the wall but Brown rose to the challenge and punched it wide of the right post.
On the half hour mark Milliken broke down the left & drilled a good low ball across the face of goal which Brown did well to smother.
Milliken was inches from sending Wilson clean through on goal in the 38th minute. His through ball looked set to send Wilson through on keeper, only for Boyle to stretch out a leg to make a crucial interception.
Talbot couldn’t be faulted for effort and kept plugging away without getting any joy. Two minutes from the interval Rob Roy threatened to extend their lead. Upton paced away on the right and angled the ball back for Watt who was poised to hit it only for Latta to intercept at full stretch, and so the sides went it with Rob Roy a goal ahead.
The 2nd half got off to a non-descript start with neither side making any progress. Wilson picked up caution in the 55th minute for blocking the run of Mackie and a minute later Talbot had a let off when they were again caught sleeping at Rob Roy throw in. The shy down the left was thrown straight into the path of Watt who ran onto it unchallenged before hitting a swerving shot that clipped off the top of the crossbar.
The 1st change of the afternoon came in the 66th minute when Martin came on for Mackie for the home side.
Milliken had a great chance to draw Talbot level a minute later. Latta won the ball and sent the ball through to Milliken on the right of the penalty area. He was clean through but with only Brown to beat he angled his shot across goal and wide of the far post.
Rob Roy now made a 2nd switch with Aitken coming on in place of Watt.
Milliken produced a moment of quality in the 69th min when he gathered wide on the right and whipped a dangerous cross over to the back post on his left foot which Finnigan did well to hook behind for a corner.
Talbot had a second shout for a penalty in the 70th minute. As Finningan went to clear the ball it took an awkward bounce and appeared to strike him on the arm but the ref waved play on. He knocked the ball up field where Latta was flattened by Duff who received a caution.
Milliken was one of Talbot’s better players on the day yet was the main culprit when it came to wasting the few clear cut chances that came Talbot’s way.
He had a decent opportunity to level the score in the 72nd minute when a ball over the top found him in space 15 yards out. He brought the ball down but got underneath it and scooped his shot over the bar.
Tucker now made his 1st change with Shankland on in place of Latta and soon after Rob Roy made their final change with Pearson replacing Duff.
Other than substitutions there wasn’t much happening and Tucker made his final throw of the dice in the 81st minute when he brought on Love & Steven Wilson for Milliken & White.
The home side should have gone a man down a minute later. Upton went to ground theatrically in a vain attempt to win a free kick on the edge of the area but the ref chose to ignore his dive and didn’t produce a 2nd yellow for the Rabs captain.
Steven Wilson had an effort on target with five minutes to go. Love flicked the ball out to him wide on the right and he struck a low shot that Brown held inside his left post.
Pearson received a yellow card for what appeared a fairly innocuous challenge in the 86th minute.
With Talbot pushing forward and no White as defensive cover Talbot were vulnerable on the counter and were caught out in the 88th minute. Upton gathered the ball midway in the Bot half but with men over he squandered the chance with a poor final ball.
However one minute later the Rabs did manage to counter successfully and kill the game off. Aitken gathered on the right touchline and switched play out to the far wing. McKenzie fired a low ball across which Sawyers dummied allowing PEARSON to bundle it home from close range.
Talbot will be disappointed with their display but have no time to brood on it as the team will need to pick themselves up for next Saturday’s away trip to Maryhill to face BSC in the Scottish Cup.

Rob Roy – Brown, Finnigan, McKenzie, Barr, Boyle, Whelan, Duff, Upton, Sawyers, Watt, Mackie

Subs – Aitken, Martin, Pearson, McMenamin, Murdoch (gk)

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Campbell, Latta, Young, White, Milliken, G Wilson, Hyslop

Subs – Shankland, Love, Gillies, S Wilson, Findlay