Report

TALBOT CRUISE INTO THE LAST FOUR

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

Having disposed of Pollok en route to the quarters, the home fans turned up in numbers hoping for another cup shock but Talbot proved too strong for their youthful counterparts – cruising to a 2 nil win to book a semi-final date with Thorniewood.

Backed by a strong breeze Muirkirk had an early chance to test the Bot defence when they won a free kick out on the touchline – level with the 18 yard line. It was hit low into the box where the Bot defence were able to clear.

In the 5^th min Talbot forced a corner down the right. When it came over it was headed clear but only out as far as Boyle. He spread it left to find Gillies in the area and he saw his low drive blocked. It spun out wide to Wardrope who dinked a cross over that Powell claimed.

Muirkirk’s next attack saw them win a corner when a ball was fired across goal from the left and Sime sliced it behind. The corner was curled over toward the back post where McPherson managed to clear.

The first clear chance of the match went Talbot’s way after 12 mins. The Bot won a corner down the right which Schoneville fired in low looking to find Boyd. His effort was blocked and it came back to Thomson in space at the edge of the area and he steered his shot wide of the right hand post.

On the quarter hour mark Wardrope fed it out to Gillies on the wing and he fizzed a dangerous low ball across the face of goal that broke off Thomson and went behind for the goal kick.

A minute later a long diagonal from right to left saw Muirkirk force a corner. It was swung into the near post but Talbot defended it well to clear their lines.

Slowly, Talbot were beginning to take control and had a good chance to move ahead in the 27^th minute. Wardrope touched it off to his right to release Thomson and his cross picked out Gillies 8 yards out but he volleyed wide of the right post.

Two minutes later Talbot grabbed the opener. Gillies whipped over a good ball from the left to find Wardrope in the box. He played it to Thomson who laid it back to AUSTIN SIME who placed it low inside the left hand post from 16 yards.

Half an hour gone and McLaughlin did well to prevent Talbot doubling their lead. A cross from the right looked destined for Thomson’s head 6 yards out but Muirkirk’s centre-half managed to climb to intercept and head it back to his keeper.

Two mins later Talbot had a good chance to move further ahead. A ball from right to left was missed by Muirkirk and it ran through to Gillies. He only had Burns between him and the goal but opted to hit it early and fired well wide of target.

In the 39^th minute McDermott received a caution for a shirt tug on Boyle.

Talbot continued to play on the front foot but had nothing more to show for it – bar a Clark effort from 20 yards that flew over the bar and so the Bot went in a goal ahead but with the wind advantage to come 2^nd half.

Talbot got out the blocks quickly after the restart and came close within a minute. Clark sprayed a pass across to Gillies who touched it into the path of Boyle whose low drive went just wide of the right post.

In the 47^th minute Talbot did have the ball in the net when Thomson slotted it low past Powell but it was chalked off for offside in the build-up.

51 mins gone and Talbot tested the keeper when Boyd laid the ball off to Thomson who drilled it on target from 20 yards but straight at Powell.

The game was done and dusted in the 53^rd minute when Talbot added their 2^nd of the afternoon. A shy down the right was flicked on by Clark to find Wardrope. He lifted a cross over beyond the back post to find Gillies who laid it back across goal for CONNOR BOYD to slot it home.

On the hour mark Schoneville & Gillies combined well down the left with Schoneville’s final ball across goal cut out at the expense of a corner. Wardrope’s in swinging corner had the defence at full stretch but Hazlett did well to hook it behind.

In the 62 min Boyd had a chance for his 2^nd of the afternoon and although he didn’t catch it cleanly his shot trundled just wide of the right post.

At this stage it was all Talbot and the Bot came close again in the 66^th minute. McPherson’s ball up the left saw Boyd beat the offside trap to race down the wing and fire it low across the face of goal where Thomson just failed to connect.

Talbot now made a double change with Sime & Thomson making way for Langan & Nimmo.

The Bot’s next attack saw Clark race forward. He could’ve went for goal but opted to shove it wide to find Wardrope in space down the right. He whipped over a dangerous cross which Hazlett managed to head over his own bar. When Schoneville’s corner came over to the back post it was met by Wilson who hit the target but his header lacked the power to test the keeper.

As the game progressed the weather gradually deteriorated and the game became something of a slog.

In the 74^th minute Muirkirk had a rare chance. A ball up the left was headed clear by McPherson but came out to McDermott. He passed it into the feet of Milne down the left of the area and his shot was blocked and ran through to Armour.

Two minutes later the home side put together a good move down the right before switching play across to Airdrie who won a corner down the left. The corner was whipped into the goal mouth where Talbot managed to clear it out to the edge of the area. Airdrie met it but blazed his shot well over.

With 10 mins remaining Talbot made another double change with Slooves & Mitchell replacing Clark & Gillies.

Four mins from time Talbot ought to have made it 3. Mitchell hared up the left wing and angled a low ball across the face of goal. Boyd looked a cert but scooped his shot over the bar from 6 yards out.

Talbot now made their final change with Abed on for Boyd.

In the final minute of the match Talbot had one last chance. Nimmo tried to power his way through on goal, nearly succeeding, and the ball broke loose to Abed who was well challenged just as he looked set to hit it home.

With the rain teeming down, thankfully there wasn’t much time to be added and the final whistle saw Talbot troop off with a 2-0 win.

Next Saturday Talbot are back in cup action as they host Rob Roy at Beechwood where the Bot will be hoping to book their place in the last four of the South Challenge cup.

Muirkirk – Powell, Burns, Capaldi, Hazlett, McLaughlin, Airdrie, Scullion, Dawson, McDermott, Milne, McLaughlan: Sub – Lewis

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Schoneville, Wilson, McPherson, Sime, Boyle, Wardrope, Boyd, Thomson, Gillies: Subs – Nimmo, Abed, Mitchell, Langan, Slooves, Hanlon