Report

There was nothing to separate the sides as Talbot and Petershill settled for a point a piece after drawing 1-1 at Petershill Park.

The home side made a bright start and had a half chance in the opening minute. McKenna fed it back to Scott and his first time ball into the centre was met by Shelvey who lifted it over the bar.

Talbot had a chance to test the Peasies defence in the 3^rd minute when Samson won a free kick out on the left. Glasgow aimed it beyond the far post where McCracken met it unopposed but he steered his header back across goal rather than on target and Graham Wilson was penalised in the 6- yard area.

The Bot had a let off in the 7^th minute when McKenna got on the end of a cross from the left and glanced a header off the face of the bar.

Hewitt received a caution in the 10^th minute for a shirt tug on Samson after Kier had spun away from him.

Talbot came close to the opener in the 13^th minute. Glasgow turned his marker and sped down the left before feeding the ball into the feet of Samson on the left of the area. He pulled it back across goal where Taylor ran onto it but he bundled his shot wide of the right post.

A minute later Taylor came close again – bursting into the box down the right but the defender did enough to pressure him and McNeil came out to dive at his feet and turn it behind for the corner.

In the 22^nd minute Leitch received a yellow card for hauling down Samson.

Petershill caught Talbot on the hop in the 23^rd minute when they countered down the left. The ball was switched inside to find Scott but he pulled his shot wide of Leishman’s left hand post.

McGregor came to the home side’s rescue in Talbot’s next attack. Taylor sped down the right and whipped over a cross that looked destined for Graham Wilson’s head at the far post but McGregor got his head to it to take it away from him.

Down the other end Talbot had a near miss in the 29^th minute. The Peasies won a corner on the right and when it came over Leitch got a free header 12 yards out but sent it just over the crossbar.

The home side threatened again in the 32^nd minute when McKenna ran into space down the left before delivering a good low ball into the centre which was cut out before eventually being cleared.

In the 34^th minute Graham Wilson’s clever flick sent Glasgow racing clear on the left. He cut into the box and tried to place it low to McNeil’s left but the keeper got down to make a good stop and Leitch knocked the loose ball behind for a corner.

Just when it looked like the half was meandering its way to a close Talbot took the lead out of the blue in the 42^nd minute. A shy from the right found CHRIS STAFFORD and he cut inside and with a burst of speed cut between two defenders before taking it wide of McNeil and slotting home from a tight angle.

Unfortunately, Talbot were barely in front before Petershill levelled in the final minute of the half. Ferns played a good ball across goal from the left which MCKENNA met in the centre and although he didn’t make the cleanest of contacts it was enough to steer it in off the base of the left post to send the teams in level at the break.

Talbot started the 2^nd half positively and tested the keeper 2 minutes after the re-start. Graham Wilson played Glasgow in and McNeil got down to block his low right footed shot from the left of the area. The rebound came to Taylor in the air and he sent his header over the bar.

Healy had his name taken in the 48^th minute for a foul just inside the Talbot half.

Talbot were forced into an early change in the 52^nd minute when McCracken picked up a knock and had to leave the field to be replaced by Ballantyne.

In the 57^th minute Ferns curled a dangerous ball over from the right that only needed a touch but there were no takers and Leishman was able to gather.

Play then switched to the other end where Taylor pinged the ball into the feet of Samson inside the area and he was able to spin his man and get a shot off on target but McNeil made a good stop.

Tucker made Talbot’s 2^nd change of the afternoon in the 63^rd minute when Wardrope came on in place of Taylor.

Talbot’s next chance came after Peasies failed to clear their lines from a corner. Armstrong’s shot from the edge of the area was blocked but it came back to Healy and he drilled a low effort on target that McNeil smothered.

Petershill then picked up two bookings in quick succession – firstly Owens and then moments later Cappie for a high challenge on Aiden Wilson.

In the 70^th minute Petershill won a corner down the left when McKenna’s cross was deflected behind. Ferns hit the perfect in swinger to the back post which Graham Wilson had to head clear from the goal mouth. It came out to Gracie on the right edge and he fired a low drive on target but straight at Leishman.

Talbot came close to regaining the lead in the 74^th minute. Wardrope gathered just outside the area and cut inside onto his left before steering a shot at goal that crashed off the crossbar.

Petershill now made a change with Branks on for Shelvey.

With 10 minutes remaining Talbot made a double switch with Graham Wilson and Glasgow making way for Mason and Boylan.

As the game moved into the closing stages it was Talbot on the front foot and the Bot had two late chances to claim all three points. In the 86^th minute Wardrope fired a great ball across goal from the right but Boylan couldn’t connect it with at the back post.

Two minutes later Mason skipped past his man down the left and chipped it into the centre where Wardrope touched it off into the path of Boylan but he was falling back as he hit it and lashed it over the bar.

Petershill were content to run the clock down and made two late subs with McDonald on for McKenna and Brodie replacing Ferns at the last kick.

Over the piece a draw was about right with neither side having any serious complaints. Next up for Talbot it’s a return visit to Petershill Park though this time to face Rossvale in the Scottish Junior cup but as of the time of writing it’s still unclear when it’s due to take place as Petershill are at home next Saturday.

Petershill – McNeil, Gracie, Scott, McGregor, Hewitt, Leitch, Cappie, Owens, Shelvey, Ferns, McKenna

Subs – McCabe, Brodie, McLaughlan, Branks, Crumlish, McDonald, Lachlan

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Healy, Taylor, Samson, Graham Wilson, Glasgow

Subs – Boylan, Mason, Wardrope, Crawford, Ballantyne, Park