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PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot came from behind to seal a well-deserved win away at Rossvale to book their place in the last 16 of the Scottish Junior Cup.

The Bot had a chance to take the lead in the 8th minute. A ball through the centre parted the Rossvale defence allowing Boylan a clean run in on goal. He sped into the box but took a heavy touch & the ball sprang through to a relieved Donnelly.

A minute later Talbot came close. Lyle swung a cross over that the defence only cleared as far as Pope. He went for goal from 25 yards & his shot flew just past Donnelly’s right post.

The surface was tricky underfoot, for spectators & players alike, and Sean Higgins came unstuck in the 12th minute when he went to hit a free kick from 30 yards. He slipped & fell over as he addressed the ball & McGrath followed up to hit a tame shot wide.

The home side did threaten the Bot goal after quarter of an hour. Slattery’s deflected cross came to Anthony Higgins in the air at the back post & he steered a header just wide of Leishman’s right post.

Talbot tested the home keeper in the 26th minute. Stephen Wilson won a corner off Leadbetter down the right. Rossvale managed to clear Shankland’s corner but it came straight to Armstrong on the left & he lifted a cross over that McCracken met to steer a header back across goal that Donnelly held at his right hand post.

Rossvale had a chance to test Leishman in the 29th min when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out. McGonigle took it & got it up & over the wall but it lacked the power to test Leishman who gathered safely inside the left post.

A well-worked Talbot counter ought to have seen the Bot move in front after 33 mins. Stephen Wilson played it up to Graham Wilson & he switched it out to Pope on the wing. He flighted an early cross over & Boylan looked set to score but glanced a free header wide of the left post.

Two minutes later Talbot had a scare down the other end. Rossvale won a free kick out on the right which was whipped over toward the far post. Leishman came out to claim it but was beaten to it by Anthony Higgins whose header skated just wide of target.

In the 37th minute Talbot found themselves a goal down. McPherson caught Sean Higgins in the penalty area; the ref pointed to the spot & SEAN HIGGINS sent Leishman the wrong way to roll it home.

Talbot pushed forward in search of a leveller before the break & gave the home defence a fright in the 41st minute. Stephen Wilson lifted a cross beyond the far post to find Graham & he guided a header back across goal that just eluded Hyslop & drifted wide of the left post.

As the half moved into injury time Talbot had a penalty appeal when Hyslop appeared to be tripped just inside the area by Sean Higgins but nothing was given & the half ended on a low note with Graham Wilson picking up a caution deep into added time.

Both sides came out unchanged for the 2nd period which got off to an untidy start.

However, Talbot’s nerves were settled when they grabbed the leveller in the 51st minute. Armstrong lifted a good ball down the left to set Boylan running at the defence. He squared it across the area where STEPHEN WILSON coolly fired it into the roof of the net.

The goal lifted Talbot & they had a chance to move ahead after 57 minutes. Armstrong’s pass found Boylan inside the area. He cut inside onto his right foot but steered his shot straight at the keeper.

Tucker now made a change with Samson on in place of Boylan.

Talbot almost took the lead in the 59th minute. Stephen Wilson found himself in space on the right of the area & his shot took a slight deflection as it sped past the right post. When the corner came over Hyslop got on the end of it at the back post but his header was blocked en route to goal.

Anthony Higgins had his name taken on the hour mark for a late challenge on Hyslop & two minutes later left the field to be replaced by Giffin.

A minute later Talbot won a free kick in a dangerous area after Graham Wilson was nudged over outside the area. Shankland curled it up & over the defensive wall but Donnelly pushed it wide at his right hand post. From the resultant corner Pope climbed at the back post to head for goal only to see his header deflected just over the bar.

In the 64th minute Talbot won another free kick in a good area; this time only a yard outside the box. Shankland bent it around the wall but Donnelly did well to turn it round his left post.

Talbot kept pressing forward & had another chance to gain the lead in the 67th minute. Hyslop won a header on that sent Graham Wilson scurrying through the centre. He broke into the box but couldn’t get it under control & Donnelly raced quickly off his line to make the block.

Finally Talbot’s pressure paid off & the Bot took a deserved lead in the 78th minute. Armtrong’s ball was won in the air by Samson who flicked it on into the path of GRAHAM WILSON on the right of the area & he drilled it low into the opposite corner to make it 2-1 to Talbot.

Rossvale had scarcely threatened in the 2nd half but they had a chance to test Leishman in the 80th minute when Stephen Wilson was penalised for handball 25 yards out. The free kick was shoved short to Sean Higgins who drilled a powerful shot on target but Leishman was right behind it.

It was then Talbot’s turn to win a set piece within shooting range when they were awarded a free kick 30 yards out. Shankland fired it over the wall but it didn’t dip quickly enough and flew over the bar.

With four minutes remaining Talbot nearly killed the tie off. Stephen Wilson won a corner on the right and when it came over McCracken arrowed a header on target that Donnelly tipped over the bar.

As the game moved into the closing stages Tucker made two late changes, firstly White replacing Shankland and then deep in injury time, Glasgow coming on for Graham Wilson.

A good win for Talbot who now turn their attentions back to league duty where they face current front runners Kilwinning Rangers at Beechwood next Saturday.

Rossvale Juniors – Donnelly, Crawford, Leadbetter, McGrath, Bradley, Johnstone, Slattery, Sean Higgins, Anthony Higgins, Brennan, McGonigle

Subs – Zata, Niven, Biggar, Giffin, McNab

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Boylan, Shankland

Subs – Glasgow, Samson, Young, White, Aiden Wilson

Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/8702/rossvale-1-talbot-2#ixzz67V8pLNzw