Report

TALBOT GO TONTO AT THE TINTO

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

Talbot turned in their best away display of the season to brush aside St Cadoc’s in the first of their two visits this week to New Tinto Park.

The home side take risks in possession & were caught out as early as the 2^nd minute when Talbot’s high press paid off. Boyd latched onto a slack pass just outside the penalty area but he fired his shot wide from 20 yards.

Two minutes later Talbot worked it well down the right flank between Wardrope & Clark. When the ball came into the area Boyd drilled a low shot at goal that was blocked by a defender. It came out to Clark at the edge of the box and his effort was heading goal ward but was deflected behind for a corner.

In the 7^th minute the home side had a half chance. Wilson was beaten by the bounce of the ball and the ball skipped through to McTaggart on the right who fired it across goal and wide of target.

Soon after St Cadoc’s won a free kick wide of the Talbot penalty area following a foul by Sime. Borland whipped it into the centre where Armour punched it clear.

The next effort at goal came from Talbot in the 11^th minute. The Bot countered through Thomson who burst forward through the centre before releasing Clark on the right. He cut in and fired a shot on target that was smothered by Currie.

Talbot now took control and had St Cadoc’s pegged back with only the final ball lacking.

In the 17^th minute Gillies touched it on to the overlapping Schoneville whose deep cross sailed just past the far post.

Against the run of play the home side came close in the 18^th minute. Borland swept in a dangerous cross from the left wing which Schoneville headed clear. St Cadoc’s retrieved it and Brady showed good feet in the box to elude a couple of challenges and squeeze off a shot that took a deflection as it flew over the bar.

Talbot had a good chance to grab the opener in the 22^nd minute. The defence were guilty again of being a bit tippy tappy under pressure and conceded possession to Boyd inside the area; however he didn’t catch his shot cleanly and trundled it straight at Currie.

On the half hour mark Talbot had a shout for a penalty. Wilson angled a good ball out to Schoneville who hit it first time into the area. It appeared to hit a defender’s hand but the ref waved play on. Talbot kept the pressure up and won a free kick just wide of the area for a foul on Wardrope.

Wardrope took it and curled it beyond the far post where McPherson headed it back down into the mix. The ball broke loose and came out to Sime at the edge and his effort at goal came off a defender before clipping the left post and behind for the corner. When Wardrope’s corner came over from the right RUARIDH LANGAN met it unopposed at the near post to head Talbot into the lead after 31 mins.

Talbot now pushed forward looking to add to their lead. In the 37^th minute Thomson’s touch sent Boyd in behind the defence down the left. He had a chance to hit it first time but took a touch and then saw his shot blocked for a corner. Wardrope lifted the corner to the back post where again McPherson got his head to it. The ball broke back to Langan whose half-volley was held by Currie.

St Cadoc’s were struggling badly to cope with Talbot’s corners and the Bot had another half chance in the 39^th minute. Wardrope’s corner from the left went to the back post where a defender put it behind. When the subsequent corner came over from the right it wasn’t cleared and landed at McPherson with his back to goal and he turned and shot over the bar.

Despite Talbot’s dominance it was only one nil and the home side gave Talbot a fright in the 42^nd minute. Brady played a good ball out right to find Sweeney who drilled a low cross into the centre which was well cleared.

A minute before the interval Talbot doubled their lead. Thomson had a chance to hit it on the left of the area but opted to square it across to Clark. His shot at goal was blocked but came to CONNOR BOYD who forced it home from close range to send Talbot in 2-0 ahead.

The home side made a change at the interval with Millar on in place of Sweeney.

Talbot were out to kill the game off and started the 2^nd half positively – forcing a couple of corners in quick succession.

In the 54^th minute Schoneville did well to keep the ball in play down the left and then teed it back for Gillies to cross. He floated it into the centre where Thomson met it but it was a fraction too high for him to get above it and direct on target.

With 58 mins gone Talbot made it 3-0. Wardrope carried it forward before switching play out left to find Gillies. He drilled it across the face of goal where RUARIDH LANGAN bundled it home.

It looked to be game over but the home side were thrown a lifeline a minute later when they pulled one back. Schoneville took a heavy touch outside the box which Borland pounced on. He carried on into the area where Armour did well to block his shot but was helpless to prevent MCTAGGART from prodding home the rebound from close range.

Talbot responded well to this set back and were soon back on the front foot. In the 61^st min Talbot won a free kick which Wardrope played low into the feet of Gillies.  He found Boyd inside the area and Currie produced a good stop to deny him. The goal though was only delayed by moments as Talbot kept the pressure on and when the ball came over from the left EUAN THOMSON tucked it home to make it 4-1 to the Bot.

In the 66^th minute Thomson came close to his 2^nd of the evening when he fired a low drive wide of target.

Talbot now made their first change with Nimmo on for Boyd. There followed a raft of substitutions with the home side replacing Borland, Brady & McTaggart with Coll, McIlduff & Gallacher.

The Bot also made a triple change with Abed, Boyle & Mitchell on for Thomson, Sime & Gillies.

With 77 on the clock Talbot had a good chance for another. Langan’s slide rule pass found Nimmo in space in the area but his shot from 15 yards was blocked by the keeper.

It was all Talbot now and the only question was whether Talbot would manage to add to their tally.

In the 86^th minute Nimmo showed good strength in the box to power through and then square it for Langan who missed out on a hat-trick as his shot went just wide of the right hand post.

Two mins from time Mitchell hit a good switch of play to find Abed in space down the right. He looped it back across to find Mitchell inside the area who took it on his chest but a covering defender marshalled it behind for a corner before he could hit it.

As the game headed into added time Talbot sealed their emphatic win with a 5^th. Wardrope slid it through to Abed down the right of the area and he squared it across goal for ALEX NIMMO to prod home from close range.

A good night’s work from Talbot that sees them climb back to 5^th in the table and close the gap on St Cadoc’s. Talbot return to Govan this Saturday when they face Benburb in the league.

St Cadoc’s – Currie, Slattery, Munro, McKillen, McLuckie, Kelly, Sweeney, Brady, McHugh, McTaggart, Borland

Subs – McIlduff, Millar, Gallacher, Coll, MacMillan, Fellowes

Auchinleck Talbot – Armour, Clark, Schoneville, Wilson, McPherson, Sime, Wardrope, Langan, Boyd, Thomson, Gillies

Subs – McAvoy, Abed, Nimmo, Mitchell, Boyle, Hanlon, Slooves