Talbot’s topsy turvy season continued as they went down to defeat at Troon.
It was Talbot who made all of the early running and the Bot had a chance to take the lead inside 2 minutes. Wilson sped down the left & fired a low ball across the area which Young ran onto but he steered his shot well wide of target.
Two minutes later Semple kept Talbot out with a magnificent save. Once again Wilson got free on the left & whipped a cross into the near post. Milliken bulleted a header on target but the keeper made a great stop at his right post to keep it out.
Talbot’s next chance came in the 8th minute. Pope chipped the ball into the area where Wilson flicked it into the path of Boyd. He teed it up for Milliken whose low drive took a deflection & went past the far post for a corner kick.
Semple produced another top save to deny Talbot the lead in the 10th minute. Hyslop slipped the ball into Milliken on the left of the area & he twisted & turned onto his right foot before rifling a shot at goal that Semple tipped onto the crossbar.
The home side were forced into a change in the 13th minute when Keenan fell awkwardly & had to be replaced by McCrae.
Milliken passed up a good chance to put Talbot in front in the 23rd minute. Boyd slid a pass in behind the defence to send Milliken through on the left. He looked favourite to beat Semple to the ball but the keeper raced 30 yards out to get there first & clear the danger.
This proved costly as within a minute the home side took the lead with their 1st effort on target. Lyle intercepted a ball through the middle but gave the ball away 30 yards out. It was played to ARMSTRONG on the left & he hammered an unstoppable shot from 25 yards that flew inside Leishman’s right post.
Talbot picked themselves up and continued to enjoy the bulk of the play but without being able to breach the Troon defence. Wilson sent a dangerous ball into the centre from the left wing that Collins sliced over his own bar and then Milliken broke down the left & fired a good ball across to the far post but there were no takers.
As the half wore on Troon came more into it & McGoldrick had to look sharp in the 40th minute to get across & block McGill’s shot at goal.
The Bot’s hopes took a blow early in the 2nd half when they conceded a soft goal in the 51st minute. There looked to be no danger when a high ball went down the right but the ball skited off the top of Lyle’s head & came straight across to FORSYTH, who clean through on goal, took full advantage & rolled the ball under Leishman to make it 2-0.
The 2nd goal knocked the stuffing out of Talbot & with Troon content to sit on their lead the game stalemated with nothing much happening in the final third.
Tucker made two changes as Talbot chased the game, firstly Shankland came on for Boyd and then Love replaced Latta.
Wilson picked up a caution in the 73rd minute for a late challenge.
Talbot set up an action packed ending to the game when they pulled a goal back in the 80th minute. Shankland raced up the right before playing it across the face of goal for MILLIKEN to place inside the right post.
Two minutes later there was a scramble in the Troon goal mouth. Love won a corner & when Shankland delivered it, McCracken guided a header back across goal. Pope tried to force it home from close range but there were enough bodies on the line to block him & clear it to safety.
Collins was cautioned in the 87th minute for a late challenge that resulted in a Bot free kick 35 yards from goal. Shankland squared it for Pope to hit but his low drive went well wide of target.
As the game moved into injury time there were close calls at both ends. Troon almost extended their lead when McGill raced clear of McGoldrick on the left. He carried it into the area but Leishman was swiftly off his line to dive at his feet & smother the ball.
Deep into injury time, Milliken came within a whisker of levelling. He raced onto a through ball down the left of the area & drilled a low shot past Semple that came off the inside of the right post & out to safety.
A disappointing night for Talbot who started the game on fire but fizzled out once Troon got their 2nd goal. There’s no time for dwelling on the result though as Talbot’s next outing is a visit to Lugar to face old foes Cumnock in the semi-final of the West.Troon – Semple, Armstrong, Keenan, McKnight, Collins, Chatham, Harvey, Spence, Forsyth, Muir, McGill
Subs – McCrae, Moore, Curragh, Maley, FraserTalbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, McCracken, Boyd, Young, Hyslop, Graham Wilson, Milliken, Latta
Subs – Shankland, Love, White, Findlay, Johnstone

Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/7263/troon-2-talbot-1-ht#ixzz48iI891sJ