Auchinleck Talbot v Craigmark Burntonians

Report

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

A much changed Talbot side made hard work of it but did enough to see off the challenge of Craigmark to book their place in the last 8 of the West.
Without setting the heather on fire Talbot started strongly enough and Kemp had several opportunities in as many minutes to give Talbot an early lead.
His 1st chance came in the 8th minute. Harvey found Waite on the right & he fed it inside the area to Glasgow. He was challenged before he could hit it but the ball broke back to Kemp who curled a left foot shot just over the bar.
A minute later Glasgow’s pass split the visitors defence allowing Kemp in on goal. He went for the lob & lifted it over the keeper but also just over the crossbar.
In the 10th minute Kemp had a further chance to put Talbot ahead. White dispossessed Dyer midway inside the Bot half & Talbot quickly broke up the right through Glasgow. He lifted it across the area to find Kemp in space but he angled his shot across goal & wide of Masterton’s left post.
This early flurry of chances proved a false dawn as the game quickly grew scrappier with errors aplenty from both sides.
It took until the 27th minute before the next close call. Pope’s shy from the left came straight into the path of Glasgow who raced onto it just inside the area & toe poked a shot that slid past the left post with Masterton beaten.
Craigmark hadn’t been at the races but they nearly took a surprise lead in the 29th minute. They won a free kick 35 yards out that Boyle drilled straight into the wall. It deflected straight into the path of Dyer who drilled a shot inches wide of the right post from 15 yards.
This encouraged Craigmark and a minute later Connor raced through the centre before testing Leishman with a long range drive that he smothered at the 2nd attempt.
For all Talbot’s early chances Craigmark’s keeper hadn’t been overworked with Talbot failing to hit the target on multiple occasions. Glasgow had Talbot’s first meaningful effort on target in the 38th minute when Kemp’s ball found him with his back to goal & he spun before firing a shot that was blocked by Masterton.
Talbot pushed hard in the closing stages of the half but all they had to show for it was a glancing header from Kemp that flew wide of the left post and so for the 2nd match in succession Talbot went in goal less at the interval.
The 2nd half got off to a false, forgettable start with literally nothing of any note occurring.
The game’s first caution came in the 58th minute when R McKay was booked for persistent fouling after impeding Kemp. Waite took the set piece & whipped in a good delivery from the right that Harvey headed goal ward only to see his effort clatter off the left post.
Talbot had the visitors defence stretched in the 62nd minute. Glasgow played it down the left to Kemp who cut inside off the wing. He had Waite spare to his right but opted to shoot from the edge of the box; sending a wild shot careening high & wide.
A minute later Talbot grabbed the decisive goal. Pope slid the ball through to JAMIE GLASGOW and as S McKay backed off him he carried it into the left of the penalty box & passed it beyond Masterton.
With 20 mins remaining Talbot made a double switch with Waite & Kemp making way for McIlroy & Samson. Craigmark also made a switch with Reid replacing Thirtle.
Samson was barely on the park when he had a chance to double Talbot’s lead. Pope whipped a great cross over that found Samson 6 yards out at the back post but he couldn’t steer his header on target.
With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot completed their substitutions when Stephen Wilson came on for White and Craigmark also made two further changes with Ewing on for Cherrie & then Campbell replacing McCubbin.
Talbot came close to adding to their lead twice in the 83rd minute. Firstly Glasgow forced a good save from Masterton who dived low to his left to turn his shot from distance behind for a corner and then when the corner came in Pope met it beyond the back post but couldn’t direct his header on target.
Reid picked up Craigmark’s 2nd caution of the afternoon with 5 mins remaining for a trip on Stephen Wilson. The free kick was taken short to Harvey whose low drive from 25 yards flew just wide of the left post & into the side-netting.
In the final minute Talbot had one last chance to add to their lead. A short corner from the left was worked to the back post where Harvey scooped it over the bar from close range.
Whilst far from their best Talbot thoroughly deserved the win and now face a home tie with Carluke in the quarter-finals of the West. Next up for Talbot is a repeat of last season’s Scottish semis only this time with Talbot making the trip to Dundee to face Lochee in the 1st leg.