Report

Talbot won this Ayrshire weekly press cup tie comfortably, easing past Whitletts without ever really finding top gear.
The 1st meaningful attack of the afternoon came after 5 minutes. Shankland fed the ball out to Graham Wilson on the left wing & he swept over a superb early cross that Glasgow & then Hyslop just failed to connect with.
The opening goal came after 20 minutes. Stephen Wilson burst forward before releasing the ball left to find Graham Wilson. He passed it into the path of JAMIE GLASGOW who slotted a low left-foot shot past the keeper to make it 1-0.
Three minutes later Talbot threatened the Whitletts goal again. A long diagonal ball found Armstrong on the right of the area & he floated a header back across goal which Mullen headed over his own bar. Shankland pulled the resultant corner back into the path of Stephen Wilson whose net bound drive was blocked away off a Whitletts defender.
Forsyth had his name taken in the 27th minute for a series of fouls on Graham Wilson.
In a rare attack Whitletts managed to win a corner in the 32nd minute. It was delivered to the back post where Buchanan headed it well over.
Action then switched to the other end where Glasgow cut in off the left wing before firing a shot inches wide of Fraser’s right post.
Talbot’s next attack saw Leishman bowl the ball out to Armstrong on the right. He slid a perfectly weighted pass through to release Glasgow whose cross was cut out by Fraser at his near post.
Anderson became the 2nd Vics player cautioned when he was shown a yellow in the 36th minute for a late challenge on Graham Wilson.
Two minutes later Talbot had a half chance when Armstrong’s cross into the area fell to Shankland. He brought it down but was closed down before he could get a shot away. The ball broke to Stephen Wilson whose fierce drive was blocked by Mullen.
Boyd became the 3rd Vics player to be booked when he had his name taken in the 38th minute.
Whitletts over-physical approach saw Fisher join the growing crime count when he was cautioned in the 40th minute for a very late challenge on Faulds. The resultant free kick was played into the feet of Glasgow who tried to place it low inside the right post. Fraser dived to his right to keep it out & although Graham Wilson pounced on the rebound to knock it home, the flag rightly went up for offside.
Talbot kept pressing but couldn’t add to their lead & went in 1-0 ahead at the interval.
Both sides made a change during the break with McIlroy coming on for Graham Wilson & Ogston replacing Forsyth for the visitors.
Just as in the 1st half Talbot were doing all the pressing & came close to doubling their advantage in the 52nd minute. The Bot were awarded a free kick 22 yards out after Stephen Wilson was fouled & Shankland struck it over the wall only to be denied by Fraser who flew to his right to touch it onto the bar. The rebound came out to Glasgow but he failed to take advantage; heading over the bar from close range.
Talbot kept the pressure on & a minute later Hyslop came close when he let fly from 20 yards; his low drive being deflected just wide of the right post.
Shankland took the corner quickly; finding Stephen Wilson in space but he curled his shot way over the bar from 15 yards out.
Whitletts now made a further change with Louis Kerr coming on in place of Fisher.
Talbot had the visitors defence at full stretch in the 57th minute. Armstrong slid the ball through to Faulds on the right touchline & he whipped a good early cross over that Mullen did well to clear.
The 2nd goal ought to have arrived in the 61st minute. Glasgow gathered out on the left & played a great ball across the face of goal to find McIlroy free at the back post but he got his angles all wrong & side-footed it back across goal & well wide of target.
The game should have been out of sight but with only a goal in it Whitletts were far from out of it & the visitors gave Talbot a wee fright in the 63rd minute. They were awarded a free kick 30 yards out which Buchanan took & he hit a screamer that flew just over the bar.
Talbot were soon back on the attack & threatened the Vics goal again in the 67th minute. Faulds diagonal pass found Glasgow inside the area & he was able to head it past the advancing Fraser. He gathered the ball near the bye line & tried to squeeze it across the face of goal but it was blocked behind for the corner.
Talbot took the corner short & Shankland tried his luck from the left of the area; his low volley deflecting off a defender & going straight to Fraser at his near post.
Tucker made a double substitution in the 69th minute with Hyslop & Shankland making way for White & McPherson.
Within a minute, Talbot grabbed their 2nd to effectively kill the tie off. SEAN MCILROY surged in off the left touchline, squeezing between two Whitletts defenders before drilling a low shot inside Fraser’s right post.
Leishman hadn’t been called upon to do much but he was tested in the 76th minute. George was allowed to drift in unopposed from the left & Leishman had to get down low at his right post to hold his effort.
Talbot had a chance to grab another in the 79th minute. White carried it forward before releasing it inside to Stephen Wilson. He spread play out to the right to find Glasgow whose low drive was deflected into the side-netting.
Two minutes later Faulds headed over the bar when he met Wilson’s cross from the left.
The visitors had a late chance to snatch a consolation effort in the 88th minute. Talbot lost possession inside the Vics half & the ball was knocked down the right wing where it found Forsyth breaking free. He sped on into the area but took a wild swipe at it & sent his shot flying well off target.
Not one of Talbot’s better performances but a comfortable enough win & a clean sheet. Next up for Talbot is the 1st leg of the Scottish cup semi-final where they face Lochee United at Beechwood.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Armstrong, Lyle, Harvey, McCracken, Stephen Wilson, Faulds, Hyslop, Graham Wilson, Glasgow, Shankland

Subs – McIlroy, White, Pope, McPherson, Hewitt (gk)

Whitletts Victoria – Fraser, Anderson, Brown, Mullen, Isaac Kerr, Buchanan, Fisher, Sloan, Forsyth, Boyd, George

Subs – Milligan, Louis Kerr, Barbour, Ogston, Dempsey

REPORT BY MURRAY STEELE