Report

TALBOT HIT A DOZEN IN SCOTTISH CUP MIS-MATCH

Report: Murray Steele, Photography: Craig McGhee, Media: Lee Conn.

The skewed nature of Scotland’s pyramid was there for all to see as Talbot ruthlessly over-ran Wigtown – hitting 12 to no reply with the home side unable to manage an effort at goal in 90 minutes.

The pattern for the game was set in the 1^st minute when Talbot took an early lead. Armstrong shoved it out wide left to Gillies who hung a cross up to the back post. McClachan spilled it and the ball broke to CONNOR BOYD who tapped in from close range.

A minute later Talbot won a penalty. Thomson raced onto a ball only to be wiped out by the keeper and the ref pointed to the spot. Smith took it but McClachan guessed right and dived low to his right to keep it out.

In the 6^th minute Talbot won their second spot kick. Smith went on a mazey run down the left of the area before being up-ended by Landers. ROSS SMITH again took it but this time sent the keeper the wrong way to put Talbot 2-0 ahead.

Two mins later Talbot made it 3-0. A corner from the left was only cleared as far as Langan and he crossed it to the back post where Armstrong’s header was sliced into his own net by HENDERSON.

Langan nearly got on the score sheet in the 10^th minute. Thomson sped down the wing and cut it back into his path and his low drive came off the base of the left hand post.

A minute later Thomson again got in behind the defence and cut it back to Boyd who fired over the bar.

The chances kept coming and next up Langan cut in off the left and curled a cross onto the head of Thomson whose glancing header was well-held by McClachan.

The keeper did well again in the 17^th minute to tip away Thomson’s lob that looked destined for the roof of the net.

In the 18^th minute Talbot made it 4-0. A corner from the left found Slooves at the back post and his header back across goal beat the keeper but was bundled off the line by a defender at the post. It came out to CONNOR BOYD who nodded home from close range.

CONNOR BOYD completed his hat-trick in the 24^th minute when he ran onto Langan’s pass through the defence and fired it into the top corner.

In the 35^th minute Talbot made it 6-0. Gillies dribbled into the box and fired a shot on target. The keeper kept it out but couldn’t hold it and CONNOR BOYD tapped in the rebound.

The one-way traffic continued and 4 minutes from the break Langan’s dummy created space for Boyle inside the area but his shot was parried away by McClachan.

On the stroke of half-time Talbot won a corner that Slooves met in the area. His header broke back to Langan whose low drive came back off the post.

With the game long since won Talbot made 3 changes at the interval with Langan, Thomson & Boyle making way for Wardrope, Black & Abed. The home side also made a couple of changes with Henderson & McIntyre being replaced by Nish & McLaughlin.

Talbot continued where they’d left off and grabbed their 7^th within a minute of the re-start. McClachan came off his line to punch clear a cross from the left and it came straight out to ROSS SMITH who steered it inside the left post.

Two minutes later Talbot made it 8-0. Black gathered on the left before cutting it back toward MICHAEL WARDROPE who crashed it into the roof of the net from the edge of the area.

The Bot’s next chance came in the 51^st minute when Black swept a good cross beyond the back post where Boyd headed into the side-netting.

In the 53^rd minute Talbot won a free kick just outside the penalty area that Wardrope fired low on target. The keeper blocked it but couldn’t hold it but recovered well to deny Abed as he tried to force home the rebound.

Talbot won their 3^rd penalty of the afternoon with 58 mins gone. Black was caught just inside the box and ROSS SMITH stepped up to slot it home for his hat-trick.

Talbot now made further changes with Boyd & Armstrong making way for Lennox & McMillan.

McMillan nearly added to Talbot’s total in the 69^th minute when he met a corner from the left but his header came off the woodwork before being cleared off the line.

Two minutes later Talbot were again denied by the frame of the goal. Smith cut in off the left and drove it across the box where it came to Wardrope. He stepped inside his man and tried to place it but his shot came back off the crossbar.

Talbot’s next attack saw Black tripped just outside the penalty area. Wardrope took it and his ball into the centre was met by Gillies whose header was well-saved by the keeper. The rebound came to Park but he fired over from close range.

The Bot reached double figures with quarter of an hour remaining. Lennox came in off the left and curled a cross over where TARIK ABED dived to head it past the advancing keeper to make it 10.

Wigtown now made a further change with Murray Henderson on for Hoskins.

In the 77^th minute Black slipped a good pass through into the path of McMillan who directed it on target but didn’t catch it cleanly and the keeper made a comfortable save.

With 10 minutes remaining Wardrope had to leave the field due to a head knock with Kennedy on in his place.

Three minutes after coming on RYAN KENNEDY made it 11-0. The keeper managed to get a hand to his shot from 16 yards but couldn’t prevent it flying into the back of the net.

Four minutes from time Lennox carried the ball forward unchallenged and drilled a shot on goal that McClachan pushed wide for the corner. When the corner came over Abed met it but sent his header over the bar.

The rout was complete in the 90^th minute. Black slid the ball to Gillies on the overlap and he pulled a cross back for RYAN KENNEDY to guide a free header home to make the final score 12-0.

Next week it’s back to Beechwood where Talbot face Arthurlie in the league.

Wigtown & Bladnoch – McClachan, Cluckie, Matthew Henderson, Landers, McColm, Allan, Hoskins, Jamieson, Moore, Cloy, McIntyre

Subs – Agnew, Kennedy, Murray Henderson, Lowrie, Kirk, Nish, Brown, McLaughlin

Auchinleck Talbot – Glavin, Park, Gillies, Slooves, McPherson, Langan, Boyle, Armstrong, Boyd, Smith, Thomson

Subs – Black, Wardrope, Lennox, McMillan, Abed, Kennedy