Competition: SCOTTISH CUP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

Talbot came oh so close to claiming another SPL scalp in the Scottish Cup but a soft late penalty saw Arbroath live to fight another day.

The Bot nearly made a dream start when Pope let fly from distance inside the first minute & Gaston was forced to turn it wide of the post.

The home support loudly appealed for a spot kick in the 8th minute when Samson appeared to be barged over from behind inside the area but the officials waved it away. The ball was then swept to the other end where Spence was nudged over 30 yards out & this time the ref gave the free kick. Linn took it but drilled it straight into the wall.

With 11 minutes on the clock Talbot took the lead via a special finish. Graham Wilson showed good control out on the left before laying the ball down the line to Boylan. He switched it inside to DWAYNE HYSLOP who curled a peach of a shot beyond Gaston & inside the far left post to put Talbot ahead.

Two minutes later Boylan won Talbot a corner down the left. It was taken short to Stephen Wilson & he whipped a good cross into the centre that O’Brien headed clear.

Arbroath now had a decent spell of pressure but nothing to show for it. Linn gathered on the left & squared it inside to Donnelly whose shot from 20 yards was blocked. The visitors next attack saw McKenna play it into Spence on the right of the area but McCracken was quickly across to snuff out the danger.

The referee wasn’t winning any friends at Beechwood and didn’t win any new admirers when two decisions in quick succession went against the Bot. He awarded Arbroath a free kick just outside the Talbot box when an Arbroath player went down. Hamilton took it but slipped as ran up to to the ball & hit it tamely into the wall.

At the opposite end Stephen Wilson fed the ball out right to find Samson & he looked to be impeded by Hamilton as he cut inside him but the referee saw nothing amiss.

Leishman produced a top class save to keep Talbot ahead in the 28th minute. A ball from the right found its way to Murphy 16 yards out & his shot skipped off the turf & was heading inside the right post until Leishman pushed it wide.

Talbot’s keeper produced an equally impressive stop four minutes later. The Bot defence failed to cut out a diagonal ball over from the left & O’Brien ran onto it on the right of the area. He hammered a shot at goal but Leishman had flew off his line to narrow the angle & make the block.

A minute later Talbot won a free kick inside the Arbroath half when Samson was caught. Pope lifted it beyond the back post where Hyslop headed it back across toward Samson but he was crowded out.

The Bot had another half chance minutes later. Hyslop was bundled over in midfield & Pope arrowhead the free kick out to Graham Wilson on the left. He instantly controlled it & slipped a pass into Boylan inside the area but he took a heavy first touch & the chance was lost.

In the 37th minute Graham Wilson latched onto a ball up the right & knocked it inside to Samson who burst into the right of the penalty area. He hit a tempting ball across the face of goal that went a begging as there was no one running in at the far post to supply the finish.
Five minutes before the interval a long throw from the right broke to McKenna 16 yards out; however, he was quickly closed down & had to take it first time, firing well over the bar.

The half ended with a Talbot attack fizzling out and an Arbroath counterattack. Pope lifted it up the line to find Graham Wilson who held the ball up before switching play to the other wing to find Samson breaking into the area but the ball broke away from him. Hamilton now played it quickly into the Bot half where Hyslop bundled Murphy over resulting in a free kick 30 yards out. Linn took it short, squaring it for O’Brien to hit but he blasted it well wide and Talbot trooped off one ahead.

The visitors made a change at half-time with Murphy remaining in the clubhouse & Stewart on in his stead.

Both sides were playing at hammer & tongs pace and the 2nd half started evenly with neither side giving any quarter and neither side making any headway in the final third.

The first opening of the 2nd period came Talbot’s way in the 58th minute. Samson picked up on the right & angled a great early ball over to find Graham Wilson in space on the left. He tried to play in Hyslop on the right of the box but there was too much on his pass.

A minute later Arbroath threatened when Gold got free on the right & whipped a great cross over to the back post but there were no runners at the far post.

On the hour mark Gold was on defensive duties when he did well to cut out Samson’s ball in from the right that was heading for Boylan til he managed to cut it out & slide it out for the shy.

Arbroath were becoming frustrated & this showed when O’Brien carried it forward & tried a wildly ambitious effort from 35 yards that sailed harmlessly over the bar.

The visitors now made a further change with Campbell on in place of Spence.

In the 64th minute Linn raced up the right before firing a low ball into the near post. It was cut out and came to Gold who sprawled over looking for a penalty but the ref wasn’t interested.

A minute later Talbot had a good chance on the break. Space opened up for Boylan as he ran towards the box down the left; he had Graham Wilson in space to his right but failed to pick him out and the move came to nothing.

Donnelly ought to have levelled it in the 66th minute. A good ball over from the left found him stretching to get on the end of it in front of goal. He made contact but somehow lifted it over the bar from inside the 6-yard area.

Tucker now made a double switch with Glasgow & Shankland replacing Boylan & Samson.

Arbroath threatened again soon after when a ball from the left broke kindly for Stewart 20 yards out. He rifled a fierce shot at goal which Pope headed clear.

The game was becoming stretched & Talbot put together a decent move when McCracken flighted a ball down the right to find Glasgow just outside the area. He lifted an early cross in that Wheatley headed clear. Talbot kept the pressure on though & were awarded with a free kick 20 yards out when Graham Wilson was wrestled down out on the right. Shankland delivered it into the danger zone where Stephen Wilson just failed to connect in front of goal but it wouldn’t have counted anyway as the linesman’s flag went up.

Shankland was involved again in the 73rd minute. He slid a pass through toward Glasgow that would have sent him clean through on goal but O’Brien did well to intercept.

A second goal for Talbot would have finished it and the Bot had a half chance with 12 minutes remaining. Leishman launched a free kick down field which Hyslop nodded on to Glasgow on the right. He played it across the area where it fell to Graham Wilson 15 yards out but he sliced his shot wide of target.

With nine minutes remaining Arbroath made their final change when Kader came on for Linn.

Six minutes from time Talbot conceded a soft penalty. A ball from the right came into the area & Graham Wilson went to challenge Stewart. There didn’t appear to be any contact but the ref judged that his boot had been raised and pointed to the spot. MCKENNA stepped up to the plate & although Leishman guessed right he had no chance as he drilled it low inside the left post.

Talbot now made their last change with McDowall coming on for Healy.

Right at the end Arbroath had a late chance to sneak the win. Stewart got away on the right & delivered a dangerous cross into the centre that Leishman stretched to punch away. It came out to McKenna 15 yards out but his shot was charged down by McPherson.

The final whistle saw the Bot fans with mixed feelings, pride at the display warring with disappointment the Bot hadn’t held out for the win and so now Talbot make the trek north to Arbroath this Wednesday coming for the replay at Gayfield.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Healy, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Boylan, Samson

Subs – Glasgow, Shankland, McDowall, Young, White, Aiden Wilson, Hewitt

Arbroath – Gaston, Hamilton, Little, O’Brien, Wheatley, Gold, McKenna, Murphy, Spence, Donnelly, Linn

Subs – Doris, Swankie, Kader, Stewart, Stirling, Campbell, Jamieson

Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/8691/auchinleck-talbot-1-arbroath#ixzz66IaAIm6E

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot defied the odds and proved the bookies wrong yet again as the Bot secured a narrow win over high-flying & big spending Cove Rangers to book a place in the 3rd round draw of the senior cup.

Cove started slickly and had Talbot on the back foot with some neat passing. The visitors tested Leishman in the 3rd minute when they worked a short corner on the right. When it was crossed in the Bot defence headed clear but it came to Scully 15 yards out & he volleyed it into the turf. It was heading inside the left post til Leishman dived across to turn it wide.

The Bot’s first glimpse at goal came in the 8th minute. Shankland lifted it up the left where Graham Wilson headed it back toward Shankland who fired well over the bar from 25 yards.

The visitors were dominating possession but had little to show for it other than a few corners which the Bot defence successfully defended.

On the quarter hour mark Talbot tested McKenzie. Armstrong found Shankland on the left of the area & he drilled a low shot on target that McKenzie blocked with his legs at his right hand post.

Fyvie was impressing for Cove & he dinked a dangerous ball down the centre that McCracken did well to intercept & head it back to Leishman.

In the 26th minute Fyvie popped up on the right & fired a dangerous ball across the face of goal that sped behind for what everyone in the ground thought was a goal kick but the referee pointed for a corner. When the corner came over it was cleared out to Scully who blazed a wild shot over.

Talbot nearly got in on the half hour mark. Hyslop slid a well-weighted pass up the right toward Samson but Milne did well to slide in to intercept it.

The Bot had a good shout for an indirect free in the Cove box when Samson got the better of Milne and cut a low ball across the box. A defender knocked it back to the keeper who picked it up but the ref waved away Talbot’s appeals.

Cove stretched the Bot defence in the 38th minute. Smith whipped a cross over from the right that found Scully racing in on the left of the area but before he could get a shot away Lyle got across to knock it behind for the corner.

When the corner came over Leishman took it & launched it down the centre straight into the opposition box. Graham Wilson challenged McKenzie in the air & the keeper failed to claim it; however the loose ball didn’t fall for Samson & the defence were able to clear.

Scott squandered a golden chance to give Cove the lead in the 40th minute. Smith’s cross found him unmarked in front of goal but he steered his header over the bar.

Two minutes later Cove won a free kick 25 yards out for a foul on Megginson. Higgins took it but blasted his shot straight into the wall.

Talbot ended the half on the front foot, winning a free kick out on the left when Graham Wilson was shoved over. Shankland curled it into the box where Ross headed it clear. It came to Pope on the right & he fired it into the centre where McKenzie spilled it but was able to clutch onto it at the 2nd attempt and so the sides went in level at the break.

The opening effort of the 2nd half came in the 48th minute. Scully tried his luck from 35 yards out, striking it well enough, but it flew straight at Leishman.

Two minutes later Talbot nearly paid for slack play when they lost the ball deep in their own half. Aird fired over an early cross & Smith glanced a header just wide of Leishman’s left post.

Down the other end Talbot had a half chance when Pope’s ball found Graham Wilson on the left of the area. He hit it 1st time but saw his volley deflected behind for the corner. Shankland hit the corner deep where it was retrieved beyond the back post by Samson. He knocked it back across goal where Pope met it to hook a shot over the bar.

In the 52nd minute Cove passed up a decent chance to take the lead. Megginson gathered out on the right & cut it back to find Aird running onto it in the centre of the area but he passed it wide of Leishman’s left hand post.

Stephen Wilson became the first name in the ref’s notebook when he was cautioned for clipping the heels of Megginson as he burst forward.

In the 56th minute Graham Wilson lifted a good early ball down the right to find Samson racing clear on the right side of the box but he blazed over from a tight angle.

A minute later Fyvie received a caution when he tripped Stephen Wilson resulting in a Bot free kick 25 yards out. Shankland whipped it over the wall but it didn’t dip in time & flew just over the bar.

In the 61st minute the action switched from end to end. Smith flicked the ball out right to release Megginson and he delivered a good cross that forced Leishman to dive to punch it away. Talbot now launched a swift counter through Stephen Wilson who raced forward before sliding it right to Samson. He played a great ball across the goal mouth but Graham Wilson just couldn’t reach it at the back post.

Cove gave Talbot a helping hand soon after. They had a shy midway inside their own half which they threw straight into the feet of Shankland. He duly accepted the gift & surged forward & passed it to Armstrong who released it out right to Samson. He cut it back across goal but it sped just behind Graham Wilson & Shankland in the centre.

The home support loudly appealed for a free kick in the 64th minute when a free kick from Talbot’s half was flighted up toward Hyslop who was nudged in the back just outside the area but the ref gave nothing.

Cove made the first change in the 69th minute when Masson came on in place of Smith.

McPherson came to Talbot’s aid in the 71st minute when Aird’s cross from the right eluded Leishman but McPherson headed it clear at the back post.

A minute later Scott came as close as Cove were to come to breaking the deadlock. He turned just inside the box & lobbed it for goal & his shot clipped the top of the bar on its way over.

Tucker made his first change in the 73rd minute with Glasgow coming on for Shankland.

Cove’s next attack saw them win a corner on the right which Fyvie took short to find Masson. He tried to curl it on target but his effort sailed over the bar.
Talbot won a free kick 35 yards from goal when Masson shoved Hyslop in the back & Pope hit it but suffice to say it wasn’t one of his better efforts and flew well over the bar.

Tucker now made a double switch with Healy & Boylan replacing Stephen Wilson & Samson.

With five minutes remaining Pope went from distance only to see his shot loop over the bar off the head of Yule. Glasgow took the corner & aimed for Hyslop beyond the back post but there was too much on it & although he got a touch it skidded off the top of his head & behind for the goal kick.

Just when it looked as though we were heading for a replay Talbot grabbed a late winner. Graham Wilson latched onto a ball down the right channel, holding off his man, before laying it wide to Boylan. He carried it forward before floating over a cross that DWAYNE HYSLOP bulleted beyond the keeper, sparking wild celebrations amongst the crowd.

Cove now piled bodies forward and Talbot had one last anxious moment deep in injury time. Milne raced down the left before back-heeling it into the path of Higgins who swung over a dangerous cross that Leishman touched away. It came to Glasgow who headed it out toward Aird who controlled it with his arm to take the pressure off.

The referee kept the Bot fans waiting, finding 4 minutes of injury time from somewhere but when the whistle finally sounded the celebrations began in earnest.

A hard fought win for the Bot who now return to their defence of the Scottish Junior cup next Saturday when they face Forfar West End at Beechwood.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Samson, Shankland

Subs – Glasgow, Boylan, Healy, Young, McDowall, White, Hewitt

Cove Rangers – McKenzie, Milne, Scully, Ross, Yule, Megginson, Scott, Higgins, Aird, Smith, Fyvie

Subs – Masson, Redford, Redman, Brown, Robertson, Demus

Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/8656/auchinleck-talbot-1-cove-rangers#ixzz63m1AzSh9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

A clinical 1st half display saw Talbot ease past Dundonald in this cup replay to book an away trip to Camelon in the next round.

Talbot couldn’t have asked for a better start as they grabbed an early opener after only 5 minutes. The visiting defence didn’t cover themselves in glory, dawdling on the ball & failing to clear their lines, until the ball ricocheted into the path of KEIR SAMSON who turned Mackie inside out before rifling a shot past Lennox at his left post.

A minute later Samson had a half chance when he latched onto Nimmo’s headed clearance but drilled it wide from outside the area.

Talbot had a chance to test the Bluebells defence in the 9th minute when they won a free kick 35 yards out after Glasgow was caught. Pope took it & fired into the wall but the ball came back to him & he immediately switched it to Glasgow on the left touchline. He crossed it into the near post where Graham Wilson flicked a header on that Drummond turned behind for a corner.

Only a goal line clearance prevented Talbot from doubling their lead when Armstrong met Glasgow’s corner from the right. His header was heading in under the bar but Durie did well to stretch to head it over the bar.

Dundonald’s 1st effort at goal came in the 17th minute. Drummond played in a good cross from the left that Calum Smith glanced for goal. Leishman made a comfortable stop but picked up a knock in the process after Matt Gay followed through with a late challenge that angered the Bot defence.

Two minutes later Talbot won a penalty in their next foray into the Bluebell box. Glasgow crossed it into the area where Graham Wilson was barged over by a clumsy challenge from Mackie. GRAHAM WILSON took the spot kick & hammered it home as emphatically as he had the week before, giving Lennox no chance.

Dundonald’s cause was dealt a further blow after 26 minutes. Graham Wilson won a header on which Mackie failed to cut out. It came to Samson wide left & he raced for the bye line where Mackie raced back to block his cross behind for a corner; injuring himself in the process and he had to be helped from the field with Hendry coming on in his place.

The visitors missed a glaring chance to pull a goal back in the 34th minute. Drummond cut in off the left & played a low ball across the area. The Bot defence failed to cut it out & it landed at the feet of Calum Smith, 6 yards out, but he trundled a weak shot straight at Leishman.

A minute later and Dundonald did manage to test Leishman. The ball came to Matt Gay on the right of the penalty area & he hit it 1st time on the volley forcing a good stop from Leishman who pushed it over the bar. Talbot then showed their prowess on the break as they cleared the resultant corner out to Glasgow whose early pass sent Samson racing free on the right. He hared into the box before firing across goal and just wide of the right post.

It was all over bar the shouting in the 39th minute when Talbot made it 3-0. Glasgow set the move rolling when he carried it forward before switching it out to Samson on the left wing. He made tracks before cutting it back into the path of JAMIE GLASGOW who’d continued his run & passed it beyond Lennox from 12 yards.

The dust had barely settled before Talbot added a fourth. There was a hint of fortune about it as JAMIE GLASGOW whipped a cross over from the left that eluded Lennox & flew inside his left post but they all count & Talbot were now on easy street.

The visiting defence had more holes than a colander & 43 mins in Samson looked set to add to Talbot’s lead when a ball through the centre found him racing through on the keeper but he steered his shot past the advancing keeper but wide of the left post.

In the closing minute of the half Talbot threatened to score again. Glasgow skinned Hendry down the left & whipped a great low ball across goal that Samson just failed to connect with at the near post.

Down the other end the half ended with Calum Smith trying his luck from a tight angle as he fired a shot across goal and wide of the right post; with Talbot trooping off 4 goals to the good.

The visitors made a change during the break with Rogerson staying in the clubhouse and Jeffries on in his stead.

The game might as well have been over but Dundonald didn’t let their heads go down and made a bright start to the 2nd period. The first action of the half saw Ness angle in off the right before firing a shot on target that Leishman had to help over the bar.

Talbot then came within a whisker of moving further ahead in the 49th minute. Samson forced a corner down the left which Glasgow fired low into the near post where Lennox blocked it. The ball came out to Graham Wilson who lashed a volley off the underside of the bar & down onto the goal line before it was cleared.

It was 5-0 to the Bot in the 56th minute. Pope played it up to the left to find Graham Wilson bursting into the penalty box. His low drive was partially blocked by Lennox but the ball went loose & KEIR SAMSON reacted fastest to beat Lennox to it & stab the ball into the empty net.

Tucker now made a double switch with Graham Wilson & Armstrong making way for Shankland & Healy.

Dundonald stuck at it & might have nabbed a consolation effort in the 61st minute. Drummond flighted over a dangerous cross which Calum Smith glanced over Leishman but it didn’t head on target and Talbot were able to clear.

Talbot’s next attack saw the Bot win a free kick 35 yards out after Wallace blatantly obstructed Glasgow to end his promising run. Shankland lifted it up & over the wall & Lennox dived to his right to parry it away.

Tucker completed his substitutions in the 70th minute when McDowall came on for Glasgow.

There had barely been a bad tackle all afternoon but the ref did have to reach into his pocket in the 76th minute when Chris Gay dived into a late tackle on Pope resulting in a yellow card for the Dundonald midfielder.

A minute later Talbot put together a neat move. Pope pinged it into the feet of McDowall who flicked it on to Shankland. He released a pass down the left of the area where Pope had continued his run & Wallace did well to throw himself at it to turn Pope’s cross behind for the corner.
Dundonald pulled a goal back in the 81st minute. Young misjudged it in the air & it came to MATT GAY who coolly lobbed it over Leishman to make it 5-1.

Not to be outdone Talbot immediately raced up the other end and grabbed their sixth. Stephen Wilson carried it forward before playing it into MARK SHANKLAND on the right of the area. He chipped it over the static Lennox and it sailed in under the bar to make the final score 6-1 to the Bot.

A good win for Talbot who are back in cup action at Beechwood next Saturday when they face Whitletts Vics in the quarter-final of the Sectional Cup.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, Young, White, Armstrong, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Samson, Glasgow

Subs – Shankland, McKinlay, Healy, McDowall, Pearson, Aiden Wilson, Hewitt (gk)

Dundonald Bluebell – Lennox, Durie, Drummond, Mackie, Nimmo, Chris Gay, Rogerson, Wallace, Calum Smith, Matt Gay, Ness

Subs – Wilson, Jeffries, Hendry, John Smith, Crowe (gk)

Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/8595/auchinleck-talbot-6-dundonald-bluebell#ixzz5xGwZvRzM