SCOTTISH CUP – Page 8 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Auchinleck Talbot v Cove Rangers

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

The bookies don’t often get it wrong but Talbot made a mockery of their long shot odds as they maintained their unbeaten record against Highland League opposition; defeating high-flying & high spending Cove Rangers to reach the 3rd round of the senior cup.

Talbot started a little nervously and weren’t helped when the referee produced a harsh early yellow card for Harvey after only 3 minutes. There wasn’t much in the way of goal mouth incident in the opening exchanges with play largely confined to midfield.

The first effort at goal came in the 12th minute after Talbot won a corner on the left. Glasgow lifted it beyond the far post where Hyslop climbed to head it back across the area. It came to Glasgow on the left edge of the area & he curled a right foot shot off target.

Cove’s first effort at goal came in the 16th minute. Park clipped a neat chip into the box where Brown met it; hooking the ball over the bar from 12 yards out.

Talbot had a wonderful opportunity to take the lead in the 20th minute. Armstrong’s slide rule pass opened the defence sending Kemp racing through one on one with the keeper but McKenzie came out on top on this occasion with Kemp’s shot cannoning off the chest of the keeper as he advanced off his line.

Their keeper was called into action again a minute later when Talbot won a free kick out on the right. Pope bent a cross in under the bar that McKenzie claimed confidently.

Talbot had hit their stride now and were having the best of it and threatened the Cove goal again in the 26th minute. A ball down the right found Wilson racing free inside the area & he managed to take it round the keeper and head for the bye line. He floated a cross over that McIlroy headed home from close range but the linesman had spotted the ball had drifted behind before he crossed it and awarded a goal kick.

Masson became the first of numerous Cove players to enter the ref’s notebook when he received a caution in the 32nd minute for a needless barge into Stephen Wilson.

The Cove keeper was much the busier of the two & was called upon again in the 34th minute when Glasgow dinked a ball over the defence to find McIlroy racing through on the left of the area. However, McKenzie had spotted the danger & was quickly off his line to make the block & put it behind for a corner. Talbot kept the pressure on, forcing 3 corners in quick succession, but the Cove defence stood up to it.

In a rare Cove attack Park won a corner down the right when his cross deflected behind off Glasgow. Park drilled the corner in at pace & Leishman could only parry it away. The ball bounced out to Masson who launched a wild shot over the bar & nearly over the houses behind the goal.

A promising Talbot break was ended in the 39th minute when Watson took out Kemp after the Talbot man side-stepped him, resulting in a Bot free kick and a booking for Cove’s centre half.

The free kick was floated into the area where Hyslop nodded it on into the goal mouth where it was smashed clear.

Beechwood erupted when Talbot took the lead in the 41st minute. McIlroy laid the ball off into the path of STEPHEN WILSON & he strolled through before smashing a powerful drive that McKenzie got both hands to but couldn’t prevent sailing beyond him & inside the far post.
The celebrations had barely died down when Talbot almost doubled their lead. A shy from the right was thrown into the feet of Kemp 25 yards out & he turned before drilling a shot just wide of the left hand post.

Soon after, the ref blew for half-time & Talbot trooped off deservedly in front to the delight of the vast majority of the crowd.

The second half was only four minutes old when Park became the latest Cove player booked for a late tackle just inside the Talbot half.

The visitors were handed a way back into the game in the 52nd minute when they were awarded a soft penalty decision. McPherson was adjudged to have brought down Brown as he was set to shoot & the ref booked the Talbot man & pointed to the spot. MEGGINSON took the spot kick & his low drive beat Leishman who guessed the right way & got a hand to it but couldn’t prevent it sneaking inside the right post. In a fit of petulance Megginson chose to celebrate the equaliser by running up the sidelines & taunting the Bot support.

The goal gave Cove a boost and two minutes later they had a half chance to take the lead. Milne cut inside off the left wing into the area & fired a shot over the bar.

Cove then picked up a two for one booking deal. Ross receiving a caution for shoving his arm into Wilson’s face & Brown joining him in the book for protesting against the decision.

The Cove crime count mounted in the 57th minute when Megginson received a yellow card for a late challenge on Hyslop and Yule should have joined him a minute later for a blatant trip on Wilson but this time the ref kept his cards in his pocket.

The visitors now made a change with Ferguson coming on for Masson.

Talbot had settled again after the disappointment of the equaliser and threatened the Cove goal on the hour mark. Armstrong evaded a couple of challenges before slipping the ball through to Kemp on the right of the area & his fierce low ball across goal just eluded McIlroy in the centre. The defence failed to clear it properly & the ball came out to Lyle. Talbot’s captain isn’t renowned for his goal scoring but he let fly from 30 yards & hit a daisy cutter that flew just wide of the right post.

Talbot made the crucial breakthrough in the 61st minute. McIlroy gathered it on the right & played it into CALVIN KEMP who skipped past a couple of challenges before lashing a low shot beyond McKenzie & into the bottom corner.

Cove now made their second change of the match with Macrae replacing Brown up front.

Another goal for Talbot would’ve put the Bot firmly in command & they nearly got it in the 67th minute. Kemp lifted a ball over the defence to find McIlroy in space down the left. He held it up before cutting it back across the area where Kemp had continued his run & slid a shot just past the right hand post.

A minute later and it was very nearly all square. A swift Cove counter-attack saw the ball played to Megginson inside the area. Leishman did well, diving low to his left, to keep out his strike but Macrae looked odds on to tuck home the rebound only for Lyle to appear from nowhere & make a crucial goal line clearance to block Macrae’s shot.

Action then switched to the other end where Kemp’s chip found McIlroy inside the area but his shot at goal was blocked off a defender.

Wilson received a yellow card in the 73rd minute when he caught Ross as he was clearing the ball up field.

Talbot continued to push forward and their next attack saw Glasgow race past Milne & break into the Cove half. He played it out wide to Kemp who angled the ball back to Glasgow who’d continued his run into the area but he was stretching as he hit it & could only send a low drive straight at McKenzie.

Tucker made a double substitution in the 80th minute with Samson coming on to make his debut in place of Kemp & White replacing Glasgow.

Cove gave the home fans a bit of a fright in the 82nd minute when Macrae held off the challenge of Harvey on the right of the penalty area but he fired his shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.

As the game reached the closing 5 minutes Talbot had two good chances to put the game beyond Cove. In the 87th minute White joined the attack & released a good ball through to Samson on the right of the area & he stabbed a low shot narrowly past the left hand post.

A minute later Talbot caught Cove out with a well worked counter. McIlroy carried it forward before releasing it to Samson on the left of the area. He skipped in past Redford & with only McKenzie to beat tried to pass it into the net but side-footed it just wide of the keeper’s right post.

In the final minute of regulation time Talbot nearly paid the price for failing to kill off the tie when Cove came close to a late equaliser. Park sent in a ball from the right that Hyslop failed to cut out. The ball landed at the feet of Yule 15 yards out & he cracked a low drive off Leishman’s right post.

However, that proved to be Cove’s last chance & Talbot saw out the remaining injury time with no alarms to claim the win.

A very good team performance from the Bot whose opponents sit atop the Highland League having won 9 out of 9 in their own league.

Next up for Talbot it is back to the defence of their Scottish Junior title as they face Lesmahagow next Saturday at Beechwood.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, McPherson, Stephen Wilson, Hyslop, Glasgow, McIlroy, Kemp, Armstrong

Subs – Samson, McDowall, McCracken, White, Waite, Hewitt (gk)

Cove Rangers – McKenzie, Redford, Milne, Ross, Watson, Kelly, Park, Yule, Megginson, Brown, Masson

Subs – Ferguson, Macrae, Milne, Macleod, McCafferty (gk)

Keir Samson

SPONSORED: Bert & Mary Samson

POSITION: Striker

D.O.B: TBA

JOINED TALBOT: 2018

Keir signed for the Talbot in October 2018. He started his career in the Stranraer youth development rising to their Under 20 side where he was loaned to Cumnock Juniors in Ferbruary 2016. He spent three months at Townhead Park before returning to Stranraer in May. He was loaned back to Cumnock in July 2016 where he remained until his loan expired in May 2017. He joined Cumnock in July 2017 on a permanent basis before moving to Talbot.

Cove Rangers v Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAYS REPORT
Talbot recovered from a shaky start to earn a hard fought replay against Cove Rangers in this 2nd round Scottish cup tie.

The Bot made the worst possible start when they conceded a soft goal after only 5 minutes. McIlroy attempted to hook the ball up field but shanked it back toward his own penalty area. It landed at the feet of MEGGINSON whose snap shot from 20 yards skipped off the surface past Leishman & inside the right post.

Talbot’s first meaningful attack came in the 7th minute. Glasgow swept a deep corner over from the left which Armstrong nodded back across the 6-yard area where McIlroy prodded the ball wide of target.

The Bot had shaken off the early goal & had a decent chance to level matters in the 10th minute. McIlroy won it in the air to flick it on into the path of Graham Wilson. He shoved it through to Glasgow who burst into the area but toe poked his shot straight at McCafferty.

McIlroy was inches away from restoring parity in the 14th minute. Glasgow whipped over a great cross from the left & McIlroy met it in the centre & sent a volley goal ward that clipped the top of the bar.

Cove’s McCafferty had a good day in nets but made his one & only blunder in the 22nd minute. Stephen Wilson lifted the ball down the right to find Graham Wilson on the wing & he lofted a high cross into the centre. McCafferty came for it & missed it & it came to Hyslop who headed for goal but he didn’t get enough power behind it & McCafferty had recovered to gather the ball.

Talbot won a free kick within shooting distance in the 27th minute after Graham Wilson was barged in the back. Glasgow took it but skied his effort well over the bar.

Megginson became the 1st player in the book when he picked up a caution on the half hour mark. He should have received it for going through the back of Harvey as he shepherded the ball out of play but having got away with only a free kick against him he proceeded to talk his way into the book.

Talbot had a lucky escape in the 35th minute when Cove nearly doubled their lead. Yule swung a cross over from the right that landed right on the head of Brown who ought to have scored from 6 yards out but steered his header onto Leishman’s right hand post.

Graham Wilson had a half chance for Talbot in the 38th minute. McIlroy gathered on the left of the area & touched it inside to Wilson who burst through on goal but the ball broke away from him & McCafferty was quickly off his line to smother it.

The home side won a free kick 35 yards from goal in the 40th minute. The ball was flighted into the centre where Watson rose to head it but he didn’t make a clean connection & it looped harmlessly straight to Leishman.

The referee appeared of the view that football is a non-contact sport & handed out a very soft yellow card to McIlroy in the 42nd minute for an innocuous aerial challenge.

The final chance of the half came Talbot’s way a minute from the interval. Stephen Wilson was fouled by Ferguson as he raced clear on the right & the ref awarded Talbot the free kick 30 yards from goal. Pope took this set piece & aimed it for the far top corner but Yule was well-positioned in front of the back post to head it clear and so Talbot left the field a goal down at the break.
Cove started the 2nd half sharply & carved out an early chance in the 50th minute. A good passing move ended with Ferguson sliding the ball to Brown on the right side of the area but he hit a weak effort at goal from 10 yards.

Talbot picked up their 2nd booking of the afternoon in the 56th minute when Graham Wilson received a caution.

Leishman came to the rescue a minute later. Yule raced onto a ball down the left of the area & knocked it wide of the advancing Leishman. He retrieved it near the bye line & back-heeled it into the centre where Megginson drilled a low shot at goal that Leishman saved with his feet.

Talbot’s first effort of the 2nd half came in the 64th minute. Hyslop gathered out on the right & angled it back into the path of Stephen Wilson whose shot glided past a crowd of players & wide of the right post.

Tucker now made a change with Kemp coming on in place of McIlroy.

Kemp’s first involvement came soon after joining the fray when he was cynically up-ended as he raced forward inside the Cove half; resulting in a booking for Scully.

Hyslop took the free kick & his effort clipped off the wall & went behind for a corner. Glasgow whipped the corner into the near post where it was headed behind for a 2nd corner. This time he hit it deep & again it came off a Cove head for Talbot’s 3rd successive corner. When this one came over the defence headed it out but only as far as Stephen Wilson who hammered a shot from the edge of the area. His shot was blocked by Watson’s arm & the referee immediately pointed to the spot. GRAHAM WILSON stepped up & looked the coolest head in the pitch as he sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-1 in the 68th minute.

Teams are often at their most vulnerable soon after scoring & so it proved for Talbot who had a lucky escape two minutes after equalising. Yule raced away down the right & pulled a dangerous ball back across the box. Megginson dummied it leaving Masson in space 15 yards out but he side-footed it just wide of Leishman’s left post.

McCafferty denied Talbot the lead with a super stop in the 73rd minute. Kemp robbed Kelly of the ball outside the area before cutting in off the left & firing a right foot screamer that the keeper tipped wide of the left post.

Cove’s keeper came to his side’s aid again a few minutes later. Glasgow showed a great burst of pace to surge straight into the penalty area & through on goal. He attempted to prod it past the advancing keeper but McCafferty was able to block.

Action then switched to the other end where Brown stretched out a leg to get on the end of Masson’s cross & steer a shot just wide of the left post.

As the game entered the closing stages Talbot were looking the more likely side. Graham Wilson broke into the penalty area in the 87th minute but was blocked by a wall of players before he could get his shot away.

Glasgow took one for the team in the 89th minute. Megginson looked set to race deep into the Talbot half before Glasgow tugged him back & received a caution for his trouble.

As the game moved into injury time Talbot pressed forward and nearly snatched a late winner. Firstly Armstrong sent Graham Wilson away down the right & McCafferty had to parry away his effort. Shortly after, with virtually the last kick of the ball, Kemp thundered a shot from the right edge of the area that forced an acrobatic stop from the keeper who flew to his right to push it away.

A fine performance from Talbot who gave as good as they got & nearly nicked the win right at the end. Next week it’s back to Beechwood for the replay with both sides playing for the chance to face Fraserburgh in the 3rd round.

Cove Rangers – McCafferty, Yule, Redford, Ross, Watson, Kelly, Ferguson, Scully, Megginson, Brown, Masson

Subs – Strachan, Milne, Macleod, Carnie, Ellis

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, McPherson, Armstrong, Stephen Wilson, Hyslop, Graham Wilson, McIlroy, Glasgow

Subs – Shankland, Kemp, McDowall, McCracken, White, Samson, Hewitt

Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/8246/cove-rangers-1-auchinleck-talbot#ixzz5UaFc7iKw

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Cove Rangers

Wick Academy v Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT

The long, winding road north paid off for Talbot as they booked their place in the 2nd round of the William Hill Scottish cup thanks to a 2-1 win over Wick in a feisty encounter.
Talbot made a strong start to this tie, pegging the home side back in the opening minutes as they forced a string of corners. The closest they came to threatening the Wick goal was when Glasgow swirled a corner to the back post where Hyslop just failed to get on the end of it.
Wick gave the Talbot defence something to think about in the 3rd minute when they launched a swift counter down the right. Henry lifted a great ball down the right to find Allan & he paced beyond Pope before cutting the ball back across goal where McPherson cleared.
Two minutes later Wick came close to opening the scoring. A shy from the right found Allan inside the area & he hooked the ball back to Halliday who steered a half volley just wide of the right post.
The home side could have been a man down within 6 minutes. There seemed nothing in it when M Steven clashed with Graham Wilson out by the touchline; however as Wilson lay on the turf Steven appeared to stamp on him but neither the ref nor his assistant picked up on it.
Talbot’s first effort at goal came in the 9th minute. Graham Wilson’s head flick found Kemp on the left & he released it to Glasgow whose effort landed on target from 18 yards but lacked the power to trouble McCarthy.
Henry had his name taken in the 16th minute for a late challenge on Stephen Wilson. Glasgow took the resultant free kick & bent it across goal & beyond the far post where Pope met it but he fired his shot back across goal and wide of the left post.
The referee enraged the vocal travelling support in the 22nd minute. Harvey slid in & looked to have won the ball cleanly but the ref had other ideas & awarded Wick a free kick 25 yards from goal. Manson took it & whilst he got it up & over the wall it was never dipping quickly enough & sailed over Leishman’s bar.
Talbot won a free kick, and picked up a booking in the 25th minute. The free kick was awarded for a foul on Glasgow out on the left but before it could be taken the ref cautioned Graham Wilson for an earlier clash with Steven. Glasgow took the set piece & flighted it into the near post where Graham Wilson beat McCarthy to it but couldn’t keep his header below the bar.
The Bot put together a good move in the 31st minute when they moved the ball quickly to find Hyslop on the right of the area. He lifted a cross into the centre where Glasgow steered a header over the bar.
A minute later Kemp sped clear down the right & drilled it low across the face of goal but it had just too much pace on it for Glasgow to reach it.
The opening goal came in the 38th minute & it is one Wick’s keeper would like to forget. Graham Wilson nodded the ball down to find Lyle on the right & he hoisted a cross into the heart of the area. McCarthy came out to claim it but only patted the ball straight to JAMIE GLASGOW who coolly lobbed the ball over the stranded keeper to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Two minutes before the interval Talbot were back on the attack when McPherson carried the ball up the right before pinging it onto the head of Graham Wilson. He flicked it on to Glasgow who fired over the bar from 20 yards.
Right on the stroke of half-time Wick ought to have levelled the score. Talbot’s defence were caught flat footed by a ball dinked up the centre allowing Allan to break through. He controlled it 1st time inside the box but pulled his shot wide of the right post and so Talbot went in ahead at the interval.
Tucker made a change during the half-time break & when Talbot re-emerged McDowall was on for White.
Talbot started the 2nd half brightly & nearly unlocked the Wick defence a minute after the re-start but Kemp just failed to latch onto a pass in behind the defence.
Hyslop had his name taken in the 48th minute when he was slightly late in a 50/50 challenge on the half-way line.
A minute later he was joined in the book by Henry who received a caution for petulantly kicking the ball away.
Kemp had a chance to double Talbot’s lead in the 53rd minute. A counter-attack saw Talbot sweep up field where Graham Wilson laid the ball into the path of Kemp. He burst into the area past the defence but his final touch took it away from him & McCarthy raced off his line to smother the ball.
The action then immediately switched to the other end as Wick broke into the Talbot penalty area down the left. Leishman did well to block MacAdie’s shot but the ball came out to Henry on the left & he sent a low ball across goal which HALLIDAY side-footed home from close range to level the score.
Talbot responded in the best manner possible to this setback as they re-gained the lead within a matter of minutes. A good passing move saw the ball worked to McDowall on the right of the penalty area. He took a wild swipe at it but the ball broke back to him and his 2nd shot was deflected across the area. Glasgow touched it into the path of STEPHEN WILSON who hammered a left foot shot from 15 yards inside the right post to put Talbot 2-1 ahead.
The home side weren’t done though and forced Leishman into action in the 64th minute. MacGregor latched onto a ball in behind the defence & pulled it back to the edge of the area where MacAdie drilled a low shot straight at Leishman.
Tucker now made a double switch with Hyslop & Graham Wilson making way for Armstrong & McIlroy.
McCarthy prevented Talbot extending their lead with a top class save in the 67th minute. McIlroy cushioned a header down into the path of Kemp who let fly from 18 yards only to see the keeper acrobatically tip his shot over the bar. When the corner came over it was retrieved by Stephen Wilson who laid the ball back to Pope who was halved by a crude challenge from G Steven. The referee immediately produced a straight red and Wick were left to face the remainder of the match a man down. Glasgow took the resultant free kick but fired over the bar from 25 yards.
With twenty minutes remaining Wick made a change with Hughes on in place of MacAdie.
Talbot’s next attack came from a blunder in the home defence. Manson gifted the ball to Glasgow down the right & he sent Lyle clear on the overlap. He fired a great ball across the 6-yard area between defence & keeper but no one could get on the end of it.
The Bot were on the attack again in the 74th minute. Wick only partially cleared a shy from the right and the ball came out to Pope outside the area where he smashed a shot just over the bar.
Wick now made a further change with MacNab replacing MacGregor.
Another goal would’ve settled it but Talbot couldn’t convert their chances to kill the tie off.
Kemp went on a surging run through the centre & slipped it wide left to find Glasgow racing into the area but he took a heavy 1st touch and it broke away through to the keeper.
Henry, already on a booking, was a tad fortunate when he took Glasgow down with a tackle from the back but the referee contented himself with awarding Talbot the free kick. Pope took it & went for goal but his effort failed to trouble McCarthy.
Talbot had a golden chance to end the tie in the 80th minute. Glasgow skipped across the penalty area before releasing a pass to find Kemp free in space on the left. He carried in on goal & tried to bend a shot past the advancing McCarthy but the keeper made a good stop to deny him.
Within a minute Talbot were back on the attack with McIlroy finding Glasgow on the right who sent a low ball into the near post where McDowall bundled it wide under pressure.
In the 83rd minute a shy into the area found Kemp on the right edge of the box. He managed to turn his marker & go for goal but his curling effort went wide of the right post.
Wick now played their final card with Gunn coming on to replace M Steven.
With 3 minutes remaining the referee produced one of the more bizarre decisions you’re likely to see this season. Leishman was fouled in the air as he gathered a floated cross into the box but rather than re-starting the game with a free kick to Talbot once Leishman had been treated, the referee ordered a bounce up at the edge of the penalty area. Fortunately, nothing came of it & the ball ran through to Leishman.
Glasgow came very close to his 2nd of the afternoon in the 88th minute. McIlroy played it out to Kemp on the left & when his cross came over it found Glasgow in space inside the area. He took his time & stepped inside Manson before firing a low shot past McCarthy that was cleared off the goal line.
Talbot kept cool heads in the closing stages & retained possession well to see the game out. The final whistle saw the Bot team cross over to the enclosure to celebrate the win with the travelling support.
Next up for Talbot it is back to cup duties but this time in their defence of the Scottish Junior cup where they host Forfar West End at Beechwood next Saturday.

Wick Academy – McCarthy, Manson, Farquhar, D Mackay, M Steven, G Steven, Henry, Halliday, Macgregor, MacAdie, Allan

Subs – Gunn, MacNab, Aitkenhead, G Mackay, Hughes, Hardwick, Clark (gk)

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, McPherson, Stephen Wilson, White, Hyslop, Graham Wilson, Glasgow, Kemp

Subs- Shankland, McIlroy, Armstrong, McDowall, McCracken, Waite, Hewitt (gk)

Wick Academy

Auchinleck Talbot v Wigton & Bladnoch

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAYS REPORT

This Scottish tie proved a mismatch as Talbot overwhelmed a game but outclassed Wigton side to rack up double figures.

From the off it was all Talbot. Waite, spotting the keeper off his line, tried an ambitious lob from halfway inside the opening minute that sailed over the bar.

A few minutes later Shankland had an opportunity when he met Waite’s cutback but side-footed it wide of the near post.

Harvey had a chance to open the scoring in the 6th minute. He met Shankland’s corner from the right but bulleted a header wide of the left hand post.

The one-way traffic continued and Talbot calme close twice in quick succession in the 8th minute. Firstly, Leith had to parry away Pope’s drive from the right side of the box and when it rebounded out it came to McCracken who drilled a shot just wide of the right post.

It was no surprise when Talbot finally took the lead in the 13th minute. Shankland switched play out to Waite on the right & he fed it onto Kemp who squared it across goal for the unmarked GRAHAM WILSON to place home from 6 yards out

Talbot doubled their lead in the 17th minute. Shankland was fouled as he burst forward resulting in a free kick 25 yards from goal & for the 3rd game in a row MARK SHANKLAND produced a top class set piece firing an unstoppable shot over the wall & inside the keeper’s left hand post.

The 3rd goal arrived in the 27th minute. A neat passing move saw the ball worked out to Graham Wilson on the left wing & when he drilled it low across goal toward the waiting Kemp DOUGAN intercepted to turn it past his own keeper at the near post.

Another opportunity came Talbot’s way in the 32nd minute. Shankland whipped over a corner that McCracken headed back across goal but wide of the right post.

The visitors were forced into a change in the 37th minute when Forbes limped off to be replaced by Hall.

A minute later Talbot added their 4th goal. Shankland delivered a corner from the left & GRAHAM WILSON nipped in at the near post to head home from close range.

Talbot made it 5-0 after 40 minutes. Shankland met a cross from the right & cushioned a header back across goal where STEVEN WHITE ran onto it to nod home.

On the stroke of half-time Talbot added a 6th goal. Graham Wilson laid the ball square to CALVIN KEMP and he drilled a low shot inside the left post to send Talbot in 6-0 ahead at the interval.

Talbot started the 2nd half as they’d ended the first with wave after wave of attacks.

McCracken had a chance in the 49th minute when he met Shankland’s free kick inside the area but his header flew over the bar.

Tucker made a change in the 51st minute with McIlroy on in place of Kemp.

McIlroy won a free kick 25 yards from goal in the 55th minute after he had his heels clipped as he raced toward the box. MARK SHANKLAND took the resultant free kick & hammered it home off the underside of the bar to make it 7-0.

Talbot nearly extended their lead in the 59th minute. McCracken met Shankland’s corner from the right & did everything right, heading it down for the corner, but Leith made a good save with his feet to deny him.

On the hour mark Talbot had another close call. Shankland floated the ball over the defence to find McIlroy running into the area. He angled a shot across goal and just wide of the far post.

In the 63rd minute Talbot made their 2nd change with Glasgow replacing Graham Wilson.

The Wigtown goal led a charmed life in the 64th minute. The ball broke off Glasgow on the left of the area inside to Shankland who saw his low drive blocked by the keeper. The rebound landed at the feet of Waite & his shot was heading on target until deflected just wide of the right post.

When the corner came over it fell to Pope in space just at the edge of the area & he lobbed a shot just over the crossbar.

The 8th goal arrived in the 66th minute. Pope whipped a cross into the centre where SEAN MCILROY bulleted a header home.

Talbot made their final change in the 70th minute with Stephen Wilson on for White. A few minutes later Wigtown made their 2nd change with McLean replacing Kyle.

The Bot made it 9-0 in the 74th minute. Shankland’s corner found DWAYNE HYSLOP free inside the area & he guided home a free header from close range.

Wigtown made their final change in the 79th minute when Jamieson picked up an injury and had to make way for McColm.

Glasgow tested the keeper in the 80th minute. Hyslop barreled into the box & although he was halted the ball broke right into the path of Glasgow whose low drive forced a good stop from Leith.

Shankland looked set for the hat-trick in the 84th minute. Stephen Wilson burst into the area & squared it to McIlroy. He in turn teed it up for Shankland but he blazed his shot over from 12 yards.

Pope nearly got on the score sheet in the 86th minute. He latched onto a weak clearance, meeting it on the half volley 18 yards out to send a shot flying narrowly over the bar.

With two minutes remaining Talbot made it to double figures. Waite swept over a cross that Leith punched clear under pressure from Shankland. The ball came out to SEAN MCILROY who took a touch before blasting it into the roof of the net.

A very comfortable win for Talbot who now return to league duty as they travel through to Glasgow to face Pollok next Saturrday.

Talbot – Leishman, Armstrong, Pope, Harvey, McCracken, White, Hyslop, Shankland, Graham Wilson, Kemp, Waite

Subs – Stephen Wilson, McIlroy, Glasgow, McPherson, Lyle, McDowall, Hewitt (gk)

Wigtown – Leith, Cluckie, Robertson, Garrett, Henry, McClorey, Kyle, Forbes, McClymont, Dougan, Jamieson

Subs – Hall, McColm, Irons, McLean, Fingland, M Dongan (gk)

Auchinleck Talbot v Banks O’ Dee

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot recovered well from a false start to breeze past Banks O Dee in the senior Scottish cup.

The home support were shocked in the 6th minute when the visitors took the lead. Harvey shanked a pass across the width of the park which HENDERSON intercepted before racing away from McPherson & slotting the ball past Leishman.

The Bot shrugged off this setback and were back on level terms within a minute. Stephen Wilson played it square to CALVIN KEMP outside the penalty area & he drilled a shot inside Shearer’s right post to make it 1-1.

Within a minute Talbot had a chance to take the lead. Kemp slipped the ball through to White on the right side of the area but his effort was well blocked by Shearer.

Talbot continued to press & carved out another chance in the 11th minute.

Lyle lifted the ball up the right to Kemp & he slid a pass through to McDowall on the wing. He hammered it low across the face of goal where it hit off Graham Wilson & flew over the bar.

Binnie received the 1st card of the afternoon after twenty minutes for a late challenge on Lyle.

Shortly after, Graham Wilson picked up a ridiculous caution when the referee penalised him for shielding the ball.

The action continued to flow towards the visitors goal & Talbot came very close to taking the lead in the 32nd minute. Stephen Wilson was fouled just outside the penalty area & Shankland lifted the free kick across goal where Stephen Wilson glanced a header toward goal. It hit off a defender & fell to Harvey whose shot from 6 yards was deflected behind for a corner. When the corner was swung beyond the far post McDowall met it to head it back across goal but the defence were able to scramble it clear.

Finally Talbot’s pressure paid off as they took the lead in the 38th minute. McDowall lifted in a dangerous cross from the right that Shankland slid in to meet at the back post. Shearer did well to keep out his effort but the rebound came to GRAHAM WILSON & he drilled it home to put Talbot 2-1 ahead.

A single goal lead is always precarious and despite Talbot’s dominance the sides could have went in all square at the interval. In the final action of the 1st half Banks o Dee broke swiftly down the right & forced a corner. Talbot failed to clear it at the 1st attempt & when Binnie knocked it to the far side of the 6-yard area Henderson had a chance to grab his 2nd of the afternoon but he was leaning back as he hit it & his shot went straight to Leishman.

Talbot started the 2nd half as though they meant business and only a superb stop from Shearer prevented Kemp from extending Talbot’s lead within a minute of the re-start. Shankland lifted the ball over the defence to find Kemp in space on the left & his lob was heading into the roof of the net until Shearer flicked out an arm to turn it over the bar.

The goal was only delayed though. When the corner came over the defence failed to clear it & Pope lifted it to the far side of the area where MARK SHANKLAND fired it low inside the left post to put Talbot 3-1 ahead.

The goal boosted Talbot & demoralised the visitors. It was now all Talbot and the Bot nearly added another in the 53rd minute. Shankland flighted the ball over the defence to find Kemp on the left & his right foot volley flew just wide of the post.

A few minutes later Shearer prevented Talbot from extending their lead. White got away down the right & when he cut it back across the area it fell to Shankland whose low drive was blocked by the feet of the keeper. The ball rebounded out to Kemp & he drilled it wide of target.

The visitors decided to freshen it up and made two changes in quick succession, firstly Shrive coming on for Winton & then Watt on for Binnie.

In the 68th minute they were forced to make their final change. Macleod clattered into Leishman when challenging for a cross & came off 2nd best, having to leave the field to be replaced by Buchanan.

Tucker now made a double substitution up top with Kemp & Graham Wilson making way for McIlroy and Glasgow.

Glasgow was barely on the park when he had a decent chance. He held off the challenge of Allan inside the box but fired his shot straight at the keeper.

Glasgow had another opportunity in the 74th minute. McDowall burst through the centre before releasing it out left to find Glasgow breaking into the area where his shot was parried away by Shearer.

Talbot made their final change in the 78th minute with Hyslop on for Stephen Wilson.

The sub made a quick impact, carrying the ball forward before sliding it through to Glasgow on the left. He went for the lob & was very unlucky to see it sail just wide of the far post with the keeper beaten.

Banks O Dee had been on the back foot for the most part but did produce a dangerous attack in the 84th minute. Buchanan gathered on the left & played a defence splitting ball in behind the defence trying to find the run of Henderson. However, Leishman read the danger & was quickly off his line to beat him to it.

Talbot had a late chance to add a fourth in the 86th minute. McIlroy squared the ball across the face of goal where Hyslop flicked it over the bar from close range.

Talbot could have won by a few more but got the job done after a shaky start. Next up, it is back to midweek cup duty when Talbot face old rivals Cumnock in the Ardagh.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, McPherson, S Wilson, McDowall, White, G Wilson, Kemp, Shankland

Subs – Glasgow, McIlroy, Hyslop, Armstrong, Waite, McCracken, Hewitt (gk)

Banks o Dee – Shearer, Gilmour, White, Allan, Duguid, Winton, Henderson, Hamilton, Macleod, Philipson, Binnie

Subs – Buchanan, Shrive, Watt, Sahalevitis (gk)

Gareth Armstrong

SPONSORED BY: Conway Properties Ltd. Dorothy Lawrence.

POSITION: Defender/Midfield

JOINED TALBOT: July 2017

D.O.B: 01/12/1993

TALBOT DEBUT: Glenafton Athletic (Home), 2nd August 2017, Ardagh League Cup 0-1

FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL: Troon (Away), 12th May 2018, West of Scotland 3rd Round 3-1

FORMER CLUBS: Ayr United Academy, Ayr United (4 appearances) Troon (Loan), Troon.

Auchinleck Talbot v Beith Juniors

Talbot got off to a bad start and it was downhill from there as the Bot tamely exited the Scottish, beaten 3-0 by Beith.
The supporters were still making their way into the ground when Talbot fell behind in the 2nd minute. Sheridan played a pass through the centre to find MCGOWAN 25 yards out. He strolled past McCracken & with the defence backing off; he continued into the area & slammed a low drive into the bottom corner.
Talbot’s first attack saw Pope sweep a cross beyond the far post where Hyslop climbed above Docherty to head it across goal but Steven Wilson couldn’t connect with it in the centre.
In the 10th minute Young combined with Milliken out on the right before Milliken cut inside & fired a shot on target that Grindlay clutched inside his left post.
The next goal was going to be crucial, and unfortunately for Talbot it came for Beith who doubled their lead in the 22nd minute. There looked to be no danger when McLaughlin pumped a high ball down the middle; however Lyle made a meal of it, and in attempting to bring the ball under control only succeeded in knocking it straight into the path of CHRISTIE who fired it high past the helpless Leishman.
This goal seemed to knock the fight out of Talbot who huffed & puffed but did little to trouble Beith’s defence.
Talbot had a penalty shout on the half hour mark when Hyslop spun his marker inside the box & looked to be tugged to the ground but the referee wasn’t interested.
Grindlay was having a very quiet afternoon but Steven Wilson did test him in the 37thminute. A shy from the right found him inside the box & he drilled a shot on target that Grindlay had to tip behind.
Beith saw out the rest of the half fairly comfortably to go in 2-0 ahead at the break.
To the surprise of many, there were no changes at the interval with Tucker trusting to the starting 11 to turn things round.
The referee infuriated the Bot support in the 48th minute. McLean fouled Young but the referee gave the foul the other way & then booked Butch for dissent; a decision which was to come back to haunt Talbot later on.
In the 53rd minute Milliken’s pass found Pope on the left and he hammered a shot on target but it went straight at Grindlay.
Any hopes Talbot entertained of staging a comeback were ended by the referee in the 58th minute. Christie beat the offside trap to race clear down the left. He cut the ball back to the edge of the area where Young challenged McGowan. It appeared he’d made a well-timed tackle but the referee awarded Beith a free kick and produced a 2nd yellow card for Young; reducing Talbot to 10 men.
Christie took the free kick & his low drive was blocked behind by McGoldrick. Talbot were then caught napping as Beith took a short corner and when the cross came over MCLAUGHLIN met it to power a free header home from close range.
The game was effectively over & Beith nearly added to their lead in the 64th minute. Lyle gave the ball away to Docherty & he fed it inside to Frize who shot straight at Leishman.
McLean spurned a great chance to make it 4 on the 70th minute. McCracken took a heavy touch & lost the ball just inside his own half, sending McLean clean through on goal. He carried on into the area but pulled his shot well wide of the left post.
Tallbot made a double substitution a minute later with Lyle & Steven Wilson coming off to be replaced by Harvey & Pooler.
With 10 minutes remaining Tucker made his final change with Stevenson on for Graham Wilson.
In the closing stages Harvey picked up a yellow card for simulation when he went down inside the Beith penalty area.
The final whistle couldn’t come quickly enough for the Bot support and this is a game that everyone associated with Talbot will want to expunge from their memory.
It’s back to league duties next week for Talbot as they make the short trip to New Cumnock to face Glenafton.
Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, McCracken, S Wilson, Young, White, G Wilson, Milliken, Hyslop
Subs – Pooler, Stevenson, Harvey, Boyle, Thomson, Shankland, Hewitt (gk)

Beith – Grindlay, MacDonald, Docherty, McLaughlin, Sheridan, Wilson, McGlinchey, Frize, McLean, Christie, McGowan
Subs- Collins, Watt, Burke, McPherson, Fisher, Martin, McBain (gk)