SCOTTISH CUP – Page 9 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Beith v Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
It was honours even as Talbot & Beith shared 4 goals in this Scottish Cup preliminary round tie; leaving both sides to face off again next Saturday at Beechwood.
Talbot were shooting down the slope in the 1st half & it was the Bot who made the early running. The first effort at goal came when Lyle gathered Pope’s cross out on the right touchline. He fed it inside to Millken whose low drive went wide of target.
Milliken did hit the target soon after. He skipped past Sheridan down the left & fired at goal, but the keeper was well positioned & made a comfortable stop.
Talbot were temporarily reduced to 10 men in the 9th minute when Latta fell awkwardly after being fouled by McGlinchey. He went off for treatment on his shoulder but couldn’t continue & in the 12th minute Stevenson came on in his place.
This was a physically bruising encounter with neither side being afforded any time on the ball & more tackles being made than passes played.
McGlinchey came to the home side’s rescue in the 24th minute. Steven Wilson battled well to win the ball out on the right & looked to be fouled just outside the area. The ball broke loose to Stevenson who swept a dangerous low ball across goal that McGlinchey hooked clear inside the 6-yard area.
A minute later Milliken ought to have put Talbot ahead. Wilson sped away from Sheridan down the right before sweeping an early ball across the area. Milliken ran onto it but from 15 yards out he hoisted his shot over Grindlay’s crossbar.
Beith then came close at the other end. Christie managed to get on the end of McGlinchey’s deep cross & succeeded in heading it back for McLean but he fired wide of the right post from a good area.
Hyslop came close for Talbot in the 40th minute. Young squared the ball inside for him & he drilled a low shot just past the right post with Grindlay beaten.
With a minute of normal time remaining McGoldrick was in the right spot to block Wilson’s low strike from just outside the area as it headed goal wards.
Talbot took the lead in the 45th minute. Young sent Milliken free down the left & he returned it into the centre where YOUNG volleyed home to make it 1-0.
It looked like Talbot would head in a goal to the good at the break but Beith had other ideas and they drew level two minutes into injury time. McGoldrick headed a cross clear but it only came out to WILSON who managed to evade the challenge of Young before slotting a low shot inside the right post from 20 yards to make it 1-1.
With the advantage of the slope & the fillip of their late equaliser, Beith came out strongly at the start of the 2nd half and soon had Talbot under pressure.
McLean passed up a decent chance in the 49th minute. He beat offside to break free on the right but hit a tame shot at goal that Leishman easily saved.
Tucker made a switch in the 50th minute with Graham Wilson replacing his brother Steven.
McGlinchey tested Leishman in the 55th minute from 25 yards; drilling a low shot on goal that Leishman held.
Talbot created a half chance in the 58th minute. Wilson ran onto a ball in behind the defence & did well to hook it back across goal. Stevenson ran onto it & climbed above Docherty to get his head on it but his header went wide of the left post.
Sheridan had his name taken in the 61st minute. Wilson laid the ball down for Milliken who was breaking away from Beith’s centre half until wrestled to the ground.
Route one nearly paid off for Beith in the 65th minute. Grindlay’s long ball down the centre skimmed off the top of McGoldrick’s head & McLean raced onto it inside the area. He flicked it over Leishman but lifted it wide of the left post.
Beith took the lead in the 69th minute with a well-worked goal. Docherty started and finished the move; playing it out wide left to find McGowan on the touchline & when he slid it across the area DOCHERTY coolly passed the ball into the net.
Playing against the slope & a goal behind, it was literally an uphill struggle for Talbot & Beith were looking comfortable in their lead.
White had his name taken in the 78th minute for a shove on McLean and two minutes later McLean joined him in the notebook for a foul on Pope.
With time running out Tucker decided to throw caution to the wind, replacing Boyle with Pooler as Talbot went with three up front.
In the 84th minute Milliken raced free of the Beith defence down the right & fired a dangerous ball across goal but there was no support in front of goal to take advantage.
A minute later Talbot won a free kick just outside the Beith penalty area for a foul on Milliken. Young flighted it to the back post where Docherty headed it away but he got no distance on it & it fell for POPE who buried a shot inside the right post to level the score.
The final 5 minutes were nerve wracking for both sets of supporters. Firstly, Beith came close to snatching it when McLaughlin cushioned a header across goal from a corner. It came to Docherty but the ball broke off him & ran through to Leishman.
Down the other end, Milliken had a half chance to snatch a late winner when he burst into the box but he delayed his shot & the chance was lost.
As the game headed into injury time Beith won a couple of set pieces in the Bot half, allowing them to thrown the ball into the area but on both occasions Pope headed the ball away to safety.
Beith is never an easy place to visit, and most Talbot fans would have settled for a replay prior to the match. Now both sides will face off for the third time in a row with Talbot hoping for a similar outcome to the recent Ardagh semi-final at Beechwood.

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

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Boyle, Latta, White, Hyslop, S Wilson, Milliken, Young
Subs – Stevenson, Pooler, Harvey, G Wilson, McCracken, Hewitt (gk)

aviary_1473095033444 — With five minutes to go in the first-half, ‘Butch’ gets onto the end of Milliken’s cross and, via a deflection, puts Talbot into the lead. 0-1.

aviary_1473097112050 — With people thinking Talbot were going to have the lead at HT, Beith thought otherwise. With the Talbot defence opened up, Jamie Wilson found some space and fired the ball into the bottom corner of the net. 1-1.

aviary_1473098907621 — Cue the wild celebrations from the Beith players after Wilson’s equaliser.

aviary_1473100892607 — With Talbot chasing the game, up steps Gordon Pope, who unleashes a thunderous shot towards goal and grabs the all important equaliser for Talbot. 2-2.

aviary_1473101310437 — The Beith players look on in despair, as Talbot celebrate the equaliser.

aviary_1473101486738 — ‘Fingers crossed’ this pass makes it!

aviary_1473101916833 — White tries to win back possession for Talbot.

aviary_1473102201168 — Milliken races into the box and tries a shot from close range.

aviary_1473102699654 — Andy Leishman keeps a close eye on the ball, as Beith try a long range effort.

aviary_1473102946876 — As the Talbot faithful look on, ‘Tucker’ dishes out the orders.

aviary_1473103645622 — Keir gets another Talbot attack going.

aviary_1473103836964 — Stephen White keeps the game going.

aviary_1473104207986 — Dylan Pooler gets beaten to the ball. Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Wigton & Bladnoch v Auchinleck Talbot

Talbot failed to show up for the 1st half of this cup tie but were a team transformed after the interval & cruised to victory over their South of Scotland league opponents.
It was a case of Talbot flattering to deceive early on as the Bot got off to a short-lived flying start. In the opening couple of minutes Talbot forced a couple of early corners, from the second of which, McGoldrick glanced a header wide of target.
After this initial flurry, the 1st half became a frustrating affair for Talbot with Wigtown content to sit deep & look to break, and Talbot struggling to get through them.
In the 17th minute Young & Dunn had their names taken after a confrontation in the centre of the pitch.
In a half devoid of clear chances, Talbot’s main threat came from set pieces. Boyle got his head onto the end of Shankland’s free kick in the 28th minute but placed his header wide of the right post.
Talbot’s best chance of the half came in the 32nd minute courtesy of a quickly taken free kick. Young hit it in behind the Wigtown defence but Wilson took a poor 1st touch & it broke off him through to the keeper.
For the remainder of the half both sides huffed & puffed to no avail & the sides went in at half-time with neither keeper having made a save.
Talbot came out like a team transformed after the interval & as early as the 46th minute carved out a decent chance. Shankland laid the ball off to Wilson & he fired a low shot wide of the right post.
Millliken received a caution in the 53rd minute for a shirt tug on Dougan.
A minute later Young hit the target from 20 yards but his shot went straight at Roddie.
McIntyre then became the 4th name in the ref’s book when he was cautioned for a late tackle on Milliken.
The opening goal came in the 58th minute and what a strike it was. Richardson conceded a free kick 30 yards from goal for a foul on Wilson & SHANKLAND gave the keeper no chance; curling a superb strike over the wall & into the back of the net.
Tucker now made a change with White coming on for Pooler.
Talbot nearly doubled their lead on the hour mark. Milliken gathered out on the left & drilled it low across the goal mouth. The slightest touch would’ve put it in but Wilson just failed to connect at the near post.
It was all Talbot now & it was no surprise when the 2nd goal arrived in the 66th minute. A diagonal ball found Milliken out on the right & he swept a good cross into the centre. Shankland glanced a header on target and although Roddie parried it WILSON followed up to tap in the rebound.
Talbot’s next attack saw White burst forward before releasing Shankland down the left. He lifted a dangerous cross to the far post where Rennie headed behind. Shankland went across to take the corner & whipped it into the near post where Milliken fired over the bar.
Wilson had a chance to grab his 2nd in the 70th minute. He started the move sliding the ball out right to Latta who returned the favour, crossing it into the centre where Wilson headed on target but straight at Roddie.
The game was as good as over a minute later when Talbot moved 3-0 ahead. White burst into the area & fed the ball out to Shankland on the left. He cut inside McIntyre before chipping a shot for the far top corner. He saw his effort come back off the woodwork but Wilson gathered on the right & quickly crossed it back across goal where SHANKLAND headed home from 6 yards out.
With quarter of an hour remaining Talbot tested Roddie again. Shankland’s mazy run into the box ended when he was challenged by Richardson; however the ball broke back into the path of Wilson who drilled a low shot on goal which Roddie blocked.
Wigtown had a chance for a consolation goal in the 76th minute. They won a corner out on the left & the Bot defence were caught sleeping as they took a short one to Miller. He curled a cross over to the far post where Dougan rose unopposed but he lifted his header over the bar.
Tucker now made a double substitution with Young & Shankland making way for Hyslop & Drummond.
It should have been 4 for Talbot in the 81st minute. Latta angled a great cross in from the right touchline & Wilson looked a certainty to head it home but somehow he placed it the wrong side of the left post.
Wilson had another headed chance a minute later. This time the cross came from the opposite wing as Pope whipped the ball into the centre where Wilson glanced a header just wide.
The final goal came in the 83rd minute. Hyslop’s break from midfield was ended when Cluckie tripped him inside the area & the ref pointed to the spot. WILSON took it & confidently dispatched it to claim his 2nd of the afternoon & make it 4-0 to Talbot.
In the closing seconds Talbot had a final chance to add to their tally. Wilson headed Lyle’s ball down to the feet of Milliken, sending him clean through on the right but instead of shooting he tried to square it across the 6-yard box & the chance was lost.
In the end a comfortable enough win for Talbot who face a trip to Beith in the next round.
Next up for Talbot is their 1st home game of the season when they host Cumnock on Monday night.

Referee – Mike Taylor

Wigtown – Roddie, McIntyre, Rennie, Agnew, Richardson, Cluckie, Jones, Dunn, Jamieson, Dougan, Miller
Subs – Robertson, Lowe, Chilton, Rose, Gerrit, Whyte (gk)

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Boyle, Latta, Young, S Wilson, Milliken, Shankland, Pooler
Subs – McPherson, White, Drummond, Hyslop, G Wilson, Hewitt (gk)

Neill McPherson

SPONSORED BY: George Jnr, Richard & Gill Laird. BC Civils Groundworks Ltd.

POSITION: DEFENDER

JOINED TALBOT: JULY 2016

D.O.B: 22/07/1996

TALBOT DEBUT: 6th August 2016 v Muirkirk Juniors.

FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL: Rossvale (Away), 1st February 2020, WOSL Premier Division.

FORMER CLUBS: Darvel Juniors

Darvel

Craig McCracken

SPONSORED BY: Powmillon Projects and Surveying Services. Cathy Jamieson

DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER

JOINED: 2016

D.O.B: 22/04/1996

TALBOT DEBUT: Shettleston (Away), 5th March 2016, League 0-0

FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL: Hurlford United (Home), 29th October 2016, WJFA Premier League 2-0

FORMER CLUBS: Ayr United U20’s, Auchinleck Talbot (Loan), Ayr United (7 appearances), Auchinleck Talbot, BSC Glasgow (Loan), Auchinleck Talbot.

Cumbernauld Colts v Auchinleck Talbot

Match Report by Murray
Talbot’s senior cup adventure ended with a whimper as an out of sorts Bot side fell 2-0 to Cumbernauld Colts at Broadwood stadium.
There was an unfamiliar look to Talbot’s central defence with regulars McGoldrick & Campbell missing with White & Lyle stepping in to fill the breech.
It was the home side who offered the 1st threat when O’Neill burst past Latta and whipped a dangerous ball across the face of goal. Black met it beyond the far post but the ball hit him rather him hitting it and broke behind for a goal kick.
The 1st effort at goal came in the 7th minute. Broadfoot switched play out right to Duncan whose low cross was cleared by Lyle. It came out to Munn 25 yards from goal and he fired a shot well over the bar.
A minute later Talbot wasted a promising opportunity to take the lead. S Wilson beat Kirwan before squaring the ball across the box to Milliken 8 yards out. The shot looked on but he opted to pass it instead and the ball came back out to S Wilson who knocked it to the back post where Young saw his shot deflected behind.
The linesman turned a blind eye to a blatant handball in the 14th minute when Kirwan controlled it on his arm right in front of him but the officials waved play on.
The Bot fans were up in arms again four minutes later when they thought G Wilson had won a free kick just outside the box when sent sprawling by Duncan, only for the referee to book him for simulation & award the free kick to Colts.
Gradually Talbot began to push Colts back but were failing to make any clear cut chances and when one finally did arrive in the 28th minute it was wasted. Boyd slid a good pass out to Latta whose cut back found Milliken in space inside the area but he completely mis-kicked it.
Neither side had looked like scoring, at least until the 33rd minute when Young found S Wilson out on the right edge of the area and his low drive back across goal flew inches wide of the far post.
The referee had his work cut out in a spell of ill-discipline from the home side that saw them pick up 3 bookings in as many minutes. Broadfoot was 1st in the book for a heated reaction after Boyd had conceded a free kick and he was soon joined in the book by Munn and then Ballantyne, both for cynical fouls on G Wilson.
Talbot tested the Colts defence in the 39th minute when Pope played it into the feet of Hyslop on the left of the area. He attempted to drill it across the 6-yard box but his pass was cut out.
The Bot finished the half strongly but tellingly with no end product. In the 41st minute Milliken pulled the ball back into the path of S Wilson but he didn’t catch his shot cleanly and it sailed harmlessly into the arms of George. A few minutes later the same player saw his effort from just inside the box blocked by Kirwan and the sides went in locked at the interval.
The large travelling support were hoping for Talbot to step up a gear in the 2nd half but it was the home side who came out fired up. Two minutes into the half and the Bot defence was stretched when Ballantyne found space on the right & fired a dangerous cross over to the back post where Latta glanced it behind for a corner. Nothing came of the corner as Leishman was fouled when trying to claim it.
His opposite number didn’t cover himself in glory a minute later. Young fed the ball back to Pope who slung a high, hopeful cross into the goal mouth which George flapped at. The ball landed between the keeper & Oliver with neither taking responsibility for clearing it but with no Bot player to take advantage, Oliver recovered to hook the ball clear.
The game was becoming stretched with play moving from end to end and Talbot won a free kick in a decent area in the 53rd minute when G Wilson’s charge down the right flank was halted by Kirwan. Young flighted a decent ball across the 6 yard line where a Colts defender headed it out for a shy.
S Wilson failed to make the most of a half chance in the 55th minute. Ward headed out Pope’s cross but it came straight out to Wilson 16 yards out, however he delayed his shot and was closed down before he could hit it.
Colts made the 1st change on 57 minutes with Tilley coming on in place of Black.
Leishman had to produce a top drawer save to keep Talbot level on the hour mark. A Colts corner from the right was cleared but only as far as Broadfoot who jinked in off the right and fired a shot for the far post that Leishman tipped wide at full stretch.
Down the other end S Wilson tested George in the 61st minute when he rifled a low right foot shot on target that George saved in an unconventional manner; blocking it with his body as he fell to his left.
The 1st goal was going to be crucial and it came Colts way in the 64th minute. The Bot defence were caught flat at a ball down the right wing. Leishman opted to come out his box to clear but was never getting there and BROADFOOT was able to clip the ball past him from a tight angle into the empty net.
Talbot now made a substitution with Shankland on for Milliken.
O’Neill managed to get himself involved in a stramash with the Talbot bench in the 68th minute but it was a handbags at dawn affair and nothing came of it.
Talbot had a chance to test George in the 70th minute when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out. Shankland took it and curled it up & over the wall but whilst it had the accuracy it lacked the power to beat George who got across to his right to make the save.
A minute later Shankland had another opportunity. G Wilson laid the ball inside to him and he ran onto it at the edge of the box but fired his shot wide of the right post.
This was Talbot’s best spell of the match and they had a third chance in quick succession. Pope flighted a cross to the back post where S Wilson cushioned a header back across goal where his brother G Wilson met it but lifted his header over the bar.
It was now Colts turn to threaten and they had Talbot on the rack with a spell of pressure. Leishman did well to cut out Broadfoot’s ball across the face of goal after Broadfoot had got the better of Pope.
Colts then forced a succession of corners from the last of which Kirwan met it on the half volley at the back post and his shot flicked off Latta and just over the bar. When the next corner came in Talbot only partially cleared it allowing Tilley a shot at goal which Leishman blocked away.
Tucker now made a 2nd switch with holding midfielder Boyd making way for Love.
Love was involved soon after coming on when he ran onto a ball in behind Kirwan and passed it across to G Wilson in space just inside the box. He looked set to hit it but to the frustration of the Bot support he opted to back heel it to tee it up for Shankland and the move fizzled out.
Talbot’s last chance to salvage a draw came in the 86th minute. Love beat Kirwan and raced into the box and tried to fire it across the face of goal. It was blocked and came straight back to him on the right of the penalty area but he didn’t connect properly with his shot and it went tamely at George.
It was game over in the 88th minute as Colts doubled their advantage. O’Neill was allowed to carry the ball forward unchallenged before releasing it out right to find Broadfoot in space inside the area. He had the time and space to square it across goal for MUNN to bundle it home from close range and make it 2-0.
Colts now substituted the goal scorer with Munn making way for Grant.
No two ways about it, this was a very disappointing performance from Talbot who just never got going. There is no time to brood on it though as Tucker will have to lift the team for next Saturday’s trip to Tranent in the Scottish Junior Cup.

Cumbernauld – George, Duncan, Kirwan, Oliver, Ward, Broadfoot, Ballantyne, Munn, Selkirk, Black, O’Neill

Subs – Benton, Giles, Brown, Grant, Tilley

Talbot – Leishman, Latta, Lyle, Pope, White, Boyd, Young, Hyslop, Milliken, G Wilson, S Wilson

Subs – Shankland, Love, Cochrane, Gillies, Campbell, Johnstone

Cumbernauld Colts

Auchinleck Talbot v BSC Glasgow

Match Report by Murray

Talbot took this replay by the scruff of the neck thanks to a blistering start that saw the Bot two ahead within the opening 5 minutes.
The very first attack of the match saw Talbot open the scoring within a minute. A ball over the static defence found Milliken in behind and he thumped a shot on target that Moore parried at his near post. The rebound came back out to Milliken who clipped a cross into the centre where GILLIES volleyed home from 6 yards out.
BSC tried to respond and created an opening in the 3rd minute. Ferris turned smartly in the centre to create space and slotted a pass out left to Traynor. His cross deflected away off McGoldrick but came out to Carnwath who lashed a shot over the bar from 18 yards.
Talbot doubled their lead in the 4th minute. Milliken fed it out to Young on the right and WILSON met his precise cross at the back post to steer a header inside the right post.
Talbot weren’t hanging back and were pushing flat out for a third goal to kill the tie off. Pope created an opportunity for Wilson when his diagonal ball found him running forward on the right. Wilson attempted to chip the keeper but got too much on it and sailed it over the bar.
Gillies had a chance for his 2nd in the 7th minute. Milliken met Lyle’s deep cross and helped it back across the face of goal where Gillies rose to meet it; however he couldn’t get above the ball & his header lifted over the bar.
Moore produced a wonder stop in the 9th minute to deny Milliken. Wilson’s threaded pass split the defence sending Milliken through on the left. He powered a shot inside the near post which Moore batted away with his outstretched right hand.
Talbot were in total control at this stage and were very unlucky not to move further ahead in the 13th minute. Milliken again got in behind the defence and angled a shot past Moore that came off the foot of the left post. The ball rebounded out to Wilson who fired a shot off the same post and then saw his second effort blocked by Moore.
Carnwath became the first name in the book when penalised for a raised arm in an aerial challenge on Campbell.
Bembo showed there was still life in the visitors with a surging run up the right that saw him race into the Talbot box, only for Leishman to race off his line to smother the ball.
BSC made an early change with Johnston coming on to replace the booked Carnwath.
After the frantic start, Talbot took their foot off the pedal for a spell and BSC slowly began to play their way into the game.
Leishman was called into action in the 24th minute when Connolly found Traynor in space on the left and his low drive had to be turned wide of the left post.
An error by Lyle could have proved costly in the 27th minute. Whilst attempting to clear Traynor’s ball into the area he only succeeded in steering it across the box straight to the unmarked Connolly and Leishman had to be at his best diving to his left to keep out his effort.
BSC were enjoying a decent spell and Traynor had a go from distance in the 28th minute, sending a low drive wide of Leishman’s left post.
Just as the visitors were thinking of making a game of it, a defensive lapse provided Talbot with the chance to put the game beyond them. Bembo was caught out by a ball over the top and clipped Milliken from behind as he ran into the area. The ref pointed to the spot and POPE made no mistake, striking the ball inside the left post to put Talbot 3-0 ahead with half an hour gone.
Talbot threatened again in the 34th minute. Pope floated a free kick to the back post which Moore tipped away. Young gathered it on the right before passing inside to Milliken who in turn squared for Wilson to curl a shot wide of target.
A bloomer from the visitor’s keeper almost gifted Talbot a further goal in the 39th minute. Gillies hit a 1st time shot from the edge of the area that squirmed through the arms of Moore onto his left post but fortunately for him, it rebounded straight back into his hands.
As the half drew to a close Talbot came close to adding to their tally. Ramsay failed to cut out Young’s pass allowing Wilson to race free down the right. Moore came flying off his line to beat him to it but Wilson clipped the ball past him and the ball was heading into the net in slow motion until Home got back to knock it past his own post. Talbot couldn’t make anything of the set piece and the half ended with Talbot 3-0 to the good.
If anything the 2nd half was even more one sided as Talbot kept the pressure on their demoralised opponents.
Milliken tested the keeper in the 49th minute when he latched onto Wilson’s header but Moore was wise to his attempted lob and plucked it out the air over his head.
Two minutes later Milliken found the target again. This time he burst past Bembo inside the area before stabbing a shot at goal that Moore blocked at the near post.
It was 3rd time lucky for Milliken in the 53rd minute as he put Talbot 4-0 ahead. Wilson made a great switch of play from right to left to find MILLIKEN in space and he strode into the box and shot for goal and although Moore got a hand to it he couldn’t prevent it falling inside his right post.
Tucker made a change in the 59th minute when Milliken came off to be replaced by Steven Wilson.
Talbot’s sub was involved in the 63rd minute when Wilson whipped an early cross into the centre onto the head of Young who failed to take advantage, heading off target from 6 yards out.
BSC made a further change replacing Ferris with McDougall in the 65th minute.
As the clock wore on BSC’s discipline took a dip and Traynor picked up a caution for a late challenge on Steven Wilson.
Talbot made a double substitution in the 71st minute replacing Gillies & G Wilson with Shankland and Love.
Both subs were involved in a good move in the 74th minute. Shankland fed the ball out to Young who played in Love down the right. He fired on target but Moore parried it away at his near post.
Frustration got the better of Grey and the BSC midfielder picked up a yellow card with quarter of an hour to go.
Young came close to getting on the score sheet in the 77th minute. Pope played it out wide to Shankland and he laid it back inside where Young volleyed over the crossbar.
Love & Lyle played a neat one-two to send Lyle running clear on the right but he was halted just outside the penalty box when tripped by Connolly who was fortunate to escape a caution. With the defence anticipating the free kick being crossed in Pope took them by surprise as he drilled a low square pass to find Wilson in space 8 yards out but he didn’t make a clean contact, and his mis-hit shot was cleared.
Love had a decent chance to extend Talbot’s lead with 10 mins remaining. Young chested Lyle’s cross down into his path and as he ran onto it Moore raced off his line and did just enough to put him off, as Love lifted his shot narrowly over the bar.
Two minutes later a defensive blunder nearly resulted in a Talbot goal. Moore came to claim a cross at his back post but he collided with Traynor and spilled the ball. Love looked set to prod it home from close range but Moore made a swift recovery to dive and clutch the ball.
BSC should have gone a man down in the 83rd minute. McKinnon floored Wilson with a very late tackle, with no real intent to play the ball, but the referee only produced a yellow card.
Talbot’s final goal came 5 minutes from time. Wilson burrowed in from the right and when challenged it broke off him and landed straight at the feet of Young. His low strike beat Moore but Bronsky popped up to clear it off the line. He hooked it out to the left where Pope swung a cross in for HYSLOP to power a header into the bottom corner to make it 5-0.
White doesn’t score many but he was denied a peach of a goal with 3 mins to go when Moore tipped his 30 yard drive just wide of the left hand upright and when the corner came over Wilson glanced a header over the bar.
Talbot kept at it right to the end and almost added a sixth deep into injury time. Wilson played in Love down the right and he cut it back for Young who saw his shot tipped over the bar. From the resultant corner Campbell powered a header on target that Moore held at the 2nd attempt.
This was a vastly improved performance from Talbot who swept aside BSC in some style and could easily have won by a much higher margin. Next up for Talbot is a tricky away trip to Glasgow to face Petershill in the West of Scotland cup.
Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Campbell, White, Young, Hyslop, Gillies, Milliken, G Wilson

Subs – Shankland, S Wilson, Love, Findlay, Cochrane, Boyd, Johnstone (gk)
BSC – Moore, A Bembo, Ramsay, Home, Bronsky, Carnwath, Ferris, Grey, Connolly, McKinnon, Traynor

Subs – Dryden, McDougall, Johnston, Cameron, Wilson (gk)

BSC Glasgow vs Auchinleck Talbot

Match Report by Murray

Twice Talbot took the lead in this William Hill Scottish tie but both times let it slip and so have it all to do again next Saturday at Beechwood.
The pace of the game was frantic from the start but endeavour failed to translate into goal mouth action. The first real threat came in the 7th minute. Ferris played a ball down the right channel for the run of Connolly but he was easily brushed off the ball just inside the area and it ran through to Leishman.
Talbot were forcing a few corners but weren’t getting any joy out of the home defence and it wasn’t until the 13th minute that the Bot put together a decent passage of play. Pope knocked a good ball inside into the feet of Milliken who laid it off to Shankland whose drive from the edge of the box was blocked by a defender.
BSC were content to sit deep and look to use their pace on the counter and it nearly paid off for them in the 23rd minute. Talbot were attacking until Young’s slack lay off surrendered possession and the home side swiftly broke through Connolly. He raced up the left but chose the wrong option, having a dig from 25 yards that flew well over the bar, when he had two team mates in acres of space to his right.
The opening goal came Talbot’s way in the 27th minute. Bembo’s attempted clearance was blocked and it spun out left to Milliken and he raced forward into the area. He fired a low drive at the near post which Moore blocked but Milliken gathered the rebound and crossed to the back post where SHANKLAND ran onto it to angle a shot into the back of the net.
Going behind spurred on the home side and McKinnon had a half chance to pull them level within a minute of the re-start. The Bot defence were guilty of not playing to the whistle & as they appealed for a shy, play raged on and Ferris hooked the ball across to the left where McKinnon was in space. Fortunately for Talbot his 1st touch was poor and by the time he went to strike it he’d been closed down.
Talbot surrendered the lead in cheap fashion in the 31st minute, following an uncharacteristic error by White. He was woefully short with an attempted backpass and CONNOLLY took full advantage of the gift, racing onto it and steering the ball past the advancing Leishman into the empty net.
Talbot’s most effective out was the ball over the top to Milliken and he got in behind the defence in the 35th minute. He lobbed a high cross to the back post which fell into the path of Hyslop but it came to him at an awkward height and he volleyed it wide of target from 8 yards.
The woodwork came to Bronsky’s rescue in the 40th minute. Pope fired a great cross over from the touchline which BSC’s centre half sliced onto the outside of the right post when attempting to clear. Pope took the resultant corner and lifted it to the far post where McGoldrick headed it over.
The Bot were enjoying a good spell and had the home defence under pressure a minute later. Young whipped a dangerous cross in from the right which Moore came for and missed, with Carnwath sweeping it behind for the corner.
In the 44th minute Leishman launched a long ball down the left in behind the defence. Wilson hared after it but Bembo stretched out a leg to deflect it high over his own bar. Pope swung the corner to the back post where Campbell met it. He headed it back into the mix and MILLIKEN met it with his back to goal and turned to hook it home to restore Talbot’s lead.
Talbot’s tails were up and they had a further two efforts at goal within injury time. Firstly, Young sent Milliken away on the left but from a tight angle his low shot was easily saved by Moore. Then, in the final action of the half, Wilson spurned a glorious chance to put Talbot firmly in control. Young got free on the right and cut it back across goal where Wilson met it on the volley, but from 8 yards out he volleyed over the bar.
Both sides emerged unchanged for the 2nd half and Talbot continued as they’d left off; on the attack. Hyslop swept a good pass behind the defence for Milliken to chase but he was just beaten to the ball by Moore.
Shankland should then have put Talbot two clear. Pope fed the ball down the line to Milliken and he lifted a superb early ball into the centre to pick out Shankland in front of goal but he volleyed it wide of Moore’s right post.
McKinnon had a decent, if unorthodox, effort at goal for BSC in the 51st minute. They won a free kick out on the left that was floated into the box. It was cleared out toward McKinnon who swerved an up & under looping effort that dropped just over the crossbar.
One minute later McKinnon tested Leishman from 30 yards when he hammered a full-blooded shot on target but it went straight at Leishman who held it comfortably.
Play then immediately switched to the other end as Wilson cut in smartly from the right and drilled a low shot on target that Moore only parried but was able to smother at the 2nd attempt.
McGoldrick then went on one of his trademark lung busting runs which ended with his attempted cross sailing just over the bar at the back post to the relief of Moore.
Talbot’s next threat came after 62 minutes. Wilson sped away down the right wing before clipping the ball square to find Shankland inside the area. He looked to have the time & space to go for goal but didn’t fancy it on his left peg & instead passed it back out right to Wilson who lobbed a shot over the bar.
This was Shankland’s last involvement as he made way for Latta and BSC also took the opportunity to make a change with Cameron coming on for McKinnon.
The fate of the tie was likely to hinge on the next goal and Hyslop had a half chance to swing it Talbot’s way in the 68th minute. Young fired over a great early cross that found him running onto in the centre but the ball wouldn’t sit down for him & he sent his volley over the crossbar.
BSC made two further changes in quick succession as firstly Johnston came on for Traynor and then McDougall replaced Connolly.
The substitutions galvanised the home side and Johnston had a decent crack at goal in the 76th minute. The Bot midfield was slow to react to a loose ball outside the area allowing him the space to fire a shot wide of the left post from 25 yards out.
The equaliser came in the 80th minute. Moore’s clearance came off the head of Lyle and flew behind for a corner kick on the left. It was delivered at pace across the 6-yard area where Johnston glanced a header to the back post for CAMERON to head home from close range.
Talbot won a set piece in a dangerous area with 5 minutes to go when Wilson was up ended 30 yards out. He opted to hit it himself but slipped on the run up and mis-hit it into the wall. It rebounded kindly for Milliken but his shot was blocked.
The Bot were pushing flat out for a late winner but nearly came undone with two minutes remaining. Talbot were attacking down the left but when Milliken lost out in a challenge, BSC were quick to launch a counter-attack. A long ball was knocked up the centre to find McDougall deep in the Talbot half. He ran at the defence and tried to slip a pass through for Ferris but it was a touch too heavy and Leishman was quickly off his line to take it.
In the final minute of regulation time Tucker made his 2nd switch when White went down with cramp and Steven Wilson came on in his place.
Talbot kept pushing forward but time had run out and so both sides will square off again next Saturday at Beechwood, where Talbot will be looking to make home advantage count.

BSC – Moore, A Bembo, Ramsay, Home, Bronsky, Carnwath, Ferris, Gray, Connolly, McKinnon, Traynor

Subs – Dryden, McDougall, E Bembo, Johnston, Cameron, Wilton (gk)
Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Campbell, White, Young, Hyslop, Milliken, G Wilson, Shankland

Subs – Gillies, Latta, Findlay, Love, Cochrane, S Wilson, Johnstone (gk0