SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP – Page 7 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Auchinleck Talbot V Hurlford United

Auchinleck Talbot v Tayport FC

Graham goes on a blistering run up the park, while evading sliding tackles.

Samson tries to slip through the gap left by the Tayport defence.

Stephen Wilson gathers the ball and sends it up the park.

Boylan evades this challenge and keeps the attack going.

Tayport try their best but they fail to stop Keir going on brilliant run.

Kieran Healy passes on some tactical information to his team-mates.

The players look on, as they all wait for the ball to be thrown back into the game.

Samson does his best to fend off this challenge and keep hold of the ball.

‘Pee-wee’ does his best to get on the end of this cross but just can’t stretch far enough.

I think Stephen seems a bit perplexed with the referee’s decision here.

The Talbot bench watch, as Keir Samson tries to muscle his way through the defence.

‘Gee’ slots the ball into the back of the net, however, he is deemed to be offside.

Aiden Wilson gets stopped in his tracks inside the Tayport box.

Bryan watches, as Graham Wilson fires a powerful shot at goal but fails to find the back of the net.

Boylan tries a volley from inside the box but can’t quite keep the shot down.

All eyes on the prize , as ‘Gee’ manages to out jump the defence.

The Talbot attack keeps motoring through Healy, as he fires the ball forward.

Samson gathers the ball inside the box, as the Tayport players shout for offside.

Tayport try their luck from the edge of the box, as ‘Shankers’ makes a last ditch attempt to block the strike.

TAYPORT PULL LEVEL!!! From a corner, Tayport manage to poke the ball home from right in front of the goal. 1-1.

The Tayport players celebrate their goal and you can see just what it means to them.

Samson finds himself in acres of space but just can’t head the ball home.

WHAT A CHANCE!!! Aiden manages to sneak round the back of the defence but he some how sends the ball high over the crossbar.

Aiden can only sink his head into his hands, as he knows that was a great chance for Talbot.

ANOTHER GREAT CHANCE!!! With acres of space and right in front of goal but Jamie Glasgow fails to burst the net and can only watch the ball go skyward instead.

‘Pee-wee’ ushers his way into the box and keeps hold of the ball.

WHAT A SAVE!!! ‘Big Andy’ does what he does best and pulls off a wonder save to thwart Tayport and stop what looked like a certain goal.

Leishman vehemently vents his anger, as he brilliantly keeps Talbot in the tie.

Glasgow fires in the cross and tries to pick out Dwayne.

LATE WINNER FOR TALBOT!!! Just when the game looked certain to go to a replay, up steps ‘Pee-wee’ who heads the ball into the back of the net and sends the ‘Bot into the quarter finals. 2-1.

Que the utter Black ‘n’ Gold mayhem in the terraces!

The smile of a man that just simply LOVES scoring big goals for Talbot.

Dwayne gets swamped by his team-mates, as Aiden shows his best Cheshire Cat smile.

Relief, smiles and utter joy all round for the Talbot players and fans, as everybody continues celebrating Dwayne’s late winner.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

There was a time when Tayport were Talbot’s bogey team and for a while yesterday it looked like the past repeating itself but although Talbot made heavy work of it they managed to book their place in the last 8 of the Scottish.

The Bot couldn’t have asked for a better start; taking the lead within half a minute. Armstrong pinged a ball into the box & the visiting defence put on a slapstick routine, getting in one another’s road & allowing the ball to run through to BRYAN BOYLAN who passed it into the empty net from 6 yards.

The early goal didn’t open the floodgates with Talbot struggling to find their feet in the final third.

It took until the 19th minute before either goal was threatened again. McCracken played it into the feet of Samson & he cut in off the left before firing a low shot wide of the right hand post.

Talbot had a good chance to double their advantage in the 24th minute. Boylan gathered down the left & fed it back to Healy. He swept a low ball across the area which Hyslop met 12 yards out but he steered his shot over the bar.

Stephen Wilson had his name taken in the 29th minute when he halted a Tayport counter-attack down the right wing.

Tayport hadn’t offered much of a threat but they did come close in the 31st minute. Wilson won a corner down the left & when Shaw whipped the corner over Robertson met it. The ball hit him rather than the other way round but it was heading goal ward until McCracken cleared it from the goal mouth.

The visitors grew in confidence & caused a fright in the 38th minute when a ball was pinged down the left. It flew over McPherson and found Robertson breaking in behind; however he was beaten to it by Leishman who’d read the danger & raced out his box to clear.

Two minutes later Talbot put together a neat move. Healy played it into Hyslop inside the area & he laid it off first time for Graham Wilson but there was a yard too much on it & the keeper was able to gather. Talbot finished the half on the front foot but had nothing to show for it and went in at the interval with a one goal lead.

Talbot started the 2nd half as though they meant business and should have had the game out of sight within 5 mins of the re-start. In the 46th minute Samson launched a long shy in from the right that Hyslop head flicked on. It came to Graham Wilson whose drive was blocked. It rebounded to Hyslop but his effort in turn was blocked by a defender before Graham Wilson had another go; only to see a defender in the road for the 3rd time..

Two minutes later Healy found Samson out on the right & he fed it on to the overlapping Armstrong. He floated a cross onto the head of Healy who headed it down and back across goal only for it to hit the heel of a defender before being cleared.

In the 50th minute Talbot ought to have doubled their lead. Graham Wilson met a ball up the left & headed it on into the path of Boylan who raced in behind the defence but blazed over the bar from 12 yards.

Action then switched to the other end where Tayport won a free kick just outside the area. Shaw curled it to the back post where it was headed behind for a corner. When the corner came in it was only cleared as far as Wilson who cut in off the right before drilling a shot for goal that took a deflection off Robertson en route to Leishman.

Talbot’s next attack saw Healy spread play with a great pass to release Samson down the right. He sped down the touchline before firing a dangerous ball across the face that found no takers.

The first change of the afternoon came after 66 mins with Shankland coming on for Boylan.

The officials called it wrong in the 72nd minute when they awarded Tayport a corner down the right. Robertson clearly screwed his shot well wide of target but the ref saw a nonexistent deflection. When the corner came over it was only partially cleared; falling into the path of J Mackie whose shot from 18 yards was deflected over. The Bot defence were caught sleeping at the corner as Shaw played it into the near post where Robertson’s head glanced it on for ROLLO to tuck home from close range to level the score.

Healy became the 2nd Bot player in the book when he received a caution in the 77th minute for a late challenge in midfield.

A minute later Talbot came close to regaining the lead. A quickly taken free kick saw Stephen Wilson release his brother Graham down the left. He flighted it over to the back post where Samson’s header almost squeezed past Shaw at his left post.

With 10 minutes remaining Talbot spurned another good chance to move ahead. A free kick was awarded out on the right & Shankland whipped it over. Aiden Wilson ran onto it & met it 5 yards out but lifted his shot over the crossbar.

Tucker now made a 2nd change with Glasgow on in place of Samson.

Glasgow was barely on the pitch when he had a gilt edged chance. Graham Wilson fed the ball out to Shankland on the left flank & he slung over a great ball that Glasgow met at the back post but with the goal gaping he made a poor contact & it flew over the bar.

With 5 minutes remaining Talbot nearly paid for their missed chances. Gill paced away down the right & slid it across the face of goal. Robertson ran onto it & looked certain to score but Leishman showed why he’s the best keeper in Junior football; diving full length to his left to turn his shot over the bar.

Just when it looked like we were heading for a replay Talbot snatched a late winner in the final minute of regulation time. Graham Wilson did well on the left before slipping a pass through to Glasgow whose shot from a tight angle was blocked behind by the keeper for a corner. Shankland swung it into the back post where DWAYNE HYSLOP shrugged off his marker to head home and send Talbot into the quarter-finals.

Not one of Talbot’s best performances, not by a long chalk, but mission accomplished as they enter the draw for the quarters. Next up, Talbot are back on league duty as they travel through to Govan to face Rossvale.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Armstrong, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Healy, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Samson, Boylan

Subs – Shankland, Glasgow, McDowall, White, Pope

Tayport – Jack Shaw, Strachan, Sturrock,, Ness, Whyte, Rollo, Lyall Shaw, Jamie Mackie, Dayle Robertson, Gill, Wilson

Subs – D Robertson, O’Brien, Breen, Middleton, Marc Mackie

Rossvale v Auchinleck Talbot

Gareth Armstrong makes his welcomed comeback after serving his two game suspension.

Stephen Wilson fends off this Rossvale defender.

Boylan races in on goal but his touch takes the ball beyond him and into the ‘keeper’s hands.

Bryan Boylan takes a tumble after a 50/50 challenge with the ‘keeper.

Rossvale come very close to opening the scoring but this close range header goes agonisingly wide of the post.

Gareth and Gordon team up to try and win the ball back for Talbot.

‘Gee’ can only watch, as the Rossvale ‘keeper makes a great save to thwart Talbot.

Another Talbot attack, as Stephen Wilson races into the box.

‘Shankers’ watches and hopes, as Boylan fires a powerful header towards goal but, unfortunately, he fails to net the opener.

Another great chance for Rossvale but the very close ranged header flashes painfully wide of the goal.

Graham Wilson is poised to pull the trigger but the cross fails to meet him, as Rossvale clear the danger.

The deadlock is finally broken, with Rossvale scoring via a penalty. 1-0.

McCracken looks dejected and ‘Pee-wee’ tries to motivate his team-mates while the Rossvale players celebrate their opener.

Big Neily stands his ground and wins the ball back.

‘Gee’ heads the ball back across but the ball is just too high for Dwayne to connect with.

Wullie Lyle tries to make his way down the wing but comes up against some Red and Yellow resistance.

TALBOT PULL LEVEL!!! Stephen Wilson smashes the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net and equalises for the ‘Bot. 1-1.

Boylan has a go at goal from just inside the box.

The Rossvale ‘keeper gets his fingertips to the ball but…

…the ball still manages to find ‘Popey’ but his header goes over the cross-bar.

Stephen Wilson goes for the spectacular but sends the ball the wrong side of the post.

Talbot go chasing after a winner and ‘Pee-wee’ rises the highest here to have a go with this header.

Although Mark puts the pressure on, Rossvale still manage to clear the danger.

Samson does his best to beat the defender inside the Rossvale box.

TALBOT TAKE THE LEAD!!! Not to be outdone by his brother, Graham Wilson races through and calmly slots the ball home. 1-2.

‘Gee’ and Keir wheel away to celebrate, as the Rossvale ‘keeper can only watch the ball nestle into the bottom corner of the net.

Talbot win a free-kick, while Rossvale vent their frustration.

Samson goes round the outside in order to skip past his opponent.

Gordon gets out the way, as ‘Whitey’ makes sure he gets to the ball first.

The sizeable crowd look on, as Steven White dishes out the orders.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot came from behind to seal a well-deserved win away at Rossvale to book their place in the last 16 of the Scottish Junior Cup.

The Bot had a chance to take the lead in the 8th minute. A ball through the centre parted the Rossvale defence allowing Boylan a clean run in on goal. He sped into the box but took a heavy touch & the ball sprang through to a relieved Donnelly.

A minute later Talbot came close. Lyle swung a cross over that the defence only cleared as far as Pope. He went for goal from 25 yards & his shot flew just past Donnelly’s right post.

The surface was tricky underfoot, for spectators & players alike, and Sean Higgins came unstuck in the 12th minute when he went to hit a free kick from 30 yards. He slipped & fell over as he addressed the ball & McGrath followed up to hit a tame shot wide.

The home side did threaten the Bot goal after quarter of an hour. Slattery’s deflected cross came to Anthony Higgins in the air at the back post & he steered a header just wide of Leishman’s right post.

Talbot tested the home keeper in the 26th minute. Stephen Wilson won a corner off Leadbetter down the right. Rossvale managed to clear Shankland’s corner but it came straight to Armstrong on the left & he lifted a cross over that McCracken met to steer a header back across goal that Donnelly held at his right hand post.

Rossvale had a chance to test Leishman in the 29th min when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out. McGonigle took it & got it up & over the wall but it lacked the power to test Leishman who gathered safely inside the left post.

A well-worked Talbot counter ought to have seen the Bot move in front after 33 mins. Stephen Wilson played it up to Graham Wilson & he switched it out to Pope on the wing. He flighted an early cross over & Boylan looked set to score but glanced a free header wide of the left post.

Two minutes later Talbot had a scare down the other end. Rossvale won a free kick out on the right which was whipped over toward the far post. Leishman came out to claim it but was beaten to it by Anthony Higgins whose header skated just wide of target.

In the 37th minute Talbot found themselves a goal down. McPherson caught Sean Higgins in the penalty area; the ref pointed to the spot & SEAN HIGGINS sent Leishman the wrong way to roll it home.

Talbot pushed forward in search of a leveller before the break & gave the home defence a fright in the 41st minute. Stephen Wilson lifted a cross beyond the far post to find Graham & he guided a header back across goal that just eluded Hyslop & drifted wide of the left post.

As the half moved into injury time Talbot had a penalty appeal when Hyslop appeared to be tripped just inside the area by Sean Higgins but nothing was given & the half ended on a low note with Graham Wilson picking up a caution deep into added time.

Both sides came out unchanged for the 2nd period which got off to an untidy start.

However, Talbot’s nerves were settled when they grabbed the leveller in the 51st minute. Armstrong lifted a good ball down the left to set Boylan running at the defence. He squared it across the area where STEPHEN WILSON coolly fired it into the roof of the net.

The goal lifted Talbot & they had a chance to move ahead after 57 minutes. Armstrong’s pass found Boylan inside the area. He cut inside onto his right foot but steered his shot straight at the keeper.

Tucker now made a change with Samson on in place of Boylan.

Talbot almost took the lead in the 59th minute. Stephen Wilson found himself in space on the right of the area & his shot took a slight deflection as it sped past the right post. When the corner came over Hyslop got on the end of it at the back post but his header was blocked en route to goal.

Anthony Higgins had his name taken on the hour mark for a late challenge on Hyslop & two minutes later left the field to be replaced by Giffin.

A minute later Talbot won a free kick in a dangerous area after Graham Wilson was nudged over outside the area. Shankland curled it up & over the defensive wall but Donnelly pushed it wide at his right hand post. From the resultant corner Pope climbed at the back post to head for goal only to see his header deflected just over the bar.

In the 64th minute Talbot won another free kick in a good area; this time only a yard outside the box. Shankland bent it around the wall but Donnelly did well to turn it round his left post.

Talbot kept pressing forward & had another chance to gain the lead in the 67th minute. Hyslop won a header on that sent Graham Wilson scurrying through the centre. He broke into the box but couldn’t get it under control & Donnelly raced quickly off his line to make the block.

Finally Talbot’s pressure paid off & the Bot took a deserved lead in the 78th minute. Armtrong’s ball was won in the air by Samson who flicked it on into the path of GRAHAM WILSON on the right of the area & he drilled it low into the opposite corner to make it 2-1 to Talbot.

Rossvale had scarcely threatened in the 2nd half but they had a chance to test Leishman in the 80th minute when Stephen Wilson was penalised for handball 25 yards out. The free kick was shoved short to Sean Higgins who drilled a powerful shot on target but Leishman was right behind it.

It was then Talbot’s turn to win a set piece within shooting range when they were awarded a free kick 30 yards out. Shankland fired it over the wall but it didn’t dip quickly enough and flew over the bar.

With four minutes remaining Talbot nearly killed the tie off. Stephen Wilson won a corner on the right and when it came over McCracken arrowed a header on target that Donnelly tipped over the bar.

As the game moved into the closing stages Tucker made two late changes, firstly White replacing Shankland and then deep in injury time, Glasgow coming on for Graham Wilson.

A good win for Talbot who now turn their attentions back to league duty where they face current front runners Kilwinning Rangers at Beechwood next Saturday.

Rossvale Juniors – Donnelly, Crawford, Leadbetter, McGrath, Bradley, Johnstone, Slattery, Sean Higgins, Anthony Higgins, Brennan, McGonigle

Subs – Zata, Niven, Biggar, Giffin, McNab

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

Subs – Glasgow, Samson, Young, White, Aiden Wilson

Auchinleck Talbot v Forfar West End

Samson gets stopped in his tracks in the middle of the park.

Gordon looks on, as McCracken fires the ball forward.

‘Shankers’ fools the opposition with a neat turn inside the box.

‘Gee’ threads the ball past the defender and into the danger zone.

Graham finds the back of the net but, unfortunately, he is deemed to be offside.

I think Keir is ‘expecting’ something good from the next attack.

Stephen Wilson heads the ball straight at the ‘keeper but is flagged for offside.

‘Big Neily’ gets another Talbot attack started.

I think Stephen is getting scunnered with all the orders getting dished out.

Talbot finally break the deadlock through Mark’s low strike from the edge of the box. 1-0.

Within a blink of an eye Shankland doubles Talbot’s lead and he is clearly happy with it too. 2-0.

Keir gets bundled over while chasing after the ball.

Graham Wilson seals the win for Talbot, as he makes it three. 3-0.

El Capitano gets the Talbot machine motoring again.

Samson does his best to get his point across to the linesman.

Keiran looks stunned, as he rues a missed opportunity for Talbot.

Stephen Wilson fires a hard cross into the Forfar box.

Boylan tries to muscle his way to winning the ball back for the ‘Bot.

Glasgow tries his luck from just inside the box.

Keir Samson hurdles over the danger of this challenge.

Ahem…I think this ball boy has obviously had a hard paper round.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

Talbot cruised into the 4th round of the Scottish Junior cup with a routine win over a toothless Forfar West End.

The Bot tested the visitors keeper early on when Samson won a corner down the left in the 2nd minute. Shankland whipped it over & Thain had to claw it away as it swung in under the bar.

Shankland had a half chance in the 6th minute. A quickly taken shy released Stephen Wilson down the right & he switched it in to find Graham Wilson. He laid it to Shankland who stepped inside George & drilled a low shot at goal that was blocked by a defender.

After the buzz of last week there was a slightly flat atmosphere with Talbot dominating their east coast opponents but lacking the final ball to open up the defence.

The Bot came close to taking the lead in the 19th minute. Pope played it to Shankland & when he slung a cross over to the back post Hyslop climbed highest but his header clipped the top of the bar on its way over.

The game then went into a lull with little to keep the watching fans warm on a bitterly cold day. The Bot had the ball in the back of the net when Hyslop curled it home from the left of the area but the linesman’s flag had already went up and the goal didn’t stand.

Having waited for a goal Talbot fans got two for the price of one as the Bot scored twice in quick succession to put the game to bed. In the 35th minute Lyle played it up the right to find Graham Wilson. He laid it out to the wing to Stephen Wilson who knocked it across the area where Hyslop helped it on into the path of MARK SHANKLAND who steered a shot inside the right post to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

Within a minute Talbot doubled their lead. Forfar lost the ball deep in their own half & Talbot punished them with Stephen Wilson sweeping a ball over from the right that Hyslop dummied to allow MARK SHANKLAND to stride onto it & stroke the ball home.

The remainder of the half was played out in the Forfar half but Talbot couldn’t add to their lead and went in at the interval with a two goal cushion.

Talbot made a change during the break with Healy starting the 2nd half in place of Hyslop.

Any slim chances of Forfar making a game of it ended in the 54th minute when Talbot grabbed their third. Samson pounced on a loose pass & broke forward before feeding it into Lyle. He slipped it back out to Samson on the overlap & he cut the ball back to GRAHAM WILSON who took a touch before drilling a low shot inside the left post.

Healy had a chance to add to Talbot’s tally in the 58th minute. Shankland whipped over a free kick from the right that Healy met in the box but he sent a free header well wide of target.

Next to have a go for Talbot was McCracken who tried his luck from distance, hitting the target, but unable to beat Thain at his right post.

It took until the 62nd minute before Forfar had an effort at goal. A Walls picked up on the right & burst into the area where he fired over the bar.

There was now a raft of substitutions with Talbot making a double switch with Boylan & Glasgow coming on for Shankland & Graham Wilson. The visitors made all their changes at once throwing on Bachelor, Cruikshank & McLeavey.

Armstrong set up Talbot’s next attack sliding a pass through to release Samson down the right but this time the defence managed to cut out his ball at the near post.

Glasgow came close in the 68th minute when he gathered just insidethe box & flashed a shot just over the bar.

Talbot nearly added a fourth in the 70th minute. Samson fired over a dangerous cross that just eluded Boylan & McCracken at the back post.

Boylan tested Thain from distance in the 76th minute. Firing a shot from 25 yards that the keeper gathered at the 2nd attempt.

A minute later Stephen Wilson spurned a decent chance when he ran onto Samson’s pull back but fired past the right post from 15 yards.

In the 83rd minute Thain did well to prevent Glasgow adding a fourth. Stephen Wilson’s pass sent Glasgow haring clean through on the keeper but Thain was quickly off his line & able to block Glasgow’s low drive.

The visitors had a chance to grab a late consolation when a ball up the right found McLeavey in space. He knocked a good ball across to the near post which Cruikshank met but he couldn’t get enough on it to beat Leishman. Talbot now quickly broke down the other end where Stephen Wilson found Glasgow on the left of the area. He hit it early and only a superb stop by Thain at his right post prevented Glasgow from getting on the score sheet.

When the corner came over Boylan’s header appeared to be drifting in only for a defender to clear it off the line. The ball came out to Healy on the 18 yard line and he drilled it just past the left post.

A straightforward win for Talbot who eased past their opponents without ever really hitting top gear. Next up for Talbot it is back to league duty where they host Clydebank who will be looking to bounce back after exiting the Scottish at the hands of Petershill.

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

Subs – Boylan, Glasgow, Healy, Young, White

Forfar West End – Thain, George, Wilson, Rae, Robertson, Timmons, Weir, McMahon, Hart, Godfrey, A Walls

Subs – Bachelor, Cruikshank, McLeavey, C Walls, Morrison

Auchinleck Talbot v Bellshill Athletic

Aiden Wilson

SPONSORED BY: Robil Driving School.

POSITION: Defender

JOINED TALBOT: July 2019

D.O.B: 05/01/1999

TALBOT DEBUT: Glenafton Athletic (Home) 27th July 2019, West Region League Cup 4-0

FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL: Cumbernauld United (Home). 28th August 2021, WOSL Premier Division 3-0

FORMER CLUBS: Kilmarnock U17’s, Kilmarnock U20’s, Edusport Academy (Loan), Caledonian Braves, Auchinleck Talbot, Linlithgow Rose (Loan)

Kieran Healy

SPONSORED BY: Colin Mitchell

POSITION: Defender/Midfield

JOINED TALBOT: July 2019

D.O.B: 24/11/1994

TALBOT DEBUT: Glenafton Athletic (Home) 27th July 2019, WJFA League Cup 4-0

FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL: Troon (Home), 21st August 2019, WJFA Premier League 8-1

FORMER CLUBS: Renfrew Boys Club, Renfrew.

Bryan Boylan

SPONSORED BY: Jason Stillie

POSITION: Striker

JOINED TALBOT: July 2019

D.O.B: 05/01/1990

TALBOT DEBUT: Bellshill Athletic (Home), 28th September 2019, Scottish Junior Cup 2nd Round 7-0

FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL:Bellshill Athletic (Home), 28th September 2019, Scottish Junior Cup 2nd Round 7-0

FORMER CLUBS: KSC Wolves, Kilwinning Rangers.

Auchinleck Talbot v Largs Thistle

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

Auchinleck Talbot v Lochee United

Photographs by Paul Flynn.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot did the heavy lifting last week away at Dundee and made light work of this 2nd leg tie; strolling to a 6-1 aggregate win to book their place in their 3rd consecutive Junior cup final where they will face Largs Thistle, ensuring that one way or another there will be black & gold ribbons round the cup.

Lochee had a mountain to climb after last week & at no stage did they look like scaling it.

The first chance of the match came Talbot’s way after 5 minutes. Samson hared away on the right & squared it across goal where Graham Wilson met it. He was shut down but the ball broke to Glasgow and his side-footer was heading on target til blocked by a defender.

Both sides were a bit at sea in the opening exchanges, with passes & crosses going astray and neither keeper looking like being called into action, at least until the 18th minute when Talbot broke the deadlock.

Stephen Wilson started and finished the move. He won it down the stand side before releasing Samson up the wing. His cross into the centre was headed out but only came as far as STEPHEN WILSON who hit a dipping, swerving effort over Millar from 18 yards to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.

Two minutes later and only a great double save and an uncharacteristic miss prevented Talbot from doubling their lead. Glasgow broke free on the left of the area & drilled a low shot on target that Millar did well to block. The rebound came straight to Samson and he must have thought he’d scored when he fired it goal ward but Millar showed great reactions to recover from his earlier save to get up and block Samson’s effort. The danger wasn’t over though as the ball came to Glasgow on the left. He clipped a cross into the centre where careless defending by both Lochee centre halves saw the ball finish up at Graham Wilson a few yards out from goal. He had his back to goal & swivelled round before firing over the bar from close range.

Lochee had a rare chance to test the Talbot defence in the 22nd minute. McCracken was penalised for a barge on Birse & Cameron took the free kick; whipping a dangerous ball in from the right that Pope did well to head behind for a corner. Cameron fired the corner into the goal mouth where Leishman punched the ball to safety.

With 27 mins gone Talbot doubled their lead. Hyslop was caught as he shoved the ball down the line to Glasgow but the referee played advantage. Glasgow fired it across goal where GRAHAM WILSON tucked it home.

It was all Talbot and the Bot nearly added another in the 33rd minute. White released Glasgow down the left and he lifted a cross to the back post where Samson just failed to connect with it.

A minute later a mix up in the Lochee defence allowed Samson to burst clear down the right. He raced into the area and it knocked it wide of Millar who looked to bring him down but the referee thought otherwise and booked Samson for simulation.

Talbot’s next chance came in the 39th minute. Lyle pinged the ball down the line to Samson and when his cross came over Graham Wilson powered a header on target but unfortunately it flew straight at the keeper.

In the final minute of the half Birse was penalised for persistent fouling to end a frustrating half for the visitors.

The 2nd half was only 5 minutes old when Lochee made their first change; McDonald coming on in place of Kirk.

In the 55th minute Talbot came close to extending their lead when they won a free kick 25 yards out following a foul on Samson. Graham Wilson whipped it up and over the wall and had the keeper beaten but it flew just the wrong side of the left upright.

Action then switched to the other end where Lawson fed the ball out to McWalter on the right wing and he swept a cross over onto the head of the unmarked Devie who headed just over the bar in what proved to be Lochee’s only real chance of the afternoon.

Tucker now made a change with McIlroy on for Graham Wilson and Lochee soon made their 2nd change with Deasley making way for Ritchie.

With 62 mins gone frustration got the better of Cameron who picked up a needless booking for kicking the ball away.

In the 65th minute Tucker completed Talbot’s changes with a double substitution; Armstrong & Kemp coming on in place of Hyslop & Samson.

Leishman was barely tested all afternoon & in fact his best save came 20 minutes from the end when he had to stretch up and pluck the ball out the air when Lyle chested the ball back to him and it took a high bounce.

Ten minutes from the end McWalter received a caution when he went right through Glasgow. Pope took the free kick & shoved it to White who in turn fed the ball into the area to Kemp. He teed it back up for White who drilled a low shot just wide of the right post.

With two minutes remaining Talbot had one final chance to add to their tally. Pope gathered on the left & was allowed to carry it forward unhindered before firing for goal from 20 yards. His shot took a slight deflection and Millar did well to dive to his right to make the stop.

All in all a very comfortable outing for Talbot who never really looked in any danger. Next up for Talbot it is back to league duties and the start of the midweek fixtures as they travel through to Lochburn park to face Clydebank this Wednesday evening.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Stephen Wilson, Hyslop, White, Graham Wilson, Samson, Glasgow

Subs – McIlroy, Kemp, Shankland, Armstrong, McDowall

Lochee United – J Millar, Webster, Kirk, Cameron, Kenneth, Devie, Birse, McComiskey, Lawson, Deasley, McWalter

Subs – Fotheringham, Ritchie, D Millar, Thomson, McDonald