A late goal blitz put Talbot firmly in command of this Scottish Semi-final as the Bot emerged 4-1 winners at Thomson Park over an out-played & out-fought Lochee United.
It didn’t take Talbot long to get into their stride & it was the Bot who were first to threaten. Glasgow played a one-two with Graham Wilson before driving into the box & D Millar did well to nip across to slide it out for a corner.
The first shot at goal came after 10 minutes. Hyslop headed Leishman’s ball down the right to find Samson breaking forward & he hit it early; firing on target from 20 yards but without any power to trouble the Lochee keeper.
Two minutes later Samson’s pace won Talbot the first of their numerous corners. Glasgow’s ball in came back out to him & his 2nd attempt had to be batted away by Millar under his crossbar.
Talbot came close to taking the lead after 14 minutes. The Bot forced a couple of corners in quick succession & when Glasgow’s 2nd delivery came over it found Pope in space beyond the far post. He fired it back across goal where Graham Wilson side-footed on target only for Webster to clear it off the line.
Lochee had offered very little but they were given an opportunity to test the Bot defence in the 18th minute when they won a free kick out on the right. Cameron whipped the ball into the goal mouth where Leishman came to punch it clear.
The referee made a howler in the 21st minute when he seemed to be the only one in the park who didn’t notice Lochee’s keeper, Millar, clean out Samson as he burst into the box. It looked as stonewall as penalties go but to the ire of the Talbot support & astonishment of the Lochee bench the referee awarded a goal kick.
Four minutes later Samson was brought down again when he was clipped by Kirk. This time it was just outside the area & the ref had no problem spotting it. Glasgow took the free kick & fired it up & over the wall but it curled just over the bar.
Talbot were back on the attack in the 27th minute. Leishman bowled it out to Pope & he sent it down the line to find Glasgow racing up the wing. He fired a good low ball into the centre which Millar did well to cut out at his near post.
It was pretty much all Talbot at this stage & Graham Wilson had a half chance in the 32nd minute when Hyslop headed the ball down to him inside the area but he didn’t catch his shot cleanly.
Talbot got a fright in the 34th minute when a ball was clipped over the top to find Birse bursting down the left of the penalty area. Leishman read it & was quickly off his line to challenge him & McCracken knocked it behind for a corner.
With 38 mins gone it was like a scene from a horror flick when Cameron received a head wound that left him looking like a survivor in a zombie movie. It looked as though he’d run his race but despite the gore, he was back into the fray a few minutes later after being patched up.
Talbot came close to breaking the deadlock in the 40th minute. Glasgow’s cross was met by McCracken who dived to head it back across goal where Hyslop flashed a header just wide of the right post.
Three minutes before the interval Lochee had a chance to snatch the lead against the run of play. They were awarded a free kick out on the right that Kirk delivered to the far post. Kenneth won the header back across where it came to Birse 8 yards out but fortunately for Talbot it wouldn’t sit down for him & Pope was able to hook it clear before he could get a shot away.
And so in a re-run of last year’s clash at Thomson park the sides went in goal less after a 1st half dominated by Talbot.
Talbot came out all guns blazing at the start of the 2nd half and put the home side under pressure.
McCracken had a chance to put Talbot ahead in the 49th minute when he met Glasgow’s corner from the left at the back post but he didn’t make a clean contact & sent it wide from close range.
Two minutes later Talbot won another corner down the left when Samson raced into the box only for Millar to put it behind. Once again Glasgow delivered it to the far post and this time Hyslop met it but his header was blocked in a crowded goalmouth.
The pressure was building & Samson sent Glasgow racing free down the left & his cut back had the defence scrambling. They cleared it but only back out to Glasgow who won a corner down the left. Glasgow whipped it to the back post where Hyslop headed it back across goal & GRAHAM WILSON bundled it home from close range to give Talbot a deserved lead with 55 mins gone.
Kenneth received a yellow card in the aftermath of the goal for dissent.
Around the hour mark Cameron had to leave the field for the 2nd time when his head wound started bleeding again but once again they carried out emergency repairs & he returned to the action.
Lochee pushed men forward looking for a way back into it but had little to show for it as they were unable to breach the Talbot defence or test Leishman.
Tucker made a double substitution with 20 mins remaining; Kemp & McIlroy coming on for Samson and Graham Wilson.
Within 3 minutes of coming on McIlroy had a half chance to put Talbot further ahead. Glasgow pinged a ball down the left that eluded Kenneth & found McIlroy racing onto the end of it but Webster did well to get across & nick it off his toes.
A minute later though and Talbot doubled their lead with a well worked goal. McIlroy slid a great pass down the right to find Lyle on the overlap & he cut it back into the path of DWAYNE HYSLOP who chipped it into the net.
With quarter of an hour remaining Glasgow had his name taken for a trip out on the right and Tucker threw on his last sub; Armstrong coming on for White.
In the 78th minute Lochee made their one and only change when Cameron was replaced by Deasley.
The home side looked like they’d been thrown a lifeline in the 82nd minute when they pulled a goal back. McNally lifted over a dangerous cross from the left that went beyond Pope at the back post. Deasley headed it back across goal where BIRSE touched it home from close range.
Any ideas Lochee had of a comeback were short-lived however as Talbot restored their two goal cushion within a minute. The Bot won a free kick on the left that Pope angled into the area. McCracken’s header back across goal was brilliantly saved by Millar but he could do nothing to prevent STEPHEN WILSON from slotting the rebound home to put Talbot 3-1 ahead.
Two minutes later and McIlroy nearly added a fourth. Armstrong lifted a ball down the centre & McIlroy shrugged off the challenge of Kirk inside the area before drilling a low shot just wide of the left post with the keeper rooted.
In the final minute of regulation time Talbot capped a great performance with a fourth goal. Leishman launched it down the centre where Kemp challenged for it inside the area. The ball broke back to SEAN MCILROY whose first attempt was blocked but it came back to him and he rammed a low drive past Millar to make it 4-1.
As the game slipped into injury time the Lochee keeper was called into action one final time when he had to stretch up to tip Pope’s free kick over the crossbar.
This game bucked the trend of tight low scoring affairs in 1st legs and Talbot are now in an incredibly strong position going into next Saturday’s decider at Beechwood where Talbot will be short odds favourites to make it to their third consecutive Junior cup final.Lochee United – J Millar, D Millar, Kenneth, Kirk, Webster, Cameron, Ritchie, Lawson, McNally, McComiskie, Birse
Subs – Deasley, Davie, McDonald, Cavanagh
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, McCracken, Stephen Wilson, Hyslop, White, Graham Wilson, Glasgow, Samson
Talbot booked their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish cup thanks to an impressive 2nd half display and some memorable goals; sweeping aside Pollok at a packed Newlandsfield.
Kick off was delayed to allow the bumper crowd into the park and once the action got underway it was the home side who made the early running.
The first effort at goal came in the 5th minute. McPherson lost the ball midway inside his own half & Pollok quickly switched the ball out to Gary McCann on the left. He sped to the bye line before cutting it back into the area to find Forde who volleyed it well over the bar.
Talbot were struggling to get going and it took until the 12th minute before the Bot mustered their first effort at goal. Graham Wilson’s reverse ball released Samson down the right of the area & he hit a first time effort over the bar.
The home side got in behind the Talbot defence in the 14th minute when a long diagonal found McCluskey haring clear on the left. He tried to square it across the face of goal but Leishman did well to turn it behind for the corner. When the corner came in it fell to Evans who scuffed his shot. The ball came out to Gary McCann at the edge of the area where he fired way over.
Pollok were enjoying a good spell but with no end product. Gary McCann raced down the left & lifted a cross over onto the head of Stuart McCann but he glanced it well wide of the left post.
Having weathered the early pressure Talbot gradually worked their way into the game. Longmuir had to race out his area to beat Samson to the ball after Evans missed his clearance and soon after Evans conceded a free kick just outside the penalty area for a foul on Samson. Glasgow took it & fired it into the feet of Graham Wilson. It broke away from him & came to Harvey with his back to goal & he turned & hooked a shot over the bar.
Talbot’s best effort of the first half came in the 27th minute. Evans gave the ball away to Graham Wilson who swiftly switched it out to the left to Glasgow. He drilled a low ball across goal that Hyslop met at the near post but he steered his shot just wide of target.
The referee produced the first card of the afternoon in 35 mins when he cautioned Graham Wilson for a trip just inside the Bot half.
Pollok were lucky not to be a man down after 41 mins. Henry was guilty of a lunging studs up tackle that caught Armstrong sparking a melee in the centre. When the dust finally settled the ref booked the Lok midfielder & Lyle also received a caution for his part in the stramash.
In the final minute of the half Pollok had a half chance to take the lead. A ball over the top found McCluskey & he fed it back to Stuart McCann in space at the edge of the area but in keeping with Pollok’s finishing to date, he slid his shot well wide of the left post and the sides went in locked at the interval.
In a repeat of last week Talbot came out for the 2nd half like a team on a mission. Soon after the re-start Samson made tracks down the right & forced a corner kick. Glasgow lifted it into the near post where Hyslop flicked it on. The ball sped across the face of goal before coming to Harvey beyond the back post & his low shot was blocked by Longmuir at his right post.
Talbot were back on the attack moments later. Lyle’s ball up the right found Samson running in behind & he whipped over a teasing cross that had Longmuir scrambling but there was no one on hand to turn it home.
For all Lok’s possession in the 1st half Leishman hadn’t had much to do but he produced a top drawer save to prevent Pollok taking the lead in the 54th minute. The home side put together a neat passing move, switching play out to McCluskey on the right who drilled a low ball across goal. Stuart McCann ran onto it & directed it on goal only for Leishman to turn it round his left post from point blank range.
Boyle had his name taken on the hour mark for a foul on Graham Wilson.
Tucker made his 1st change after 63 mins with White coming into the engine room in place of Armstrong.
The opening goal came in the 65th minute and was a strike worthy of winning any game. Samson did well to force a corner and when Glasgow delivered it into the centre Boyle headed it clear. It came out to GORDON POPE 20 yards out & he lashed an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Four minutes later Boyle conceded a free kick 30 yard out for a foul on Graham Wilson. Pope took it & his powerful drive was heading into the roof of the net until Longmuir tipped it over the bar.
Talbot then threatened again from the resultant corner. Glasgow’s cross found the head of Graham Wilson & his effort was deflected wide of the left post off a Lok defender with the Bot players loudly appealing, in vain, for handball.
The Bot kept the pressure on & when the next corner came in the Lok defence could only clear it out as far as Stephen Wilson on the right wing. He whipped a cross over to the back post which broke into the path of Pope who angled a shot across goal and wide of the left post.
Talbot made their 2nd change of the afternoon in the 73rd minute with Shankland replacing Glasgow down the left.
A minute later Leishman made his 2nd class save of the match to keep Talbot in front. A long ball down the right cleared McPherson & Stuart McCann latched onto the end of it inside the area. He blasted it on target only for Leishman to turn his shot over the bar.
With 76 mins gone both sides made a substitution; Talbot completing their changes when McIlroy replaced Graham Wilson & Pollok bringing Fraser on for Forde.
Pollok looked to be tiring & Talbot nearly caught them out in the 80th minute. McIlroy threaded a pass through the centre to send Samson racing through but he pulled his shot wide of Longmuir’s right post.
Talbot were firmly in the driving seat in the 84th minute when they doubled their lead. Sloppy play from Pollok saw Sideserf play Boyle into trouble & White duly robbed him of possession. White surged forward before passing it through to KEIR SAMSON who raced into the area & slotted a low shot on target that Longmuir got a hand to but couldn’t prevent from crossing the line.
With two minutes remaining Pollok piled forward desperately looking for a goal. McCluskey switched it out wide to Gary McCann whose cross was blocked behind for a corner. Pollok appealed for a penalty but the ref wasn’t interested. When the corner came in it was played deep to the back post where McGregor fired into the side-netting from a tight angle.
In the final minute of time Talbot put the seal on their win with a spectacular 3rd goal. Shankland picked up on the left & sent a diagonal ball through toward McIlroy as he raced clear. Longmuir raced out his area to beat Sean to it & clear but he knocked it straight to STEPHEN WILSON who lobbed it from just inside his own half & weighted it perfectly to drop just under the bar & over the retreating Longmuir to make the final score 3-0.
A very impressive display by the Bot against a Lok team who have been on a good run. Due to the Hurlford v Clydebank tie going to a replay Talbot’s fixtures have been switched around & so next week it is back to Beechwood where Talbot host Cambuslang in the league.
Pollok – Longmuir, Evans, Mackenzie, Sideserf, Boyle, McGregor, McCluskey, Henry, Stuart McCann, Forde, Gary McCann
Subs – Coutts, Young, Fraser, Brash, Johnson (gk)
Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, Harvey, Armstrong, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Samson, Glasgow
After the unbelievable high of last week it was back to reality for Talbot as they continued their defence of the Scottish Junior cup against high-flying Glencairn at Beechwood. And for the 3rd week in succession Talbot emerged triumphant in a cup tie; recording a 4-1 win to book their place in the quarter-finals.
A pre-match deluge meant both sides had to contend with a heavy surface and it was the visitors who settled quickest, knocking the ball around confidently, albeit without offering any goal threat. The first shot of the afternoon came in the 4th minute when a slick Glencairn move ended with Leyden screwing a shot well wide of target from distance.
For all Rutherglen’s accomplished start their defence proved suspect and Talbot won a penalty in the 7th minute in their 1st real attack. Leishman launched the ball down the centre where Samson rose to flick it on. It sped through to Graham Wilson inside the box & he was bundled over from behind as he was poised to shoot for a stonewaller. GORDON POPE coolly sent Whyte the wrong way to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Two minutes later Talbot threatened the Glencairn goal again. Pope’s cross was met by Hyslop who headed it down & across only for Whyte to make a good stop. The ball went loose in front of goal but there was nobody to prod it home & the defence recovered to clear.
A minute later play was halted when Gebbie picked up a nasty injury on the right touchline when he collided with the pitch side wall following a challenge from McPherson. Play was held up to allow for treatment but Gebbie had to leave the field via a stretcher with McGregor on in his stead.
Talbot spurned a glorious chance to double their lead in the 17th minute. Stephen Wilson lifted a ball up the right to send Samson scurrying clear & he squared it across the penalty area for the unmarked Graham Wilson but he lifted his shot over the bar from around the penalty spot.
Rutherglen were winning the possession stats but Talbot were looking by far the likelier to score and the next goal threat came on 28 mins when Graham Wilson raced onto a ball down the left. He side-stepped the keeper but forced wide all he could do was drill it low across the goal mouth where unfortunately for Talbot there was no one to tap home.
Talbot came close to grabbing their 2nd of the afternoon in the 35th minute. Pope swung a good cross over that Samson headed back across goal where Graham Wilson threw himself at it but his diving header went just wide of the right post.
There hadn’t been too many alarms at the back for Talbot but they were faced with a free kick just outside the penalty area in the 39th minute when Lyle clipped Esplin. Smith struck it but his shot flew into the wall & behind for a corner. When the corner came over Leyden met it to arrow a header on target but Lyle came to Talbot’s rescue; heading off the line inside the post.
This proved crucial as Talbot went straight up the park to double the lead. Leishman’s goal kick was headed on by Armstrong to Samson & he laid it inside to GRAHAM WILSON who raced through a gaping hole in the defence before burying a shot beyond Whyte.
A few minutes later Talbot turned defence to attack when McPherson out-muscled Simeon deep in Talbot’s half before clipping a ball through the centre to release Samson. He out-paced the defence & drilled a low shot on target which Whyte did well to save. The ball came loose but the defence reacted 1st to clear the rebound.
Talbot were ending the half strongly and nearly added another to their tally when Graham Wilson whipped a cross over from the left to find Samson in front of goal but the defence did enough to put him off & he couldn’t steer it on target.
As the half moved deep into injury time Talbot grabbed a 3rd goal. Hyslop slipped a pass through to find JAMIE GLASGOW in space on the left of the box & he slotted home to send Talbot in 3 goals to the good.
With Talbot in a commanding position the 2nd half got off to a fairly humdrum start.
The first chance didn’t come until the 56th minute when Talbot broke from defence to release Glasgow down the left. He cut inside McGregor & tried to curl one into the far corner but Whyte dived to his left to turn it behind for a corner.
Glencairn’s keeper did well again in the 61st minute. Pope sent Samson in behind down the left & he looked to surprise the keeper with an early low shot for the near post but Whyte managed to turn it away with his right foot.
A minute later Graham Wilson had a chance to add to his tally when he met a ball in from the right 10 yards out but he mis-kicked it.
Tucker now made a triple substitution with McIlroy, Kemp & Shankland coming on for Samson & the Wilson brothers.
Rutherglen were thrown a lifeline in the 65th minute when they pulled a goal back. Leyden jinked inside the box & lifted a cross over where SMITH met it. Leishman did well to save his initial header but it came straight back to the Glencairn striker who bundled it home.
Suddenly Glencairn had some wind in their sails and they gave Talbot a fright in the 69th minute when they almost grabbed a second. The Bot defence were napping at a corner down the left which was rolled back to the unmarked Esplin who drilled a shot just wide of the right post from 20 yards.
This let off galvanised Talbot who tested Whyte down the other end in their next attack. Shankland’s cross proved just too high for McIlroy at the back stick but Glasgow gathered it & powered a drive from a tight angle which Whyte tipped over the bar.
Rutherglen were unable to clear their lines from the resulting corner and when the ball came to Shankland on the left he clipped over a cross cum shot that had Whyte scrambling back to tip over his bar.
In the 74th minute Kemp had a good chance to get on the score sheet. The Glencairn defence were undone by misjudging the bounce of the ball allowing Kemp to race clear down the centre. He carried it to the edge of the box where he drilled a low effort inches wide of the right post.
With 11 minutes remaining Shankland almost scored when his deflected shot shaved the outside of the left post with the keeper helpless.
Talbot completed the scoring in the 81st minute. The Bot won a corner down the right & when Shankland’s delivery came over DWAYNE HYSLOP met it 6 yards out & knocked it home to make it 4-1.
A good win for Talbot against a good football playing side. Up next for Talbot it’s a return to league duties & a welcome break for the Beechwood playing surface as Talbot travel through to Springburn to face Petershill.
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, White, Armstrong, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Samson, Graham Wilson, Glasgow
Talbot booked their place in the 5th round of the Scottish Junior cup with a commanding away win over Blantyre Victoria.
The Bot couldn’t have asked for a better start, taking the lead seconds after kick off without Blantyre touching the ball. Sean McIlroy played it to Stephen Wilson who fed the ball up the wing where McIlroy had continued his run. He lifted a cross to the back post where GRAHAM WILSON headed home from close range.
The Bot came close to doubling their lead in the 2nd minute. McIlroy lifted a cross over from the left wing which Hylsop headed back across goal. It was heading on target but it was cleared out the goal mouth by a defender.
It was nonstop pressure in the early stages and the Vics defence had another close call in the 4th minute. Stephen Wilson won a corner down the right & when Glasgow fired it in low to the near post Stephen Wilson flicked it across goal where it was scrambled clear. It only came out as far as Pope whose shot from just inside the area was blocked on its way through to goal.
11 minutes in & Talbot ought to have doubled their advantage.. Trainor produced a superb stop to deny McIlroy when he flew to his right to palm away his strike from 20 yards. The rebound came to Glasgow 8 yards out & he cannoned his shot off the bar.
The gluey surface was making it difficult for both sides and play got bogged down for a spell in midfield.
Talbot’s next attack came in the 21st minute. Stephen Wilson gathered the ball inside his own half & raked an early ball down the right to send Graham Wilson clear. He squared it across toward the waiting McIlroy but Campbell got there first to clear the danger.
Glasgow very nearly got the Bot’s 2nd in the 24th minute. McIlroy nicked possession just outside the area & shoved the ball through to Glasgow on the left of the box. He knocked it wide of the advancing Trainor & flicked it goal ward from a tight angle but Law was on hand to clear inside the right post.
Hughes became the first man booked when he received a caution after 28 mins for a late challenge on Stephen Wilson.
Trainor had a lucky escape two minutes later. The Bot won a free kick out on the right that Pope bent toward the back post. The keeper came to claim it but missed it completely & it sailed just wide of the far post.
Next up for Talbot was McIlroy. Glasgow whipped a great cross over from the right onto his head but he couldn’t generate enough power to beat Trainor.
Coleman became the 2nd Blantyre player in the book when he was cautioned for dissent after conceding a foul on Hyslop.
Talbot’s set pieces were causing havoc in the home defence & the Bot had a half chance in the 38th minute following a corner from the right. Glasgow’s cross was headed back by Hyslop, the defence failed to clear, and it broke to McCracken whose effort was blocked.
In the final minute of the half Talbot almost fluked a second. Trainor showed quick reactions to dive low to his left to prevent a deflected cross from sneaking into the bottom corner & so for all Talbot’s pressure they only went in a goal ahead at the interval.
The 2nd half started off much as the 1st had finished with Talbot on the front foot & the home side labouring to cope with set pieces. Three minutes after the re-start Hyslop was unlucky not to add to Talbot’s lead when he met a corner from the right & flicked it for goal only to see Jones clear it off the line.
A minute later McCracken received a caution for a trip inside the Blantyre half.
Talbot grabbed their 2nd of the afternoon in the 53rd minute. Glasgow played it down the line to McIlroy who in turn sent GRAHAM WILSON through one on one with the keeper. He took it round Trainor before rolling it into the empty net to make it 2-0.
Talbot continued to get joy from cross balls and their next effort at goal came in the 59th minute when Hyslop climbed well to meet Pope’s cross but sent his header wide of the right post.
Blantyre were forced into a change on the hour mark when Hughes limped off to be replaced by Connelly.
Tucker made his first change in the 67th minute with McDowall on in place of Hyslop.
Blantyre now had their first shot on target when MacDonald gathered out on the left & fired on target from 20 yards but it went straight at Leishman.
The home side now made a 2nd switch with Henderson coming on for Kerr and Tucker responded soon after; completing Talbot’s changes with a double substitution, Samson & Kemp replacing Graham Wilson & McIlroy up front.
Boyle came close to reducing the deficit in the 74th min when he latched onto a clearance & fired a low drive just wide of the right post from 25 yards.
Talbot then immediately went down the field and made it 3-0. Samson’s head flick found JAMIE GLASGOW running in behind the defence & he steadied himself before slotting a left foot shot past the keeper.
Three minutes later Talbot had an opportunity to extend their lead. Pope knocked it into the feet of Samson & he spun his marker to create the space before firing a shot across goal & wide of the left post.
Connelly had a chance to grab a consolation effort with 10 mins remaining when Boyle’s pass sent him through on the right of the area but he hurried his shot & blasted it well wide of the left post.
Three minutes later Blantyre were unlucky twice in quick succession. A corner from the left was headed on target & Lyle had to clear it off the line at the right post. The ball came out to Boyle at the edge of the area & his shot was heading into the roof of the net til Leishman tipped it over the bar.
As the game entered the closing stages it was Talbot back on the attack & Talbot nearly got their 4th in the 89th minute. Glasgow won the ball inside the Blantyre half & slotted a pass through to Kemp on the edge of the box. Trainor did well to dive to his left to palm away Kemp’s net bound shot & then Jones reacted smartly to slide in & block Samson’s follow up behind for the corner.
Deep into injury time Talbot grabbed their 4th goal to complete the scoring. A pass down the left sent JAMIE GLASGOW through & although Trainor got a slight hand to his low drive he couldn’t prevent it from landing inside the near post.
A good win for the Bot in testing conditions & they’ve earned a home draw against Rutherglen Glencairn in the last 16. Next up for Talbot it is back to league duties as they travel through to Blair Park looking to close the gap on runaway leaders Hurlford.
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.
Talbot weren’t quite at their best but did enough to see off the challenge of Forfar West End to progress to the 3rd round of the Scottish Junior cup.
The Bot got off to a strong start & only the woodwork prevented Talbot from taking the lead in the 6th minute. Clark up-ended Glasgow 25 yards out receiving a yellow card in the process. Shankland took the free kick & his effort crashed off the face of the bar with the keeper well beaten.
The next effort at goal came in the 11th minute. Harvey pinged an accurate diagonal ball to find Glasgow on the left of the area. He cut inside his marker & fired a shot on target that Thain batted away.
Talbot opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Pope lifted a ball into the area to find SEAN MCILROY. His 1st touch broke off Clark back into his path & he slotted a low shot under the advancing Thain to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Two minutes later Forfar’s keeper came to their rescue. Armstrong played a well-weighted ball up the right toward McIlroy. He raced clear of the defence but Thain sped out his box to clear it out for a shy.
It was all Talbot at this stage & Pope nearly added to Talbot’s lead when he let fly from long range but his shot skidded wide of the right post.
Harvey had Talbot’s next effort in the 23rd minute. Talbot won a corner out on the right that Shankland lifted to the far post. The Forfar defence cleared it but only as far as Armstrong who returned it out to Shankland on the wing. He curled a cross beyond the far post where Harvey slid in to fire it just wide.
The visitors hadn’t offered much but they did put together a slick move in the 32nd minute. A series of passes ended with Wilson cutting the ball back to Montgomery who drilled a shot straight at Leishman from 15 yards.
Five minutes later they had another attempt at goal. Thain launched it down the centre where A Walls headed it on into the path of Batchelor who hit it 1st time for 20 yards but angled his shot well wide of target.
Talbot ought to have doubled their lead in the 39th minute. The Forfar defence couldn’t clear a corner & the ball was played back out to Shankland. He swept an inch perfect cross over which Hyslop met 5 yards out but he glanced his header wide of the far post.
Two minutes later Talbot came close again from a corner. Shankland’s corner found Hyslop & he hooked it back across goal. It broke to McIlroy whose low drive was deflected wide of goal. When the 2nd corner came in Armstrong met it beyond the back post but his shot on goal was blocked.
Allan became the 2nd Forfar player in the book when he picked up a caution in the 43rd minute.
Hyslop had a half chance to put Talbot two ahead in the 44th minute. Pope flighted a free kick over to the back post where Hyslop powered a header over the bar.
Talbot paid the price for failing to take their chances when the visitors levelled with the last kick of the half. Montgomery picked up on the left of the area & squared the ball inside. BATCHELOR ran onto it & his shot took a massive deflection off McCracken to send Leishman the wrong way & send the sides in level at the interval.
Talbot started the 2nd half as though they meant business and twice in as many minutes were denied by fine saves from Thain. The keeper produced a top stop to dive low to his left to deny McIlroy when he turned & fired at goal and a minute later he spread himself well to block Glasgow’s net bound volley.
Lyle came to Talbot’s rescue in the 51st minute. Batchelor showed quick feet to dance into the Talbot area & create the space to get his shot away but Lyle dived in to block his shot away to safety.
Armstrong failed to make the most of a half chance in the 57th minute. Stephen Wilson lifted it up the centre to find McIlroy with his back to goal. He held it up before releasing it out to Armstrong in space on the right but he fired well wide of the left post.
Talbot regained the lead in the 59th minute thanks to a defensive howler. C Walls got in his keeper’s way inside the box & as they collided SEAN MCILROY was perfectly placed to roll it into the empty net.
Petrie conceded a free kick in the 65th minute for a late tackle on Stephen Wilson 25 yards out. With everyone anticipating a shot Shankland slid the ball wide of the wall to find Pope on the overlap & he crashed a shot over the bar from a tight angle.
The Bot’s next attack saw Pope sling a cross over to the far side of the area where Armstrong cushioned it down into the path of Glasgow. He tried to side-foot it home but a defender succeeded in blocking his shot at goal.
Both sides now made a change with McDowall on for Armstrong & Kemp replacing A Walls for the visitors.
The change immediately paid off as Talbot extended their lead in the 72nd minute. Shankland lifted a cross beyond the back post where McDowall headed it back across goal. HYSLOP met it in the centre & glanced a header beyond Thain.
In the 76th minute Talbot made a further change with Kemp coming on for Glasgow.
The game appeared to be over but the visitors had other ideas & reduced the leeway with 10 minutes remaining. They won a free kick out on the left which was angled into the centre where McMahon glanced a header off the bar. When the rebound came out MCMAHON reacted quickest to prod it home from close range.
Tucker made Talbot’s final change in the 83rd minute with White on in place of Shankland.
Talbot finally killed the tie off in the 85th minute thanks to a superb finish. McIlroy flicked a ball on into the path of CALVIN KEMP on the left 30 yards out. He hit it 1st time, lifting a shot over the stranded keeper & into the roof of the net to make it 4-2.
Two minutes later Talbot nearly added to their lead. Kemp’s cross was headed off his own bar Robertson & when it rebounded out McDowall hammered a shot at goal that was deflected just wide.
In the closing stages Talbot picked up two late bookings, firstly Kemp for kicking the ball away & then White for a trip on Montgomery but there were no further chances for either side & Talbot saw the game out for the win.
Not a vintage display but a deserved win & Talbot now return to league action next Saturday when they host Glenafton.
Auchinleck Talbot boss Tucker Sloan won his sixth Junior Cup – and his 25th trophy as club manager – in the most dramatic of fashions at Rugby Park last night. Trailing at the end of 90 minutes, his cup specialists scored twice in time added on to win the old trophy for the 12th time in the club’s history.
As another multi-trophy-winning manager might have said: “Football, bloody hell.” Sloan, however, could only say: “Wow! I thought we had lost it, but we found a way to win and I have never been involved in as dramatic a finish.”Even in victory, he had time for his former team-mate Darren Henderson, the Hurlford manager, who admitted: “I am still scratching my head as to how we lost that. But, fair play to Talbot, they have done this before to better teams than us and, if you cannot defend crosses, you lose.“I could not have asked for more from my players but this is the biggest kick in the teeth I’ve ever had. We are a small club but we gave the best a real game today.”As Sloan admitted, in the first half, United had bullied Talbot, going in front in four minutes after Ross Robertson – as he did in 2014 – won then converted a penalty. It was all Hurlford thereafter but, in 37 minutes, Talbot levelled when Gordon Pope’s deep free-kick was dinked back into the danger zone by Stephen Wilson for an unmarked Dwayne Hyslop to head home.Indeed, Talbot, having barely been in the game, might have led at the break but a Graham Wilson header was cleared off the line.In 54 minutes, Talbot’s Jamie Glasgow ran 50 metres but, with Graham Wilson unmarked and screaming or the square pass, he shot and the chance was lost. Wilson was clearly unhappy as he berated his team-mate.“We had started the second half well and maybe if we had scored then it might have been easier. However, credit to Hurlford, they made us work for it,” said Sloan.That missed chance seemed to come back and bite Talbot in 63 minutes when, with a handful of players waiting for a whistle which never came, Paul McKenzie kept playing, gathering the loose ball to drive past Pope and fire Hurlford back in front.Thereafter, Talbot appeared to run out of ideas before Sloan went to his bench and the inspired introduction of Mark Shankland and Gareth Armstrong. The changes took some time to work but, as the match moved into time added-on, they struck.Shankland’s corner from the left was nodded home by Graham Wilson and, from nowhere, Talbot had a lifeline. And how they grasped it.Time ticked on into the third added minute and Talbot won themselves another corner, this time from the right-hand side. Again, Shankland’s delivery was spot-on and the other substitute, Craig McCracken, pictured inset, rose to head home what, two minutes before, had seemed the least likely of winners, to take the cup to Auchinleck for the 12th time.As veteran football writers in the press box were only too ready to tell their younger colleagues, that’s what Talbot do in the Scottish: they find a way to win the thing and they keep on doing it.Shankland certainly did his bit – he had to, having been in the shadow of brother Stephen, who was a member of the Scottish Amateur Cup-winning Shortless team just a couple of weeks ago.But that’s the Talbot way. When it comes to the Scottish Junior Cup, nobody does it better………
Talbot have a knack for finding their A game on the big occasions and so it proved again as the Bot conjured up a 2-0 away win to power past Lochee and book their place in the Scottish cup final.
The large crowd was basking in the sunshine and had extra time to enjoy the warm weather as kick off was delayed to allow late comers entry into Thomson Park.
When the game did kick off Talbot took the initiative from the off with the home side content to sit deep & look to hit Talbot on the break.
The opening exchanges were frantic, with every ball being fiercely contested, but few clear cut chances being created.
Talbot fell foul of the referee twice in the opening quarter hour, firstly White receiving a caution for a shirt tug on Deasley & then Stephen Wilson receiving a yellow card for a tackle on Kirk on the touchline.
Having set out his stall with two early cards it was no surprise when a 3rd yellow card was waved in the 18th minute, this time it was Lochee’s Webster who had his name taken for a late challenge on Pope.
In the 23rd minute the ref levelled it up at 2 bookings a piece when he cautioned Smith for tripping Glasgow. Pope took the free kick & flighted the ball to the far post where Hyslop climbed to head it for goal, forcing Fotheringham to tip it over the bar.
The next effort at goal came in the 25th minute. McIlroy gathered out on the left wing & his low cut back came out to Stephen Wilson who fired a low drive wide of target.
Talbot should have been a man up in the 31st minute. Deasley chased a long ball over the top but was beaten to it as Leishman came out to gather just inside the area. Deasley went in with studs showing & caught Leishman in the midriff as he took the ball but to the disbelief of the visiting support the referee only booked him.
It was attack playing defence as Talbot pegged Lochee back & Talbot’s next chance came in the 35th minute when Lyle made the bye line & swept a deep cross to the far post where it glanced off the top of Graham Wilson’s head & over the bar.
Talbot’s next move saw Hylsop lay the ball out to Stephen Wilson on the right & his cross just flew over the head of Graham Wilson at the back post.
Next to show for Talbot was Glasgow who went on a mazy run inside the Lochee half before sending it out wide to release Stephen Wilson. He raced to the bye line & tried to cut it back for McIlroy but Fotheringham came off his line to cut it out.
The Lochee goal led a charmed life in the closing 5 minutes of the half as Talbot pressed hard for the opening goal. Lunan came close to putting the ball in his own net when he nodded Glasgow’s left wing cross just over his own bar in the 40th minute. When Glasgow’s corner came over from the right Hyslop powered a header on target that Fotheringham did well to touch over the bar.
When the next corner came in it broke to Hyslop on the left of the area & he was desperately unlucky to see his net bound effort blocked in the goal mouth by a defender. The ball pinged back & forth before breaking to Lyle in space 15 yards out but he shanked his effort high & wide.
Stephen Wilson then went on a lung bursting run surging past 3 Lochee players into the box but he couldn’t find the final ball.
On the stroke of half-time Talbot had a golden opportunity to level the tie. Graham Wilson’s reverse ball sent Pope free in the box & when his cut back came to Glasgow he looked favourite to score but he leant back as he hit it & lifted his shot over from 12 yards and so the sides went in goal less at the interval.
Talbot started the 2nd half as they’d finished the 1st, on the front foot, and creating chances.
In the 47th minute Graham Wilson headed the ball down into the path of Glasgow who burst into the area but blazed his shot over the bar.
McIlroy then came close to opening the scoring in the 50th minute. Lyle pinged a ball over the defence which McIlroy glanced goal ward off the back of his head. It had Fotheringham beaten but dropped just over the bar to land on the top of the net.
A minute later Talbot passed up a great chance to score. Pope whipped a great cross over from the left to find Harvey free in the centre but he glanced his header wide of the far post.
It was all out attack with Lochee hanging on by a fingernail. Twice in as many minutes Glasgow sped past McNally & crossed into the box. The 1st time his ball was easily cut out but his 2nd cross had the defence at full stretch, Lunan doing well to head it clear.
The pressure was telling & McComiskie had his name taken on the hour mark.
Talbot kept asking questions & in the 61st minute McIlroy was nearly through. A ball down the centre was headed past his own keeper by Lunan & McIlroy tried to get to the loose ball only to be pulled up for a shove, although it looked like 2 Lochee defenders had blundered into one another.
It was getting to the stage where the Bot faithful were beginning to wonder if it was going to be one of those days & those doubts would only have grown in the 62nd minute when once again the Lochee goal survived a major scare. Graham Wilson met a ball in the centre 6 yards out with his back to goal & laid it back to McIlroy. His low strike was blocked by a defender 7 spun out right to Glasgow who was closed down before he could get his shot away.
Having completely dominated Talbot could have found themselves a goal down in the 65th minute. In a rare attack, Deasley got away down the right & slung a dangerous low cross into the near post which McPherson knocked just wide of the post.
Pope became the latest name in the ref’s notebook when he was cautioned in the 68th minute for a professional foul to halt Deasley’s progress.
Talbot’s next effort at goal came in the 70th minute. McIlroy’s headed the ball on into the path of Hyslop who did well to adjust his feet to direct a volley on goal that flew straight at Fotheringham.
Deasley, who ought to have walked for his assault on Leishman, escaped a stick on 2nd yellow card in the 71st minute. He crumpled in the box with no one near him looking for a penalty but the ref failed to caution him for simulation.
Tucker now made a change with Shankland coming on for Graham Wilson.
Leishman gave his opposite number a scare in the 72nd minute when he launched a long ball down the centre. The bounce of the ball initially beat Fotheringham & it looked like it might go straight in but the keeper recovered well to gather at the 2nd attempt.
Talbot finally got the reward for their play merited in the 76th minute when they took the lead. Glasgow gathered the ball out on the left & curled a cross over into the centre where DWAYNE HYSLOP bulleted a header past Fotheringham to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
The celebrations had barely died down when Talbot doubled their advantage. Shankland hoisted a cross over to the back post where Kirk headed it behind for the corner out on the right. Shankland whipped the corner across the 6-yard area where ROSS HARVEY stretched out a foot to direct it inside the right post to put Talbot 2-0 in front.
Lochee tried to respond and they won a free kick out on the left when Lyle pulled Lawson back with Talbot’s captain receiving a caution for the offence. The free kick was hit deep beyond the far post where Kirk headed it back across goal. The ball was partially cleared but came out to McComiskie at the edge of the area who fired well over the bar under pressure.
With two minutes remaining Talbot threatened to nab a 3rd on the counter-attack to put the tie beyond any doubt. Glasgow paced away down the right & squared it across the area where Shankland was waiting but Cameron made a crucial interception; stretching out a leg to turn it behind for the corner.
Talbot saw out the closing stages without any problems & the final whistle was greeted by a huge cheer from the large travelling support who gave great backing throughout.
A great win for Talbot who will face Hurlford in an all Ayrshire clash in the Junior cup final. Now, Talbot will face a hectic fixture schedule as the midweek games arrive thick & fast, starting with Wednesday night’s trip to Ardeer in the Ayrshire cup.
Talbot paid the penalty for failing to convert a penalty as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Lochee that leaves the Bot down but not out.
Talbot started the game strongly and had a decent chance to take the lead after 4 minutes. Shankland robbed a Lochee player of the ball midway inside their half before feeding the ball onto Graham Wilson. He laid it out left to send Glasgow clean through but he drilled his shot straight into the side-netting.
The next goal threat came in the 14th minute when Shankland whipped a superb cross in from the left touchline that Lunan headed over his own bar.
Pope had an effort on target in the 18th minute. His first effort was blocked straight back to him & he fired a shot straight at Fotheringham on his weaker right foot.
Lochee hadn’t offered any real threat but they did give the home fans a nervy moment in the 23rd minute. Lawson knocked a dangerous cross in from the right that had Lyle in difficulties. He mishit his clearance, sending it out wide to Cameron who cut it across the area to McComiskie and his shot took two deflections before spinning behind for the corner.
The visitors were content to sit in and Talbot were struggling to make to any impression as the minutes ticked by without either keeper being called into action.
In the 39th minute Lochee gave the home fans a fright thanks to a long punt up the right. There seemed little danger but when Leishman came out to the edge of his area to take it, he misjudged the bounce of the ball as it spun past him but he did well to recover; diving back to take it.
Smith had his name taken in the 44th minute, not so much for his foul on Graham Wilson, as for an accumulation of offences.
In the final minute of what had been a fairly drab 1st half Fotheringham produced a save of the season contender to prevent Talbot taking the lead. White squared the ball across to Pope who let fly from 30 yards. His shot was screaming into the top corner until Fotheringham flew through the air to tip it over the bar, and so the sides went in all square at the interval.
Whatever Tucker said during the break perked the team up and Talbot came out all guns blazing at the start of the 2nd half. A nice passing move ended with Pope sending Shankland free on the left. He drilled it low first time across the face of goal where Lunan blazed it inches over his own bar.
Talbot were awarded a penalty in the 51st minute. Shankland whipped a corner in from the left & Harvey was pulled down as he tried to get on the end of it. The referee pointed to the spot and booked Lunan for the shirt tug.
Stephen Wilson stepped up to take the penalty but his spot kick was at a good height for the keeper and Fotheringham dived to his right to turn it away.
Undeterred by this setback, Talbot kept pushing forward and came close again a minute later. Glasgow cut in off the right & traversed across the area before firing a left foot shot that Fotheringham did well to turn past his right post.
It was all Talbot at this stage and the Bot threatened again in the 58th minute. Stephen Wilson out-paced Kirk & lifted a deep cross beyond the far post which Shankland met 1st time on the volley, only to see his shot blocked away by McNally.
Talbot had a let off on the hour mark. Cameron knocked the ball out left to find Lawson in space & his cutback went straight into the path of Deasley in front of goal but he snatched at the chance & mishit a tame effort straight at Leishman.
Graham Wilson had his name taken in the 63rd minute for persistent fouling.
Talbot’s next goal threat came in the 67th minute when Shankland gathered on the left & fed it back to Pope whose cross cum shot swerved just wide of the far post.
Tucker made a change in the 71st minute with McIlroy coming on in place of Graham Wilson.
The next opportunity for Talbot came via a corner kick. Shankland pulled the ball back to meet the run of Stephen Wilson & his low drive was blocked inside the 6-yard area by a Lochee defender.
Lochee now made a change with Birse replacing Deasley.
As the game moved into the closing stages Talbot kept pushing forward looking for a late winner. In the 85th minute Lyle went galloping down the right touchline before pulling the back across the area. Shankland latched onto it & attempted to curl a right foot shot into the top corner. It looked to be heading in but Lunan was in the right spot to deflect it over the bar off the top of his head.
In the 89th minute Talbot again came close. Glasgow turned smartly inside the area & drilled a low shot at goal. It took a deflection off McIlroy and with Fotheringham already going the other way it looked like it may be trickling into the net but the keeper recovered to dive to his left to smother the ball.
The Bot were back on the attack moments later. White powered a shot at goal from the edge of the box which was once again blocked by the head of Lunan. The ball span high in the air and Fotheringham had to help it over the bar.
The game looked to be heading for a stalemate but in the 2nd minute of added time a moment of defensive slackness allowed the visitors to snatch a late win. The Bot defence were caught square trying to play offside & BIRSE timed his run to race onto a ball chipped through the centre & slot it low into the bottom corner.
A tough one to take for Talbot and their fans but the tie is still far from over and Talbot will travel through to Lochee next Saturday with everything still to play for.
Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, Harvey, McPherson, Stephen Wilson, White, Hyslop, Graham Wilson, Shankland, Glasgow
