Venue: Away
Carnoustie Panmure v Auchinleck Talbot
Talbot booked their place in the last 8 of the Scottish to become the 7th West region side to make this season’s quarter-finals.
Tucker had tinkered with the line-up with Butch switching into the centre of midfield and Hyslop and Latta out wide.
The Bot got off to the perfect start when they took the lead after 4 minutes. Talbot won a free kick midway inside Carnoustie’s half for a foul on Hyslop. Pope knocked it down the left where Milliken held it up before feeding it back to Pope. He released Milliken in behind the defence & his ball across the 6-yard box was swept home by HYSLOP at the back post.
Talbot dominated the early exchanges but were caught on the hop in the 9th minute. When Latta’s cross failed to beat the 1st man inside the Panmure box, the home side broke swiftly down the other end where Scott was up-ended just outside the box, resulting in a yellow card for White. However, Carnoustie failed to make anything of the set piece & the ball into the centre was easily cleared.
Young came within a whisker of doubling Talbot’s lead in the 11th minute. Millar headed Pope’s hanging cross behind for a corner on the right. Milliken’s ball in was headed clear but only straight out to Young 20 yards out. He side-stepped a challenge before guiding a left foot shot that beat Cormack, cannoned off the right post back onto the keeper but somehow it didn’t go in.
The next effort at goal also came Talbot’s way. S Wilson raced onto a ball down the left and squared it across to Hyslop who drilled a shot over the bar from 20 yards.
Lyle won a corner down the right in the 23rd minute and this time Pope went across to take it. He whipped a dangerous in swinger into the centre where Buggins headed clear.
McGoldrick joined White in the book in the 25th minute. Carnoustie’s liveliest player, Scott, cut in from the left only for McGoldrick to bring him down just outside the penalty area. Once again though, Carnoustie failed to make anything of the opportunity as McCabe hit a tame effort on target that Leishman easily saved.
Talbot had a slice of luck in the 28th minute & capitalised to the full. Latta’s pass down the right appeared to be over-hit but it came off McGeehan & went behind for the corner. POPE took the corner & bent it to the far post where it flew over Cormack & straight into the net to put Talbot 2-0 ahead.
With a two goal cushion Talbot were content to sit on their lead, with Carnoustie huffing & puffing but carrying no threat in the final third.
The referee came to the home side’s rescue in the 40th minute with a bizarre decision. Milliken nicked the ball past Millar inside the area & was promptly tripped. It was a stonewall penalty but the ref thought it occurred outside the box, booking Millar and awarding Talbot a free kick right on the line. Young swept the free kick low across goal but the runners at the front post just failed to connect & the defence were able to clear.
Carnoustie made a change at the start of the 2nd period with Simpson on for McGeehan.
Talbot had an early opportunity to put the game beyond Carnoustie. Buggins was deceived by the bounce of the ball & beaten to it in the air by S Wilson who headed on into the path of Milliken. He was clear on the right & flashed a powerful drive across goal & just wide of the far post.
The referee had a decision to make in the 51st minute. Milliken hooked the ball over his shoulder to send S Wilson racing through the centre into the box. He appeared to be fouled but the ref turned down the penalty appeal.
down the penalty appeal.
Having denied Talbot one stonewaller & another strong appeal, the referee then awarded Talbot a very soft penalty in the 56th minute. Boyd swept the ball out to the right where S Wilson collided with MacDonald at the junction of the box. It was debatable whether it was a foul or inside the box, but the ref pointed straight to the spot. Pope, normally so reliable from the spot got it wrong for once, hitting a poor penalty which Cormack saved to his right.
Carnoustie made their 2nd switch after 61 minutes with Gray coming on in place of Smith.
Despite the missed penalty, Talbot looked comfortable in their lead with Carnoustie offering little threat.
Talbot put together a good move in the 68th minute. Milliken combined well with S Wilson down the left before racing clear & cutting the back into the area. Latta ran onto it 16 yards out but took a fresh air swipe.
Carnoustie got a toehold back into the game in the 73rd minute. Gray was allowed too much time & space just outside the box and his deflected shot sailed past Leishman to pull a goal back for the home side.
Tucker made a double switch in the 77th minute replacing the front two of S Wilson & Milliken with G Wilson & Shankland.
Roberts had his name taken in the 78th minute for a late challenge.
Both Talbot subs were involved in the 79th minute as Talbot came close to re-gaining their two goal cushion. Boyd fed the ball down the left to G Wilson whose cut back found Shankland inside the area but his shot drifted just wide of Cormack’s left post.
The game had opened up with both sides eagerly searching for the next goal and Carnoustie came close to levelling matters in the 83rd minute. A counter-attack saw Cook racing forward from midfield and he let fly from 25 yards, with Leishman smothering his low shot to his left.
A minute later McDonald tried his luck from distance, firing a long ranger on target that went straight at Leishman.
Talbot then went straight down the other end and put the game to bed. G Wilson’s head flick sent SHANKLAND strolling free of the defence & he coolly slotted the ball past Cormack into the bottom corner to put Talbot back in control.
With two minutes remaining Tucker made his final change with Gillies replacing Young.
Buggins picked up a silly yellow card in the final minute when he kicked the ball away at a Talbot free kick.
Deep into injury time Carnoustie grabbed a late consolation goal. Sloppy defending by Talbot saw them concede a penalty and BLACK sent Leishman the wrong way to pull it back to 3-2.
It was too little, too late though for the hosts and soon after the ref sounded the final whistle to confirm Talbot’s place in the quarter-finals.
Not a classic game by any means, but Talbot did enough to book their passage so job done. Next up for Talbot is a crucial top of the table league clash as Rob Roy visit Beechwood.
Carnoustie – Cormack, MacDonald, McGeehan, Millar, Buggins, Roberts, Cook, Black, McCabe, Smith, Scott
Subs – Simpson, Gray, Craig, McIlravey
Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, White, McGoldrick, Boyd, Young, Latta, Hyslop, Milliken, S Wilson
Subs – G Wilson, Gillies, Shankland, Love, Johnstone
Photographs by Edwin Flynn
Carnoustie Panmure v Auchinleck Talbot
Kilwinning Rangers v Auchinleck Talbot
TALBOT BLOWN AWAY
With the country watching the weather forecasts and the landing of Hurricane Frank, the small band of Talbot fans that attended this friendly match were introduced to Hurricane Buffs as the Super 1st club outplayed, out thought and out passed Talbot on the 3G surface of the Kilwinning Sports Centre.
This was a game where the Talbot fans who attended would have been left thinking that a night in front of Corrie wouldn’t have been a bad idea if they knew what fare that was in front of them.
Talbot made several changes in their starting line up with Dwayne Hyslop given the nod for the patch up centre half, with Steven Wilson and Lee Cochrane taking to the central midfield. Robert Love and Mark Shankland as the strike force with Martin Findlay on the left side of the midfield.
Talbot started the match playing against the gale and started brightly with Bryan Young and Roberet Love finding space down both flanks. The home side at first struggled to adjust to the ferocious winds but when they finally settled the started to pick holes in the Talbot defence. The opening goal came in the 20th minute when Deans whipped in a dangerous ball which Agnew got a head to and glanced the ball the ball into the net. A couple of minutes later Talbot were 2-0 down when the referee pointed to the spot after a Buffs player seemed to be up-ended and Hanvey gave Johnstone no chance.
Talbot fought back and fashioned a few chances but every one of them were off target, while the Buffs looked dangerous as they passed their way around the pitch trying not to over hit any loose balls. With the wind now howling the first half was ended with the home side deservedly in front.
Talbot introduced Graham Wilson and Davie Gillies for Robert Love and Bryan Young but over the next 45 minutes they proved to have all the cutting edge of a broken Easter egg as they were repeatedly starved of any ammunition by a dogged Buffs defence. Talbot were struggling badly and the passing that ensued was poor and ineffective. They did have a few chances but failed to hit the target except a decent free kick by Shankland which the keeper had to push over the bar. The closest Talbot had to hitting the net came about when Stevie Wilson and Fleeting the Buffs defender went in hard for a 50/50 ball and as it spun into the air it was carried goal ward by the wind where it blew over the keeper and scraped the post.
The game finally came to an end as the wind became so wild the ball spent more time on the terrace than the pitch and the final whistle was definitely welcomed by the players and supporters alike.
The only high point of the match was the display of Stevie Wilson who was by far the best on the night for Talbot, the amount of fouls committed against him was testament to this.
Johnston, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Hyslop, Cochrane, Findlay, S.Wilson, Love (G.Wilson 45), Shankland (Milliken 68), Young (Gillies 45). Subs not used Latta, White.
Kinnoul v Auchinleck Talbot
TALBOT’S EIGHTSOME REEL
Talbot cruised into the next round of the Scottish Cup winth a resounding 8-2 victory over Perth minnows Kinnoull. Even though the game was blighted with torrential rain a decent crowd had turned up at Tulloch Park and with the pitch getting the thumbs up after a 9 am inspection the scene was set for the Junior games equivalent of a David and Goliath fixture.
It took Talbot just 9 minutes to get themselves on the scoresheet when Mark Shankland robbed a defender to set up Bryan Young who fashioned some space after some nifty footwork before whipping in a wicked cross which was nodded past the keeper by the unmarked Graham Wilson.
Two minutes later it was 2-0 when Graham Wilson slid the ball past the keeper after Bryan Young once again turned provider when he picked up a long ball from Gordon Pope and hit a low cross in front of Wilson who made no mistake.
The home side after the initial Talbot “blitzkrieg” seemed to have steadied at the back but in was short lived when persistent pressure by Talbot saw the home side down 3-0 after Shankland and Young worked a short corner and Young’s cross was toe-poked through the keepers legs by Gordon Pope after the Kinnoull defence failed to clear..
Mark Shankland got on the scoresheet on 28 minutes when a GrahamWilson made a driving run into the box wand his pin point cross into the box was picked up by Hyslop who passed into the path of “Shankers” and he rifled the ball into the net.
Just before the interval Graham Wilson made it 5-0 when he poked the ball into the net after a crafty 1-2 with Paul Hyslop.The relief on the home sides players faces showed signs of shell shock a they had come to terms that they could be on a hiding of epic proportions.
Kinnoull to their credit came out for the second half with a gung-ho attitude and got the first of their consolation goals a quarter of an hour after the interval when Andy Leishman rolled a ball to Steven White but he misread the speed of the ball and was forced to make a block with his legs where the loose ball landed at the feet of Jamie Gill who passed the ball into the net from 20 yards to make it 5-1.
Talbot made it 6-1 when Gordon Pope went on a mazy run into the box where picked out Hyslop he found Lee Cochrane at the edge of the box and his cross was bicycle kicked over the keepers head by Graham Wilson to give the striker his hat trick. With the game coming to an end Lee Cochrane worked a bit of magic at the home side bye line where he left his marker for dead and his low cross was flicked into the net By Dwayne Hyslop
Kinoull pulled a goal back when the referee adjudged that Steven White had pulled down a player in the box, and although it seemed soft the big Kinnoull substitute Steven Harris made no mistake from the spot.
With time running out the scoring was finished by Hyslop when he was left unmarked to head a David Gillies cross into the net. I was a result that was expected and it was a good display on a rain sodden pitch in terrible conditions.
Greenock Juniors FC v Auchinleck Talbot
Talbot followed up last week’s impressive display with another fine showing, as they swept past Greenock 4-0 at a rain lashed Ravenscraig stadium.
The home side didn’t stand on ceremony, playing very direct football which almost paid off in the 5th minute. Munro found himself in space on the left of the area and hit the target but Leishman fell to his left to smother his effort. Talbot then went straight down the other end where Milliken bundled the ball home from Wilson’s cross but he’d moved too early & it was chalked off for offside.
Greenock came close to taking the lead in the 9th minute. White headed Munro’s cross out the box where it came to McGarrigle who ran onto it & fired a shot just wide of the left post.
Leishman was called into action in the 14th minute when Grana slid a dangerous ball across the face of goal toward Munro at the far post but Andy cut it out in the centre.
Talbot grabbed the opening goal in the 25th minute and never really looked in any trouble once they’d edged ahead. It came from a free kick out on the right which Young whipped into the centre where MCGOLDRICK thumped a header into the back of the net.
Six minutes later Talbot doubled their lead. Milliken won a corner out on the left and YOUNG repeated his feat from last year’s Hurlford semi-final; scoring direct from the corner kick.
It was all Talbot and the next chance came in the 33rd minute. Milliken cut the ball back across the face of goal where Wilson met it but it came at him too quickly for him to steady himself and hit off him and over the bar.
Talbot’s next effort at goal came about as a result of good work down the left by Milliken. He raced clear before cutting the ball to Young at the edge of the area and his shot flew just over the bar with McWilliams beaten.
Milliken ought to have put Talbot three ahead in the 42nd minute. Scott was short with a header back & Milliken raced onto it and it took it round the keeper but with the goal gaping he blasted it into the side-netting.
He made amends a minute later when he out-paced Doherty down the right and squared the ball to the unmarked WILSON who stroked it home to send Talbot in 3-0 ahead at the interval.
Both sides emerged unchanged for the 2nd half and Talbot continued where they’d left off; pushing forward to add to their tally.
The 1st meaningful attack of the half saw Young latch onto Leishman’s long clearance and hit a great early ball into the centre where Wilson was caught on his heels allowing Scott to clear.
Greenock weren’t at the races and it was no surprise when they made a change after 54 minutes, with McNeil replacing McBryde.
Cochrane almost extended Talbot’s lead in the 56th minute. Greenock’s defence managed to clear out a corner but Latta helped the ball back into the box where it fell at the feet of Cochrane. He attempted to pass it into the bottom corner but McWilliams produced a top save, diving to his left to tip it wide.
Three minutes later Cochrane again hit the target. McGoldrick went on a mazy run up the left wing and swung a cross into the centre which Cochrane glanced on goal but it lacked the power to beat the keeper.
Talbot made their 1st change in the 62nd minute when Love replaced Milliken up front.
Greenock hadn’t made any impression in the 2nd period but were given a good chance to test Leishman in the 63rd minute when awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box for a foul by White. Begley laid it off for McNeill to hit but he struck his low shot straight into the wall.
Soon after both sides made further changes, firstly Greenock brought Patton on for Docherty and then Tucker brought on Shankland in place of G Wilson.
McWilliams was tested in the 69th minute when Hyslop threaded a ball through the right to find Love inside the area. He hit it early and McWilliams saved to his left.
The keeper was being kept busy and made a crucial interception minutes later. Boyd’s pass sent Hyslop clear on the right and he fizzed a cross across the goal mouth which McWilliams cut out before it reached Love who was waiting for a tap in.
Talbot completed the scoring in the 75th minute. Boyd slid a perfectly weighted pass through to Latta and he knocked it across the face of goal where LOVE turned it home.
Tucker now made his final change with S Wilson coming on for Young and Greenock also made their last change with Lyden replacing Scott.
The sub was involved straight away as Wilson lifted the ball over the defence to send Love free on the left. He angled a shot toward the far post that had McWilliams beaten but Begley got there in the nick of time to clear off the line.
Love had another effort at goal in the 80th minute. He turned smartly out on the right and powered a shot just over the crossbar.
Greenock had an opportunity for a consolation effort in the 83rd minute. Brown saw his shot blocked back to him and he laid it back to Murray whose effort was deflected behind.
With 5 minutes remaining Doherty conceded a free kick out on the right for a foul on Shankland. He curled the free kick into the centre where it was headed clear, but only out as far as Latta who hammered a shot on goal that the keeper did well to parry.
A minute later the Bot had another chance from a set piece after Wilson was fouled just outside the penalty box. Shankland lifted it over the wall but it didn’t dip quickly enough and sailed over the bar.
In the final minute Talbot had one final chance to add to their lead. Shankland’s low drive from the right side of the area beat McWilliams only for Lyden to stretch out a leg to clear off the line. It came back to Shankland who opted to square it for Latta who sent his shot past the post.
Talbot won this cup tie convincingly and might have won by a wider margin. Next week Talbot are again on cup duty, as they travel through to Perth to face Kinnoull in the Scottish.
Greenock – McWilliams, McGarrigle, Doherty, Scott, Begley, T Docherty, Murray, Grana, Brown, McBryde, Munro
Subs – Lyden, Cunning, McNeil, Patton
Talbot – Leishman, Latta, Lyle, McGoldrick, White, Boyd, Young, Hyslop, G Wilson, Milliken, Cochrane
Subs – Shankland, Love, S Wilson, Gillies, Pope
Tranent v Auchinleck Talbot
Match Report by Murray
Talbot returned to winning ways to advance past Tranent in the Scottish but were made to work for it by an impressive home side.
The Bot started strongly and nearly took the lead in the 4th minute from a corner on the left. When the ball came in McGoldrick thumped a header on target that Inglis did well to save. Young tried to prod home the rebound but couldn’t force his shot home in a crowded goal mouth.
A minute later the Bot threatened again. Young fed the ball out to Love in space on the left of the area and Inglis did well to block away his low drive on target.
After the frenetic opening the game settled down and the home side gradually began to play their way into it, without really threatening the Talbot goal.
It was the Bot who came close again after 16 minutes. Tranent looked vulnerable at set pieces and McGoldrick again managed to get a free header on a corner, this time from the right, but he sent it wide of target.
Wilson became the 1st name in the ref’s notebook when he was cautioned after 23 mins for a late challenge in midfield.
A rush of blood from Inglis gifted Talbot a penalty in the 25th minute. The keeper raced off his line to reach a ball down the left he was never favourite to win and all he succeeded in doing was up ending Wilson inside the box. POPE stepped up and coolly waited on the keeper moving before sending the ball the other way to put Talbot 1-0 ahead.
Tranent responded positively to falling behind and put together a good move in the 27th minute. Smith, Tranent’s best player on the day, sprayed a good pass out right to find Manson on the wing & he swept a low ball across the face of goal which Lyle cleared at the back post.
Tranent’s 1st real effort at goal came on the half hour mark. Slack marking from Talbot at a shy allowed Murray a bit of space 25 yards out and he fired just wide of the right post.
The home side were growing in confidence but lacked any cutting edge in the final third and Talbot saw out the remainder of the half quite comfortably. A minute before the interval Talbot had a half chance to grab a 2nd goal. White laid the ball off to Love just outside the area but he couldn’t keep his half volley under the bar and Talbot went in a goal up at the interval.
The Tranent manager’s half-time pep talk certainly fired the home side up and from the start of the 2nd half they took the game to Talbot.
The first threat to the Bot defence came in the 48th minute. McMillan slid the ball out right to Manson. He fired a dangerous cross to the back post where Lyle dived full length to head clear.
Talbot had an opportunity down the other end in the 51st minute when they won a free kick 35 yards from goal following a Tranent hand ball. Wilson swerved his shot over the wall but it just didn’t come down in time and flew over the crossbar.
For all Tranent’s passing their clearest chance to date came via a long punt out from their keeper. Inglis launched it down the left toward Fisher. Hyslop appeared to be in control of the situation but was easily out-muscled by the Tranent winger who broke into the box before firing into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Talbot had a real let off in the 55th minute. Pope’s slack pass out from the back was intercepted and lobbed in behind the defence. McMillan ran onto it and lifted it over the advancing Leishman only for his lob to come off the face of the bar allowing Lyle to clear.
With Talbot having come off 2nd best after the interval it wasn’t a great surprise when Tucker made changes, making a double substitution in the 57th minute with Milliken on for Wilson and Latta replacing Hyslop.
However, the home side continued to have the best of it and tested Leishman on the hour mark.
A shy from the right was worked inside to Smith who found himself in space just outside the box but he drilled his low shot straight at Leishman.
The same player had another couple of chances in quick succession, but simply repeated his earlier effort, hitting the target from outside the area but each shot going straight down the throat of Leishman who comfortably held them.
It had been a while since Talbot had crossed the halfway line but Love had half a chance in the 65th minute. He did well initially to break into the box from the right wing but couldn’t test the keeper from an acute angle and Inglis made an easy save by his near post.
The home side made a loud penalty appeal in the 67th minute. Inglis hoofed a long ball down the right that flew over the Bot defence. Manson raced onto the end of it and tumbled under a challenge but the ref saw nothing wrong with it and waved play on.
Pope picked up Talbot’s 2nd caution of the afternoon when he was shown a yellow card on 69 mins for conceding a free kick.
The free kick was switched out to the left where Fisher whipped in a cross that Manson headed over the bar under pressure.
Tranent now made their 1st change with Hawkins on in place of Miller.
The home side had a glorious chance to equalise in the 74th minute. Yet again, Talbot were caught out by a route one ball from Inglis. He launched a ball down the right that found Manson in space on the right. He had time to look up and pick out a cross to the far post to find the unmarked Fisher. It looked on for a header but instead he attempted the volley and Leishman saved it inside his near post.
Tranent now made a further change with Beaton coming on for Wojtowycz.
With 10 minutes remaining both sides committed their last subs, Shankland replacing Love up top for Talbot and Flynn coming on for Fisher.
Talbot nearly added a 2nd that would have killed the tie off in the 81st minute. Pope’s free kick was floated to the far corner of the box where Campbell won it and headed back across goal but wide of the far post.
With 5 minutes remaining Shankland burst free on the right and raced into the area but he didn’t compose himself and blazed his shot wide of the left post.
Talbot finally ended Tranent’s hopes with two minutes remaining. White was fouled out on the left and this time Pope played the set piece into the near post where YOUNG glanced a header beyond Inglis to put Talbot 2-0 ahead.
Talbot might have even extended their lead in the final minute. Milliken sped clear on the left before squaring it to Shankland. He had the space to shoot but instead opted to roll it back to Milliken allowing Gordon to intercept.
This was a hard fought cup tie and Talbot will be relieved to have made it through at the 1st time of asking. Next up for Talbot it is the first home game for a good while as Hurlford come visiting in the league.
Tranent – Inglis, Patterson, Wojtowycz, Gordon, McKenzie, Miller, Manson, D Smith, McMillan, Murray, Fisher
Subs – Hunter, Hawkins, Smeaton, Beaton, Flynn
Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Campbell, Boyd, Young, White, G Wilson, Love, Hyslop
Subs – Shankland, Milliken, Latta, S Wilson, Cochrane
Read more: http://auchinlecktalbotfc.proboards.com/thread/7003/tranent-talbot-2-1#ixzz3qeDRPmnb
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
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
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy vs Auchinleck Talbot
MURRAYS MATCH REPORT
This was a game to forget for the traveling Bot support with Talbot second best for much of the afternoon as they went down to a 2-0 defeat.
The warning signs were there from the off. Rob Roy won a corner in the 1st minute and when it came into the area Boyle cushioned a header down into the path of Upton who lifted his shot over the bar from 18 yards out.
Talbot put together a good move in the 4th minute. Pope fed the ball up the line to Milliken who swung an early cross into the area. Hyslop gathered the cross beyond the back post & laid it back to Latta who whipped a dangerous cross into the centre which Boyle did well to flick away.
The Talbot midfield were slow to react a minute later when the pacey Duff raced half the length of the park before firing a shot wide of Leishman’s left post from just outside the area.
Hyslop had a half chance in the 6th minute. He challenged in the air for Leishman’s long ball and reacted quickest when it broke loose but he stabbed his shot a foot over the bar from about 19 yards out.
Upton received an early yellow card for a late challenge on Latta.
Young didn’t make the most of a half chance in the 10th minute. Wilson released Lyle on the overlap and his low cross eluded the defence and came across to Young on the left edge of the penalty area; however he attempted to pass the ball into the net and his effort was blocked by a defender.
Leishman produced an early contender for save of the season in the 13th minute. Campbell misplaced a header across the penalty area and Watt looked certain to score as he headed home from close range but Andy somehow flew across to his right to claw the ball wide of the right post.
There was nothing Leishman could do though two mins later to prevent Rob Roy moving ahead. Talbot were caught out at a shy down the right which was thrown into the feet of Sawyers. He made for the bye line before cutting it back across goal where WATT hammered it home.
Talbot were struggling for any fluency but Milliken was unlucky in the 22nd minute. He gathered out on the right and curled a superb cross to the back post which Wilson just couldn’t reach.
The ref had a big decision to make in the 27th minute. Wilson surged forward only to be sent crashing down inside the box. Talbot appealed for the penalty but the referee judged that the tackle was just outside the box and awarded a free kick 19 yards out. Wilson took the free kick and fired it over the wall but Brown rose to the challenge and punched it wide of the right post.
On the half hour mark Milliken broke down the left & drilled a good low ball across the face of goal which Brown did well to smother.
Milliken was inches from sending Wilson clean through on goal in the 38th minute. His through ball looked set to send Wilson through on keeper, only for Boyle to stretch out a leg to make a crucial interception.
Talbot couldn’t be faulted for effort and kept plugging away without getting any joy. Two minutes from the interval Rob Roy threatened to extend their lead. Upton paced away on the right and angled the ball back for Watt who was poised to hit it only for Latta to intercept at full stretch, and so the sides went it with Rob Roy a goal ahead.
The 2nd half got off to a non-descript start with neither side making any progress. Wilson picked up caution in the 55th minute for blocking the run of Mackie and a minute later Talbot had a let off when they were again caught sleeping at Rob Roy throw in. The shy down the left was thrown straight into the path of Watt who ran onto it unchallenged before hitting a swerving shot that clipped off the top of the crossbar.
The 1st change of the afternoon came in the 66th minute when Martin came on for Mackie for the home side.
Milliken had a great chance to draw Talbot level a minute later. Latta won the ball and sent the ball through to Milliken on the right of the penalty area. He was clean through but with only Brown to beat he angled his shot across goal and wide of the far post.
Rob Roy now made a 2nd switch with Aitken coming on in place of Watt.
Milliken produced a moment of quality in the 69th min when he gathered wide on the right and whipped a dangerous cross over to the back post on his left foot which Finnigan did well to hook behind for a corner.
Talbot had a second shout for a penalty in the 70th minute. As Finningan went to clear the ball it took an awkward bounce and appeared to strike him on the arm but the ref waved play on. He knocked the ball up field where Latta was flattened by Duff who received a caution.
Milliken was one of Talbot’s better players on the day yet was the main culprit when it came to wasting the few clear cut chances that came Talbot’s way.
He had a decent opportunity to level the score in the 72nd minute when a ball over the top found him in space 15 yards out. He brought the ball down but got underneath it and scooped his shot over the bar.
Tucker now made his 1st change with Shankland on in place of Latta and soon after Rob Roy made their final change with Pearson replacing Duff.
Other than substitutions there wasn’t much happening and Tucker made his final throw of the dice in the 81st minute when he brought on Love & Steven Wilson for Milliken & White.
The home side should have gone a man down a minute later. Upton went to ground theatrically in a vain attempt to win a free kick on the edge of the area but the ref chose to ignore his dive and didn’t produce a 2nd yellow for the Rabs captain.
Steven Wilson had an effort on target with five minutes to go. Love flicked the ball out to him wide on the right and he struck a low shot that Brown held inside his left post.
Pearson received a yellow card for what appeared a fairly innocuous challenge in the 86th minute.
With Talbot pushing forward and no White as defensive cover Talbot were vulnerable on the counter and were caught out in the 88th minute. Upton gathered the ball midway in the Bot half but with men over he squandered the chance with a poor final ball.
However one minute later the Rabs did manage to counter successfully and kill the game off. Aitken gathered on the right touchline and switched play out to the far wing. McKenzie fired a low ball across which Sawyers dummied allowing PEARSON to bundle it home from close range.
Talbot will be disappointed with their display but have no time to brood on it as the team will need to pick themselves up for next Saturday’s away trip to Maryhill to face BSC in the Scottish Cup.
Rob Roy – Brown, Finnigan, McKenzie, Barr, Boyle, Whelan, Duff, Upton, Sawyers, Watt, Mackie
Subs – Aitken, Martin, Pearson, McMenamin, Murdoch (gk)
Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Campbell, Latta, Young, White, Milliken, G Wilson, Hyslop
Subs – Shankland, Love, Gillies, S Wilson, Findlay
