Away – Page 8 – Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Hermes vs Auchinleck Talbot

MURRAY’S MATCH REPORT
Talbot secured their place in Tuesday’s Scottish cup draw with a comfortable away win over reigning North region champions, Hermes.
Talbot were short odds favourites to progress but it was the hosts who made the livelier start. They stretched the Bot defence in the 3rd minute when a ball in behind the defence almost sent Jack clean through but he couldn’t quite reach it and Leishman was quickly off his line to gather.
Hermes were playing a risky game, keeping a very high line as they attempted to squeeze the action into Talbot’s half and as the Bot settled into the game, the host’s game plan unravelled.
The referee was left with a game changing decision in the 10th minute when Talbot successfully beat the offside trap. Milliken raced free down the right & knocked it past Sweeney who’d raced out his box to stop him. The keeper clearly fouled Milliken and on another day might have walked for a professional foul but the ref chose only to book him.
Talbot took the lead with quarter of an hour gone in large part due to an error from Sweeney so in a sense justice was done. Shankland chased down a ball in behind the defence & Sweeney sclaffed his clearance straight to the feet of GRAHAM WILSON on the right edge of the box and he fired a low shot into the empty net.
The Hermes defence were now being turned at will and Milliken had a great chance to double Talbot’s lead in the 19th minute when a ball over the top found him running through one on one with the keeper. He tried to drill it past the advancing Sweeney but the keeper blocked his effort and it spun out to Shankland who cut in on his left foot and went for goal, only to see his shot blocked by a defender. Wilson reacted quickest to the loose ball and raced into the penalty area and took it wide of the keeper only to lose his footing and the ball ran behind for the goal kick.
It was all Talbot now and it was no great surprise when Talbot moved 2-0 ahead in the 25th minute. Milliken raced onto a ball by ***** and might have went for goal himself but unselfishly squared it across to the unmarked GRAHAM WILSON who rifled it into the roof of the net.
Young had an opportunity to extend the lead when he raced free down the left but he angled his shot wide of the far post and a minute later Milliken tested the keeper when he lashed a shot on target that Sweeney parried to his left before gathering at the 2nd attempt.
Talbot put together a well-worked counter-attack in the 34th minute. Milliken used his pace to break down the left before sliding a good ball into the penalty area. Wilson dummied it for Shankland but before he could pounce McKenzie slid in to knock it behind for a corner. When Butch’s corner came over Wilson met it but couldn’t keep his header under the bar.
Talbot kept plugging away looking for further goals and created a few half chances shortly before the interval. In the 1st of these, Hyslop’s flick created space for Milliken on the right of the area but he went for goal on his weaker right foot and the shot was blocked behind.
Shortly after, Pope sent the ball down the line to Young and he fed it across the box to Shankland who lifted a shot over the bar.
In the final chance of the half Leishman’s clearance sailed over the static Hermes defence to find Milliken on the left side of the area. Sweeney was caught off his line but Milliken was caught in two minds and ultimately his final ball was neither a cross nor a shot and Sweeney recovered to gather in the centre.
There were no changes during the interval and no change in fortune either, as Talbot started the 2nd half as they’d ended the first.
Wilson had his name taken in the 47th minute for a high tackle on Hyslop.
Shankland provided Talbot’s next effort at goal. Wilson found him in space on the left & he cut inside Cruickshank before firing just wide of Sweeney’s right post.
However the goal wasn’t long delayed and Talbot made it 3 in the 53rd minute. Milliken’s header on sent Wilson through 1 on 1 with the keeper but he was denied his hat-trick when Sweeney blocked his low drive. Undeterred, Wilson pursued the ball out to the right and turned provider as he crossed into the centre for HYSLOP to head home from close range.
With the game as good as won the game went into a bit of a lull for a short spell with Talbot looking comfortable without threatening further goals.
Wilson sparked things back into life in the 65th minute when he met Pope’s shy and laid it into the path of Young. Butch’s shot was blocked but came back out to Wilson whose low drive forced a save out of Sweeney.
A minute later the Hermes keeper was again called into action. This time he threw himself to his left to turn Milliken’s fierce drive around the post.
Hermes now made their 1st change with Strachan coming on for McRae and Tucker made a double switch up front with Gillies & Love replacing Shankland & Milliken.
Talbot made it 4-0 in the 72nd minute. The Bot won a free kick out on the right which Pope curled into the area. Campbell met it and headed it back across for Gillies whose point blank header produced a fine stop from Sweeney. However, the keeper could do nothing to prevent GRAHAM WILSON tucking away the rebound to complete his hat-trick.
Hermes could easily have went a man down a minute later when Jack was guilty of a bad tackle on Hyslop but the referee gave him the benefit of the doubt and produced a yellow card.
Talbot’s next effort came from Love out on the right who fired a low shot across goal and wide of the right post.
Tucker made his final change in the 79th minute when Steven Wilson came on for Young.
Gillies was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet in the 80th minute. Latta pulled the back from the bye line and he fired a shot on target that had Sweeney beaten but was blocked in the goal mouth by Brown.
Gillies had another chance a couple of minutes later when Love’s diagonal ball found him running in behind the defence. He could’ve went for goal but instead opted to square it across to G Wilson for a tap in but Cruickshank slid in to intercept and put it behind.
Hermes made a late change when McLachlan came on in place of Cruickshank.
In the closing minutes the home side twice came close to grabbing a consolation effort. Smith let fly from 35 yards out only to see his shot clip the top of the bar and in the final minute Brown got his head on the end of a free kick into the area but his header looped just off target.
This was a good win for Talbot who might have won by a few more had they been a bit more clinical in front of goal. Next up for the Bot it is back to league duties and the visit of in form Petershill.

Hermes – Sweeney, Cruickshank, Smith, Brown, Campbell, McKenzie, Macklin, Wilson, Jack, McRae, Dawson

Subs – G Watson, McLachlan, Simpson, Strachan, Nash, Smith, S Watson (gk)

Talbot – Leishman, Latta, Pope, Lyle, Campbell, Hyslop, Young, White, Milliken, G Wilson, Shankland

Subs – Gillies, Love, S Wilson, Findlay, Johnstone (gk)

Lugar Boswell vs Auchinleck Talbot

Talbot booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Ardagh with a win at Rosebank over a stuffy Lugar side 1440278118_6644 but made hard work of it.
Talbot started brightly and mght have taken the lead after 2 minutes. Hyslop slid a pass out to Shankland on the left and he fired a good early cross into the centre toward G Wilson which Gall did well to cut out.
Leishman had little to do in the 1st half as a whole but was called into action in the 5th minute when Lyle’s weak header landed at the feet of Mitchell who shot straight at the Bot keeper.
Lugar then retreated into their shell and seemed content to sit deep midway in their own half and hope on the linesman’s flag coming to their rescue.
Gall was tested in the 12th minute when Boyd raced free on the overlap and slung the ball beyond the far post. Young kept it in play and directed it back across goal where Shankland lobbed an effort on target that Gall snatched out the air.
Two minutes later Talbot had another effort at goal. McGoldrick found Stevie Wilson racing free on the right and he crossed it to the far side of the box where his brother Graham volleyed wide of target.
Talbot took the lead in the 16th minute. Young switched play out right to find Stevie Wilson running into space and he whipped the ball across the 6-yard area where SHANKLAND nodded a free header home from close range.
Boyd had a real chance to put Talbot on easy street in the 22nd minute. He raced onto Shankland’s clever flick and burst into the box where he seemed set to fire for goal but he took one touch too many, allowing Muir the chance to slide in and clear it behind for the corner. Pope knocked the corner to the far side of the 6-yard box where Campbell towered a header back across goal. It had Gall beaten all ends up but Hilton was perfectly 1440278187_1137 positioned to clear it off the goal line.
Talbot continued to dominate and came close again in the 25th minute. Young lifted an early ball down the left wing to find Graham Wilson and he swept an early cross into the near post which Gall had to block with his legs with Shankland waiting in the centre.
As the half wore on, the quality deteriorated, with Talbot well on top without looking like adding to their lead and Lugar producing plenty of effort but precious little otherwise.
After this hiatus of quarter of an hour or so Talbot again began to threaten the Lugar goal; firstly Young volleyed over the bar after being set up by Shankland and then McGoldrick set things rolling with a well-weighted pass out to Shankland whose cross found Graham Wilson unmarked in the centre, but it was a touch too high and skidded off the top of his head and behind for a goal kick.
Shankland had a decent chance to grab his and Talbot’s second in the 41st minute. Graham Wilson fired in a superb cross from the left that Shankland met at the far post but his powerful header was parried clear by Gall.
Hyslop had the final chance of the 1st 45 when he met Pope’s corner from the right in the final minute but he glanced his header wide of the right hand post.
Talbot started the 2nd half in fine fashion and looked set to extend their lead in the opening exchanges.
Graham Wilson ought to have put Talbot two ahead in the 50th minute following good work by Boyd & Hyslop on the right but when the ball was cut back across goal he took a fresh air swipe at it and the chance was gone.
A minute later Talbot won a free kick right on the edge of the area when Shankland was tugged back as he ran onto Young’s lay off. Shankland hit it and tried to drill it inside Gall’s left post but the keeper got across to make the stop.
1440278293_1984 Shankland very nearly added to Talbot’s lead in the 53rd minute when he found space out on the right and dinked a delicate lob over Gall that just cleared the crossbar.
Lugar now made a change with McCowan replacing Hilton.
Talbot missed a double sitter in the 56th minute. The Bot won a corner out on the right and Pope hit it to the far post where Campbell headed it powerfully back across goal. Hyslop looked sure to knock it in from 6 yards but failed to connect & the ball then bounced up off the bobbly surface and Stevie Wilson went to head it home, only to direct his header over the bar from close range.
Both sides now made changes with Lugar bringing Antoine on for McMaster and Talbot replacing Hyslop with Love, and then the home side made a further change with Faulds on for Mitchell.
Most of Talbot’s chances were falling to Shankland and he came close again to grabbing his 2nd in the 69th minute. McGoldrick spread it out left to find Graham Wilson and he nodded it across to Shankland who lifted a shot just over the bar.
The longer the game went, the poorer the game became and Talbot looked comfortable at one up without looking like adding to it.
Tucker made a switch in the 73rd minute when Gillies came on for Graham Wilson and a further change followed with 10 minutes remaining with Milliken on for Shankland.
After a lengthy spell as a virtual spectator, Leishman was called upon in the 83rd minute when Stevie Wilson dawdled on the ball & lost possession, deep in his own half. McCowan gathered on the right and cut in field before drilling a shot from 20 yards straight at Leishman.
The game seemed destined to meander to a close but Talbot perked up in the final stages and added a few goals to add a more realistic look to the final score line.
With 88 mins on the clock MILLIKEN got in behind the defence on the left and buried a low shot back across Gall and into the far corner to make it 2-0 to Talbot.
Lugar had an opportunity in the last minute of regulation time to pull a goal back when Faulds won a corner out on the right. McCowan whipped it into the near post where Faulds directed his header over the bar.
Deep into injury time Talbot won a free kick right on the edge of the Lugar box when Love was prevented from breaking into the penalty area. Pope took the set piece and drilled a low shot wide of the wall which Gall dived to save low to his right, but LOVE had followed up and he swept the rebound home to make the final score 3-0 to the Talbot.
This win sets Talbot up with a home tie next Wednesday in the quarter-finals when Maybole visit Beechwood.

Lugar – Gall, Waite, Ballantyne, McCreadie, Muir, Young, Johnstone, McMaster, Mitchell, Clapperton, Hilton
Subs – Faulds, McCowan, Kiefer, Antoine

Talbot – Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McGoldrick, Campbell, Boyd, S Wilson, Hyslop, G Wilson, Shankland, Young
Subs – Gillies, Latta, Love, Milliken, Findlay

Cumnock Juniors vs Auchinleck Talbot

A poor start to the game cost them dearly but there were promising signs shown in the second half which was largely dominated by the home side.

Steven Crawford gave away a cheap free kick on the edge of the box in the second minute of the game.

Mark Shankland stepped up and curled a free kick over the wall towards the top right hand corner of the net but it was slightly over-hit and the ball came crashing off the top of the crossbar.

Just a minute later and Talbot took the lead courtesy of a penalty. Talbot played the ball long over the top of the Cumnock defence, who were looking for offside. Darren Johnstone came rushing off his line and collided with Graham Wilson and the referee immediately pointed to the spot, brandishing Johnstone with a yellow card for his troubles.

Gordon Pope waited on Johnstone to commit himself before striking the ball down the centre of the goal.

Cumnock’s first chance of the game came in the seventh minute. Josh Watt struck a shot from the edge of the box which went whistling past the right hand post.

Talbot then doubled their lead in the 15th minute. Crawford failed to block a cross from the right hand side by Willie Boyd which found Brian Young at the back post who headed past Johnstone.

Craig Napier found himself pointing to the spot for the second time, on the half-hour mark, due to an off the ball foul on Young.

This time Shankland stepped up but his penalty was saved by Johnstone, low to his right hand side.

Cumnock were dealt a blow a minute from half-time when Paul Quinn was stretchered off.

Nock’ gaffer John McKeown recognised the need for changes and didn’t hang about at half-time, bringing on Owen Ronald for Ray Montgomerie and Nicky Moore for the injured Paul Quinn at the restart.

Ronald immediately had a positive impact, winning a free kick at the edge of the box on the 47th minute, for which Pope was booked.

Ronald cut the free kick back to Watt who decided to take a touch instead of striking first time and the chance was lost as Talbot quickly closed him down.

Paul Murphy went close to grabbing a goal back for Cumnock in the 48th minute. Ronald picked out Murphy from a free kick who’s header brushed the post on its way out for a goal kick.

Andy Leishman produced what could be the save of the season in the 61st minute. Paul Burns struck a half volley from the edge of the box which looked to be going in to the top left hand corner of the net but somehow Leishman managed to get across his goal to tip the ball behind for a corner.

Talbot scored their third much against the run of play in the 80th minute when Young scored his second.

His effort can only be described as a mishit cross, from the left hand side, which he sliced over Johnstone and into the back of the net.

Watt found Leishman on top form once again in the 83rd minute, when he struck a close range shot towards the near post which produced an excellent reaction save from the keeper.

However Cumnock managed to finally beat the inform Leishman from the resulting corner.

Ronald swung in a dangerous cross which was won by Murphy and his header was hooked into the net by Aiden Malone.

Kieren Wood went close in the 90th minute which would have given Talbot a nervy final few minutes. Ronald whipped in yet another dangerous ball towards the back post which Wood came within an inch of connecting with.

Cumnock started the game slowly but the signs from the second half were promising and point towards a very successful season and a way back into the top league.

Cumnock — Johnstone; Lundie, Crawford, Wood, Murphy, Esplin, Montgomerie, Burns, McNeil, Quinn, Watt. Subs — Moore, Lynsey, Malone, Downs, Ronald.

Auchinleck Talbot — Leishman; Latta, Pope, Lyle, Miller, White, Young, Hyslop, Shankland, Wilson, Boyd. Subs — Walls, Findlay, Gillies, Wilson, McGoldrick.

Bo’ness United vs Auchinleck Talbot

Bo’ness United welcomed the Scottish Junior Cup winners to Newtown Park for an enjoyable friendly encounter that saw the visitors run out winners in front of a good sized crowd.
Bo’ness showed positive intent from the first moments of the match when Nicky Walker forced a corner within the opening minute and from the set piece Ross Campbell headed wide from a good position.
Talbot were next to threaten the goals when Gordon Pope played a lovely weighted through ball to Dwayne Hislop who struck his shot wide when he really should have scored.
New United signing Connor McGregor then had a drive go wide and Darren Cummings had a volley saved before the visitors took the lead on the quarter hour mark. Graham Wilson capitalised on some hesitant defending to play in William Boyd who struck a low drive into the corner of the net from the edge of the area that gave the keeper no chance.
Talbot then had the ball in the net again through Mark Shankland only for assistant referee Craig Macrae to correctly flag for offside.
Bo’ness went close to equalising on twenty five minutes when McGregor crossed for Cummings whose net bound effort was swept away by William Lyle.
After the bright opening the game was to stagnate for a period with both midfields cancelling each other out and it took until just before half time for another effort on goal when Stewart Devine crossed for Trialist B who headed over.

The second half started with a heavy squall that had the fans running for the enclosure but the conditions didn’t affect the visitors who nearly stretched their advantage when a Shankland cross found Wilson whose header was saved.
United were then to enjoy some pressure of their own with Walker having a shot deflected wide and Cummings having a header saved from a Chris Donnelly cross.
The equaliser should then have come just after the hour mark but Donnelly saw his header bounce over the bar and moments later Donnelly was again involved when his low drive was saved and the rebound fell to Mark Cowan who saw his strike well saved by Scott Johnstone.
The decisive second Talbot goal was to come on sixty nine minutes though, when David Gillies played in Trialist B who finished well.
United then had chances in the latter stages but Cummings, Campbell and Cowan all saw efforts go over the bar as Talbot completed the victory.
Auchinleck Talbot:
1. Scott Johnstone
2. James Latta
3. Gordon Pope
4. William Lyle
5. Trialist A
6. Steven White
7. Lee Cochrane (12. Trialist B 31)
8. David Hislop (14. Trialist C 68)
9. Mark Shankland
10. Graham Wilson (17. Davy Gilles 68)
11. William Boyd
Scorer: Boyd 15, Trialist B 89

Newtongrange Star vs Auchinleck Talbot

1437854227_8522 — Martin Findlay celebrates his goal

Talbot travelled across to the East to take on Premier club Newtongrange in their third pre-season friendly of the new season and returned home with an emphatic 5-0 win under their belt. The Star had been busy during the close season with five new signings to date and on paper looked a decent side, but this was to be Talbot’s day especially for the younger element that made it a day the East giants will want to forget.
Once again Talbot started with no central defence which forced Tucker into bringing along ex-Winton Rovers player Darren Miller to pair alongside Willie Lyle who was acting in a sweeper role. Talbot were certainly the busier of the two sides as the game kicked off and in the 6th minute Shankland whipped in a dangerous cross that Boyd hit back across the face of the goals but there were no takers. The game was bogged down in midfield for a large part of the opening encounters and the home side fashioned a few chances but their finishing efforts were woeful to say the least. On 15 minutes Talbot should have been awarded a penalty when Boyd headed a pope cross into the path of Shankland whose parting shot was clearly handled in the box. Five minutes later Bryan Young’s dangerous ball into the box was headed clear back to his feet and his first time drive just skimmed the left hand post.

1437854000_7290 — Graham Wilson in action

The first half was drawing to a close when the home side were awarded a dubious corner, and from it Thompson volleyed a peach of a shot goal ward which forced Leishman into a terrific save where he tipped the ball over the bar.
Tucker rang the changes in the second half by bringing on Keir Milliken and Lee Cochrane for Bryan Young and Graham Wilson. Talbot took the lead a minute later when MARK SHANKLAND found himself free on the right and with nobody following up he cut into the box beat two defenders and dispatched the ball into the net well away from the keeper. Two minutes later Talbot were denied another penalty when Shankland’s shot was handled by Thompson but the referee waved play on. On the hour mark Tucker replaced Steven White for young Martin Findlay much to the home sides delight due to the veteran midfielder’s no prisoner tactics. Talbot were unlucky no to have doubled their lead a minute later when Shankland fired a shot just over the bar after connecting with a Milliken through ball. This was to be the young striker’s last act as he was replaced on the 70th minute by trialist Billy Wells. The star had a good opportunity to level things on the 75th minute when Chris Renton

1437854024_5369 — Willie Boyd wins the ball as Bryan Young looks on

fashioned a decent chance but he shot well wide. A minute later DWAYNE HYSLOP doubled Talbot’s lead when he put a glancing header from a Pope whipped cross well out of the reach of the home keeper. This was followed sixty seconds later when Wells broke up the left wing and sent in a wicked cross which was met by the unmarked MARTIN FINDLAY who powered his header well past Renton in the Star goals. The home side had their heads down by this and on the 80th minute Wells again found loads of room on the left and his deft pass through the defence left KEIR MILLIKEN in the clear and he chipped the ball over the advancing keeper to make it 4-0.
There was no fight left in the home side by now and worse was to follow when LEE COCHRANE robbed the ball on the right hand side of the midfield, advanced forward and with the home defence back peddling he unleashed ferocious 25 yard strike that flew over the clawing hands of the keeper before nestling in the back left hand side of the net.
This was a terrific result for Talbot against a well fancied Star side.
TALBOT: Leishman, Latta, Pope, Lyle, Miller, White (Findlay 60), Young (Cochrane 45), Hyslop, Shankland (Wells 70), G.Wilson (Milliken 45), Boyd. Sub not used Johnstone.

Annbank United vs Auchinleck Talbot

Craigmark Burntonians vs Auchinleck Talbot

Talbot travelled to Dalmellington as guests of Ayrshire District League side Craigmark Burntonians and put in a solid display that was rewarded with nine goals. The game itself was in doubt on Friday night as the host club were struggling for players due to holidays and transfer and the side that took to the pitch was a youthful 4KMRB1FR turnout.
Talbot had three trialists in the squad including a well kent face from not that long ago as with the three new signings, Gillies and Wilson started the match with Love coming on later in the second half. The game itself started briskly with the home side showing some good defensive work as Talbot forced some early attacking. However it only took 10 minutes for Talbot to open the scoring when Davie Gillies broke into the box and his cut back was swept into the net by MARK SHANKLAND. It was 2-0 two minutes later when James Latta dribbled into the danger area and his pass into the six yard line was pounced on by STEVEN WHITE who shot took a deflection sending the keeper the wrong way.
Craigmark seemed to rally to the misfortune of being two goals down and held Talbot at bay until the 23rd minute when MARK SHANKLAND went on a solo run which was ended with a superb curling shot which left the keeper stranded. Goal number four came a minute later when Lee Cochrane robbed a defender at the edge of the home box where the ball fell to TRIALIST 1 and he crashed the ball into the net. New boy STEVIE WILSON got in on the act on the 28th minute when a superb ball by Gillies into his feet saw the big midfielder give the keeper no chance.
8U9NR5PJ The game seemed to go into training mode as Talbot took the foot off the gas and both teams headed for the pavilion with Talbot 5-0 up. The second half saw the introduction of Milliken, Trialist 3, Boyd and G.Wilson at the expense og Gillies, Shankland, Trialist 2 and White. The switch seemed to hamper the Talbot as they had plenty of the ball but the red wall of defenders was holding out with some back to the wall defending and in the opening 15 minutes of the second half the only thing of note was G. Wilson header that came off the post.
On the 69th minute the scoring spree was resumed when Keir Milliken jinked his way past a number of defenders before setting up LEE COCHRANE who dispatched the ball into the back of the net. A minute later in was 7-0 When Trialist 3 cut into the goal area to set up GRAHAM WILSON who made no mistake from close in. Talbot introduced ROBERT LOVE for Steven Wilson and on the 87th minute the former Albion Rovers winger thundered a Trialist 3 cut back into the roof of the net. The scoring was ended when Trialist 3 turned provider once again when his pass into the box was swept past the keeper to make it 9-0. In the last minute Cochrane showed some great skill when he killed a cross with his chest and hammered the ball off the bar.
K9EFTE7K TALBOT: Leishman, Latta, Pope, Trialist 1, Hyslop, White (Milliken 45) Trialist 2 (Boyd 45) S.Wilson (Love 71), Gillies (Trialist 3 45), Gillies (G.Wilson 45) Cochrane