THE WOSFL PREVAILS…BUT ONLY JUST

TUCKER CALLS IT AS HE SEES IT

Enticing one to take in Auchinleck Talbot’s head to head with East Kilbride on Saturday was the beforehand script which read as this Beechwood Park clash providing an ideal opportunity for the visitors to lay down a marker on behalf of Lowland League clubs?

The received wisdom reckoned it would be a marvelous endorsement for Tier Five’s oft maligned standing in Scottish Football if one of their more highly regarded number was to secure a place in the South Region Challenge Cup last eight, but unfortunately for them, Talbot were not for having any of that.

A 1-0 scoreline in their favour suggests the Ayrshiremen may have just scraped through but the reality is theirs was an admittedly narrow victory but one which didn’t truly reflect their superiority over the 90 minutes.

Talbot boss Tommy Sloan said as much when speaking afterwards,” There weren’t all that many clear cut scoring chances but we created the better of them and certainly more than East Kilbride so we fully deserved to win the game in my opinion.

“It was tough going at times against a big side with a fair degree of physicality about them but I felt our twin centrebacks Craig McCracken and Neil McPherson stepped up to the mark and comfortably dealt with E.K’s threat, particularly at set plays.”

Tucker added, “ Leaving out several regulars today was intended to get one or two of the guys back playing again while at the same time getting a rest into the legs of one or two more and it’s pleasing to come away without any injuries because we’ve certainly a big week looming in front of us.(title challenging Talbot play host to league leaders Beith in midweek before a derby confrontation away to Cumnock next weekend).

“That said, it was every bit as important for us to progress in this competition as it is a Cup we want to win.”

The torn calf muscle injury keeping skipper Andy Leishman on the sidelines forced Auchinleck to field Clyde loanee goalkeeper Joshua Bradley Hirst between the sticks but neither he nor Max Currie at the other end of the pitch were called into action during the game’s early stages when a battle for midfield control ensued.

Gareth Armstrong and Kieran Healey made sure the home side more than held their own in this respect and their combative efforts paved the way for a touch of real quality from their engine room partner Mark Shankland to bring about a breakthrough with 27 minutes on the clock.

Taking possession of the ball .shuttled left in his direction, Shankers appeared to deliberately delay his cross to coincide with team mate Bryan Boylan’s run and a sublimely flighted cross duly picked out the big striker to dispatch a well struck volley beyond Currie for 1-0.

This lead was close to being doubled before half time, firstly when the buoyed up Shankland weaved his way goalwards from out left before unleashing a low shot that Currie saved and the shotstopper (son of Petershill manager Ian) came up with the goods again to smother a powerfully hit drive from Lewis Crawford after the Talbot full back had charged down the right in seemingly acres of space.

The second period began as the first had ended with Currie fortunate to be in the right place to keep out a netbound Shankland volley blasted down his throat but E.K’s dogged resistance then suffered a blow when commanding stopper Alan Lithgow limped off with what appeared to be a muscular problem.

The visitors were undoubtedly presenting more of an attacking threat as the half wore on but were finding the combination of McCracken and McPherson up to the task of repulsing everything thrown into the home team’s penalty box which enabled Bradley Hirst to remain largely untested other than when plucking high balls out of the air.

Auchinleck continued to look the more likelier side to score as demonstrated by Healey letting fly in 84 minutes with a fierce 25 yarder that looked a certain goal until Currie acrobatically leaped to stick out a hand to tip the ball over.

A clearly disappointed E.K. gaffer Kevin Rutkiewicz reflected,”Did I think it was a good spectacle…No…Did I think one team was noticeably better than the other…No…but Auchinleck found a way to score a special goal and that’s why they and not us are in the next round.

“They then defended solidly and very aggressively to almost knock the belief out of our guys because we were a bit blunt and never looked like scoring even when we pressed them deep in the second half.

“We left gaps by pushing forward but seldom looked in bother defensively and Max’s tipover save which was fairly routine if truth be told was the closest we came to conceding again.

He went on,” Auchinleck have a game plan and know what it takes to win Cup ties and you need to match their grit, determination and a willingness to roll up the sleeves and get dirty to stand any chance of getting the better of them .

“Look, we’re not the first team nor are we going to be the last to come up short down here but we’ll take the experience on board, go away to lick our wounds and hopefully be better for it. “

MATCHWINNER BOYLAN

The Lowland League fared better at Holm Park where Stirling University came out on top, 2-1 over Clydebank whose second half score by Adam Hodge was not enough to overhaul the 2-0 lead built up by Cammy McKinlay and James Berry(pen) scores for the students , however Gartcairn, thanks to Jordan Love and Reegan Aitken goals tipped the balance back in the WOSFL ‘s favour with a 2-1 defeat of Tranent Juniors. .

In other South Challenge Cup affairs , Sauchie came back from 2-0 down against Cumnock ,whose marksmen were Graham Boyd and Jordan Moore , to rack up an extra time 3-2 triumph with goals from Darren Carroll, Danny Smith and Ross Kavanagh while Drumchapel United ran out 3-1 winners over Vale of Clyde and Kilwinning Rangers secured their Quarter Final place with a 2-0 Lochburn Park win over Maryhill , where Ally McColm and Thomas Collins (pen) were on target.

Celebrations among Auchinleck fans was somewhat tempered by word coming in of a setback to their Premier Division title hopes through league leaders Beith extending their lead over the Bot to a yawning 18 points (from 7 games more played) thanks to Danny O’Neil and Josh Fowler counters earning a 2-1 victory over Glenafton for whom Hugh Kerr netted.

Second top Darvel remain very much in contention after recovering from falling behind to a Sam Greenwood goal for Cambuslang Rangers at Recreation Park to record a 3-1 success on the back of a Craig Moore hat trick and despite a red card for Cameron Eadie reducing them to ten men with the scores tied at 1-1.

Elsewhere ,Pollok stay third in the table on the back of a resounding 6-2 defeat of Rob Roy through doubles from Chris Duff and Stuart McCann along with Darren Christie and Lee Barr scores while every bit as deserving of the plaudits are Springburn’s finest Petershill ,now clear of the relegation basement for the first time this season after Lennon Houston bagged the only goal of the game away to Irvine Meadow.

Arthurlie now occupy the unwanted third from bottom spot following on from their 1-0 half time lead through an Andy McLaughlin goal at home to Largs Thistle being wiped out by second half Will Sewell and Lewis Davidson efforts for the Seasiders.

And hats off to Troon for taking yet another massive stride towards safety(9 points ahead of Arthurlie) by overcoming Hurlford United at Portland Park where Kyle Gilroy (2) and Ben Black got their names on a 3-1 scoresheet.

First Division leading lights Kilbirnie Ladeside faltering again with a 1-1 draw at home to relegation threatened Cumbernauld United was seized upon by title hopefuls St Cadocs ,now a point behind the Blasties, (from 3 games fewer played) after Grant Anderson came off the substitutes bench to clinch a hard fought 1-0 victory over Neilston.

A point further adrift are Benburb thanks to Lewis Lovering’s second half striker resulting in a 2-1 Keanie Park win against Johnstone Burgh .

WEEKEND RESULTS: P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Darvel 3 Cambuslang Rangers 1, Irvine Meadow 0 Petershill 1, Arthurlie 1 Largs Thistle 2, Glenafton 1 Beith 2, Pollok 6 Rob Roy 2, Troon 3 Hurlford Utd 1. PDM Buildbase First Division. Rutherglen Glencairn 1 Bonnyton Thistle 3, Shotts Bon Accord 2 St Rochs 3, Blantyre Vics 1 Rossvale 3, St Cadocs 1 Neilston 0, Whitletts Vics 2 Thorniewood Utd 1, Cumbernauld Utd 1 Klbirnie Ladeside1, Johnstone Burgh 1 Benburb 2. PDM Buildbase Second Division. Greenock 2 Maybole 3, Renfrew 4 Glasgow Utd 3, Ardeer Thistle 1 Ashfield 2, St Anthonys 2 Yoker Athletic 0, Wishaw 1 Glasgow Perthshire 3, Kilsyth Rangers 2Craigmark 2,GlasgowUniversity 3 Muirkirk 1. PDM Buildbase Third Division. Royal Albert 1 Ardrossan Winton Rovers 7, Lesmahagow 3 Vale of Leven 2,Port Glasgow 1 Lanark Utd 7, Kello Rovers 5 Carluke Rovers 1, East Kilbride Thistle 4 Dalry Thistle 2, Girvan 2 Larkhall Thistle 2, Irvine Vics 5 Saltcoats Vics 1, Bellshill Athletic 0 Lugar Boswell 0, Finnart 3 Newmains Utd 0.PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. St Peters 3 Easterhouse1, Thorn Athletic 1 Glenvale 0, Rossvale Academy 4 Eglinton 2.South Region Challenge Cup 5^th Round. Cumnock 2 Sauchie 3(a.e.t.), Maryhill 0 Kilwinning Rangers 2, Gartcairn 2 Tranent 1, Auchinleck Talbot 1 East Kilbride F.C.0, Clydebank 1 Stirling University 2, Drumchapel Utd 3 Vale of Clyde 1.

Regards

Jim O’Donnell