TALBOT’S CUP AND BEITH’S TITLE

TALBOT SKIPPER LEISHMAN HOLDS ALOFT THE WEST SILVERWARE

Did Auchinleck Talbot answer questions about their character and spirit by taking the Indigo Comms West of Scotland League Cup honours on Friday evening? Undoubtedly!

And was the manner of their 2-0 victory over Clydebank unexpected? Probably!

But a shock ? Most definitely not! As the would-be Bankies will now testify after discovering at first hand …like so many other teams before them … that Talbot have reserves of graft, craft and downright dogged resilience to call upon when the odds appear stacked against them as they were at Meadow Park.

This potent mix proved too much for Clydebank on the night yet there’s no denying Talbot had gone into the showpiece finale in a seriously depleted state on account of having to fulfill an energy draining schedule of fixtures, 11 matches in the preceding 27 days all told, inclusive of home and away 2-1 defeats at the hands of their Final opponents.

Another cost to pay for this disproportionate programme was having Kieran Healy and serial medal winning front men Graham Wilson and Mark Shankland ruled out through injury while yet another of their array of forward line aces, Bryan Boylan, was considered 50/50 at best and only able to take up a seat on the substitutes bench.

The cup-tied status of Ryan Sinnamon and Ali Boyle only added to gaffer Tommy Sloan’s selection headache and helps explain to an extent why the team he listed for the Final had teenager Ross Taylor playing as an unaccustomed out and out striker alongside Keir Samson.

Credit to the youngster for making a more than decent fist of fronting up against physically towering Bankies stopper pairing of Creag Little and Jamie Darroch while the midfield displays of fellow 19 year old, Ross Smith (later named man of the match) and Michael Wardrope received Bot gaffer Tommy Sloan’s nod of approval when he spoke afterwards.

Tucker admitted ,” Clydebank started the better of the teams which taking everything into consideration was maybe to be expected but I felt our young guys grew into the game over the closing 15 minutes in the first half after the penalty kick miss.

“The ball hitting the bar was a welcome break that helped us come up trumps thereafter and I thought Ross and Michael in particular were then excellent in getting on the ball to make us play passes.

“I’m pleased for them not least because they were both desperate to do well returning to Meadow Park having previously played here.”

A delayed kick off (to allow entry to a 1600 plus crowd )started away with Clydebank making all the early running and coming close to a breakthrough when a clipped Ciaran Mulcahy shot took a deflection that carried it the wrong side of Andy Leishman’s upright.

Talbot manfully refused to wilt in the face of this territorial dominance but their backline was breached (sort of) in 21 minutes when Bankies winger Lee Gallagher went down under a challenge from Ayrshire full back Aiden Wilson and whistler Ross Clark unhesitatingly pointed to the spot.

Top scorer Nikky Little ,making his return after a four week absence from a dislocated shoulder injury, assumed responsibility for taking the award and stepped forward confidently, only for his well struck shot to smack off the crossbar and rebound away to safety much to the audible delight of the Talbot supporting throng.

The Ayrshire outfit’s near thing riposte of their own arrived when Bankie s keeper Jamie Donnelly came for a Wardrope corner kick and completely missed his intended punch but otherwise they finished the opening 45 minutes without having so much as a single shot on target.

Almost immediately on the resumption, Auchinleck found themselves 1-0 to the good after a wickedly inswinging Wardrope free kick from the left found full back Chris Stafford sliding in full length to apply the merest of touches and divert the ball past Donnelly.

Buoyed by getting their noses in front, Talbot were showing more of an attacking threat and it was now the turn of Clydebank’s defence to stand tall in the face of mounting pressure however they came unstuck at yet another set play just after the hour mark.

Wardrope was the nominated dead ball taker again and this time his attempted shot from plumb centre of the goal some 20 yards out took a massive deflection of Creag Little’s head to leave Donnelly going right while the ball found the net on his left side for 2-0.

There and then it was game over even though Smith came ever so close to adding a fitting coup de grace from an opening created by his own work when veering goalwards from out left fand leaving two defenders in his wake before being blocked out by the advancing Donnelly’s frame .

Disappointed Bankies boss Gordon Moffat appeared afterwards to say,”The missed penalty is a big moment yet such are the fine margins that Nikky’s in there devastated but if his penalty kick goes in then he’s a hero in the eyes of everyone.

“ We were the better team first half but Auchinleck definitely shaded things over the second 45 minutes and all credit to them for managing the game so well and making sure we never got the ball down to play as we have in the league games against them.

“Right now it’s a sore one but I’d like to think we will be back stronger and better for the experience.”

STRAINY…DIDN’T HE AND BEITH DO WELL

Watching on from the terracings as the Talbot players cavorted around Meadow Park with their silverware prize was Beith boss Chris Strain who less than 24 hours later was central to the Bellsdale Park celebrations that lavishly ensued after his Mighty side clinched the Premier Division Championship on the back of what must surely have been a pleasing 5-0 demolition of relegation threatened Kilwinning Rangers thanks to goals from Connor McGlinchey(2), Andy Monk, Josh Fowler and Carlo Monti.

Strainy wouldn’t admit to any sense of satisfaction but it would be understandable seeing as only a year ago to this very month, he was axed from his post as Buffs Park manager with Kilwinning sitting fifth top of the Premier pile.

Beith had gone into yesterday’s game knowing a win over the Buffs on it’s own would not guarantee a title triumph unless nearest challengers Darvel failed to take the spoils away to derby rivals Hurlford United.

A David Syme headed goal midway through the second half looked to have delayed any crowning glory for at least another week but deep into injury time Josh Jack levelled matters for Hurlford with a goal that was arguably celebrated more at Bellsdale than at Blair Park.

In other games, Kilwinning’s latest demise was warmly greeted through in Barrhead where Arthurlie’s 3-1 defeat of Rob Roy from pivotal scores by Gary Smith, Gary Carroll and Jordan Leyden opened up an eight point gap between the drop battling clubs albeit the second bottom of the table Ayrshiremen have played two games fewer.

This fourth win in seven starts by Colin Reilly’s men finally confirmed a relegation fate for Petershill (without a fixture) and bottom markers Cambuslang Rangers, beaten 2-1 at home to Troon for whom Dean Fulton and Jack Marks netted either side of a Grant Brennan goal for the Wee Gers.

The only other top flight contest saw Glenafton striker Hugh Kerr score the only goal of the game against near neighbours Cumnock who were left ruing a Findlay Frye spot kick miss.

Continuing to lead the First Division way are St Cadocs, 1-0 winners over Cumbernauld United while Gartcairn (1 point adrift and with 2 games in hand) remain in close proximity after Jordan Love(pen),Daz Smith and a brace of Danny Burns goals secured a 4-1 victory over St Rochs

Aaron Black also netted twice as third placed Benburb ran out 2-0 winners over Neilston to move 8 points ahead of viable promotion rivals Drumchapel United whose 0-0 stalemate with Rutherglen Glencairn extended their horror winless run to five league matches .

WEEKEND RESULTS: 2023: Indigo Comms West of Scotland League Cup Final.Auchinleck Talbot 2 Clydebank 0. P.D.M.Buildbase Premier Division. Beith 5 Kilwinning Rangers 0, Arthurlie 3 Rob Roy 1, Hurlford Utd 1 Darvel 1, Glenafton 1 Cumnock 0, Cambuslang Rangers 1 Troon 2. PDM Buildbase First Division. Gartcairn 4 St Rochs 1, Benburb 2 Neilston 0, Thorniewood Utd 2 Whitletts Vics 1, Blantyre Vics 2 Shotts Bon Accord 0, Cumbernauld Utd 0 St Cadocs 1, Rutherglen Glencairn 0 Drumchapel Utd 0. PDM Buildbase Second Division. Glasgow Utd 1 Ardeer Thistle 2, Greenock 1 Ashfield 2, Maryhill 3 Kilsyth Rangers 3,Wishaw 1 Craigmark 2, Muirkirk 0 Glasgow University 0, St Anthonys 2 Maybole 2. PDM Buildbase Third Division. Saltcoats Vics 2 Vale of Clyde 2, Lanark Utd 0 Ardrossan Winton Rovers 3, Newmains Utd, 0 Port Glasgow 2, Lugar Boswell 4 Carluke Rovers 3, Dalry Thistle 1 Bellshill Athletic 4, Royal Albert 0 Kello Rovers 0,Irvine Vics 0 Vale of Leven 3, Lesmahagow 1 Larkhall Thistle 0, Finnart 2 East Kilbride Thistle 2.

Regards

Jim O’Donnell