MATCH REPORT: AUCHINLECK TALBOT 2-2 ARTHURLIE

Saturday 9 September 2023 14:00

WoSFL Premier Division

Auchinleck Talbot 2-2 Arthurlie

Scorers

Auchinleck: Smith (18 pen), Boylan (28)

Arthurlie: Dykes (68 pen), Greenwood (90)

Beechwood Park, Auchinleck

ARTHURLIE completed an incredible second-half comeback against Auchinleck Talbot on Saturday to claim a hard-earned point at Beechwood Park.

A one-sided opening 45 minutes had left the Barrhead men in disarray as they were 2-0 down after a dominant performance from the Ayrshire side.

But, just like the old cliché, the second-half was a different story and the visitors could even have claimed an unlikely victory after levelling the scores at two goals apiece.

Right from the start the home side looked in the mood for this game, having an early shot go wide and Michael Wardrope forcing Arthurlie’s Max Kerr into a desperate challenge that resulted in an early yellow card.

Wardrope was forced off at this point, having been injured in the tackle, and Nathan Lennox was introduced in his place.

Just a few minutes later, with 18 on the clock, Talbot were given a great chance to open the scoring when Lewis Magee conceded a penalty. Ross Smith stepped up for the home side and made no mistake from 12 yards.

With Magee having been injured in the challenge that led to the penalty, Sam Greenwood came off the bench for the visitors before the referee called a water break due to the warm weather.

The home side doubled their lead on 28 minutes, Smith turning provider this time with a cross for Bryan Boylan to head home.

It looked like that would certainly be enough for the three points at this point as Talbot piled on the pressure and Arthurlie struggled to get out of their own half.

The home side missed several opportunities before the half-time whistle was finally blown and the Barrhead side were looking relieved to be only two down.

Conor Bradley was introduced for ‘Lie at half-time in place of Jordan Leyden, and they were then forced into another change on 53 minutes when Michael McKinven had to be replaced in goals by Max Clarke due to injury.

It was around this point that the visitors started to push on for the first time and Dylan McGuigan volleyed just wide on the hour, before Max Kerr shot tamely at goal following good setup play by Lee Roulston.

Clarke was called into action for the first time on 63 minutes, saving well down at his right-hand post.

Arthurlie got a lifeline on 68 minutes when Kerr was fouled by Aidan Glavin in the Talbot goal after chasing down a loose ball in the box. Dylan Dykes stepped up to take the kick and he calmly slotted the ball low Glavin’s right.

With the chance of a point now looking a possibility, Arthurlie were taking control of the game, and Conor Bradley smashed the ball over the bar on 72 when presented with a chance from a tight angle.

Chances were certainly falling Arthurlie’s way but they weren’t getting clean shots at goal until the first minute of injury time when a low cross from the right evaded everyone but Greenwood, who tapped in from close range.

Several minutes of injury time were still remaining at this point but, despite continuing to press, the visitors couldn’t find a clear opportunity to add a third to claim the points.

Arthurlie team: McKinven (Clarke 59), Roulston, Kerr, MacNeil, Magee (Greenwood 19), Docherty (c), Leyden (Bradley 46), Kangni-Soupke (Sugufara 42), Dykes, McGuigan, Bolger

Subs not used: Fletcher, McPherson

Auchinleck team: Glavin, Armstrong (McMillan 75), Gillies, Slooves, McPherson, Langan, Boyle, Wardrope (Lennox 14), Boylan, Smith (Boyd 85), Thomson (Black 85)

Subs not used: Kennedy, Abed, Henry