Troon Football Club

Recap

⚽️ Auchinleck Talbot versus Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 24th July 2021
PDM Buildbase WOSFL Premier Division
Beechwood Park, Auchinleck
Kick-off 2pm

 

MATCH REPORT by Richard Henderson

Troon turned in a performance to be proud of at the home of the multiple Champions, but were frustrated to leave pointless in the sweltering heat.

It was Troon who started proceedings in the 29 degrees of sunshine, and they were on the front foot immediately to surprise & pin back their hosts, Darren Miller first with a chance but he couldn’t quite get on the end of a Alan Frizzell flick on at the edge of the 6 yard box. The Seasider’s approach paid off after only four minutes when they opened the scoring, Ewan McLevy’s ball was cleverly hooked on and Sam Jamieson beat the offside to race through and slip the ball past the onrushing Leishman. Ben Black had an opportunity to double the lead, but he couldn’t quite get the through ball out from under his feet & Lyle intercepted, before Jamie Glasgow had the first chance of the day for the hosts, but Tommy Maitland & Marc Fisher combined to see the ball to safety. Frizzell was very much the danger man & he created another chance, beating Wilson again and crossing into the box, but Jamieson couldn’t quite get on the end. Troon’s high press and good use of the ball was restricting Talbot to half-chances, and McCracken headed high over from a free-kick before a Glasgow effort missed the target as well. But the chances were bound to come, and on the half hour mark a Lyle throw in found Boylan who beat Sam McCloskey to cross, but McLevy was there to thwart Graham Wilson at the front post for a corner, which Miller cleared.

HALF-TIME: AUCHINLECK TALBOT 0-1 TROON F.C.

After a well earned break to take on more fluids, Talbot got the second 45 underway with a new sense of urgency. Almost immediately, Boylan caught the first sight of goal only to be denied by his former Kilwinning team-mate Maitland once again. Healy then produced a wonderful delivery into the box, but McCloskey and Fisher combined to hold off Lyle & see the ball run out to safety. on 49 minutes Talbot found their way back into the game, and it was sadly thanks to a Troon mistake. From a Troon corner, the ball was cleared to Glasgow who broke half the length of the pitch to feed Boylan, who slipped the ball past Fisher & even the sliding McCloskey on the line couldn’t keep the equaliser out. The relief was palpable in the home faithful, and as Talbot pushed forward for a second, Wilson was denied a great chance by that man Maitland again with a timely intervention before Gallagher cleared. Troon weren’t taking this lying down though, and after a Jamieson effort forced a corner, Maitland & Jamieson combined to create a chance which Leishman again had to stop. Talbot made a double change on the hour mark, introducing Shankland & Samson for Glasgow & Wilson to add some energy into the attack as they pushed for a winner. Shankland made an instant impact with a drive down the left, but McLevy was equal to the task & cleared to safety before Maitland & Miller combined to keep Boylan at bay again. Aiden Wilson created a half-chance, crossing for Samson to head over before Talbot’s breakthrough finally came. Wilson fed Shankland & his cross from the left was headed home by fellow sub Samson on the line. Troon were looking tired by now after a marathon effort, but they still had enough energy in the legs to keep the home defence alert & Frizzell’s ball for sub Josh Black saw his effort past the post. A Shankland corner in the last five minutes saw McCracken rise to power a header home, but Fisher produced the best save of the game to deny him before Miller cleared the resultant corner. Josh Black was causing all sorts of trouble down the left & he created a great chance for Troon to net a deserved equaliser, but after fellow sub Nisbet got across the front of McPherson in the box Leishman was on hand to save on the line.

Judging by the celebrations at full-time, Talbot fans were as relieved to get the three points as the players were, but it was a performance to be proud of for the visiting team.

Troon now move onto three successive home matches against Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on Wednesday, Clydebank next Saturday & Cumbernauld United the following Wednesday.

 

Referee: Connor Ashwood
Assistant Referee One: Kai Skeoch
Assistant Referee Two: David Miller

Referee Observer: Dougie Smith

 

To read the match preview, follow the link: https://troonfootballclub.co.uk/talbot-240721-preview/

 

Match highlights, courtesy of TalbotTeeVee:

⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Kirkintilloch Rob Roy ⚽️
Wednesday 28th July 2021
PDM Buildbase WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 7.30pm