SUPER LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 2 AUCHINLECK TALBOT 1

A below par Talbot came out second best to Kilbirnie in this league fixture and could have little complaint over the result.

The home side should have taken the lead in the 4th minute. Bryan Young conceded a free kick out on the right which Darren Miller delivered to the far post. David Anderson laid it back across goal for Adam Forde who somehow put it wide from six yards out.

The Blasties threatened the Bot goal again in the 11th minute when they were awarded a free kick out on the left. It was delivered to the far post where Martin Grehan headed it back across goal, forcing Martin McGoldrick to slice it behind.

Talbot’s first effort at goal came in the 17th minute when Young sliced a shot wide from 20 yards.

Steven Wilson had an opportunity to give Talbot the lead on 24 minutes when he ran onto Young’s cross from the left wing but he lifted his free header over the bar.

As the half wore on, it looked as though Talbot had weathered the early storm, but with three minutes remaining Kilbirnie took the lead. Caolan McAleer raced onto a good diagonal ball and cut inside past Young before curling a first time shot in off the right hand post to give Kilbirnie a 1-0 lead at the interval.

Graham Wilson hit the target in the 50th minute. He drilled a decent shot inside the right hand post from 20 yards but Kieran Hughes was well positioned to make the save.

Kilbirnie doubled their advantage in the 55th minute with a well taken goal. Anderson sent the ball out left to Forde who swung it across to the far corner of the six-yard area where Grehan side-footed it into the corner of the net.

Talbot were thrown a lifeline with quarter of an hour remaining. Mark Staunton had been guilty of a few dubious aerial challenges and when he jumped into Graham Wilson with his arm extended, the ref pointed to the spot and booked him.

Graham Wilson took the spot kick and sent Hughes the wrong way to make it 2-1.

Trying to salvage something from the game, Talbot pushed bodies forward in the closing stages but couldn't fashion a clear cut opening and almost lost a third goal on the counter-attack in the 84th minute. McGoldrick was beaten to the ball by Kevin Turner who raced into the area but sent his shot wide of the right post under pressure from Craig McCracken.

Any hopes of a late fight back were ended with a minute of time remaining when Graham Wilson received his second yellow card of the evening leaving Talbot down to 10 men.

Talbot couldn't find that magic touch as Ladeside held on for the vctory.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, White, Lyle, McGoldrick, McCracken, Boyd, Young, Hyslop, Graham Wilson, Milliken, Steven Wilson.

Subs; Shankland, Love, Findlay, Johnstone