AUCHINLECK assistant manager Allan McLuckie says he’s confident Talbot’s players will build on the positives from their first 90 minutes of the league campaign – despite a frustrating opening-day defeat to Pollok on Saturday.
Andy Gallacher’s stunning curled effort in the 81st minute left Talbot empty-handed from their trip to Newlandsfield – despite the visitors dominating for long spells, particularly in the first half.
But there's little time for Talbot to lick their wounds, with newly-promoted St Cadoc’s providing the opposition at Beechwood Park on Wednesday night in Talbot’s first home fixture of the West of Scotland Football League season.
Ewan Thomson tumbles under a challenge from Ross Lindsay during Talbot’s 1-0 loss to Pollok on Saturday - this photo suggests contact was made just outside the box, though referee Jamie Wilkie waved away the visitors’ appeals for either a
It could all have been very different for Talbot if Connor Boyd hadn’t blazed a penalty over the crossbar with just eight minutes on the clock – while Talbot had a strong shout for a second spot-kick waved away by ref Jamie Wilkie in the second half after Ewan Thomson was sent tumbling by Pollok’s Ross Lindsay (above).
Speaking to Talbot’s media team after the match, McLuckie said: “Goals win games. In the first half we had three or four good opportunities, and at half time we actually said ‘look, guys, we need to be a wee bit more clinical there’ – and it’s come back to bite us.
Talbot boss Tommy Sloan and assistant Allan McLuckie deep in conversation at Newlandsfield
“We’ve got some new young guys in there and we can’t be too disheartened about how we played.
“We probably dominated much of the game, particularly in the first half. In the second half it was noticeable that we tired, probably because of the efforts we put in in the first half.
Auchinleck Talbot lost 1-0 to Pollok on the opening day of the WoSFL season on July 29
“We’re disappointed to lose the three points, but there’s positives there and we just move forward from that.“Defensively I thought we did well. Neil Slooves acquitted himself well, Neilly [McPherson] played well at right back, and in the first half Pollok never created a great deal of chances.
“I think they had one where the boy’s hit it over the bar, but that was it, so from that point of view we were happy defensively.
Auchinleck Talbot lost 1-0 to Pollok on the opening day of the WoSFL season on July 29
“Going up the road without the three points is a bit of a sickener but things will change.”
The mood could hardly have been more different in the Glenafton camp on Saturday, though, after Ryan Stevenson’s men pulled off one of the surprise results of the day in the top flight with a 2-1 win away to Darvel.
Auchinleck Talbot lost 1-0 to Pollok on the opening day of the WoSFL season on July 29
In a dress rehearsal for the senior Scottish Cup tie between the two sides in early September, Glens got off to the worst possible start when Leon Murphy handed the hosts the lead with just three minutes on the clock.
But Stevenson’s men weathered the early storm and Michael Moffat’s superb chip over Darvel’s former Auchinleck keeper Andy Leishman levelled the scores – and the former Ayr United man kept his cool to notch what would turn out to be the winner just past the hour.
Glens welcome Troon to Loch Park tonight (Tuesday) in their first home fixture of the new league campaign.
Both Glens' match tonight and Talbot's home game against St Cadoc's on Wednesday get under way at 7.30pm.
Also on Wednesday night, Cumnock play host to Pollok at Townhead Park with a 7.45pm kick-off.
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