All good things must end, and Talbot’s long unbeaten run was finally ended by Largs, so ending Talbot’s slim hopes of the league title.
Talbot had named Mallan in the starting line up but Stevie must have picked up a knock in the warm up and when the teams came out McCann was starting, and Talbot only had two fit subs, Latta and Tucker.
Largs wasn’t a happy hunting ground for Talbot last season and from the outset of this match it was obvious that it was going to be another tough night for the Bot.
Talbot were facing an uphill struggle after only 3 mins when they conceded an early penalty for O’Neill’s trip on Deas. DEAS stepped up to take the penalty himself and put it into the bottom corner to put Largs 1-0 ahead.
It could have been worse a few minutes later. A ball over the top found Lindsay on the left of the penalty area and Leishman was called into action to block his drive and then gathered the ball up at the second time of asking.
Talbot’s first attempt of the evening came in the 9th minute. Boyle passed it across the area to McCann who spun and shot wide of Connick’s right hand post.
Soon after, Talbot won a free kick out on the left touchline when Black impeded Young. Butch curled a good ball over to the back post and McCulloch stretched to get on the end of it but his shot was well held by Connick.
Largs were next to have a go for goal when Robertson found himself in space on the right and tried an ambitious effort from distance that flew over Leishman’s bar.
On 14 mins, Talbot worked a short free kick and a good passing move saw the ball worked to White who shoved it through for Boyle whose shot was held by Connick.
Talbot drew level after 17 minutes. A ball into the right of the Largs area was met by Boyle who laid it back into the path of MICK MCCANN who fired it past Connick and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Largs were almost gifted the lead again in the 23rd minute. White did well initially to win the ball at the edge of the area but then tried to run it out from the back and lost the ball to Deas who pulled his shot wide of target.
Boyle and Young then worked a good one-two out on the left, Butch releasing Boyle down the wing and Coyle had to be on his toes to get across to clear Boyle’s cut back to the near post area, at the expense of a corner. The corner was hit over to the back post where McCulloch met it but it went out for a goal kick.
In the 27th minute Largs were awarded a free kick in a dangerous area when McCulloch brought down Lindsay, just outside the area. Monaghan drilled it in low, but Leishman was behind it to make the stop.
Talbot should have taken the lead on the half hour mark. A mix up in the Largs midfield surrendered possession to White and he passed it through to McCann inside the area. McCann had an opportunity to hit it from a similar spot from where he’d scored but he took an extra touch and this allowed the defence to get back and make the challenge and put it behind for a corner.
It was a poor corner by Talbot and Largs raced up the field and re-gained the lead. The defence was posted missing as Monaghan raced free down the right wing and he had time to look up and square it in for DEAS who slotted it past Leishman to put Largs 2-1 ahead after 31 mins.
Largs were now back in the ascendancy and White was forced to head behind for a corner out on the right, and when the corner came over to the back post, McCulloch had to head behind. This time, Largs wasted the corner, attempting to swing it into the near post but putting it straight out for a goal kick.
The home side had a real chance to extend their lead on 38 mins. Robertson whipped the ball in from the right and it broke off McCulloch and fell nicely for Monaghan straight in front of goal but Leishman made a good stop to his left to deny him.
In the final minute of the half Largs squandered a decent break due to a poor final ball. Lindsay had Monaghan free in the centre but over hit his pass and it went straight through to Leishman, and so the sides went in at the interval with Largs one goal to the good.
The home side were first out of the blocks in the 2nd half with Deas making a run into the box before sliding it back for Gault at the edge of the area but he fired his shot wide of the right post.
It was then Talbot on the attack with McCann’s cross from the left being nodded down by Boyle into the path of O’Neill who was nudged over from behind but the referee ignored Talbot’s penalty appeal.
In the 51st minute Talbot had a half chance to pull level. Smith pulled the ball back to McVey just outside the area and whilst Liam didn’t make good contact with the shot, it nearly turned into a good pass for McCann who got a foot onto it but hit it straight at Connick.
A minute later and Talbot had a set piece in a great area when O’Neill was fouled just outside the box by Gault. Boyle hammered it on target but Connick made a good stop, and Smith failed to make the most of the rebound.
Talbot were now permanently camped in the Largs half but were failing to take their chances.
With 55 mins gone Young’s ball over the top picked out Boyle on the right and he went for a shot across the keeper but it also went wide of Connick’s right hand post.
Just short of the hour mark Young’s free kick into the area was flighted perfectly onto the head of O’Neill but he didn’t get enough on his header and it went straight through to Connick.
Talbot then forced a succession of corners as the pressure mounted on Largs, but the defence stood firm and Connick did well to punch Young’s in swinging corner clear under pressure.
Largs won a free kick out on the left on 66 mins following McCulloch’s foul on Lindsay. The free kick was curled into the goalmouth where Leishman made a good take.
Play then switched to the other end where Boyle forced a corner out on the left. Young whipped the ball over to the back post where McCulloch met it but his header was fractionally too high, and clipped the top of the bar and over.
Young then went on a mazy run, evading at least four challenges, before releasing the ball out left to Boyle who drilled it across the keeper but just wide of the left post.
Talbot made their first change after 70 mins with Latta coming on for Smith.
The chances kept coming and Young had a chance inside the area when Connick could only punch McGoldrick’s cross into his path. Unfortunately, the ball wouldn’t come down, and he was unable to get over his volley, which flew over the bar.
Moments later and Boyle had a go from outside the box but his shot also went over the bar.
Largs who had been under the cosh for sometime, now responded by making their first change on 72 mins with Muir coming on in place of Gault.
Talbot had another decent chance to draw level in the 76th minute when Young’s pass picked out the run of Boyle down the right. He was clean through on goal with only Connick to beat but the Largs keeper had raced from his line and when Boyle tried to touch it past him, Connick got enough on the ball to deflect it and when it went loose in the box, it didn’t break Talbot’s way and Largs were able to clear.
Tucker now made the transition from dug out to field of play as he came on for O’Neill and within minutes of taking the field was on the receiving end of a dreadful refereeing decision when he was penalised, after winning the ball cleanly and knocking it out into space on the left.
With 10 mins remaining Largs made their second switch with Jamieson coming on for Robertson.
Talbot kept plugging away but it just wasn’t our night and another chance went past with 5 minutes remaining. A shy on the right went into the box and McCann laid it back to Young on the edge of the area but he drilled a shot just wide of the right hand post.
Largs made their final change in the 83rd minute with Dow coming on in place of Monaghan.
With Talbot pushing forward they were vulnerable on the break and Largs had a great chance to put the game beyond all doubt in the final minute of regulation time when Jamieson was put through on the right but he failed to take advantage, shooting wide of Leishman’s left post.
Talbot kept pushing right to the end but it wasn’t to be and with Meadow winning at Beith, the league title chase is now over.
Now it is back to cup duty and another visit to Townhead Park, here’s hoping that Tucker can lift the team for Saturday.
Talbot – Leishman, McGoldrick, McVey, McCulloch, Collins, White, Smith, O’Neill, Boyle, McCann, Young
Subs – Latta & Sloan
Largs – Connick, C Black, Coyle, Walton, Cochrane, Gault, Robertson, Lappin, Monaghan, Lindsay, Deas
Subs – McClure, G Black, Dow, Muir, Jamieson, Phillips, Greenwood (gk)
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