Game 155 - QUARTER FINAL!

Shotts Bon Accord 1 Vs 2 Auchinleck Talbot

STADIUM - Hannah Park, Shotts

COMPETITION - Scottish Junior Cup - Quarter Final

DATE - Saturday 12th March 2022

KICK OFF - 14:30

PITCH - Grass

PROGRAMME - No

COST - Free Me, Sam, Mason (Media Pass on the Hop)

SCORE BOARD - No

CLOCK - No

ATTENDANCE - 718 Official (seemed more)

PENALTY - Yes (Shotts Scored)

RED CARD - Yes (Shotts Keeper Murdoch 70')

GOALS - Shotts Martin - Talbot Boylan 41', McCracken 73'

MILES TRAVELLED - 20 approx

VIDEO - Coming soon...

Game 155 what a day, contacted the club and were welcomed along, greeted and shown around the whole place, an amazingly warm and friendly welcome from such a great club.

THE GROUND

Absolutely love this ground, plenty there and work being done. a really well kitted out social club with brilliant function suites. We also were shown inside the clubhouse which was from 1950, wee boy loved seeing inside and looking at all the kits on the walls and memorabilia. Bonny Bistro was class and well priced, selling pin badges which we love, unfortunately no programme for today.

Some amount of land they have, we were told they sold the back end away for housing.

Heavy rain had given us the fear the game might be abandoned, but a morning pitch inspection had given it the go ahead. Then Auchinleck boss Tommy Sloan arrived and checked the pitch I did worry he didn't look happy and had the fear again, but ...GAME ON!

THE PREDICTION
Had Talbot down for the win before this as ...well...it's the BOT!

DOWN TO THE ACTION!

A really soden heavy pitch given the amount of rain before the game, but what an effort for the grounds team of Shotts to get this the go ahead. A really level playing surface, which in better weather must be a joy to play on.

Thought this would be a more one sided game than it was, in fact Shotts really took it to Talbot, especially in the first half. The whole game their work rate could not be questioned always quick and strongly into the tackle.

Shotts would go 1 nil up via a penalty which I had no idea how it happened, Talbot keeper had the ball I looked to the wee boy and suddenly a penalty. (the only reason I now know what happened is by reading the Groundhopscot blog, check it out).

It was mostly all Shotts in the first half which shocked us a bit, what an effort from the team. Talbot would manage to pull it back to 1-1 before the half thanks to a goal by Bryan Boylan.

Second half Talbot took more control, although they didn't have it easy. We had moved to the opposite side to be nearer the Shotts goal, assuming the next goals would be there, we were right. When we moved we noticed how much the wind was blowing back towards that goal making it hard to get out, also the sun was blinding that side making it harder now for Shotts to see. Wonder how much that played a part in the first half, also how much it affected the teams now.

Talbot got through on the the keeper, who in making a save handled outside the box, he was off, red card and back to the lockers. The Freekick would lead to the goal as the rebound was fired in by Craig McCracken to put the visitors ahead.

Talbot could have had further daylight in the score barring a bad miss at the end, player through squared it pulling a decent save from the keeper before the rebound launched wide, should have been a goal.

IN CLOSING

An unfortunate loss for Shotts as they played so well today, but Talbot managed to get the job done. On the bright side what a peformance, they can take away alot of pride from that. Also what a turnout and a good bit of revenue in for the club, the Shotts fans were in cracking voice.

If you haven't visited Hannah Park yet, get yourself along, another great set up in Scotland with an amazing community spirit and a welcoming set of staff who go above and beyond.

Turnstiles and Terraces - MAN OF THE MATCH
Just cannot pick out one player, great performances all over the pitch for both teams.

EXTRAS

Semi finals for the Scottish Junior cup after today now...
Auchinleck Talbot Vs Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
Petershill Vs Yoker Athletic

The Final confirmed for Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
Sunday 5th June 2022