Injury crisis hits Auchinleck Talbot

Aug 14 2009 by Mike Wilson

AUCHINLECK Talbot are staring their worst start to a season for years as an injury crisis hits Beechwood Park.

Six players are on the crock list including Colin Spence who broke his leg in last week’s goalless draw against Cumnock.

And Talbot are facing the prospect of failing to make the quarter-finals of the Ardagh Cup for the first time in years.

Boss Tommy Sloan feels the team are facing the backlash of last season which didn’t end until mid-June.

Sloan said: “We don’t have our troubles to seek ahead of Saturday’s league opener at home to Kilbirnie but we just need to get on with it. It’s the worst injury pile-up I’ve known so early and I think we’re paying the effects of last season.”

Only Rikki Robb and Liam McVeigh have a chance for Saturday. But Stuart Davidson, Danny McKelvie and James Latta are more long term.

Talbot scraped their first win of the season when they beat Kello 4-3 but not without a scare. They were 4-0 up through Sean McIlroy (2), John Boyle and Gavin Collins before suffering a late collapse.

IRVINE MEADOW are the only definites in the last eight but they had to come from behind to beat Irvine Vics 2-1. Goals from Richie Barr and Frankie Haggarty cancelled out Rod Lennox’s opener before the break.

There were three red cards in the second-half – Meadow’s Mark Crilly and Barr being followed by Vics full-back Sean Kennedy.

ANNBANK top section three after beating MAYBOLE 2-1 for their third win in four. But ‘Bole will qualify if they beat Craigmark on Wednesday night.

A point behind Bankies are CRAIGMARK who crushed TROON 5-1 with goals from Liam Harper, Ronnie Caldwell (2), Darren Tallen and Brian Kerr. Graham Muir counted for Troon.

KILBIRNIE have all but wrapped up section one with BEITH and WINTON still in the frame.