TALKING JUNIORS
AUCHINLECK TALBOT hitman Graham Wilson may be forced into continuing his career away from the Juniors.
That’s the astonishing claim made by his gaffer Tommy Sloan in the wake of Gee’s first-half dismissal during Saturday’s 4-3 defeat in the Super Premier Division opener against Rob Roy.
Talbot finished the game with just nine men following skipper Willie Lyle’s red card in the second half.
However, it was whistler Steven Graham’s decision to show Wilson a second booking after netting his side’s opening two goals that incensed Sloan into letting rip afterwards.
He said: “I rate Gee as one of the best goalscorers doing the rounds as well as a terrific leader of the line, but he is proving such a handful for defenders that they are now resorting to conning referees to get him sent off.
“He is being targeted for shouts of ‘elbow’ every time he jumps for a ball and today’s game was a case in point as the extent of him leading with his arm in jumping for a ball with Danny Boyle was for his hand to brush against the big fellow’s head yet he has gone to ground as if poleaxed.
“It’s a nonsense for this to be happening at Junior level and we need strong referees to do their bit for the game by hammering the perpetrators.”
Sloan added: “I now have to seriously consider whether to play Graham in certain games because he is definitely being singled out by other clubs and referees.”
The visitors enjoyed a territorial dominance in the first-half and it was no surprise when went in front after 18 minutes. Wilson pounced on a through ball from Steven White to round advancing keeper Michael McKinven and slot home.
Their lead was then doubled when Wilson adroitly controlled a pass on his thigh and wheeled inside the area to clip beyond the Rabs keeper via the upright.
McKinven superbly blocked a Shankland shot following a sublime Talbot passing move but on 37 minutes Wilson got his marching orders and the extra man played a part as Rob Roy came into the game.
RABS gaffer Stewart Maxwell introduced Stefan Law in place of defender Scott Walker at the interval but the midfielder hadn’t even touched the ball before Talbot were 3-0 up as a Shankland flick found Jamie Glasgow running into space to slip the ball under McKinven.
Rabs winger Lee Gallagher caught the eye in the first-half and he was instrumental in his side’s comeback with a run and cross to the far post that Gavin Mackie headed home.
Leck were still in control at 3-1 but their organisation was undone by full back Lyle whose unnecessary slide tackle into the back of Gary Carroll was befitting of the red card brandished by Graham.
Their two-man advantage saw Rob Roy camp inside Auchinleck’s half and another breakthrough arrived as the lively Gallagher skipped inside Gordon Pope to fire a low shot from 18 yards that nestled inside the post.
With their tails up Rob Roy poured forward and a despairing Pope tackle brought down sub Joe Slattery to earn a penalty. Talbot keeper Leishman magnificently kept out Kevin Watt’s spot-kick to deny an equaliser that was only delayed until the resulting corner as Gallagher’s delivery was headed in by Danny Boyle.
The 88th-minute leveller appeared to indicate a share of the spoils until a final Rob Roy attack saw the ball drop to Gallagher just outside the box and he despatched a wonderfully controlled volley high past Leishman to send the Kirkintilloch supporters dancing on the terracing steps.
Rabs boss Stewart Maxwell said: “Yes, it’s helped that Talbot have gone down to 10 men but both sendings off were fully justified. I fail to understand Tucker’s defence of the lad Wilson. His foul on Danny was his fifth of the game. To say we went out to deliberately get him sent off is nonsense.” solid showing.
With a solid kicking display and calm control in the open, Rennie has every reason to feel he has an answer to a problem position that dogged former boss Gregor Townsend last season.
“It’s always difficult in pre-season games because you’re still a bit rusty even though you’ve been doing a lot of training,” Hastings admitted. “It was a mixed bag; I think we could have put them away a bit earlier.
“They said ‘it’s a trial’ before the game, ‘you are all playing for places’. He [Rennie] said as soon as he came in he was going to pick boys on how they are playing and not reputation so as a youngster that is good to hear.
Obviously going into that game you’re thinking, ‘if I do something half decent I might get a shot in the future’.”