AUCHINLECK TALBOT 2 HURLFORD UNITED 0

Glasgow double trouble as Talbot edge toward trophy THE race for the West Region Premiership title is turning into a procession after Auchinleck Talbot cruised to a 2-0 weekend victory over league-leaders Hurlford United, reducing the gap between the rivals to seven points while Talbot retain six games in hand. It really is all over bar the shouting, even though nobody inside Beechwood Park’s dressing room will be found clambering onto the rooftops anytime soon, yet if proof were needed then one only has to look at the evidence of Saturday’s top-of-the-table match which Tommy Sloan’s men won with ease. A first-half brace from Jamie Glasgow separated the teams at the final whistle though it could and should have been more against opponents who rarely troubled their hosts and finished the game with only 10 men after striker Ross Robertson was despatched inside less than 10 minutes after his introduction off the bench. Tucker’s latest masterstroke saw him tweak his line-up to bring in Jack McDowall to a left-side midfield beat and free up Glasgow to play further forward where his blistering pace off the mark and willingness to take on defenders proved trouble for the visiting backline all afternoon. The 25-year-old’s contribution to Talbot’s latest decisive triumph received due acclaim by the rousing applause that greeted his replacement by Sean McIlroy with just under a quarter of an hour remaining however I’d have sworn a few of his Hurlford opponents joined in the cheers at seeing the back of him. He emerged afterwards to comment on whether his side’s winning performance could be taken as Talbot having one hand on the Premiership trophy. “I’ve been playing off the left side so Tucker threw me a bit of a curve ball in pushing me up front, but I thoroughly enjoyed the game and to help myself to a couple of goals was the icing on the cake. “Even more important is picking up another three points but a lot of football has to be played before any titles are won and the players here are focused on nothing other than taking one game at a time.” As so often is the case, Auchinleck started on the front foot and Glasgow had given warning of his threat when on two occasions he sprinted clear of Hurlford’s rearguard onto balls played forward from the back and the second instance with 15 minutes on the clock saw him easily beat advancing goalkeeper Ally Brown in a chase to the ball however his lobbed attempt at an empty goal carried well wide. But the die had been cast and after Jamie Glasgow scores his, and Auchinleck Talbot’s, second of the game as the Ayrshire side put one hand on the Premiership trophy on Saturday sport@eveningtimes.co.uk. 0141 302 7149. LIAM McGUINNESS ensured Kilbirnie Ladeside’s safety thanks to goals from Jon Scullion (2), David Ramsay, Mick O’Byrne and Gavin Mitchell in a resounding 5-0 victory over bottom markers Cambuslang Rangers.

Elsewhere in the top flight, Pollok landed a blow on their rivals for third in doling out an emphatic 4-0 Newlandsfield defeat to Clydebank which saw Stuart McCann and Steff McLuskey finding the mark either side of an opportunist couple of goals from Adam Forde. @HandTSport.

Fourth-placed Glenafton lost precious ground despite extending their unbeaten league run to nine games with a 1-1 draw at home to Macron Scottish Junior Cup finalists Largs Thistle for whom Ben Black’s second-half score cancelled out Dan Orsi’s opener for the Glens.

And Beith’s hopes of coming with a charge took another hit as Johnny Millar’s men chalked up their fourth league game without a win after having to settle for 2-2 parity against Irvine Meadow despite twice getting their noses in front at Meadow Park.

Darren Christie’s early score for facebook.com/eveningtimes. today but maybe I need a jag of realism given this Auchinleck side have not lost a game since October 12 and don’t look like losing goals let alone games.” “Mistakes today have been clinically punished and we have to go away and lick our wounds before getting on with trying to win our final three games.” beleaguered keeper Brown kept out Gordon Pope and Graham Wilson headers, Glasgow made it third time lucky in 38 minutes when he left Hurlford stopper Chris Robertson in his wake to latch onto a rebound from team-mate Craig McCracken and his shot carried beyond Brown with the aid of a slight deflection. Talbot’s opener was a taster of what can happen when strikers like Glasgow and Wilson are quicker in thought and foot than their markers so it was not surprising when they doubled their advantage just short of half time when a threaded through ball sent Glasgow scampering away to slot the ball beyond Brown . A third goal almost arrived with the final kick of the first half but the tall McDowall got his feet in a fankle in front of goal and could only divert the ball onto the upright before half time came to Hurlford’s rescue. The former Girvan midfielder was to pass up two more glorious chances as Auchinleck continuing to stay on top with greater purpose and energy was further boosted when Hurlford substitute Robertson saw red for an alleged headbutt on McCracken as the players waited for a free kick to be taken. Mindful of his side’s hectic fixture schedule saw Sloan introduce all three substitutes, Gareth Armstrong, Keir Samson and McIlroy whose eagerness and liveliness ensured the home side remained dominant without increasing the 2-0 lead and the 90 minutes ended without Bot No.1 Andy Leishman having a save to make. Dejected boss Darren Henderson revealed: “The scoreline was 2-0 going on five and we’ve been outclassed and made to look second best all over the pitch today with the gap between the teams looking massive. “I felt we could win coming here Round-up the Mighty was levelled by a Ben Carson penalty however a wellstruck Conner McGlinchey free kick looked to have decided matters in favour of the visitors only for an injury time wonder strike from Andy McLaughlin leaving both sides to share the spoils.

The only other top-flight side in action, Rob Roy, had Lee Gallagher (2), Martin McBride and Connor Hughes on target in running out 4-1 Ardagh Group Cup quarter-final winners over East Kilbride Thistle for whom John Diack put a better complexion on the scoreline with a late counter. Email Tel Twitter Facebook Web eveningtimes.co.uk/sport