McBookie Premiership

AUCHINLECK TALBOT 4

BEITH JUNIORS 0

BEITH’s threadbare squad competed well for a half at Beechwood Park, but their efforts were all for nothing as the roof fell in on them in the second half following the loss of injured stalwart defender John Sheridan.

A midfield battle developed quickly and neither keeper really made any saves of note in the first half with striker Graham Wilson heading wide and Bryan Boylan shooting off target.

There were half chances for the hosts and Jamie Wilson and Paul Frize were similarly off target with efforts for the visitors.

As half-time approached Talbot were seeing more of the ball and Beith’s task increased significantly with a reshuffle to the side after John Sheridan had to be replaced by Larry McMahon with Conner McGlinchey moving to central defence.

The deadlock was broken six minutes after the restart with what looked like a controversial opener.

Former Kilwinning Rangers striker Bryan Boylan, from a suspiciously offside-looking position, centred for Keir Samson, waiting seven yards out, to shoot home.

Beith made changes with their limited resources in an attempt to respond but the dye was now cast and last year’s champions doubled their lead in 69 minutes.

The Beith defence were caught sleeping looking for sub Mark Shankland to have a shot at goal from a free-kick but he simply slipped the ball forward to Graham Wilson who advanced and shot past Stephen Grindlay.

The contest was all but over by this point and Grindlay made a fine save at Keir Samson’s feet before he was beaten again courtesy of more sloppy defending.

Beith couldn’t clear their box and the ball found its way to Shankland at the back post and his half-hit shot went through legs before Graham Wilson poked the ball home on the line.

Graham Wilson headed a great opportunity for his hat-trick wide before he inflicted further pain on a now forlorn-looking Beith side with a few minutes left, when he found himself back on side in the box after Beith again failed to clear allowing him to stab the ball home from a few yards.

AUCHINLECK TALBOT: Leishman; Lyle, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, McCracken, Armstrong, Hyslop, Stephen Wilson, Graham Wilson, Boylan, Samson. Subs: Shankland, McDowall, Healy, Pope, White.

BEITH: Grindlay; McGlinchey, Milliken, Docherty, Sheridan, Wilson, Ramsay, Frize, McIlroy, McKenzie, Christie. Subs: McLean, Prior, McMahon.