All reports © Martin Donnelly & PollokNet, pics © Kathryn MacLeod

Pollok eased through to the last eight of the Whyte and Mackay West of Scotland Cup with a comfortable five goal victory over Stagecoach
District First Division side Thorniewood United. Pollok boss Rab Sneddon was forced into three changes from the side that took to the field at Bellshill with Richie Buckley, Dave Turnbull and Frankie Haggarty all missing out through injury. Ross Currie and John Tinney came in to the starting line-up, as well as recent signing from Saltcoats Alain Kinney for his debut appearance.

The tone for the match was set early on when `Lok had two chances to take the lead within the opening three minutes. Currie had a weak header saved from a Simon Black cross before Black himself drove the ball just to the left of `keeper Barry Fraser's post. Fraser then saved well from Derek Heaton to stop a goalbound header after Joe Carruth had flicked on a Tinney corner. Former `Lok man Darren Miller was booked for a foul on Currie after 23 minutes before Andy McClay drove wide from the edge of the box after another Tinney corner. `Lok were to take the lead in 29 minutes after Chris Cruickshank found himself in space down the left hand side of the park. His cross to the back post was headed back across goal by
Black, where GAVIN FRIELS displayed his predatory instincts by being in the right place at the right time for a simple finish. The home side could have extended their lead moments later, but Kinney could only head wide from a Carruth cross. As the game moved towards half-time Fraser saved well from a Black effort down the middle of the goal.

`Lok didn't take long to extend their lead when the game resumed, when SIMON BLACK met a McClay free kick with his head at the back post to make the score 2-0. The same player had the ball in the net again three minutes later when finishing off a cross from Friels, but the strike was disallowed for an apparent foul on the `keeper. Friels then hit the crossbar with a header and Black slid the ball wide as Thorniewood struggled to force play out from their own half. Cruickshank had a long range effort saved and Black headed over before Kinney had a great chance to open his Pollok account. Black played the ball across goal but the striker could only put the chance over from close range. The third goal did arrive after 76 minutes when a Tinney corner was flicked on by Carruth to SIMON BLACK, who applied the final touch for his second of the game. Friels volleyed a
Willie Stewart cross over and Kinney chipped narrowly wide as Pollok continued to press forward. Their efforts were rewarded after 82 minutes when a Friels cross was brought down by SIMON BLACK, who showed great composure to finish the chance and complete his hat-trick.

It took 87 minutes for Thorniewood to register a shot at goal when substitute M McBride shot wide with a weak effort from outside the box. It took 89 minutes for them to actually register a shot on target when Brian Low forced a save from Kevin Budinauckas. The last word was to go to `Lok though when GAVIN FRIELS thumped the ball home from the edge of the box to complete the scoring at 5-0.

`Lok can look forward to the draw for the quarter-finals, while Thorniewood will have to focus their thoughts back onto their fight against relegation.

Pollok:Budinauckas, Carruth (Stewart 76), Cruickshank, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Currie, Black, Friels, Kinney, Tinney. Not used: McWilliams, Sneddon, Zadok, Essler.
Booked: Black (50)
Thorniewood United: Fraser, Graham, Daly, Holmes, McGraw, Stevenson, Murphy (M McBride 63), Miller, Aitken (Halliday 79), Low, McGuire (C McBride 69). Not used: MacTavish, McCormack.
Booked: Miller (23)

Pollok took the three points in a clash that saw Bellshill finish with just nine men in wet conditions at New Brandon Park. 'Lok boss Rab Sneddon was able to name a team with just one change from the side that started at Western Park, with trialist Richie Buckley replacing Stevie Miller in the starting line-up. After a quiet opening period Bellshill could have taken the lead after 17 minutes when John Thompson, who was with John McCormack at Queen's Park, crossed from the left hand side, but Paddy Flannery could only put the ball over the bar after having to stretch to make contact. Buckley picked up an injury and was replaced by Miller for Pollok before Derek Heaton blocked a netbound effort from Mullen after a corner to the back post. Gavin Friels was booked for a late challenge on 'keeper Rowan before making a far more positive impact on the game with the opening goal in 29 minutes. Frankie Haggarty was the initial creator, but when he had an effort blocked the ball fell to Simon Black, who drilled the ball low across the box for GAVIN FRIELS to touch home beyond the 'keeper. Flannery was then booked for the home side, who really should have been two behind before the interval. Haggarty and Black were again the providers, this time down the right hand side of the park, and when Black laid the ball off to Davie Turnbull on his own in the middle of the box a goal seemed inevitable. Turnbull, however, squandered the chance, missing to the right of the target with the goal gaping.

Andy Scott replaced Stephen Mullen at half time for Bellshill, and he found his way into the notebook within four minutes of the restart, but just as with Friels in the first half he was to be on the score-sheet shortly afterwards. Robert Coulter went down in the box under a challenge from Heaton, and when the referee pointed to the spot it was ANDY SCOTT who stepped up to send Kevin Budinauckas the wrong way and restore parity. Miller drove just wide for 'Lok as they tried to regain the lead before Scott Miller and John Thompson were booked in quick succession for Athletic. Rowan made a great save from a Haggarty free-kick before the midfielder had a golden opportunity to extend his recent scoring run. His cross was headed goalwards by Turnbull, only to be stopped by the arm of Coulter. Haggarty took the resultant spot kick, only to see the ball rebound from the post after Rowan dived the right way.

Former 'Lok man Ross Jamieson replaced Flannery for Bellshill, while former Bellshill man Ross Currie replaced Haggarty for 'Lok. John Tinney took the place of Chris Cruickshank as Rab Sneddon gambled in the search for a winner, and he was rewarded only 30 seconds later. Black cut the ball back to DAVIE TURNBULL, who thundered a shot off the inside of the post to make the score 2-1 to the visitors. As the teams made their way back for the restart a heated exchange took place between Bellshill team-mates John Thompson and Stuart MacDonald, one aiming a punch at the other only to be met with a kick in reply, and after consultations with his assistant the referee dismissed both players for violent conduct. As time ran down Currie played in Black through the middle, but he missed the target when it seemed easier to score. A third goal was to arrive, however, with Tinney creating the chance down the left and teeing up GAVIN FRIELS for a simple finish to secure the points for Pollok.

Pollok therefore remain at the top of the league standings, while Bellshill are not yet out of the relegation battle despite being five points clear of 11th placed Arthurlie.

Bellshill Athletic: Rowan, McGregor, Thompson, Coulter, McGeoghegan, S. MacDonald, K. MacDonald, Marshall, Flannery (Jamieson 73), Miller, Mullen (Scott 46). Not used - McKeown, Struthers, Mitchell.
Booked: Flannery (41), Scott (49), Miller (63), Thomson (64), Coulter (69), Rowan (90+1)
Sent Off: Thompson (83), S. MacDonald (83)
Pollok: Budinauckas, Carruth, Cruickshank (Tinney 82), Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Buckley (Miller 19), Haggarty (Currie 80), Friels, Turnbull, Black. Not used - McKeever, Kinney.
Booked: Friels (28)

Renfrew and Pollok had to settle for a point each after their top of the table clash finished with 2 goals apiece at Western Park. `Lok boss Rab Sneddon had to make do without the services of Andy Essler after he failed a fitness test, but was able to return Andy McClay to the side after he recovered from his recent injury. New boy Stevie Miller also came in for his debut, with Richie Buckley dropping to the bench. The home side were able to welcome recent signing from Johnstone Burgh John Sherry to their starting line-up.

The early stages of the game were contested mainly in the midfield area of the park, although Pollok did have one sight of goal in the 10th minute. Gavin Friels released Simon Black, who took a poor first touch as he approached Kenny Meechan's goal. The striker recovered to get to the ball before being brought down by Meechan, but referee Gary Hilland decided that the `keeper had managed to get a touch to the ball and awarded a corner kick, much to the disappointment of the travelling support. It took 32 minutes for a shot on target, when good interplay between Dave Turnbull and Chris Cruickshank gave the left-back a sight of goal, but Meechan got down low to make a terrific fingertip save to push the ball onto the post, from where it bounced away from the waiting Friels.

`Frew were presented with a chance after 34 minutes when a poor clearance from Kevin Budinauckas gave possession to Sherry, but when the ball was crossed into the danger area Michael Harvey could only header wide. The breakthrough arrived in the 37th minute when Turnbull worked himself some space on the left before teeing up FRANKIE HAGGARTY for a 25-yard drive low into the bottom corner of Meechan's net to make the score 0-1.
Haggarty nearly turned provider three minutes later, but Black couldn't quite make contact with his ball to the front post. Renfrew were to pull level before half-time, however, after Pollok conceded a free-kick just outside the penalty box. MARK CAMERON struck a thunderous effort into the top of the net as Budinauckas could only throw a despairing arm at the ball. The home side nearly had the lead before half-time when Joe Carruth had to chase the length of the park to make a perfectly timed tackle on Stewart Robertson as Sherry waited for the ball in the box.

`Frew were to take the lead within three minutes of the restart, but it was a goal created entirely by their opponents. A corner was dealt with badly by Budinauckas who failed to hold the ball. Miller tried to clear his lines, only to see the ball ricochet off NEIL FARQUHARSON and into the net. `Lok were level within sixty seconds, however, when a great solo effort from DAVE TURNBULL finished with the striker curling the ball into the top of the net after cutting in from the right of the `Frew defence for his second goal in his second game for Pollok. Renfrew had penalty appeals of their own waved away before they were reduced to 10 men. Derek Heaton and Richie Barr tangled as they chased a ball out by the corner flag, but after the
ball crossed the bye-line the striker swung his boot at the centre-half and was duly dismissed for violent conduct.

Black was denied by an excellent save from Meechan after a cross from Turnbull, but as Pollok tried to press home their numerical advantage Renfrew had two great chances to take all three points. Firstly Harvey struck the top of the bar after the `Lok defence were left facing a three against two situation, before substitute Gordon Smith held off two Pollok defenders and played in McLay, but Budinauckas was equal to his low shot. The final chance came deep into injury time when Buckley crossed for Turnbull, but his header flew over the bar.

The points were therefore shared as the door to the top of the league opened further for Auchinleck Talbot, now only two points from the
top with two games in hand.

Renfrew – Meechan, Hammond, Brogan, Farquharson, Miller, Harvey, Robertson (Quigley 80), McLay, Barr, Sherry (Smith 75), Cameron. Not used – Chisholm, Colsh, Thomson.
Booked: Harvey (47), Farquharson (54), McLay (68)
Sent off: Barr (64)
Pollok – Budinauckas, Carruth, Cruickshank, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Miller (Buckley 75), Haggarty, Friels, Turnbull, Black. Not used – McKeever, Stewart, Currie, Tinney.
Booked: Aitchison (41), Black (77)
Ref: G Hilland