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

Saturday 26th November 2005: Stagecoach Premier League, att: 500 (report by Jamie Wire)
Pollok 3 (Frankie Haggarty 48, Gavin Friels 64, 88) Renfrew 1 (Richie Barr 55)

With Derek Heaton suspended and Stevie Aitchison injured, Rab Sneddon reshuffled his Lok line-up bringing John McAulay in at right back and Joe Carruth switching to central defence to partner Derek Paterson. Andy McClay, celebrating his 33rd birthday, returned from injury and took his place in midfield.

Despite the dreadful weather, both sides began well though it was Renfrew who established themselves as the side on top the longer the game went on. Chilsholm had an 11th minute effort just wide and Gordon Smith headed just past the post five minutes on. Lok's first chance fell to John Tinney after McLauchlan fired in a cross from the right but he headed over the top of the bar. Renfrew were causing Lok problems every time they broke though, and their superiority in the air led to a handful of headed opportunities that they just couldn't covert. Both Harvey and Smith missed the target in the run up to half time. There was one moment of controversy in the first half when Mick Brogan caught Gavin Friels with a poor tackle in the last third of the pitch about 25-30 yards out and slightly off-centre but with a covering defender near the edge of the area there was no way Mr Law could see it as a clear goalscoring opportunity and a yellow card was given.

Rab Sneddon made a change at half-time, putting Ross Currie into the midfield at the expense of John McAulay, switching to a back three at the same time. The change seemed to pay off almost immediately and with 48 minutes played, FRANKIE HAGGARTY picked up the ball on the left side, then dribbled his way through the 'Frew defence with breathtaking skill before driving a low shot that deflected off Meechan's body into the back of the net.

John McLay then went close to equalising for the visitors, but Ian Wilson made a save. The leveller was not long in coming though. With 55 minutes gone Renfrew fired in a ball from the right side to the back post where unmarked RICHIE BARR lashed the ball past Ian Wilson. Pollok worked hard to get their lead back and in the 64th minute Martin McLauchlan produced an inch-perfect ball in from the left that GAVIN FRIELS, a player who craves service, lashed in first time from a very tight angle high past Meechan. Renfrew still had chances themselves but their play had been better in the first half. The third Lok goal was perhaps a bit flattering, but again excellent work from McLauchlan created it, and his hanging cross from the right corner was met by GAVIN FRIELS who directed a header beyond Meechan.

Pollok: Wilson, McAulay (sub 45 for Currie), Cruickshank, Carruth, Paterson, McClay, Stewart (sub 86 for McKeever), Haggarty, McLauchlan, Friels, Tinney. Not used: Jordan, Smith, Burns.
Booked: Currie 70
Renfrew: Meechan, Hammond, Brogan, Farquharson, Miller (sub 80 for Robertson), Harvey, Colsh, McLay, Barr, Smith, Chisholm. Not used: Elrick, Cameron, McWhirter, Thomson.
Booked: Brogan 26
Referee: Anthony Law

Saturday 12th November 2005: Stagecoach Premier League, att: 500 (report by Jamie Wire)
Pollok 3 (Frankie Haggarty 10, John Tinney 45, 62) Kilsyth Rangers 0

Lok boss Rab Sneddon made several changes to the side that under-performed against Cumnock last time out, though with Andy McClay and Derek Heaton missing out through injury and suspension respectively, changes had to be made anyway. Derek Paterson came into the defence alongside returning Stevie Aitchison, while John Tinney and Martin McLauchlan were also recalled to the starting XI. Willie Stewart was also restored to the right flank.

Kilsyth began brightly, with Andy Scott and Tam McLaughlin combining to put the Lok goal under early pressure and at the culmination of that fourth minute move, Derek Paterson took a heavy blow clearing the danger and required treatment. Lok took the lead in the 10th minute when Gers centre-half McManus needlessly conceded a corner and from John Tinney's pin-point delivery, FRANKIE HAGGARTY blasted a first time shot from well outside the area beyond Chalmers.

Lok stepped up the pressure and with 18 minutes gone, McLauchlan found Friels with a cross from the right that the prolific striker could only head over. John Tinney then headed wide from close range but in truth it was only a half-chance. There was momentary panic among the Lok faithful when Haggarty took a sore one from Tam McLaughlan but thankfully the increasingly influential midfielder was able to continue after treatment. John Tinney was on top form after being absent from the starting line-up for so long and he set up Black to glance a header wide in the 38th minute.

The first real moment of controversy came in the 41st minute when Stevie Aitchison and Hugh Kelly went in to challenge for a 50-50 ball, but Kelly totally mistimed his tackle and missing the ball by at least two feet clattered Aitchison on his lower leg. Referee Stevie Nicholls did not get a good view and waved play on, leaving the Lok skipper writhing in agony on the pitch. He tried to play on but was subbed at half-time. Poor Kilsyth defending was punished in the 45th minute when a high ball to McLauchlan was only half won by McManus and his defensive counterparts failed to get the ball away from their 18 yard line. Gavin Friels then pounced on the loose ball, and laid it back to JOHN TINNEY who from 30 yards drove an absolute screamer high into the top corner of Chalmers' goal.

The second half seemed to see Lok give Kilsyth a bit more space to play in order to hit back on the counter-attack but the visitors were out of luck in front of goal. Lok went three ahead in the 62nd minute with a lengthy move that started with a bit of good fortune when Friels won a challenge just inside the Gers half, though he was very lucky in that a dodgy first touch spun the ball back onto his right foot and he was able at the second attempt to switch the play to the other side of the pitch. It took Lok a couple of attempts to get the ball into the box with Simon Black drilling the ball across goal. Willie Stewart then had an attempt on goal that was heading for the pavilion but the ball was played back in once again and Black set up JOHN TINNEY for a close-range right footed effort high beyond Chalmers.

Chances came and went at either end after that but the game was definitely over. The visitors had to rely on Jamie Prunty for chances coming from deep to shoot outside the area, but Wilson had a relatively straightforward afternoon. Lok will be delighted to get back into the winning habit and there were a number of excellent performances among the 14 who played.

Pollok: Wilson, Carruth, Cruickshank, Aitchison (sub 45 for McAulay), Paterson, Haggarty, Stewart (sub 85 for Jordan), Black (sub 79 for Currie), McLauchlan, Friels, Tinney. Not used: McKeever, Smith.
Booked: Paterson 30
Kilsyth Rangers: Chalmers, Galloway, Kelly (sub 49 for Low), Prunty, McManus, McStay, Feenie (sub 64 for Carberry), McLaughlin, Williamson (sub 75 for Carson), Scott, Sloan. Not used: Campbell, McKenna.
Booked: McLaughlin 29, Scott 73, Low 75