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

Saturday 29th October 2005: Stagecoach Premier League, att: 550
Pollok 0 Cumnock 2 (John Dempster 45, Paul Kerr 61)

Cumnock emerged victorious in this Stagecoach Super Premier League clash as they took a deserved two-goal victory at Newlandsfield Park. Pollok were forced into two changes from the side that triumphed at Hannah Park, with Frank Haggarty and club captain Stevie Aitchison both unavailable. Bryan Smith and Chris Cruickshank took their places in the starting XI, while a reduced Cumnock squad were only able to name four out of a possible five substitutes. Among the fifteen available to manager Bobby Dickson were two ex-Pollok players, Davie Walker and goalkeeper Graham Potter.

The first effort on target was for the home side when Ross Currie had a header pushed over the bar from a Smith corner. At the other end of the park Ian Wilson made a tremendous save to deny John Dempster from a Stevie Farrell corner. A 25th minute free-kick caused further problems for the home side when the ball was flighted to Mark Gardiner who set up Kerr for the shot, but Wilson blocked with his body. Pollok's best move of the game came
a minute later when a flowing move involving Mark McKeever and Simon Black created a chance for Gavin Friels, but Potter was brave to dive at his feet and snuff out any danger.

Kerr put a free header over the crossbar from a Dempster cross, while Jamie Haswell had a weak volley saved as the visitors began to take a grip on proceedings. As half time approached Wilson tipped over another Dempster header from a Farrell cross, but the `Nock were not to be denied. Pollok failed to clear the resultant corner and when the ball came back into the box JOHN DEMPSTER flicked a header beyond the reach of Wilson to give the visitors the lead. Gardiner was booked during the ensuing celebrations.

The second half opened with Cumnock on the offensive, with Haswell firing over from close range. The same player was then pulled down by John McAulay after a dreadful ball across his own defence by Joe Carruth, and with referee McWilliam deeming that it was not a clear goalscoring opportunity McAulay was allowed to remain on the park, receiving only a caution. Dean Muir's free-kick was saved by the chest of Wilson, who then saved from Kerr before Dempster put the ball wide after a goalmouth scramble. Kerr was then gifted another chance, but Wilson saved low to his left. The lead was eventually doubled, however, with a goal in the 61st minute. PAUL KERR directed a header towards goal, and although McAulay cleared the ball assistant referee McKinnon had no hesitation in deciding that the ball had crossed the line to give Cumnock a two-goal lead.

Farrell and Friels were then booked for an off-the-ball tussle before Andy McClay and Willie Stewart replaced Currie and Martin Nelson as Rab Sneddon tried to establish a foothold in the middle of the park. As the game progressed it was still the visitors who were more likely to score on the counter-attack, with two good chances falling to Jamie Moan as well as another effort being disallowed for offside. Pollok's afternoon was summed up by a fresh-air shot by Stewart after Friels had set him up 8 yards from goal. Walker had an excellent free-kick tipped round the post by Wilson with 15 minutes to go, while on the rare occasions that Potter was tested there was little power behind the ball, such as a weak header from Black from a McClay free-kick and a long range effort from Friels that the `keeper was able to chest down at his leisure.

Cumnock put on Michael Hughes and Stevie McCulloch for Haswell and Kerr, and they nearly created a third goal. McCulloch knocked the ball down into the path of Hughes, who lobbed the ball over Wilson but onto the crossbar. `Nock were reduced to 10 men three minutes into injury time when Gardiner waltzed through the Pollok defence, only to have the ball touched away from his feet by Wilson. As the two returned to their feet Gardiner shoved Wilson in the chest, and the referee duly produced a second yellow for the Cumnock man. Potter then saved from Heaton, but in truth `Lok never looked like taking anything from the game.

`Lok therefore dropped three points in their quest to retain their title, while `Nock picked up their first win on the road in the Super League this season.

Pollok: Wilson, Carruth, Cruickshank, McAulay (Tinney 80), Heaton, Nelson (McClay 64), Currie (Stewart 64), Smith, Black, Friels, McKeever. Not used: Paterson, Jordan.
Booked: McAulay (56), Friels (62)
Cumnock: Potter, Murray, Walker, McGowan, Haswell (Hughes 79), Farrell, Muir, Gardiner, Kerr (McCulloch 79), Dempster, Moan. Not used: Cochrane, Stewart.
Booked: Gardiner (45), Farrell (62), Haswell (79)
Sent off: Gardiner (90)

Saturday 22nd October 2005: Stagecoach Premier League, att: 200
Shotts Bon Accord 2 (Chris Mackie 71, Kevin Brown 90) Pollok 3 (Gavin Friels 38, Kenny Murray OG 33, Simon Black 60)

Pollok took the three points from Hannah Park, but only after surviving a spirited fightback from the home side Ian Wilson returned between the sticks for `Lok, with John McAulay, Martin Nelson and Ross Currie joining him in the starting line-up. Robert Burns, Chris Cruickshank (away), Andy McClay (hamstring) and Bryan Smith (flu) were the players who made way from the team that defeated East Kilbride the previous Saturday.

The visitors nearly made the perfect start when Mark McKeever was fouled within the first minute of the game, and the resultant free kick was headed onto the top of the crossbar by Joe Carruth. Shotts could have had the lead after 15 minutes when Chris Mackie timed his run perfectly to evade the Pollok offside trap, but his poor first touch took the ball away from goal and gave the Pollok defence time to regroup and snuff out the danger. At the other end the visitors had a glorious chance to open the scoring when McKeever drilled the ball across goal, only for Gavin Friels to mishit the ball off the right hand post when faced with an open goal. The hitman nearly redeemed himself a minute later with a well struck drive from the right hand corner of the penalty box, but Iain Banks made an excellent save high to the postage stamp corner of the net.

In the 24th minute it was Shotts' turn to strike woodwork with Kevin Brown heading the ball off the crossbar from a corner kick. The deadlock was eventually broken in the 38th minute when McKeever's cross from the left was glanced across goal by GAVIN FRIELS and into the corner of the net. The same player nearly doubled the lead a minute later, this time meeting a Carruth cross but volleying just over. The second goal was not long in coming, however, and again Friels was heavily involved. Currie played a perfectly weighted ball through to the `Lok striker, and as he prepared to shoot KENNY MURRAY slid in to tackle, but could only divert the ball into his own net. Frank Haggarty and Simon Black had chances to extend the lead further before the break, but the deficit remained at two at half time.

Shotts made a fast start to the second half as they attempted to get back into the game, with Wilson firstly tipping away a dangerous cross from Paul Stewart then holding well from a Brown header. `Lok nearly scored an action replay of their first goal in the 53rd minute, Friels again glancing a cross from McKeever but this time narrowly missing the target. The game seemed all over on the hour mark when Black released Friels down the left wing, where he outpaced Stephen McInulty before crossing low for SIMON BLACK to bundle home from close range. Currie then laid the ball off to McAulay who struck a fierce shot just wide of the target. Murray was then booked for persistent fouling before Graeme McCheyene was replaced by Stephen O'Keane.

Friels was then denied from 25 yards out by another terrific save from Banks. Black then hit the post with a header from a corner with Banks locking from Carruth on the follow up. John Tinney took the place of Nelson before Shotts found a glimmer of hope. A free kick on the left was met by the head of CHRIS MACKIE, who found the space between Wilson and his crossbar to bring the home side back into the game. Slack `Lok defending then allowed O'Keane a glimpse of goal, but he struck a weak effort straight at Wilson. The `keeper was tested again after Derek Heaton conceded a free kick on the edge of the box, but he kept a well struck effort out. David Kirkwood replaced Ian Wallace as Stan Murdoch's men strived for further goals, while Martin McLauchlan and Peter Jordan came on for Currie and Black for the visitors.

O'Keane was booked for a hefty challenge on McAulay before Shotts struck again from a set piece. John Boyack crossed a free kick from the right hand side of the park, and KEVIN BROWN powered the ball past Wilson in the 90th minute. Time ran out for the home side, however, much to the relief of the visiting support as their team clung on for the victory. `Lok will be happy not to lose any further ground to the teams above them in the league race, while Shotts will feel disappointed that they left their best efforts until so late in the game.

Shotts: Banks, Gaffney, Murray, McInulty, McCheyene (O'Keane 67), Brown, Jack, Stewart, Mackie, Boyack, Wallace (Kirkwood 77). Not used: White, Pearson, Rowan.
Booked: Murray (65), O'Keane (87)
Pollok: Wilson, Carruth, McAulay, Aitchison, Heaton, Nelson (Tinney 70), Currie (Jordan 83), Haggarty, Black (McLauchlan 83), Friels, McKeever. Not used: Paterson, Stewart.

Pollok bounced back from the disappointment of an early OVD exit with a two goal victory over East Kilbride Thistle in the second round of the Whyte & Mackay West of Scotland Cup at Newlandsfield. An injury to Ian Wilson handed Robert Burns a rare start in goal for Pollok, while the only outfield change from the game at Dunterlie was the return of Simon Black in place of Willie Stewart. East Kilbride's preparations were dealt a blow when prolific marksman Steven McClung had to scratch from the starting line-up at short notice with a stomach upset, with Stephen Watson being promoted from the bench in his place.

The visitors first threat came from a free-kick on the edge of the box after Andy McClay had brought down Stephen Brogan, but the Pollok wall did it's job and cleared the ball, while Frank Haggarty shot narrowly wide from a free-kick in a similar position at the other end of the field. Brian McDonald then held well from a Simon Black header after he had met a Bryan Smith cross in the 23rd minute. At the other end Burns saved from a good low strike by Paul Bain before Gavin Friels fired over after showing good control on the edge of the box. Paul Watson then found his way into Mr. Craig's notebook in the 33rd minute after a heavy challenge on Smith. Shortly afterwards McDonald made another two good low saves, firstly from Friels and then from Haggarty. The half finished with Pollok's best chance when Friels played an excellent cross into the box, but Smith was narrowly off target with his diving header.

John Brogan made a change at half-time for the visitors, with Neil Schoneville replacing Colin Mitchell in defence. `Lok nearly took the lead three minutes after the restart when McDonald spilled at the feet of Friels, but his effort was chested off the line by Ross Matthew. A Haggarty corner then ricocheted around the penalty box before being palmed away on the line by McDonald. Bain was replaced by Chris Queen after 55 minutes for the Jags, while McKeever was unlucky not to make the breakthrough for the home side when his 14 yard effort was deflected over after 67 minutes. The opening goal arrived a minute later, however, and it came for the home side. Haggarty crossed from the right-hand side of the park to the back post, where BRYAN SMITH was perfectly positioned to head home from point blank range. Smith nearly turned provider three minutes later
when his through ball released Friels, but McDonald made another good save.

Brogan made way for the experience of Dougie Brownlie as EK searched for an equaliser, although Pollok came close to extending their lead when Cruickshank struck a rasping effort just over from nearly 30 yards out. East Kilbride very nearly found the leveller after 77 minutes when Ryan Kelly released Queen. He lifted his effort over the onrushing Burns, but Stevie Aitchison was in position to clear the danger before Brownlie could pounce inside the six-yard box. The clinching goal arrived two minutes later when a Mark McKeever shot was spilled into the path of GAVIN FRIELS, and this
time he hammered the ball home into the roof of the net from close range. Pollok then used all three of their permitted substitutions, with Stewart replacing Black, Ross Currie replacing Haggarty, and John Tinney replacing McKeever for his first appearance of the season after a period of injury.

As the game moved towards stoppage time a long ball from McDonald was allowed to bounce by the Pollok defence, and although Aitchison was first to it he only succeeded in teeing up Brownlie for a strike, but his shot flew over the crossbar. Stephen Watson was then off target with a free kick with the final effort of the game.

East Kilbride will not therefore be emulating their run to the final of the Sectional League Cup in this tournament, while Pollok are safely through and can now concentrate on trying to chase down pacesetters Renfrew in the league in their next matches.

Pollok: Burns, Carruth, Cruickshank, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Smith, Haggarty (Currie 83), Black (Stewart 79), Friels, McKeever (Tinney 89). Not used: McAulay, Nelson.
East Kilbride Thistle: McDonald, Mitchell (Schoneville 46), P Watson, Matthew, McKinnon, Kelly, Bain (Queen 55), Brogan (Brownlie 73), S Watson, Conway, Fay. Not used: Jones, Keegan.
Booked: P Watson (33)

"Utter dejection" is a phrase that probably best sums up the general feeling at Newlandsfield tonight after a painful defeat at the hands of our closest rivals Arthurlie in the Scottish Junior Cup. It was an unchanged starting XI from last weekend though Black and Tinney came on to the bench at the expense of Paterson and McLauchlan. Arthurlie meanwhile brought Travers and Waddell in for Ryan and Hobbs.

The game started off fairly evenly with both sides enjoying possession going forward though in the 6th minute Lok nearly gave the hosts a chance when Heaton was woefully short with a pass and though Cruickshank won the ball back for Lok he lost it again seconds later and captain Stevie Aitchison was left to try and run the ball out of danger. Three minutes on and Arthurlie looked dangerous when Convery got onto McKeown's through-pass but Ian Wilson plucked the ball from his feet.

Chris Cruickshank created a chance for Lok when he fired goalwards but Stuart Allison did enough to divert the ball away with his head. But the opener came two minutes later when Andy McClay gave a free-kick away right on the right-hand angle of the penalty area. STEVEN JACK stepped up for the free-kick and fired the ball past Ian Wilson though there was a deflection en route to the top right hand corner of the Lok keeper's net.

Pollok nearly got back level in the 20th minute when Smith's cross from the right was blasted over the bar by McKeever and six minutes later Gavin Friels went close with a shot across Robertson's goal that the ex-St. Mirren keeper got a hand to to keep it out. As the game swung to-and-fro, Arthurlie almost doubled their advantage soon after when John Jack got up for a header and Wilson had to make a great save high to his right to keep Lok in it.

Lok's next chance to level came in the 33rd minute when Friels set up McKeever but he headed wide. Stevie Aitchison found himself in Mr Nicholls' book in the 34th minute for a challenge he objected to and Jack tried his luck once again though the extra 10 yards of distance gave Wilson a better chance of saving. The last chance of the first half came in the 41st minute when Haggarty flicked the ball into the path of Friels who in turn released McKeever but the latter's touch beyond the flailing and grounded Robertson lacked the power to get over the line and Arthurlie cleared the danger.

The first notable action of the second half was a clash of heads between Heaton and McShane though both continued after treatment. There was then a moment of controversy in the 56th minute when Steven Jack appeared to clip Bryan Smith's heel as he beared down on the penalty area though the referee played on. Lok managed to get, on the balance of play, a deserved equaliser in the 58th minute and it was something out of nothing when GAVIN FRIELS chased what looked to be a harmless ball slightly right of centre in the 'Lie half, but with one deft touch he chipped the advancing Robertson from the edge of the area and opened the tie back up again.

Pollok then began to enjoy a promising spell and in the 72nd minute Smith's cross was put narrowly over by Willie Stewart, while with 13 minutes left Cruickshank sprinted down the touchline but no one could turn in his decent centre. Pollok then were reduced to ten men when Charlie Hobbs went to ground under an Aitchison challenge who received his second booking as a result, but the ten men rode out the last ten minutes in relative comfort despite a few corners to defend.

The game finished all-square and thus went to penalties. David McKenzie converted Arthurlie's first but sub Simon Black, on for the penalties, rolled his effort well wide. Mark Travers, Frankie Haggarty and Brian McKeown all scored for their respective sides but Willie Stewart's effort at Robertson was then followed up by Wilson denying Steven Jack. With 'Lie 3-1 ahead Friels had to score, though he was devastated to see the giant frame of Robertson claw his effort away, despite it being well-placed.

So it's Arthurlie who go though and good luck to them in the Second Round. Lok can be proud of their efforts but it the result shows it wasn't quite enough over the two games.

Arthurlie: Robertson, McShane, Wilson, S Jack, Allison (Kerr 45), Travers, McKeown, McGarvey, Convery (McKenzie 25), J Jack, Waddell (Hobbs 65). Not used: Rhoddan, Montgomery
Booked: S. Jack 39, Waddell 60, J. Jack 68
Pollok: Wilson, Carruth, Cruickshank, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Stewart, Haggarty, Smith, Friels, McKeever (Black 89). Not used: McAulay, Currie, Tinney, Burns
Booked: Aitchison 34, Haggarty 67, Friels 78
Sent Off: Aitchison 80
Ref: S. Nicholls

A heroic backs to the wall performance from 9-man Pollok saw them secure a replay after a keenly contested first round OVD Scottish Junior Cup encounter with Arthurlie at Newlandsfield. Pollok made three changes to their starting eleven from the side that played Whitletts a fortnight ago, with Andy McClay, Frankie Haggarty and Mark McKeever all included while John McAulay dropped to the bench and Martin Nelson and Simon Black dropped out entirely. The only change from the Arthurlie side that emerged victorious when the sides met in the league was Charlie Hobbs replacing David McKenzie up front.

It was Haggarty who had the first effort on goal, when his 30 yard effort deflected wide after 11 minutes. The game was to explode into life after 20 minutes, when Derek Heaton tackled Brian McKeown just outside the Pollok box. Referee Stevie Nicholls decided that the challenge was sufficiently bad to warrant a straight red card, which he administered to Heaton only after a melee involving 18 of the 22 players on the field. McClay and Stevie Convery were booked for their part in proceedings. The resultant free kick from Zander Ryan was pushed round the post by Ian Wilson in the Pollok goal. The controversy was not over, however, as when the corner was played in it was cleared off the ball by Bryan Smith. On the advice of his assistant Mr. Nicholls deemed that Smith had used his hand to clear the ball and he too was sent to the dressing room. Hobbs stepped up to take the penalty, but dragged a poor effort wide to the left of the target much to the relief of the home support.

McKeown then fired just over with a long range effort, before an excellent run and cross from Haggarty fell to McClay 20 yards from goal, but he shot just wide. Willie Stewart struck a dipping effort just over the crossbar from all of 30 yards with 37 minutes on the clock, while Gary Wilson
went close a minute later after cutting in from a run down the left wing, but he shot over. Haggarty then showed excellent skills on the edge of the box, but his weak effort was easily held by Kris Robertson. Frank Lynch decided to try to exploit his team's numerical advantage by putting on another striker, with centre-half Stuart Allison making way for McKenzie after 40 minutes.

The second half started with Haggarty being booked for handball, while Martin McGarvey could consider himself fortunate to only suffer the same fate after a hefty challenge left Chris Cruickshank in need of treatment. Arthurlie were starting to turn their two extra men into goalscoring opportunities, with a Hobbs header being easily saved, a John Jack shot going just over and a chance for Convery being brilliantly saved by Wilson. The `keeper also had to do well to get down to hold a McGarvey drive low to his left after 65 minutes. Alan Waddell and Alan Jack replaced McGarvey and Convery as the visitors searched for the breakthrough, while the lack of chances for the home side couldn't be blamed upon a lack of workrate as each of the remaining eight outfield players hustled and harried to prevent such a breakthrough being made. Gavin Friels was the first to feel the pace after a hard shift on his own up front for most of the afternoon, and Ross Currie replaced him when cramp finally set in.

McKenzie should have scored when released by Hobbs, but Cruickshank made a last-ditch tackle to deflect his shot over the bar. Wilson spilled the corner, but reacted wonderfully to block the effort on the rebound. `Lok nearly snatched victory with seven minutes to go when a long ball from Wilson caused problems at the back, and Robertson had to dive at the feet of the tireless Stewart to prevent him from shooting. John Jack and Alan Jack both put shots wide before McLauchlan replaced Haggarty for the home side, who managed to see out time without conceding, thereby securing a replay at Dunterlie.

Rab Sneddon can be proud of a hard-working performance from all of his players, while opposite number Frank Lynch may consider this a missed opportunity to progress into the second round of the national competition.

Pollok: Wilson, Carruth, Cruickshank, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Stewart, Haggarty (McLauchlan 86), Smith, Friels (Currie 76), McKeever. Not used: McAulay, Paterson, Burns
Booked: McClay (20), Haggarty (48)
Sent Off: Heaton (20), Smith (22)
Arthurlie: Robertson, McShane, Wilson, S Jack, Allison (McKenzie 40), Ryan, McKeown, McGarvey (A Jack 71), Convery (Waddell 66), J Jack,
Hobbs. Not used: Travers, Montgomery
Booked: Convery (20), McGarvey (49)
Ref: S. Nicholls