D. McWilliams 3

Subs:
12. Gayne (6) (on 80 mins for 4)
14. Clark
15. Sherry (6) (on 22 mins for 8)
16. Elliot
17. Cannie (7) (on 76 mins for 11)

NO JAG FROM BLUNT THISTLE FOR LOK

Cannie: Proved doubters wrong

Pollok started off well and played lots of nice football. In the third minute the opening goal came after a sweet flowing passing move the length of the park. After two lovely passes from Aitchison, Fabiani sent in a deep cross which McNeill headed powerfully at goal. The Larkhall keeper McCulloch made a good save but the ball broke to DREW MCWILLIAMS and he fired home from a tight angle 6 yards out (1-0).

Paul McNeill was playing very well in the first half and caused Larkhall many problems with some good footwork and pace. Indeed the only thing that let him down was his finishing after twice being set up by Aitchison he didn't hit the target. There was a blow for Pollok after 20 mins when Hendry had to go off after what looked like a nasty hamstring pull.

Larkhall seemed content to hit on the break and after half an hour they really should have equalised. Some brilliant play from Wilkinson ended with a free header in the box for Roberts. Luckily for the home defence the ball went wide.

Half time: Pollok 1 Larkhall Thistle 0

At the start of the second half Larkhall had their best spell of the game forcing two corners and a smart save from Hanley from a powerful shot from Campbell. Pollok gradually got a grip of the game and again played some good football. Aitchison came close with a good shot that just went wide and McWilliams shot just over the bar after being cleverly set up by Gibson. The same two players combined well again moments later ending with Gibson sending a great shot just past the upright.

Cannie came on for the last 15 minutes and nearly scored twice. The first effort was a header that just went wide the second was a good shot that forced a very good save from McCulloch. Larkhall had some pressure near the end of the game but I felt they never really looked like scoring.

Pollok were the better team today and with a little bit of better finishing could have added to the scoreline. McNeill in the first half and Gibson in the second half played well but Aitchison for the whole game was a different class with non-stop effort and some reallygood football.

Full time: Pollok 1 Larkhall Thistle 0

Gibson 8
McNeill 38
Hendry 59

Marshall 70

Subs:
12. Gayne (6) (on 73 mins for 2)
14. Clark (6) (on 67 mins for 8)
15. Sherry
16. Elliot
17. Madden

GOW-N AND OUT AS LOK TURN IT ON

Where did he go?

Pollok started brightly in this match and played some good attacking football with plenty of dig. This enterprising play payed off as early as the seventh minute with a fine opener. After some good possession football, the ball was played out to the wing for Joe Bryers to show good skill to beat two men and send in fine deep cross. Drew McWilliams saw his well-directed header excellently saved by McGovern, but the ball bounced high out to LORN GIBSON who headed powerfully into the net from 12 yards. (1-0)

Another good deep cross this time from Fabiani saw John Hendry head off the outside of the post with the keeper well beaten, then Drew McWilliams put the ball in the net only for it correctly to be ruled offside. The only worrying thing was the number of missed chances for the home side. McNeill headed weakly past the post and then when sent through with the keeper to beat totally miss hitting his shot.

'Gow seemed content to hit on the break with Billy Ferguson out jumping Mario to nearly every high ball. Ferguson twice came close to equalising with good headers the second forcing a smart save from Hanley. Pollok increased their lead in the 38th minute with a well taken goal. Kevin O'Neil played an free kick deep to the back post where PAUL MCNEILL scored with a fine volley from 8 yards out. (2-0)

Half time: Pollok 2 Lesmahagow 0

Pollok started well again in the second half and were denied a stonewall penalty. From a corner kick Melvin blatantly punched the ball clear. Some great passing play ended with a clever one two from Hendry and McWilliams and Drew just hit the ball over the bar. The third goal which was worth the admission fee alone came in the 59th minute. JOHN HENDRY saw his free kick from fully thirty yards blocked by the defensive wall from the rebound he smashed a glorious half volley high into the back stantion. (3-0)

Lesmahagow then had their best spell of the game and pulled a goal back in the 70th minute. Ferguson yet again outjumped the home defence and his knock down fell into the path of the unmarked DREW MARSHALL who sent a fine low shot into the net from 18 yards. (3-1)

The same player then had two quick chances to score. Slack play allowed him to fire in a great shot that was smartly saved by Hanley, then after a clever turn he shot just over. Pollok were a bit too casual in front of goal and McWilliams delayed his shot too long when well set up by McNeill.

The game ended on a nasty note when Noble committed a poor challenge on McNeill which only got a yellow card. Gayne was then involved in a verbal disagreement with Frankie Haggarty which ended with the Pollok man a minute later going into the book for trying and just failing to kick the 'Gow player into the stand with a late sliding tackle.

Pollok deserved to win against a spirited Lesmahagow side. For the bulk of the game we looked the better side but again we were guilty of missing too many chances. Gow played well in the last 20 mins and had good players in clever full back Wallace and centre forward Billy Melvin.

Full time: Pollok 3 Lesmahagow 1

Holmes 22
Balmain 35

Subs:
12. Gibson (6) (on 45 mins for 8)
14. D. McWilliams (6) (on 56 mins for 7)
15. Clark (6) (on 70 mins for 2)
16. Sherry
17. Gayne

RESILIANT GERS BOG LOK DOWN

Under pressure?

Pollok started well and created a number of good chances. Cannie had a good shot well saved by Rangers keeper Wardlaw then Eliiot saw his great shot from outside the box saved well as well. Cambuslang looked good on the break and Gauley showed great skill to make room for himself only to see his final shot well saved by Hanley. Pollok continued to press and created good opportunities.

Elliot then displayed his skill to send in a deep cross only for Aitchison to hit his shot wide of the target. However, it was Cambuslang took the lead in 22 minutes with a somewhat strange goal. A cross into the box looked to be easy enough to clear but the ball took a wicked high bounce and hit McWilliams high up on the arm. The defence all stopped and BILLY HOLMES nipped in to bundle the ball over the line. (0-1)

Pollok fought back and created three good shooting chances inside the box. Cannie, Elliot and Pacitti hit all three chances high and not very handsomly over the bar. Cambuslang scored a second when after a poor clearance from a corner KENNY BALMAIN showed the Pollok forwards how to finish with a powerful low drive that screamed into the net from 16 yards - his first goal of the season. (0-2)

Indeed it took a great save from Hanley to stop a third goal after more clever play by the excellent Gauley.

Half time: Cambuslang Rangers 2 Pollok 0

Cambuslang started the second half the stronger and almost added to their lead. Good play by Holmes set up Gauley through on goal but he decided to square the ball rather than shoot. It was the only thing this very good player did wrong in the entire game.

Cambuslang were reduced to ten men when Matty Coulter was shown a second yellow and 5 minutes later they were reduced to nine when Jim Kavanagh was sent off for a high tackle on Aitchison. The rest of the half was spent encamped in the Rangers half of the field.

Pollok managed to create four good chances. Twice Gibson saw his shots well saved by the onrushing Wardlaw and Fabiani then had a good effort cleared off the line, with McNeill then having a shot headed off the line by Gary McGregor. Too often Pollok over-elaborated and played a few too many passes, mostly down the middle of the pitch which were easily cleared by the home defence.

Near the end Pollok were fortunate to not have two men sent off when Cannie had a petulant kick at Holmes.The ref was very lenient only showing a yellow card. The same punishment was given to Pacitti when he appeared to use an elbow.

Pollok created enough chances to win this game and only have themselves to blame for losing it. The defence continues to leak goals and the forwards seem to have misplaced their shooting boots. Cambuslang were a reasonable side with two very good forwards and a hard working defence and midfield. I thought Gauley was terrific and is the best forward - along with Stuart Boyd of Glenafton - I have seen this season.

Full time: Cambuslang Rangers 2 Pollok 0