D. McWilliams 32
Watt 51

Subs:
12. Gayne (7) (on 66 mins for 1)
14. Dickson
15. McNeill (7) (on 75 mins for 9)
16. Cannie
17. Madden (7) (on 80 mins for 8)

HORROR INJURY OVERSHADOWS WIN

Leg break agony for Danny Hanley

It was a tribute to the Pollok ground staff that this game went ahead. Pollok made 5 changes from the team last week. In terrible conditions with heavy rain and wind the opening ten minutes were very scrappy. Dunipace probably had their best spell of the game in this period and both Kenna and McKinlay had half chances which they both put over the bar.

Pollok finally got a grip of the game and started to create many chances with new signing David Watt prominent. Keeper Walton who had a fine game, stopped Watt from a scoring debut with a fine save after a good through ball from McWilliams. Gibson was next to threaten after a good one two with Aitchison his shot went just the wrong side of the post.

Watt had the ball in the net after good play from Elliot but it was correctly ruled out for offside. Elliot who was more and more influential came close with a powerful drive again Walton making a fine stop. The opening goal finally came after 32mins. Great play on the wing from Watt ended with his good cross ball being excellently controlled by DREW MCWILLIAMS and neatly tucked away from 6 yards. (1-0)

Watt came close to adding a second after a scramble in the box but his powerful shot hit the crossbar. Pacitti was next to come close with a snap shot that again was well saved by Walton. More chances came before half time with Watt and Fabiani coming close from corner kicks.

Half time: Pollok 1 Dunipace 0

The match was more or less killed off on the 51st minute. A good move the length of the field ended with Sherry showing great skill and persistence to beat a defender and send a quality cross into the box. Waiting 6 yards out was DAVID WATT who slid the ball into the net for a debut goal and Pollok's second. (2-0)

Pollok were in complete control of the game and looked to be capable of adding more goals before a terrible incident in the 66th minute. A Dunipace free kick broke into the box and Danny Hanley slid out to claim the ball. After he had the ball in his possession Dunipace right back Chris Newall slid in late. The linesman had to help the referee maintain order as things threatened to turn nasty. Danny Hanley was stretchered off with a suspected broken leg and Newall after a two minute lecture from the ref was shown a straight red card.

Mario Pacitti went in goals and had one good save to make and looked pretty comfortable. After this the rest of the game seemed unimportant. Pollok missed quite a few chances with Davie Elliot being particularly unlucky not to get on the score sheet, and Roland Fabiain missing a sitter from three yards out.Gibson and Sherry both forced a great saves out of Walton. Drew McWilliams was twice robbed of good chances by terrible offside decisions and then he missed a great chance on the final whistle from a free header from a corner.

Pollok played within themselves and won comfortably against a poor Dunipace side. New signing Watt played well and Davie Elliot had an outstanding game. For Dunipace keeper Walton definitely kept the scores down with a string of great saves and left back Caufield showed a lot of very clever touches. The game was spoiled by the injury to Hanley and I hope that it is not as serious as it looked.

Full time: Pollok 2 Dunipace 0

McNaughton 55
Craik 76

Subs:
12. Gibson (6) (on 77 mins for 8)
14. Elliot (6) (on 78 mins for 4)
15. Madden (6) (on 85 mins for 11)
16. Sherry
17. Gayne

WE'RE LACKLUSTRE AND WE'RE OUT

Alan Dickson: costly cup blunder

There was very little football played in todays match. Most of the game was spent in the middle of the park. Tayport had the first real chance of the game when the Pollok defence looked a real mess as Craik ran in unmarked to shoot narrowly past from 10 yards. Pollok replied with a good move from McWilliams and Cannie which ended with a snap shot from McWilliams that went just over the bar.

The home side could have been reduced to nine men. Firstly Peters committed a poor tackle from behind on Mark McWilliams that earned a booking. The same player then committed a hard tackle on McNeill and was very lucky not to see a second yellow.

Tayport's Kenneth was then guilty of a lunge on Mark McWilliams. The referee played advantage and never spoke to the player when the play broke down.

Thankfully the game calmed a little and there was a couple of more chances before half time. Yet again the Pollok defence looked very suspect against the high ball as Ward saw his powerful header brilliantly saved by Hanley. Pollok replied with a great move that ended with a sliding tackle by keeper Fitzpatrick at the feet of Cannie.

Half time: Tayport 0 Pollok 0

Pollok started strongly in the second half and came very close to opening the scoring in the 54th minute. After Bryers was pulled down on the edge of the box Cannie fired a great free kick just past the post with the keeper beaten. Tayport open the scoring a minute later with a absolute gift from the Pollok defence.

A high clearance got caught in the wind. Dickson then attempted to head the ball back to Hanley but was woefully short. Port's BARRY MCNAUGHTON was quick onto the ball and showed great skill and composure to net with a neat chip from 18 yards. (0-1)

Pollok tried very hard to get back into the game. Half chances were created for Bryers and Mark McWilliams but both shot over the bar. Tayport then got a killer second goal that again was a gift from the Pollok defence. In the 76th minute a high throw in to the box again caused havoc and RONNIE KENNETH nipped in to score with a clever flick. (0-2)

Pollok made three quick subs but to no real effect and the game ended on a sour note with a fall out from Phil Cannie and some of his team mates. Tayport could have increased their lead ut for two great tackles from Fabiani and Pacitti and a good save from Hanley.

All in all a terrible game. Pollok can have no complaints about this result as the Tayport keeper didn't have a save to make in the game. The Pollok forwards' goals have dried up and the defence still makes too many mistake and is very suspect in the air and has been for a long time.

Tayport had good players in Gareth Dailly, Brian Craik and the excellent Grant Paterson who never put a foot wrong in the two games. I wish them well in the next round against Renfrew.

Full time: Tayport 2 Pollok 0

Subs:
12. Gayne
14. Elliot
15. Madden (6) (on 75 mins for 8)
16. Sherry
17. Gibson (6) (on 82 mins for 11)

NO GOALS BUT PLENTY OF THRILLS

Kevin O'Neil: nut-cracking stuff from the skipper

Tayport started off very strongly and were unlucky not to open the scoring within the first 10 minutes. A free header from Craik went just over the bar and then a minute later the same player saw an identical free header hit the inside of the post and run along the goalie before being kicked to safety. Then from the poorly cleared resultant corner McNaughton saw his great shot from outside the box hit the top of the bar.

Pollok managed to weather the storm and then started to play good football. Port two giant centre halfs were dominant in the air but on the ground McNeill and Cannie easily had the beating of them time and again. From a long ball Cannie brilliantly controlled on his chest and perhaps his side foot finish was a little too casual allowing keeper Fitzpatrick to make a diving save.

Cannie then almost caught the keeper out with a clever free kick but Fitzpatrick just managed to stop the ball on the line. Clever play from Bryers lead to a half chance for McNeill from 18 yards but he scuffed the shot again allowing the keeper to save. Cannie then was put through after a very neat pass from Mark Mcwilliams but he screwed his shot wide.

The game was turning a bit rough and Port can consider themselves lucky to be playing with 11 men after a nasty incident. O'Neil and Dailly clashed and ended up on the floor. In getting up Dailly seemed to catch O'Neil with a low blow. The ref saw this and strangely gave both players a lecture and played on. Stewart then committed a poor tackle on O'Neil. 30 seconds later the same player was booked for a nothing tackle.

Pollok then had a very good penalty claim turned down when McWilliams was clearly pushed in the box by Ward. This exciting first half ended to great applause from the fans.

Half time: Pollok 0 Tayport 0

The second half was not as entertaining as the first. Pollok again had the better of the play and looked very dangerous playing at times some excellent football. A great move involving Bryers and Cannie ended up with Aitchison sending a glancing header just past the post.

Port seemed to rely more and more on the towering kickouts from keeper Fitzpatrick to cause problems for the Pollok defence. Indeed it was the Pollok defence who gifted Port with their best chance of the half when slack play from Dickson and Bryers allowed McNaughton a run through on goal, and only a good tackle from Fabiani cleared the danger.

Pollok had a great chance to win the match in the last five minute after a terrible blunder by the Port keeper. He miss hit his clearance and the ball fell to Madden. With an open goal at his mercy from 12 yards out he sliced his shot wide of the post. A minute later the same player was unlucky as the ball seemed to bobble in the box after he was set up well by Cannie.

Drew McWilliams was booked just before the final whistle for dissent after his penalty claim was turned down. I thought the ref made the right decision in this case after looking at the incident again.

I thought after the first 15 minutes Pollok looked the better side. Tayport relied too much on the long ball and were quite dirty at times as well. Pollok can win the replay if they play well and have a strong referee who will book the persistent foulers in the Tayport team. Mark McWilliams, Fabiani, O'Neil and Bryers were very good for Pollok today with Bryers just shading the man of the match award. For Tayport I made Paterson their best player.

Full time: Pollok 0 Tayport 0