Elliot
Clark

McLaughlin

Subs:
12. Smith (on 45 mins for 1)
14. Fabiani (on 65 mins for 2)
15. Aitchison (on 65 mins for 8)
16. Cannie (on 45mins for 9)
17. D. McWilliams (on 65mins for 11)
18. Bryers (on 11mins for 10)

On Monday night, Pollok played a closed doors friendly against a Clyde XI. Mark McLaughlin (ex-Arthurlie) put Clyde XI ahead in the first-half, but goals from Davie Elliot and Gary Clark in the second-half gave Lok the victory. I reckon they were the better side early on but after an hour or so, we began to dominate and could have scored more.

Danny Hanley had some good saves and Alan Smith, our U-21 keeper, looked good when he came on. Injury-prone Davie Graham only managed 10 minutes before he had to come off injured. It was a good competitive game, with a number of chances created by both sides. The Clyde side seemed to be a mixture of youngsters and some players with first-team experience. Ex-Partick, Baillieston and Armadale keeper Kevin Budinaukas was in goal, with David Hagen (Ex Rangers and Falkirk) up front and scorer Mark McLaughlin the only others I recognised but I don't know many of their first-team squad these days.

Morrison (pen) 87

Cannie 11
McNeill 73

Subs:
12. Elliot (7) (on 78 mins for 6)
14. Main
15. M. McWilliams (7) (on 76 mins for 10)
16. Graham
17. Madden

IMPROVEMENT EVIDENT AT RENFREW

Spit: talking to

Pollok put in a reasonable performance today against Scottish Cup holders Renfrew. There was nothing to note from either side until the tenth minute when Pollok took the lead. Aitchison played a long clearance into the path of PHIL CANNIE who showed good skill to bring the ball under control and his weakly hit shot took a high bounce over the hand of Frew keeper Thomson to end in the net via the base of the post. (1-0)

Pollok had the bulk of the play for the rest of the half. Frew’s best chances came from corners when Smith and Quigley were afforded free headers but both flew across the goal with no takers. McWilliams twice came close for Pollok with a clever chip and a powerful shot, both just going the wrong side of the upright.

Half time: Renfrew 0 Pollok 1

Renfrew played better in the second half and had good spells of possession and at times looking good for an equaliser. From a corner kick that wasn’t cleared, Pacitti did well to kick a Smith shot off the line. Hanley in the Pollok goal was looking sharp and twice cut out good crosses from Renfrew’s best player on the day McKeown.

Pollok got a second goal in the 73rd minute after a good spell of play. PAUL MCNEILL showed lots of determination to win the ball then good skill to beat two men before firing a spectacular shot from 19 yards high into the net. (2-0)

Renfrew fought back well and scored in the 88th minute. A good cross into the box saw Morrison being pulled down by Mark McWilliams. The ball broke to Jim 'Tiger' McNally and he fired into the net. However, the linesman flagged and after consultation from the ref, a penalty was awarded.

ANDY MORRISON made an expert job from the spot for his eighth goal of the season (six penalties...). (2-1)

An improvement from Pollok this week and I thought a deserved win, as we looked the better side for most of the game. Kevin O’Neil had a good game at sweeper and Mario Pacitti kept the excellent Morrison very quiet throughout the game while Oz-bound Joe Bryers had another fine game.

Full time: Renfrew 1 Pollok 2

Hendry 24

Subs:
12. Clark (6) (on 67 mins for 6)
14. Main
15. Elliot (6) (on 67 mins for 8)
16. Graham
17. McNeill (6) (on 67 mins for 11)

YET ANOTHER FOOTBALL LESSON

2nd goal of season for John Hendry

Pollok had some good pressure right from the kick off and looked dangerous twice from two long throws from Aitchison. However it was our friends and rivals Burgh who took the lead in the 5th minute. A good free kick from McLay found an unmarked DAVE BROLLY in the box and he bulleted a fine header low into the net from 10 yards (0-1).

Pollok really made little headway into the match and continually gave the ball away cheaply in midfield with JB looking very threatening when they came forward. Pollok were denied what looked a clear penalty in the 20th minute. A good breakaway from Bryers ended with a dangerous ball into the box. Phil Cannie looked to be clearly pulled down as he attempted to reach the cross.

Better luck came in the 25th minute with the equaliser. A Cannie free kick was splendidly headed powerfully into the net from 12 yards by JOHN HENDRY. (1-1)

The game then took on more of an edge with both team going in very hard with the tackles. Hendry was lucky that the ref didn't see a retaliation on Hutchison when the Pollok man elbowed the JB player in the chest.

The excellent Zander Ryan was causing all sorts of problems for the home defence and JB were using the wide spaces that Lok allowed to good effect. Every time Ryan and Armour got the ball they were allowed to run 30 yards before being challenged which was asking for trouble.

Half time: Pollok 1 Johnstone Burgh 1

More of the same in the second half with Pollok tending to overdo the passes when they got into the JB half. McLay came close for JB when he was wide with a hitch kick from a clever McGuinness cutback. Andrews then sent in a great cross on the run which luckily for the home side was just too high for Brolly at the back post.

JB were reduced to ten men after an off the ball incident spotted by the lineswoman. Brolly clearly kicked Hanley as the two collided going for a 50/50 ball.

As usual Pollok struggled against a team reduced to ten men. In the 65th minute, a long clearance found McGuinness who easily out jumped Mario Pacitti to play the ball into giant JOHN MCLAY and he slid the ball home from 17 yards past a despairing Hanley. (1-2)

A triple substitution by Pollok had little effect and despite having loads of possession no one seemed to have the skill and guile to penetrate a stuffy hard working defence. The only clear chance fell to Eadie and he headed past the post when he really should have done better. Ryan nearly got a third after a tremendous run the full length of the park. His final shot being easily saved by Hanley. In what was a hard fought game the ref Mr Drummond overreacted by showing 10 yellow and one red card.

Pollok were poor again today and only had three shots on target. They lacked skill in midfield and had no ideas when they got up to the edge of JB's box. You cant fault Pollok for effort but it looks like every part of the team can be improved. JB, like Benburb two weeks ago, were excellent. Hutcheson, Andrews and McGuinness all played well. Burgh played good football, fast and skillful and they kept things simple. In Ryan they have one of the best players in the league. He was tremendous today and it was a pleasure to watch him play. JB look certs for the top six and must fancy their chances of winning the league as well.

Full time: Pollok 1 Johnstone Burgh 2

Ross 67 (pen)

Subs:
12. McNeill
14. Hendry (7) (on 62 mins for 11)
15. Sherry (7) (on 21 mins for 4)
16. Clark
17. Madden

LOK ARE THROUGH

Ex-Dark Blue Hendo sent off for nothing in Dundee

Pollok made a reasonable start to this game at North End Park and forced a number of corners in the opening 15 minutes.

There was very few chances to talk about until the last five minutes of the half when Pollok could have scored three times. Firstly a good Eadie headed cutback was blocked on the line then twice Cannie was set up by McWilliams only to shoot wide of the onrushing Mann and secondly be caught offside when he really shouldn't have been.

Half time: Dundee North End 0 Pollok 0

Thankfully the second half was more entertaining to watch. North End started the better and put the Pollok defence under pressure for long spells. However when the chances did come, they were very poor in front of goal. The best of the chances being when No 6 blasted the ball over the bar when cleverly set up by the skillful No 11.

Pollok took the lead in the 60th minute when John Hendry hit a free-kick that was deflected out. From the corner kick the ball was flicked on via a defender to ROLAND FABIANI and he buried the ball home from 6 yards. (1-0)

North End again fought back and got an equaliser in the 67th minute via the penalty spot. Sherry pulled down the tricky No 11 in the box and veteran STEVIE ROSS sent Hanley the wrong way from the spot. (1-1)

North End then missed a couple of good chances to take the lead with Ross and then No 4 both failing to hit the target from free headers. Pollok however had better luck in the 78th minute. Excellent football between Cannie and Bryers ended with a pass to McWilliams. Drew showed good skill to beat his man and his low cross was bundled over the line from close range by JOHN HENDRY. (2-1)

Well-known hardman John Hendry then picked up a double booking. The first was for what seemed an accidental collision between himself and an opponent, while the second he seemed to win the ball before being tackled late by the NE man.

Pollok wrapped the game up in the 5th minute of injury time when the No 4 of North End fluffed a clearance. The ball fell to PHIL CANNIE 40 yards out and he showed great pace and composure to run through and waltz round the keeper to score. (3-1)

All in all not a great performance from Pollok but it is the result that counts. We have played better this season and lost. Some people said North End were unfortunate not to win or get a draw but while they had the better chances but didn't actually force a single save from Hanley. They played with skill at times going forward.

Full time: Dundee North End 1 Pollok 3

Subs:
12. Dickson
14. Gayne (5) (on 45 mins for 8)
15. Sherry (5) (on 65 mins for 3)
16. Elliot
17. D. McWilliams (5) (on 45 mins for 11)

POOR STUFF FROM LOK

Danny does his subbutteo goalie impression today

Last week's performance could easily have been described as unlucky, but the fayre at Newlandsfield against Benburb was somewhat different. Last week Glens keeper Matthews had a fairly quiet afternoon, and I don't believe Iain Banks expected such an easy afternoon upon his Newlandsfield return. In fact, Pollok had absolutely no decent efforts at goal in the first half.

The only real attempt was a mis-hit shot from just outside the box from Kevin O'Neil that flew off at ninety degrees, and his follow-up was never going to trouble the keeper. Benburb easily looked the better team and it was only a suprise that it took them until after half an hour of play to score. There looked no danger when Gavin Brown received the ball on the wing but both Mario Pacitti and Kevin O'Neil dived in and were beaten. The ball was passed into the box where young DAVID SHARKEY scored with a neat side-foot from 8 yards out (0-1).

Hanley then had to make a fine save from a thunderous shot from Campbell. Pollok nearly gifted another when Clark waited for Hanley to come and get a though ball. Hanley was rooted to the line and Brown managed to shoot past him but luckily for all Lok fans, the ball hit the post and was cleared.

Half time: Pollok 0 Benburb 1

The second half from Pollok was equally as bad. Apart from two good crosses from Cannie, nothing spelled danger for the Benburb back line. No shots on target, no concerted pressure or periods of possession.

Bens got a second in the 65th minute as the Lok defence fell asleep. A short corner was played to the back post where ex-U21 Lok player KRIS JAMIESON netted with a spectacular diving header (0-2).

Worse was to follow in the 67th minute when a nothing clearence from Bens was left to run though to Hanley. However Hanley was rooted to the spot yet again allowing GAVIN BROWN to latch onto the ball and score (0-3).

Hanley then made a good save from a John Tinney piledriver. The rest of the game was quietly played out with Bens easily in control and Pollok despite trying hard doing nothing.

The players cannot be faulted for effort but not one attempt at goal in the entire game speaks for itself. The defence continues to leak goals (three goals in each league game). All the goals today were expertly converted but easily avoided.

Bens on the other hand were excellent. No nonsense defence, a hard working midfield who played the simple ball every time and quick clever forwards. Bens on this performance look to have a good season ahead of them. Pollok have to get the defence sorted out for if the forwards don't play well as they have not for the last four games (first half of Saltcoats replay excepted) we look a poor side.

Full time: Pollok 0 Benburb 3