McNeill 16
Clark 78
Gibson 81

Subs:
12. Elliot
14. Graham
15. Hendry
16. Gibson (7) (on 64 mins for 9)
17. Fabiani

UNBEATEN YET UNCONVINCING

Clark scores his first of the season

Pollok did all the running in this game but poor finishing stopped a cricket score. Both Bryers and Eadie came close to scoring before the lead was taken in the 15th minute. An Aitchison long throw was flicked on to PAUL MCNEILL who controlled the ball well before shooting low and hard into the net from 8 yards (1-0).

McNeill then saw two very good shots from corners well saved by RA's keeper. More chances came and went with Bryers, Eadie and Madden all failing to hit the target. Royal Albert showed nothing except on one occasion when the were blatently robbed of a goal with one of the worst decisions I have ever seen. O'Neil almost passed the ball back into his own net forcing Hanley to dive to save the ball. The ball broke to RA's No 11 who put it into the net. The ref blew his whistle and ordered an indirect free-kick for handling a pass back. A decision showing no common sense at all.

At the other end Pollok were denied a penalty with an equally dumb decision. McNeill was lying injured in the box and got up and started to hobble out away from the goal. Bryers rushed in the the box and was downed by the keeper. The lineswoman gave offside against McNeill.

Half time: Royal Albert 0 Pollok 1

The first twenty minutes of the second half were pretty awful. Again Pollok dominated but missed many good chances most of which were created by poor defending rather than good play.

Bryers hit wide, Eadie somehow hit the only RA defender between him and an open goal, and Madden scuffed a shot wide when he should have done better. Cannie was replaced by Gibson and Pollok then started to play well. However poor marking at the back post saw No 10 of RA force a very good save out of Hanley.

The second goal came in the 78th minute. A miss-hit shot broke to GARY CLARK and he very skillfully rounded the keeper to score (2-0) and good play saw the third goal in the 81st minute. A good run and one-two by Eadie and Gibson saw LORN GIBSON score with a fine low shot that threw up a huge splash from the puddle in the back of the net (3-0).

Pollok again had more good chances with McNeill and Eadie just shooting wide and header from Mario just went over. Right at the death Royal Albert were reduced to ten men when their centre half shouted "That was never out, ya F****n' wee dwarf" at the petite lineswoman.

Not a very good performance from Pollok today as a cricket score could have been posted against a hard working but poor Royal Albert side.

Full time: Royal Albert 0 Pollok 3

D. McWilliams 30
Gibson 68

Drew 74
Brownlie 76

Subs:
12. Pacitti
14. Clark
15. McNeill
16. Bryers (6) (on 83 mins for 7)
17. M. McWilliams

OLD HABITS DIE HARD

It wasn't Cannie's day

Bellshill started the better of the two sides and Brian Dingwall forced two good saves out of Danny Hanley in the opening five minutes. Pollok gradually got into the game and created many good chances.

First, Eadie headed over the bar then McWilliams should have done better when cleverly set up by Madden. And that was followed up by Madden shooting wide from just inside the box.

The opening goal came in the 30th minute. A corner was flicked on by Eadie to DREW MCWILLIAMS who shot in from 6 yards (1-0). McWilliams was then unlucky when he showed good pace and skill to run by the defence and round the keeper only to lose his balance and fail to hit the ball into the empty net.

Half time: Pollok 1 Bellshill Athletic 0

Bellshill had a big push in the start of the half and caused a lot of problems to the Pollok defence. Muir especially on the wing was giving Kevin O'Neil a very difficult time with his good pace and skill. Pollok though continued to make the better chances. A clever double dummy by Eadie and Cannie saw Madden fail to hit the target from inside the box. Eadie twice made good room in the box but failed to trouble the keeper.

It was 2-0 in the 68th minute. Good play by Madden and Aitchison sent LORN GIBSON through and he cleverly dummied the keeper before classily chipping the ball into the net. (2-0)

Young Steven Gayne then fouled Bellshill's prolific Bryan Dingwall. The 'Hill player then attempted an elbow and pushed Gayne in the face. Referee Winters sent off Dingwall and sent off Gayne as well.

'Hill then brought on the giant Doug Brownlie and pushed centre half Danny Drew up front. Two quick goals ensued.

First in the 74th minute, DANNY DREW easily out jumped O'Neil at the back post to head in (2-1). Then 2 mins later, poor play by O'Neil and Cannie gave the ball away to Rowett who hit a nothing high ball into the box. The defence slept allowing DOUG BROWNLIE unmarked to slide in at the back post and hit the ball in. (2-2)

Graham Higgins then got sent off for persistant fouling. Pollok tried hard but didn't really look like scoring except when Aitchison and Fabiani ran at the defence, with Fabiani being unlucky after a great run when he hit the ball over.

Full time: Pollok 2 Bellhill Athletic 2

Penalty shootout

POLLOK: Madden scored (1-0)
BELLSHILL: 'Hill scored (1-1)
POLLOK: Cannie missed - poor penalty (1-1)
BELLSHILL: Drew scored (1-2)
POLLOK: McWilliams missed - good save (1-2)
BELLSHILL: 'Hill scored (1-3)
POLLOK: O'Neil scored (2-3)
BELLSHILL: Rowet missed - good save (2-3)
POLLOK: Aitchison scored (3-3)
BELLSHILL: Tomlinson scored (3-4)

Lots of moans from Lok supporters that Bellshill were lucky. I disagree. Pollok had plenty chances to win the game and didn't take them. We have only ourselves to blame.

D. McWilliams 1, 42, 49
Aitchison 88

Mooney 14
McDonald 67
Donaldson 68

Subs:
12. Clark (5) (on 64mins for 9)
14. Pacitti
15. Bryers (6) (on 78 mins for 10)
16. McNeill
17. Graham (6) (on 78 mins for 7)

LOK EIGHT MATCHES UNBEATEN!

"Pass the smelling salts someone!"

Neutrals seeing this result in the paper would probably think it was a sensational match but actually, despite a Drew McWilliams hat-trick and the last gasp winner, the game was flat for long periods.

Pollok got off to the best possible start with a well-crafted goal in 30 seconds. A long free-kick was headed across goal by Alex Eadie and the return ball from Gary Madden was met at the far post by the ever alert DREW MCWILLIAMS (1–0).

Pollok fell out of the game after this and it was no surprise when the busier looking Petershill equalised on 14 minutes when a rasping shot on the turn from STEVIE MOONEY left Danny Hanley helpless (1–1).

Chances were few and far between at both ends but right on half-time DREW MCWILLIAMS notched his second when he bundled home from close-in after Roland Fabiani had glanced a corner goalwards (2–1).

Half time: Pollok 2 Petershill 1

Into the second-half and Pollok increased their lead after only 4 minutes when DREW MCWILLIAMS latched onto a long ball and left a couple of Peasy defenders in his wake before effortlessly chipping over the grounded Gerry McLaughlin to complete his hat-trick (3–1).

Both teams conspired to lose the plot after this and with play, to say the least, lacking inspiration, a surprising substitution turned the game Petershill’s way when Phil Cannie was replaced by Gary Clark. With Alex Eadie pushed forward as a consequence, Pollok lost his aerial defensive prowess and were made to pay when Petershill scored two in two minutes through RYAN MCDONALD (3-2) and DAVIE DONALDSON to draw level. Certainly the equaliser was a disaster from Danny Hanley’s point of view as he seemed to lose a free-kick from the half-way line in the sun and the ball dropped behind him into the net (3–3).

Petershill seemed happy to settle for the draw after this but Pollok were not to be denied. With the referee looking at his watch, a cross from Stevie Gayne was deftly nodded into the path on the on-rushing Steven Aitchison by hat-trick hero Drew McWilliams. STEVIE AITCHISON was brave enough to beat McLaughlin to the ball and slot home the winner (4–3).

All in all, a good three points which were certainly achieved the hard way.

Full time: Pollok 4 Petershill 3

Sherry 46

Cannie 44,
Eadie 57

Subs:
12. Bryers (6) (on 80 mins for 10)
14. Clark
15. Pacitti
16. Elliot
17. McNeill

LOK SET UP BELLSHILL REVENGE TIE

Eadie nets his first Lok goal in nearly 15 months

A hugely enjoyable game today played by two attacking team in very wet conditions. Maryhill started brightly and forced four quick corners which all troubled the Pollok defence. Pollok then struck back and had two good chances to open the scoring.

A clever pass into the box by Eadie was volleyed over the bar by McWilliams and then after some very clever play by Aitchison, Madden had a great chance but he delayed his shot too long allowing a good tackle by the Hill No 4 to clear the danger.

Pollok were playing some nice stuff and the third of three corners saw McWilliams just head the ball over at the far post. Then after a break of the ball in the box Eadie shot wide when he perhaps should have hit the target.

Just before the break, 'Hill missed a great chance to take the lead. An almighty scramble in the box ended with Hughes failing to put the ball into the net from six yards. It has to be said it was partly due to a good block by Fabiani who injured himself in the process.

Pollok took the lead in the 44th minute. A huge kick out from Hanley was missed by No4 who slipped. Madden found himself through with the keeper to beat but the keeper bravely dived at his feet deflecting the ball away. The ball broke to PHIL CANNIE some 30 yards out and he showed great technique to get his body over the ball to fire a powerful shot into the net (1-0).

Half time: Maryhill 0 Pollok 1

'Hill came out all guns blazing and equalised inside a minute after the break but it was mainly down to some terrible defending by Pollok. Gibson lost the ball deep inside his own half and from the resultant cross ended up being spilled by Hanley after two failed attempts to clear it ended at the feet of JOHN SHERRY who tapped the ball into the net from close in (1-1).

Then No 6 was just wide with a good shot. From a corner the giant Campbell headed the ball off the bar. Pollok replied with a spectacular effort from Cannie which went just wide. The always impressive McAllister came close with a very skillful chip which forced a really good save out of Hanley. The defence at this point were playing well despite all the 'Hill pressure and were forcing the 'Hill into shooting from long range.

Pollok gradually got back into the game after some good Maryhill pressure. In the 57th min they retook the lead. After a corner the ball was flicked on to ALEX EADIE at the back post and he hammered a shot high into the net from 12 yards (2-1).

'Hill again came out on attack and played some really nice football as they forced Pollok back. No 11 really should have equalised after he was played in with a delightful chip from McAllister. Luckily for Pollok his shot was weak and straight at Hanley. Pollok were forced to hit on the break but they looked very dangerous in doing so with a lot of pace.

Sub Joe Bryers twice was put through but both times he failed to really trouble the keeper. After nearly five minutes of injury time, the ref blew the final whistle to great cheers from the large Pollok support.

I really enjoyed this game today. It was a good advert for the Juniors, with both teams playing good attacking football. 'Hill will feel unlucky but yet again you have to take your chances and they didn't. I am sure however that they will have a good season.

Pollok played well as a team with Aitchison, Eadie, and Fabiani especially playing well.

Full time: Maryhill 1 Pollok 2