P. Campbell 42

McNeill 86
Proctor 90

Irvine Meadow
No team lines available

Pollok
1. Wilson 7
2. Sweeney 7
3. Fabiani 7
4. Gayne 6
(sub Proctor 80 7)
5. Pacitti 6
(sub Bryers 70 7)
6. O'Neil 6
7. Hamilton 6
8. Aitchison 7
9. D. McWilliams 5
(sub Watt 66 7)
10. McPhee 7
11. McNeill 7
Subs not used: Fitzpatrick, Hanley

The first real chance fell to the Meadow when centre-half Robison did well to beat two men only letting himself down with a weak shot straight at Wilson.

Handball was the shout... ignored (videograb)

Apart from a deep cross that Fabiani put into the side netting and a Hamilton shot that went just wide Pollok created very little. The highlight of the first half for me was Mario Pacitti clearing his lines and demolishing the roof of a doocot in a neighbouring garden that caused a scared flock of pigeons and feathers to fly high in the air.

The only goal of the half was caused by yet another pathetic non-decision by a useless linesman. A deep cross by Hamilton was blatantly punched clear by the Meadow defender as McPhee was waiting to control it. Meadow then produced a classic breakway. Centre forward Robertson cleverly ran across the defence clearing space for number 10 to pass to PAUL CAMPBELL who finished with a neat chip over Wilson.

Half-time: Irvine Meadow XI 1 Pollok 0

The second half was a little better with both sides playing some good football only the final ball being the let down. Pollok created two chances in the opening minutes with both McPhee and McWilliams should have done better than shoot straight at the Meadow keeper.

Meadow continued to look dangerous when they attacked and number 10 was guilty of missing a good chance when he headed weakly past at the back post. Most of the second half was slowed down by timewasting from the opposition.

Pollok started to put real pressure on the Meadow defence and two very attacking substitutions (Bryers for Pacitti and Proctor for Gayne) by Ronnie Lowrie came off in the 86th minute. After some neat play by Hamilton a long ball found PAUL MCNEILL in space and he netted with a classic lob from 20 yards.

Paul McNeill chips in the equaliser (videograb)

Meadow almost went ahead moments later when Robison, who had a fine game, went on a brilliant 60 yard run. He eventually passed to the left back and his shot was denied by a typical brilliant save from Ian Wilson. Play raged to the other end and twice in the space of 30 seconds sub Kevin Proctor hit the underside of the bar. This caused a very funny exchange between keeper Stephen Connick and his manager.

Proctor hits the bar (videograb)

In the second minute of injury time, Pollok snatched a winner. A long ball from Wilson caused panic in the Meadow defence and the ball broke to KEVIN PROCTOR 25 yards out. This time his shot was low and hard and screamed into the net. The final whistle went moments later for a very satisfying result.

Pollok played well in spells in this match with the attacking substitutions paying off. Chris Sweeney just edged my man of the match award with a very good display. I have nothing against Irvine Meadow. They have an excellent park and set up as good as I have seen, and some fine players in ex-Lugar beanpole Chris Robertson and former Rangers youngster Kevin Robison, as well as the impressive left back.

Full-time: Irvine Meadow XI 1 Pollok 2

McPhee 71
Logan 86

Melvin 33
Pacitti OG 64

Pollok
1. Wilson 7
2. O'Neil 5
3. Fabiani 6
4. Gayne 5
5. Pacitti 6
6. Aitchison 6
(sub Proctor 46 7)
7. Bryers 6
8. Logan 7
9. McPhee 8
10. Jordan 7
11. Watt 6
(sub Fitzpatrick 68 6)
Subs not used: Sweeney, Martin, Hanley

Larkhall Thistle
1. Marshall
2. McGrath
3. McQuade
4. Graham
5. Gardiner
6. Paterson
(sub Morgan 88)
7. Bovill
8. Black
9. Watret
(sub Main 80)
10. Melvin
(sub Roberts 88)
11. McKeever
Subs not used: Campbell, Stirrat

The opening for Pollok was quite bright with Watt missing a good chance after a neat cutback from Joe Bryers. From a corner moment later Stevie Gayne should have done better than send his free header high over the bar.

Davie Watt cops an elbow (videograb)

Larkhall started to play better and almost opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Melvin showed some wonderful skill in controlling a high ball and then sent in a brilliant pass to the feet of McKeever who was foiled by a brave save from Wilson.

Ian Wilson came to Pollok's rescue again when he produced a brilliant reflex save from Melvin's deflected shot, then again from the rebound from Black. From the corner kick that followed, Wilson again made a great save from a Bovill header.

Larkhall had two shouts for penalties. Black was at the centre of both - being booked for diving for the first but it looked like he had a better shout for the second when he was held by Gayne. Soft... but I have seen them given. Larkhall got a deserved goal in the 30th minute that had a little luck about it. A deep over-hit cross from McKeever was touched onto the bar by Wilson and the rebound fell nicely to BILLY MELVIN who shot home from 2 yards out.

Throughout the first half there was some needle between the team. Jimmy McPhee and McQuade were having a mighty battle and the Larkhall man was booked after a number of late tackles, elbows and pushes. Pollok created two good chances before the end of the half with both Watt and Logan failing to hit the target after being set up by Aitchison and Jordan.

Half-time: Pollok 0 Larkhall Thistle 1

The second half saw a better performance from Pollok. Some good play early on saw Jimmy McPhee come close with a shot that just went wide. Davie Watt then forced a great save from keeper Marshall with a thunderous shot from 25 yards.

Larkhall got their second goal just after the hour mark with a comical own goal. Everyone in the ground could see what was going to happen as Pacitti and Wilson both hesitated under a high bouncing through ball at the edge of the area. MARIO PACITTI then sent a perfect header over stranded Wilson's head and into the open goal.

Tragedy for Mario (videograb)

Pollok to their credit did not give up and kept playing football. Juvenile player Kevin Proctor (who played well in the second half after coming on as sub) missed a great chance when he shot over the bar from close range, the ball hitting his shin as he stuck his leg out. A goal was pulled back in the 73rd minute when JIMMY MCPHEE sent a beauty of a low shot into the net from 18 yards out that had goal written all over it from the moment it left his right boot.

Referee Johnston then sent off Larkhall's Black in strange circumstances. Ian Wilson was trying to throw the ball out quickly and in pulling his arm back it collided with Black and the ball was knocked loose. The referee decided this was deliberate and produced a second yellow. Larkhall then started to timewaste with Paterson getting a case of serial cramp (when Pollok were on attack he fell down) and three times the game was stopped to allow lengthy treatment.

"It's a goal, Raymond Logan!" (videograb)

Pollok got a well deserved equaliser with again a touch of fortune about the goal. Proctor did very well to keep possession inside the box and dribble around keeper Marshall. His cutback ended back at his feet after a deflected McPhee shot. Proctor's shot then was deflected to the back post where it was volleyed past Marshall by RAYMOND LOGAN.

Logan again came close when he sent a great header just wide. Paterson, after a two minute delay, was eventually substituted and Referee Johnston then ignoring the constant time wasting in the second half, blew his whistle after 87 seconds of injury time.

Probably a fair result the draw today. Larkhall the better team in the first half, Pollok the better in the second. A bit of luck about three of the goals scored today as well. Jimmy McPhee was terrific today as well a good performance from Jordan and Logan. The Pollok defence was a bit of a shambles and will have to get a grip in time for the Kilwinning game next week.

For Larkhall, former Clydebank and Dumbarton forward Billy Melvin was outstanding, and looks a very good player on this performance. Also Watret and Bovill played well.

Full-time: Pollok 2 Larkhall Thistle 2

Jordan 70

Watt 28
Laidlaw 90

Pollok
1. Wilson 7
2. O'Neil 6
3. Fabiani 6
4. Gayne 6
5. Pacitti 6
6. Heaton 6
7. Bryers 7
8. Hamilton 6
9. Logan 6
10. Aitchison 7
11. Jordan 7
Subs not used: Sweeney, Hendry, D. McWilliams, Fitzpatrick, Hanley

Bonnyrigg Rose Ath.
1. Ellison
2. Morrice
3. McCartney
4. Watt
5. McCluskey
(sub Halliday 63)
6. Reid
7. Grady
8. Ramsay
9. Laidlaw
(sub Williamson 90)
10. Raynes
11. Young
(sub Harvey 71)
Subs not used: Scott, O'Brien

The team contained not one recognised forward and Joe Bryers and young Peter Jordan were leading the line. What was worse was that none of the five subs listed were fit enough to come on.

Committed tackling (videograb)

Pollok started quite brightly and put the Rose defence under some pressure with Ray Logan testing keeper Ellison out with a clever chip that just went over. Pollok had the ball in the net from Joe Bryers after a typical clever Heaton knockdown but the Pollok man was well offside.

Rose scored a goal slightly against the run of play in the 26th minute. A soft freekick was awarded 30 yards out and the ball found DAVID WATT alone at the near post and he scored with a very neat glancing header from 15 yards out. After this Rose sat back and allowed Pollok to make the running.

In between a bit of gamesmanship from experienced Rose, especially by former Alloa keeper and Junior Scotland Number 1 Steve Ellison, Pollok managed to create some good chances. A through ball was bravely headed on by Jordan under pressure from Ellison. The ball broke to Bryers and his cutback was just missed by Hamilton. Logan again came close when he was well set up by Jordan but his shot crept past the post with the keeper well beaten.

Kevin O'Neil was next to try his luck and his shot forced a good diving save from the Rose keeper. Bryers was again in the heart of the action shortly after. From a quick break he was cynically hacked down by right back Morrice who was booked. From the free kick the ball broke again to Bryers and he shot just past the post with the keeper struggling to cover.

Half-time: Pollok 0 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 1

Pollok continued to be on top in the second half with Rose content to hit on the break without really looking like scoring. Again Pollok had the ball in the net when Heaton headed on a Gayne free kick into the net. This time the flag went up against Logan who tried but failed to head on the ball and was therefore interfering with play.

Pollok eventually got a deserved equaliser with twenty minutes left when a Heaton through ball found Jordan. The young Pollok man showed good pace to beat his marker and PETER JORDAN sent a lovely chip over Ellison into the net from 25 yards out. Pollok continued to play well and only two world class saves form Ellison to deny Logan and Hamilton kept away side level.

Juvenile Peter Jordan equalises for Pollok (videograb)

Fabiani then missed a great chance when he volleyed the ball over the bar from six yards out. Rose came close to taking the lead just before the final whistle when a clever pass from Ramsey forced a brave diving save from Ian Wilson at the feet of Raynes.

Lok on the attack in 2nd half (videograb)

Ironically in the sixth minute of injury time added on for the blatant time wasting of the Bonnyrigg team, a winning goal came. The Pollok defence went to sleep and allowed a Watt header at the back post. The ball crashed off the bar right into the path of the controversial figure of STEVE LAIDLAW and he coolly volleyed the ball home form close range.

The linesman drew the referees attention to Rose's overcelebrating, and a second yellow was shown to Morrice who had the cheek to complain about the decision. The final whistle went to great cheers from the 20-odd travelling fans and I am glad to say the home support gave Pollok good applause for their efforts.

Third defeat in a row for Pollok but unlike the previous two, I don't think the best team won. Sure it is goals that count but I genuinely thought that Pollok were a little unlucky today and considering the players that were out gave a good account of themselves and deserved at least a draw. Special praise must go to Peter Jordan who scored a lovely goal and again looked the part as well as Joe Bryers who had a very good second half. Also Ray Logan deserves great credit. Ray who did not have his best game for Pollok but he started the match despite looking unfit and never gave up and always looked for the ball and ran himself into the ground.

The team efforts were much appreciated by the fans I thought, as you don't often hear a round of applause after a cup exit. Rose looked a reasonable team with some good, experienced players and an excellent goalkeeper. I wish them the best of luck in the next round.

Full-time: Pollok 1 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 2