Saturday 22nd February 2003 Central League Cup 1st Round
POLLOK 1 ARTHURLIE 2 At Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow

Gayne (p) 83

McKenzie 15
Downs 67

Pollok: Wilson 6, Sweeney 6, Fabiani 5, Gayne 5 (YC 15), Heaton 6, O'Neil 6, Hamilton 5 (sub 59 for Logan 5), Aitchison 6, McNeill 6, Proctor 5 (sub 59 for Bryers 6), McPhee 6 (YC 32).
Not used: Pacitti, D. McWilliams, Hanley.

Arthurlie: Cormack, Ryan, Travers (YC 68), Jack (YC 70), Martin, Ross (sub 77 for Robertson), Smith, McKeown, McKenzie (sub 85 for Hobbs), Rae, Downs.
Not used: O'Neill, Brolly, Graham.

Report by John M.
att: 1132

Gayne nets
In front of a huge crowd, Pollok produced a very disappointing display.
A Steven Gayne free-kick in the 4th minute was well saved by Lie keeper Cormack but that was the only real threat from Pollok in the first forty-five minutes.
Arthurlie looked the better of the sides and a combination of a very hard-working midfield and two lively forwards saw them well on top. The opening goal came from a needless penalty when Gayne pushed McKenzie in the back at the edge of the area despite the lack of danger to the Lok goal. DAVID MCKENZIE brushed himself down to take his penalty and when Ian Wilson saved it, he was onhand to convert the rebound.

Lie should have gone further ahead soon after when McKeown slipped at the back post just as he was about to get on the end of a ball played in from a deep position, and despite this let-off, Pollok never got back into the game in the first half.

Half-time: Pollok 0 Arthurlie 1

The second half followed the same pattern with Lok lacking any creative spark and the midfield giving the ball away cheaply. Arthurlie extended their lead midway through the second half when a clever ball out wide to McKenzie tore the Lok defence open. His cutback found ROBERT DOWNS and his shot took a few deflections before finding its way into the back of the net.

Pollok made a few changes with Logan and Bryers replacing Proctor and Hamilton, and the game began to swing towards the home side. Roland Fabiani missed a glorious chance when he mis-kicked in front of goal, but Lok did get back on terms from the spot after McNeill won a soft penalty. Following a heated debate, STEVIE GAYNE atoned for his earlier error and fired a fine penalty high into the top-right corner.

In the last ten minutes, Lok created enough chances to at least level the tie, if not to win it. McPhee was denied by a low diving save from Cormack and Aitchison saw a great header topped over the bar. Lok also had a goal disallowed after a combination of McNeill and Logan helped the ball over the line, but the raised linesman's falg curtailed the celebrations.

Taking nothing away from Arthurlie who gave a good account of themselves, this was Pollok's worst display of the season. There was nothing creative throughout and little to get excited about either. A major improvement will be needed in the run-in if the title is to be won.

Half-time: Pollok 1 Arthurlie 2
Bookings: Gayne 15, McPhee 32
Sendings Off: none
Man of the Match: Ian Wilson (5)
Saturday 8th February 2003 West of Scotland Premier League
AUCHINLECK TALBOT 2 POLLOK 3 At Beechwood Park, Auchinleck

Unknown 33
Friels 75

Heaton 8
D. McWilliams 28
McPhee 80

Pollok: Wilson 7, Sweeney 6, Fabiani 6 (YC 64), Gayne 6, Heaton 7, O'Neil 6, Hamilton 6 (YC 24), Aitchison 6 (YC 60), McNeill 6 (sub 67 for Watt 6), D. McWilliams 6 (sub 76 for Proctor 6), McPhee 7 (YC 47, sub 83 for Bryers 6). Not used: Pacitti, Nelson.

Patched up report by Jamie Wire

att: 400

Lucky 15 for Heaton
It was a dreich day in Auchinleck, but a happy one for the Pollok fans that made the trip down the A77 for this West Premier clash.
The 350 in attendance saw Lok take an early lead when Roland Fabiani's 8th minute cutback across goal was lashed past the Talbot keeper by DEREK HEATON for his 1st goal in 15 Lok appearances.
One of Talbot's centre-halves Stuart Peacock should probably have walked for a horrific lunge on Paul McNeill in the 11th minute, but referee Willie Collum elected to show patience and understanding, only issuing a caution.

The visiting fans were delighted to see Pollok add to their tally in 28 minutes in a direct fashion. Talbot had enjoyed many spells of pressure throughout the first half and after Lok survived yet another scare at the back, Ian Wilson launched a mammoth drop-kick downfield that Paul McNeill on the right picked up and ran with, and his squared ball found DREW MCWILLIAMS in acres of space at the edge of the area; this generous home defending allowed him to pick his spot past the Talbot keeper. Talbot equalised with a wickedly deflected goal five minutes later when KEVIN BIGGART's effort cannoned off a defender's boot, then up and over Wilson into the top corner from 20 yards.

The second half followed a similar pattern, but Talbot were reduced to ten men on 61 minutes when the aforementioned and booked centre-half Peacock jumped into an awful tackle on Stevie Gayne, to which Willie Collum flashed an instant red card with no hesitation. Talbot equalised in 75 minutes through GAVIN FRIELS when he caught Gayne ball-watching and poked the ball past Wilson from close range. Parity only lasted five minutes as Pollok grabbed the winner in 80 minutes when after a mudbath-goalmouth melee, JIMMY MCPHEE put the ball over the line from very close range, although his injuring himself in celebration was amusing so long as he's not out for long.

Full time: Auchinleck Talbot 2 Pollok 3
Bookings: Hamilton 24, McPhee 47, Aitchison 60, Fabiani 64.
Sendings Off: none
Man of the Match: Jimmy McPhee (3) - 110% given as always
Saturday 1st February 2003 West of Scotland Premier League
POLLOK 2 GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 2 At Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow

D. McWilliams 81
Gayne 90

Miller 73
Johnstone 90

Pollok: Wilson 7, O'Neil 6, Fabiani 6, Gayne 6 (booked 89), Pacitti 6 (sub 75 for Bryers), Heaton 7, Hamilton 6 (sub 75 for Watt 7), Aitchison 6, McNeill 6, D. McWilliams 6, McPhee 6 (sub 68 for Proctor 6). Not used: Sweeney, Hanley.

Glenafton Athletic: Matthews, Carruth, McBride (sub 83 for Houston), Jognston, Hogg, Callaghan, Bingham (sub 68 for Agnew), George, Flannigan (sub 74 for Boyd), Miller, Newall (booked 68). Not used: Kennedy, Bryce.

Patched up report by Jamie Wire

att: 720

2nd Lok goal for
Stevie Gayne
Pollok had new loan signing Martin Nelson involved in the warm-up while news had also broken prior to kick-off of the signing of Jimmy McPhee.
The game was actually very entertaining, with Glens giving a very good account of themselves compared to the match at Loch Park earlier in the season. Lok were a bit lacklustre, again, and didn't give big keeper Gary Matthews too many headaches at all throughout.

O'Neil tussles with Glens'
Richie Newall
(from Evening Times)

The first goal arrived in 73 minutes when Pollok lost possession and their shape high upfield. Glens broke quickly though pacey ex-Dundee United winger Stevie Agnew on the left and his low cross was drilled past Ian Wilson by SCOTT MILLER from the edge of the box.

Pollok looked stunned and Ronnie Lowrie made a few quick changes, bringing Bryers on for Pacitti and Hamilton made way for Davie Watt. Watt made all the difference, giving the home side a creative spark, and it was from his assist that DREW MCWILLIAMS cheekily backheeled the ball past Matthews in 81 minutes for the equaliser. Glens looked to have wrapped up the points though in stoppage time when DOUG JOHNSTONE flicked the ball into the net from a corner, but Lok hit back instantly, again from a corner, and it was STEVIE GAYNE who got the vital equaliser. That votal goal was Stevie's first since netting on his competitive debut v St Anthony's at Tinto Park on August 11th 2001.

Full-time: Pollok 2 Glenafton Athletic 2
Bookings: Gayne 89
Sendings Off: none
Man of the Match: Davie Watt (4) - changed the game