Hendry 85

Pollok: Wilson 7, Sweeney 6 (sub 66 for D. McWilliams, booked 90 6), O'Neil 5 (booked 32), Gayne 6, Pacitti 6 (sub 17 for Heaton 7), Jack 6 (sub 36 for Hendry 6), Hamilton 6, Aitchison 6 (booked 33), McNeill 6, Proctor 6, McPhee 7. Not used: Bryers, Watt.

Kilwinning Rangers: Barnes, Mason (booked 38), Mullen (booked 87), Cameron, Currie, McKechnie (sent off 36), McIntyre (booked 50, sent off 56), Farrell, Montgomery (sub 76 for McTurk), Adams, Sloan (sub 17 for Strain, booked 90).

Pollok were first to threaten with a lovely one-two between Aitcheson and McPhee finished with Jimmy forcing a very brave diving save out of keeper Barnes. Buffs countered with a great run from Adams, which ended with a dangerous cross that
was well kept out by Wilson.

Lok on the back foot in the first half (videograb)

The Buffs should have taken the lead in the 10th minute when a very silly tackle by Kevin O'Neil on Montgomery conceded a stonewall penalty. Cameron took a run up that looked like he was taking a bye kick, which he proceeded to do kicking the ball twenty feet over the bar and just as wide.

Both teams then had to make early changes when Pacitti and Sloan had a nasty head clash. Both players were covered in blood but thankfully were able to walk off the park for treatment.

The game erupted just after the half hour when Euan McKechnie was shown a straight red card. Stephen Jack won the ball in the middle of the park and slid it by the Buffs player only to be felled by a very late high tackle. Jack was stretcherd off into the pavilion and we can only hope the injury is not as serious as it appeared.

Pollok continued to try and play football but too often the ball was given away cheaply to the very hard working Buffs midfield. Kilwinning looked very impressive indeed on the break and after a lovely move involving Strain and Montgomery only a great diving save denied Adams a goal. Then Kevin O'Neil argued over a throw in with the linesman allowing a quick throw into the box that saw Wilson again come to Pollok's rescue with a good save from Strain. Pollok's best chance came when the break of the ball fell to Proctor just inside the box but he sent his shot high over the bar.

Half-time: Pollok 0 Kilwinning Rangers 0

More of the same was to follow in the second half with Pollok struggling to break down the Buffs defence. Early on Paul McNeill showed some great skill in the box and shot just wide but apart from this the play was very poor with keeper Barnes not being forced into action.

Buffs were reduced to nine men when McIntyre was late into a tackle with McPhee on the halfway line and thus picked up a second yellow from the referee. Pollok probably struggled even more against the nine men with only really Jimmy McPhee causing any problems for the home defence. Too often the final ball into the box was awful. Again the Buffs looked very good going forward and after another exciting run from Adams another brave diving save by Wilson denied former Kilmarnock kid Chris Strain from opening the scoring.

Stevie Jack and McKechnie tangle (videograb)

Pollok continued to huff and puff and eventually got a goal with 4 minutes to go. Firstly McNeill then McPhee were chopped down on the edge of the box. Drew McWilliams saw his clever free-kick hit the bar and fall perfectly for JOHN HENDRY who headed into the empty net from close range.

The winner (videograb)

Kilwinning then threw everyone forward and the home defence withstood some real pressure from a series of long throw-ins into the box. From one of these Cameron sent a brilliant volley just wide of the post. The final whistle went to great relief for the Pollok support.

It was a typical football result today - Pollok produced one of the worst performances of the season against
clearly the best team we have played and yet won the match. McPhee was Pollok's best player on the day with a skilful and non-stop running performance. For the visitors Currie was immense in defence and Adams up front was a pleasure to watch.

Full-time: Pollok 1 Kilwinning Rangers 0

McNeill 2
Proctor 67

Johnstone Burgh: Donohoe (YC 67), McKinnon (YC 73), Smith (YC 33), Juttla, Wozencroft, Canning, McShane (sub Armour 61), Redmond (YC ?, RC 83), McHarg (YC 68), Murray (YC 34), Maxwell. (+ Thomson on for ? in ? min) Subs not used: Devenney, Anderson, McCue.

Pollok: Wilson 7, Sweeney 8, O'Neil 7, Gayne 7, Pacitti 7, Jack 7, Hamilton 8, Aitchison 8, McNeill 7 (YC 59, sub D. McWilliams 90 6), Proctor 8 (sub 81 Hendry 6), McPhee 7 (sub 74 Bryers 7). Not used: Heaton & Watt.

A long clearance from Ian Wilson caught the Burgh defence sleeping. PAUL MCNEILL showed good pace to reach the ball first and good skill to dribble round keeper Donahoe to tap the ball in from 6 yards out.

Paul McNeill opens early on (videograb)

Pollok dominated the first half playing lots of good football. McNeill and Proctor were causing the home defence lots of trouble and the excellent Juttla twice made goal saving tackles from the Pollok forwards after great Hamilton passes. McPhee was next to threaten with a clever shot on the turn that just went wide with the keeper beaten.

Kevin O'Neil should have added to the scoring after being set up well by Aitchison but his shot was high over the bar. Burgh played some good football at times but didn't have an effort on goal until the 43rd minute when McShane shot just wide of the post with Wilson looking to have it covered. On the stroke of half time Paul McNeill missed a great chance when he was put clear with the keeper to beat. This time his finish was weak and straight at Donahoe.

Half-time: Johnstone Burgh 0 Pollok 1

The second half followed a similar pattern with Pollok creating and missing a host of great chances. McPhee shot over the bar followed by McNeil again shooting wide with only the keeper to beat. Proctor had a powerful shot well saved by the keeper and Hamilton saw a clever chip just go over the bar.

The main talking point of the second half was the flow of poor decisions by the standside linesman. Three times Pollok forwards were miles onside only to be flagged off. Crucially however in the 65th minute Pollok got a second goal that was as offside as the earlier ones were onside. KEVIN PROCTOR, who was clearly offside two yards inside Burgh's half, was given onside and he showed great pace and composure to run in 45 yards and score with a low shot.

Paul McNeill and Kevin Proctor celebrate (videograb)

Burgh then started to come into the game and had two dangerous crosses across that just needed a touch to go in. The only shot however that was on target for the whole game was a deflected effort from Murray which was easily saved by Wilson. Pollok continued to look very dangerous on the break with McNeill and Proctor both missing good chances and Hamilton hitting the bar with a header.

Redmond books an early bath (videograb)

Late on the game turned a bit nasty. Billy Thompson came on for Burgh and was guilty of two bad tackles and then a cowardly kick at Aitchison as the Pollok man was on the ground which got the Pollok bench very angry. Burgh were then reduced to ten men. After some handbags between McNeill and Redmond, the Burgh man slapped the Pollok player and received a second yellow.

In the end Pollok could with a bit of care scored five or six goals. The whole team played well and it was another exciting performance from Proctor up front who along with McNeill was too clever and quick for the Burgh defence today.

Full-time: Johnstone Burgh 0 Pollok 2