D. McWilliams 66 (p)

McCusker 90

Pollok
1. Wilson 8
2. O'Neil 7
3. Fabiani 7
4. Gayne 6
5. Pacitti 7
6. Aitchison 7
7. Bryers 7
(sub Heaton 55 6)
8. Logan 7
9. McNeill 7
10. Hamilton 7
11. D. McWilliams 7
(sub Fitzpatrick 84 6)
Subs not used: Smith, Hendry, Watt

Maryhill
1. McCondichie
2. Miller
(sub Young 73)
3. Meldrum
4. Watson
5. Campbell
6. Murray
7. Quinn
8. McCusker
9. Turnbull
(sub Sherry 77)
10. Grant
11. Tinney
Subs not used: Gallacher, Cruikshanks, Black

Maryhill started the brighter of the two teams and had a couple of decent efforts on goal. Murray should have done better than blast over after being neatly set up by Turnbull and McCusker went on a terrific run and was only denied by the first of many great saves by Ian Wilson.

McNeill collapses for penalty (videograb)

Pollok replied with a couple of decent efforts, firstly Drew McWilliams with a spectacular effort going just wide, as well as a low piledriver from Hamilton which McCondichie was relieved to see shave the post. Maryhill's best effort of the half came after a corner kick when Tinney forced a reflex save out of Wilson from his acrobatic overhead kick.

Before the half time whistle there was a funny spell of play when Kevin O'Neil went back and forward off the goal line defending a free kick only to sprint back at the last moment to head Campbell's fine effort over the bar.

Half-time: Pollok 0 Maryhill 0

Pollok started the stronger in the second half and Fabiani forced a brave diving save by McCondichie after a good run into the box. The ball was then cleared off the line after an O'Neil cross hit McWilliams in the knee and looked to be going in.

The game erupted on the 53rd minute with a controversial moment that saw Stevie Gayne red carded. A Bryers pass was charged down by Miller which looked like a handball. Miller then went on a powerful run towards the box. Gayne got himself between the man and the ball as Miller tried to get round him he was caught by either the forearm or elbow of the Pollok defender. The ref, who was close to the incident, showed a red card.

The big incident as Gayne denfds his patch (videograb)

This seemed to spur the home side on and Pollok played their best football of the match. A deep cross from O'Neil was headed just wide by McWilliams and a mazy run by McNeil forced a fine save from the 'Hill keeper. Miller was then involved in another controversial incident when he dived in a clash with McWilliams when no contact appeared to be made. Ref Drummond who has been very strict with diving in the past only awarded a throw in to Pollok.

Wilson keeps Lok in it, much to Drummond's annoyance (videograb)

In the 65th minute Pollok were awarded a penalty. Good perseverance from McNeill saw him twice win the ball from Watson in the box and the Hill defender stupidly brought the Pollok man down albeit exaggerated. Again the referee was very close to the incident. After a short delay DREW MCWILLIAMS put the ball low into the right hand corner of the net with the keeper rooted to the spot.

Ian Wilson then produced two saves of absolute top quality from headers by Turnbull and Campbell to deny Hill and equaliser. Tinney wasted a great chance when after doing all the hard work beating three men he shot weakly past the post from just inside the box. Wilson again came to Pollok's rescue with a brilliant double save from a Campbell piledriver.

Pollok were forced to hit on the break and from one such attack Drew McWilliams looked to have scored only for McCondichie to show there was more than one fine keeper on show with a stunning save. In the last minute of regulation time 'Hill got an equaliser. A Bryers shot was deflected from the edge of the Hill penalty area all the ways back to the half way line. It reached Quinn who went on another one of the exciting runs he treated the crowd to all day. His cutback was crossed into the box by Turnbull and was despatched into the net from close range by a neat flick from fromer Clyde man RICHIE MCCUSKER. Hill had a lot of pressure in the remaining injury time but the Pollok defence held firm.

Again Pollok will rue missed chances but overall it was a good performance against the strongest team I have saw yet this season. There was a good performance from Kevin O'Neil today who defended really well. Man of the match for the home team was Ian Wilson who was almost faultless. Maryhill look a very useful side and any team that start a good eleven like today and can have quality like Sherry and Young on the bench and McAllister not even in the squad must have a good shout of the league if they can keep the consistency that seemed to be missing last year.

Full-time: Pollok 1 Maryhill 1

Flannigan 65

Bryers 31

Glenafton Athletic
Matthews
Mitchell
(sub Callaghan)
Carruth
Hogg
McBride
Kennedy
(sub Newall)
George
Agnew
Ritchie
(sub Bryce)
Houston
Flannigan
Subs not used: Bingham, Paul

Pollok
1. Wilson 7
2. Sweeney 6
(sub Logan 38 7)
3. Fabiani 7
4. Gayne 6
5. Pacitti 7
6. O'Neil 7
7. Bryers 8
8. Aitchison 8
9. D. McWilliams 6
10. Hamilton 7
11. McNeill 6
(sub Watt 74 6)
Subs not used: Smith, Heaton, Hendry

Right from the start a number of great chances were squandered by the forwards. Drew McWilliams had a good run and cutback just missed by Paul McNeill and Hamilton saw his skilful run and cross headed straight at the keeper from 4 yards out by Drew McWiliams. Glenafton only created one good chance in the half when a good cutback by Houston was almost turned into the net by Ritchie.

Joe Bryers heads in the Lok goal (videograb)

Again Pollok caused trouble down the wing with McNeill's pace taking him past the defence only for his cross to lashed over the bar by McWilliams. However Pollok did manage to get a goal on the half hour mark. Drew McWilliams beat two men and crashed a shot off the post. The rebound fell to McNeill and his far post cross was well headed in by JOE BRYERS at the back post.

Pollok continued to press for a second as the game turned nastier with Kevin O'Neil getting a deserved booking after 3 bad tackles and Glenafton's George being lucky to stay on the park after going right over the top of the ball on a tackle on Aitchison.

Aitchison was again in the wars when Houston crudely body checked the Pollok man. Aitchison left the park for lengthy treatment with blood pouring from his nose to some abuse from the home fans who claimed he was playacting. The half ended with another good chance for Pollok with Hamilton again seeing his good work on the wing wasted when McNeill shot past the post from his cutback.

Half-time: Glenafton Athletic 0 Pollok 1

The second half saw great chances to tie up the game for Pollok squandered. Drew McWilliams showed great skill to beat Hogg in the box but his shot was straight at keeper Matthews. The rebound fell to Logan but his header was just over the bar. Logan then produced the pass of the day setting Paul McNeill up for a run in at the keeper but he shot weakly over the bar when it looked easier to score.

More benchwork for big Dek.

Logan again was in the heart of the action when he hit the outside of the post with a shot from a clever Bryers short corner. Bryers himself was guilty of missing a good chance when he shot wildly over after a neat Hamilton knock down. Glenafton then came more into the game and a great pass by Flannigan the very impressive Agnew lobbed the ball just over the bar.

Stevie Aitchison gets stuck in last season

Glenafton made Pollok pay for their missed chances a moment later with the equaliser with a fine goal. A good deep cross from George was cleverly headed into the net from 12 yards out by CRAIG FLANNIGAN. Glens then had the best of the pressure until the final whistle without really looking like scoring.

Only two real chances were created in the last 20 minutes. A good deep cross was headed on by Houston and was just missed by the unmarked Newall at the back post and in the last minute the ball broke to Logan at the back post for what looked like an easy chance but he blootered the ball over the bar and out of the park from 10 yards out. The main talking points of the second half was the truly dreadful referee's failure to red card both George and Gayne who both committed clear second yellow card offences.

Anyone who was at the Kilbirnie game will have recognised this performance from Pollok. It could have easily been 5-0 at one point but the lack of finishing nearly cost all three points. Glenafton were a very physical team who played the better football in the last half hour but the game should have been won long before then. Bryers, Logan and O'Neil had good games but Aitchison stood out for a great performance that left him bloodied and bruised at the end. For Glens left back Agnew has a great game.

Full-time: Glenafton Athletic 1 Pollok 1

O'Neil 5, 25
McNeill 30
Fabiani 34
Hamilton 38
Bryers 84

Robertson 65

Pollok
1. Wilson 7
2. Sweeney 7
3. Fabiani 7
4. Gayne 7
5. Pacitti 7
(sub Heaton 57 7)
6. Aitchison 7
(sub Logan 71 6)
7. D. McWilliams 7
8. O'Neil 8
9. Watt 7
10. McNeill 8
(sub Bryers 79 7)
11. Hamilton 8
Subs not used: Smith, Hendry

Irvine Meadow XI
1. Connick
2. Potter
3. Noble
4. McKie
5. M. Campbell
6. Johnstone
7. Todd
(sub Flannigan 46)
8. Robison
9. Robertson
10. McDonald
(sub Gillies 46)
11. P. Campbell
(sub George 60)
Subs not used: Bone, Hamilton

Pollok raced into the lead in the 4th minute. David Watt saw his 25 yard free kick crash off the base of the post with KEVIN O'NEIL perfectly placed to shoot low into the net from 16 yards.

Lok celebrate as the goals fly in (videograb)

Meadow hit back with impressive centre forward Chris Robertson forcing a good save out of Wilson with a 20 yard volley. 21 year old former Rangers youth Kevin Robison then went on a good run easily beating Sweeney and forced Ian Wilson into another good save with his legs to deny an equaliser.

Paul McNeil then treated the crowd with a lovely turn on the halfway line followed by a 40 yard run and shot ending with a brilliant save from Connick to deny a goal of the season candidate. Meadow again fought back and came within inches of an equaliser when after some excellent play on the wing from Campbell, Robertson saw his header go just over the bar.

Pollok made it 2-0 in the 24th minute with a real quality goal. Drew McWilliams held the play up well and spotting a great square run from KEVIN O'NEIL sent a beautiful cross field ball straight into his path which the Pollok captain slid into the net from 10 yards out.

Five minutes later it was 3-0 with another fine goal. A great Hamilton pass saw Drew McWilliams round keeper Connick and cross into the middle. The ball was cleared out to O’Neil on the right wing and his low cross was cleverly hitch kicked into the net by PAUL MCNEILL from 12 yards out.

Meadow were stunned again in the 33rd minute when Pollok made it 4-0. This time an Aitchison long throw was headed on by McNeill for a turbaned ROLAND FABIANI to volley powerfully into the net from close range. David Watt had another clever free kick well saved by Connick before Pollok made it 5-0.

Seven minutes before half time a fine move the length of the park involving McWilliams, O’Neil, Sweeney, and Watt ended with McNeill sending in a low cross that was very cleverly shot into the net by DAVID HAMILTON 8 yards out with a neat side foot.

Meadow again tried to hit back and a good Darwin Johnstone cross was just headed past the post by Robertson. Paul McNeill then fluffed a great chance after beating the offside trap and running half the length of the park weakly shooting straight at the keeper.

Half-time: Pollok 5 Irvine Meadow 0

Pollok started strongly in the second half and created three quick chances. Fabiani had a free header from a corner that went just over the bar and Sweeny had a shot from a short corner that was inches away from going in. David Watt again had a great free kick that went just over the bar with the keeper well beaten.

Pollok on the attack in 2nd half (digicam)

Pollok then seemed to go down a gear and with the Meadow picking up the pace and looking a useful team the game became a little difficult for the home side despite the 5-0 scoreline. Meadow got a deserved goal in the 63rd minute. The goal was created by a delightful shimmy and cross on the wing from Robison, which was headed in at the back post by CHRIS ROBERTSON, well deserved for the team and especially the player.

Robertson then saw his powerful header from a Flannigan free kick turned onto the bar by Wilson with Chris Sweeney making an important headed clearance form the rebound. Robertson again came close seeing his header cleared off the line by Heaton. Pollok then missed a great chance when Watt shot weakly past the post after pouncing on a poor Connick clearance.

Action from the goal-glut v Meadow (digicam)

Pollok did get a sixth goal in the 83rd minute. A Watt cross was neatly headed into the path of McNeill by Hamilton and his cross was neatly chipped into the net from just inside the box by JOE BRYERS. Drew McWilliams then forced a great and brave save from keeper Connick who had to dive at his feet after a dreadful mistake by McKie.

Everything came off for Pollok today unlike the recent Kilbirnie game. At 1-0 it was a really close game. There were good performances all round, with Hamilton and McNeill again looking very good indeed. Meadow were certainly the best Ayrshire I have seen this season with centre forward Roberston hugely impressing me today along with Robison and Noble.

Meadow will be a hard team to beat at their own park on this showing and are not to be underestimated on this result by any means. Referee Jim Boyd had an excellent game along with his two linesmen who were top class with their offside decisions today. Well done the officials.

Full-time: Pollok 6 Irvine Meadow XI 1