Saturday 29th November 2003 - Newlandsfield Park. West of Scotland Premier League. Att: 550
Pollok 2 (1) As the other games fell foul of the weather, Pollok's tireless groundstaff made a big effort to make sure this clash with George Walker's Kilbirnie Ladeside went ahead on schedule. That said, despite a few familiar faces from other clubs dropping by, the turnout at Newlandsfield cannot have been much above 500 which in view of the lack of games elsewhere was a little disappointing. .
Kilbirnie Ladeside 1 (0)
Pollok scorers: Paul McNeill 3, 63
Kilbirnie Ladeside scorers: Lee Duncan 58


Lok celebrate the opening goal

Pollok took a very early lead though when PAUL MCNEILL produced a piece of individual invention to send Lok a goal to the good inside three minutes, with the Lok attacker firing across O'Neill from the left from just inside the area. The match referee found his way into the home crowd's bad books in the 11th minute when he booked Baker for a tackle that was more a misjudgement of the slippery conditions than anything sinister. As Lok fought hard for a second, the ever impressive, bustling Martin McLauchlan put in yet another superb shift as he battled to create more chances for Pollok.


The game boiled over in strange circumstances in first half stoppage time when a Jimmy McPhee piledriver from outside the box deflected off the impressive Brian Miller and out for a corner. Thereafter all hell broke loose in the Ladeside area with the majority of the players getting involved in a heated fracas, though it was difficult to tell exactly what was going on in the eye of the storm. The ref singled out Murray of Ladeside and Lok's Raymond Logan as the chief perpetrators and both got into their respective baths a wee bit too soon.


Pollok on the attack somewhere in this picture

Raymond Dunne should have given Ladeside a way back into the game in 51 minutes with a shot that flew wide and a few minutes short of the hour, Wilson tipped over a fine effort from Miller. From the corner though, LEE DUNCAN turned in the leveller for the visitors.


McNeill tries to break through the Ladeside defence

Parity didn't past though, as Pollok regained the lead in the 63rd minute when McLauchlan's cross was met by PAUL MCNEILL at the back post and he headed powerfully past ex-Arthurlie keeper O'Neill from a tight angle. Pollok had further chances to increase their lead but didn't take them. Former St. Johnstone and Queen's Park midfielder Brendan Crozier was given a runout as a reinstated trialist in the second half and gave an good account of himself.
Pollok: Wilson, O'Neil, Baker, Aitchison, Pacitti, Nelson (sub 65 for Crozier), Hamilton, Logan, McLauchlan (sub 81 for D. McWilliams), McNeill, McPhee (sub 73 for McMenamin). Not used: Sweeney, Proctor.
Booked: Baker 11, McPhee 19, McNeill 89
Sent off: Logan 45
Kilbirnie Ladeside: O'Neill, Grant, Hendren, Duffy, Paul (sub 72 for Kilpatrick), Miller (sub 79 for Muir), Gillies (sub 79 for Tamburrini), Duncan, Carberry, Dunne, Murray. Not used: Curran, Greenwood.
Booked: Miller 24, Gillies 60, Carberry 61, Hendren 80
Sent off: Murray 45
Saturday 22nd November 2003 - Park View. OVD Scottish Junior Cup 2nd Round Replay. Att: 450
Fauldhouse United 0 (0) Veteran Day: After the goalless draw at Newlandsfield two weeks earlier, Ronnie Lowrie's Pollok were out to make sure that it was them who played host to Cambuslang Rangers on the 6th of December in the 3rd Round. With Stevie Aitchison and Martin McLauchlan fit again, Drew McWilliams and Martin Baker dropped onto the bench, while the absence of Derek Heaton at the back gave Mario Pacitti his second game of the season.
Pollok 2 (1)
Fauldhouse scorers: -
Pollok scorers: Martin McLauchlan 2, Jimmy McPhee 62


Martin Nelson tries to get Lok going

A chilly day in West Lothian never really gave much sign of warming up though as the Pollok performance was a little disjointed, but that mattered little as the visitors enjoyed being in the lead for almost the entire game. When McLauchlan was brought down by Cooper very early on that gave David Hamilton the chance to test Weir in the United goal from the free-kick, and within two minutes of kick off Lok took the lead through MARTIN MCLAUCHLAN when Logan's initial shot spilled back into play and the 33 year old veteran Lok forward flicked the ball over the line despite some desperate defending.


Mark McWilliams had to be substituted in the 32nd minute after failing to run off the effects of a brave 50-50 challenge with a Fauldhouse midfielder, giving Martin Baker an hour to show his Scottish Premierleague skills to the gathered crowd. Baker has been used sparingly by Ronnie Lowrie thus far, perhaps an indication of the strength in depeth that Pollok are enjoying this season. With only one or two scares to the Lok goal in the first half, the Lok defence enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon.
Pacitti wins this aeriel duel with serial sinner Ian McMurray

The poor standard of play didn't improve too much in the second half, with both sides wasting possession on a bobbly surface. Pollok put the game almost beyond doubt by netting a second goal in the 62nd minute through Lok's other 33 year old striker, JIMMY MCPHEE wth an effort from the edge of the area that beat Weir via a deflection.


David Hamilton sets Jimmy McPhee on his way

In stoppage time the game boiled over when Raymond Logan received an unwarranted kick from Ian McMurray, sparking a melee that the match referee resolved by showing McMurray the red card. Lok march on towards a date with Cambuslang Rangers while Central Division Two side Royal Albert are West of Scotland Cup opponents in the 3rd Round of that competition.
Fauldhouse United: Weir, Ballantyne (sub 75 for Sidlo), Storrar, Dillon, Cooper, Stuaart, Nolan, Moffat (sub 67 for Crawford), McMurray, McArthur, McLaren (sub 75 for Crawford). Not used: Kane, Carlin
Booked: Dillon 43
Sent off: McMurray 90
Pollok: Wilson, O'Neil, M. McWilliams (sub 32 for Baker), Aitchison, Pacitti, Nelson, Hamilton, Logan, McLauchlan (sub 81 for D. McWilliams), McNeill (sub 81 for Proctor), McPhee. Not used: Sweeney, Gayne.
Booked: Logan 47. D. McWilliams 84
Saturday 8th November 2003 - Newlandsfield Park. OVD Scottish Junior Cup 2nd Round. Att: 729 Report by Martin Donnelly
Pollok 0 (0) Ninety minutes of goalless action at Newlandsfield Park saw Pollok and Fauldhouse book a trip to Park View for a replay to decide who will progress to the third round of the OVD Junior Cup. The home side took to the field with one change to the side that had triumphed at Abbey Park the previous week, with Raymond Logan returning at the expense of Chris Sweeney, and after just three minutes they had an excellent chance to take the lead.
Fauldhouse United 0 (0)
Pollok scorers: -
Fauldhouse scorers: -


Jimmy McPhee takes a tumble

Jimmy McPhee had been fouled twenty yards from goal, and from the resultant free kick David Hamilton fired narrowly over. At the other end Ian McMurray was causing the home defence problems, firstly aiming a header narrowly wide and then seeing a shot deflect off Derek Heaton and into the arms of Ian Wilson.

Pollok's nearest effort came in the 12th minute from Jimmy McPhee, having been set up by some neat play by Paul McNeill, but his rasping effort grazed the outside of the post. Just a minute later 'Lok had another good chance from a Martin Nelson corner that was met by McPhee, but Glen Weir in the Fauldhouse goal did just enough to make the save and push the ball away from the heads of both Heaton and Martin Baker who were waiting to pounce.


In the 28th minute McNeill saw an effort on the turn fly just over, while four minutes later McMurray found himself clear as the home defence appealed for offside. It was left to Wilson to block again, this time with his legs. With three minutes of the half remaining McMurray combined with Barry Nolan to create another opportunity for Fauldhouse, but the latter's shot was weak and didn't trouble Wilson. Almost immediately Pollok broke at the other end, with Hamilton's cross finding McNeill six yards from goal, but his header went wide.
Pollok try to win the tie on the day

The second half started with the first booking of the game, with Alan Donoghue the recipient for persistent fouling. Ian Wilson had to look lively again, twice denying Stewart McArthur the opportunity to break the deadlock. Pollok's best chances were mainly coming from Jimmy McPhee, firstly setting up a shot for Paul McNeill that was saved by Weir, then firing over himself. He then provided a cross for Raymond Logan, who fired his header wide. In the 70th minute McArthur picked up the second booking of the game after a high challenge on Mark McWilliams. Four minutes later Pollok penalty appeals were turned away amid claims of handball from a Nelson corner.


Drew McWilliams heads over

Three minutes later Fauldhouse manager Jim Harkins introduced Mark Sidlo into the action as a replacement for Nolan. Pollok's first change came six minutes from time with Kevin Proctor replacing McPhee. It was to be the visitors who were to have the best chance of the match with just four minutes remaining when Barry Stuart found himself with just the 'keeper to beat, but the outstretched palm of Ian Wilson kept Pollok in the competition with a crucial save. There was just time for one last effort at the other end, with a Martin Nelson free kick being won in the air by Logan, but with Hamilton ready to apply the finishing touch Weir got down low to smother the danger. Both teams will feel that they have missed an opportunity to progress in the tournament, but will at least have a second chance in two weeks time.
Pollok: Wilson, McWilliams M, Baker, O'Neil, Heaton, Nelson, Hamilton, Logan, McNeill, McWilliams D, McPhee (Sub 84 for Proctor). Not used: Pacitti, Gayne, Craig, Sturrock
Fauldhouse: Weir, Ballantyne, Donoghue, Dillon, Cooper, Storrar, Nolan (Sidlo, 77), Stuart, McMurray, McArthur, McLaren. Not used: Connolly, Crawford, Kane, Carlin
Booked: Donoghue 46, McArthur 70
Saturday 1st November 2003 - Abbey Park. West of Scotland Premier League. Att: 400
Kilwinning Rangers 2 (1) Makeshift Pollok were delighted to win a fiercly fought top of the table West Premier clash at Abbey Park with Kilwinning Rangers. With Aitchison and McLauchlan ruled out through injury, and Logan missing through work commitments, Pollok had to reshuffle the tried and tested, though Buffs were also forced to rejig following Kevin Biggart's recent leg break.
Pollok 3 (1)
Kilwinning scorer: Ian Cashmore 2,55
Pollok scorers: Jimmy McPhee 27, Paul McNeill 69, Kevin Proctor 85


David Hamilton feels the full force of Fabiani

Buffs got off to a flyer though when a 2nd minute ball from the right found IAN CASHMORE and the home side's top scorer made no mistake with a calm finish at the angle of the Lok area. Lok had claims for a penalty turned down in the 7th minute when McNeill was felled by the almost universally popular former Pollok favourite Ronald Fabiani, but the equaliser came twenty minutes on when JIMMY MCPHEE rifled a low piledriver beyond Wardrope from 22 yards out.


Kilwinning were the better side for long spells and that was shown in the scoreline once again when IAN CASHMORE netted a 55th minute second in not too dissimilar fashion to the first with another calm finish at an angle past Wilson. Drew McWilliams then struck the post twice in five minutes, once with an overhead kick and another following excellent close control as Wardrope's goal continued to live a charmed life.



Mark McWilliams puts the pressure on McTurk

Paul McNeill heads in the equaliser for 2-2

The equaliser fell in 69 minutes though when McPhee was tripped by Burns, and from Nelson's free-kick, Paul McNeill headed high beyond the Buffs keeper. With five minutes remaining, Pollok wrapped up the points when Mark McWilliams released McNeill on the right and his cutback across the goal was fired in from close range by Kevin Proctor.

Kilwinning: Wardrope, Mason, Mullen, Burns (sub 75 for Geoghegan), Burns, Fabiani, Cashmore, Farrell, Armstrong, Adams, McTurk. Not used: Spence, Smith, McMillan, Cameron.
booked: Mullen 7, McTurk 56
Pollok: Wilson, Sweeney, Baker, O'Neil, Heaton, Nelson, Hamilton, M. McWilliams, D. McWilliams, McNeill, McPhee (sub 77 for Proctor). Not used: Sturrock, Pacitti, McGowan, Gayne.
booked: McNeill 45