Saturday 25th October 2003 - Portland Park. West of Scotland Cup 2nd Round. Att: 300
Troon 1 (0) Pollok booked a last 16 spot in the West of Scotland Cup after overcoming Troon at Portland Park this afternoon in front of a crowd of around 300. That the game finished 2-1 would surprise fans of both sides as many chances were wasted in the seaside bluster. Pollok enjoyed a spell of early pressure, though Ian Wilson had to look lively to block a chance for Troon.
Pollok 2 (2)
Troon scorer: Chris Strain 51
Pollok scorers: Drew McWilliams 18, Paul McNeill 40


Graham clears for Troon as Lok push for another goal

The opening goal fell in the 18th minute when McNeill's cross was headed past Strain by DREW MCWILLIAMS. McNeill should have extended the lead in the 25th minute after going through on stopper Houston but his shot was saved by Adam Strain in the Troon goal.


McWilliams came close soon after and Logan then headed over when it seemed easier to score. Pollok went two up in the 40th minute in similar fashion to the first, though this time it was Hamilton's cross to PAUL MCNEILL and he scuffed a shot past the wrong-footed Strain from a few yards out. McNeill could have made it three but for a bit of selfish play when he opted to shoot when new signing Gary Sturrock was available.


Raymond Logan and Michael Gonzague go up for a header

Six minutes after the restart Troon pulled one back when slack Lok defending gave CHRIS STRAIN too much room and the ex-Buffs man made no mistake to blast the ball past Wilson. The game turned nasty in the 54th minute when former Irvine Vics and Kilwinning striker Jamie Haswell jumped into an horrific tackle on Aitchison and received an instant red card from the referee.


Martin Nelson flicks in a free-kick

Another ex-Irvine Vics player, this time John Gallagher, was fortunate not to see the same card for another awful tackle on Aitchison, but this time the injury being so bad he was subbed and must now be doubtful for the trip to Abbey Park next week. As the cold set in, McWilliams, Heaton and Logan all blew chances to put Lok out of sight while Gallagher should have netted at the back post for Troon in 88 minutes but skied his effort high into the South Ayrshire skies.

Troon: A. Strain, McLuckie (sub 56 for Henry), Houston (sub 74 for Gonzague), Strachan, Graham, Nolan (sub 51 for Reid), Strain, Duffy, Haswell, Davidson, Gallagher. Not used: Elliot, McCann.
booked: Gallagher 61
sent off: Haswell 54
Pollok: Wilson, O'Neil, M. McWilliams, Aitchison (sub 65 for Baker), Heaton, Nelson, Hamilton, Logan, D. McWilliams, McNeill, Sturrock (sub 75 for mcPhee). Not used: Pacitti, Sweeney, Proctor.
booked: Hamilton 59, McNeill 68
Saturday 18th October 2003 - Lochburn Park. West of Scotland Premier League. Att: 400
Maryhill 1 (1) A crowd of around 400 watched a fiercely competitive game at Lochburn Park between hosts Maryhill and league leaders Pollok. 'Hill had the best of the early chances while Lok's Martin Nelson displayed flashes of skill throughout that showed why he is regarded as one of the most gifted players of the day in Junior football.
Pollok 1 (1)
Maryhill scorer: Richie McCusker 21
Pollok scorer: Paul McNeill 39


Stevie Aitchison prepares to unleash another long throw

From a 15th minute Nelson free-kick Lok's best chance thus far fell to Kevin O'Neil but his surprise shot only marginally wrong-footed Scott Black. Davie Hamilton then went close for Pollok as the recently crowned Sectional champs upped the ante. Despite Pollok shading the early moments, it was Maryhill who opened through RICHIE MCCUSKER in 21 minutes when following a corner, an almighty goalmouth scramble ensued and it was the burly ex-Clyde forward who blasted in the decisive strike from close range.


Pollok had to make a reshuffle in the 29th minute when Martin McLauchlan was unlucky enough to be right in the line of fire of a 'Hill centre-half's hoofed clearance upfield and took the ball right on the nose from a few yards away. He was out for the count and was replaced by Kevin Proctor.


Pollok on the defensive

Proctor immediately highlighted his lack of sharpness when he headed wide with the goal gaping after McNeill set him up, but in the 39th minute Lok did equalise; this time it was a Proctor shot that Black deflected into the path of PAUL MCNEILL and he didn't miss from very close range.


Pollok push forward looking for the winner that sadly didn't arrive

Not alot happened in the second half apart from a rash of bookings, and in the end a draw was probably a fair result. Maryhill did not look particularly dangerous going forward and their defence is susceptible to high balls, which is surprising considering the height they have at the back. However, they are a robust side that compete for every ball and will not be easy meat for anyone this year, and are definitely likely to be one of the better 'Central' sides in the Superleague.

Maryhill: Black, Duncan, Walker, Smith, Campbell, Miller, Hughes (sub 60 for Jones), McClay, McCusker (sub 70 for Dingwall), Porter, Tinney (sub 85 for Watret). Not used: Cunningham, Fisher.
booked: McCusker 43, McClay 69, Campbell 79, Duncan 83
Pollok: Wilson, O'Neil, M. McWilliams, Aitchison, Heaton, Nelson, Hamilton, Logan, McLauchlan (sub 29 for Proctor), McNeill, McPhee (sub 71 for Baker). Not used: Pacitti, McGowan, McMenamin.
booked: McPhee 69

Tuesday 14th October 2003 - Firhill Stadium. Beatons Coaches Sectional Cup. Att: 1170 MORE PICS HERE
Kilsyth Rangers 1 (1) Pollok's players performed heroically agaisnt a stuffy Kilsyth Rangers side at Partick Thistle to clinch the Beaton's Coaches Sectional League Cup for the second time in five seasons, giving Ronnie Lowrie the fifth trophy of his time in charge at Newlandsfield.
Pollok 1 (0) (Lok win 5-3 on pens)
Kilsyth Rangers scorer: Brian Vaugh (p) 41
Pollok scorer: Drew McWilliams 90


Martin Nelson and Andy Scott get a little tangled up

Despite eventually being a superb game of football, the match began very scrappily with neither side truly imposing themselves upon the other. A rare early highlight was Scott of Kilsyth firing wide in the 11th minute as chances proved to be few and far between. The game erupted for the first time in the 22nd minute when Ian David tackled Paul McNeill with some force, and the referee chose to punish the Gers midfielder with a booking.


As the game heated up, Jimmy McPhee saw a shot saved by Chalmers while a McLauchlan effort was tipped over seven minutes before the break. The game took an unpleasant turn for Pollok though in the 41st minute when already cautioned Derek Heaton tried to tackle David Campbell, but instead the Kilsyth man fell to the deck. A penalty was awarded and Heaton was shown a second yellow card. BRIAN VAUGH converted. As Lok rallied, McNeill saw another effort saved.


McNeill and Drew live it up in the corner (Evening Times)

Pollok, despite being down to ten men, dominated the second half and McNeill was unfortunate not to win a penalty himself on more than one occasion. Despite the Lok pressure, Carberry forced Wilson into a save at the other end but in the 64th minute Raymond Logan once more called Chalmers into action.


Jimmy Gilligan joins in the fun in the dressing rooms (Evening Times)

Desperate times can call for desperate measures and that was the case in the 78th minute when Ian Wilson found himself a few yards short of the halfway line trying to take on half of the Kilsyth team. McNeill shortly after passed up a golden opportunity to equalise when played right in on top of Chalmers. The key moment came in stoppage time when Davis conceded a free-kick 25 yards from goal and was sent off. Hamilton's free-kick was saved by Chalmers but DREW MCWILLIAMS reacted first to slide the loose ball over the line from a tight angle and with that half of Firhill erupted.
The final whistle sounded as soon as Kilsyth restarted play, and the game had to be settledx on penalties. McNeill made no mistake with his first effort, through Paul Campbell forced Ian Wilson into a great save for Rangers' first. Lok thereafter scored their remaining four (in order: Hamilton, Proctor, Baker, D. McWilliams) while Kilsyth also scored the three remaining kicks that they had the chance to take (through McPhee, Hughes and Prunty). Despite the late steal, Lok truly were deserving winners, and the never say die spirit that Ronnie Lowrie has instilled in the team will hopefully stand the side in good stead as the season progresses.
Kilsyth Rangers: Chalmers, Mitchell, McManus, Prunty, Carberry (sub 58 for McPhee), Vaugh, P. Campbell, Davis, Scott (sub 64 for Earlie), Hughes, D. Campbell. Not used: Gordon, Mordue, Forsyth.
Booked: Davis 23, McManus 27, Hughes 74, Mitchell 82
Sent off: Davis 90
Pollok: Wilson, O'Neil, M. McWilliams (sub 85 for Proctor), Aitchison, Heaton, Nelson, Hamilton, Logan, McLauchlan (sub 67 for D. McWilliams), McNeill, McPhee (sub 76 for Baker). Not used: Pacitti, McGowan.
Booked: Heaton 28, O'Neil 43, D. McWilliams 85
Sent off: Heaton 41
Saturday 11th October 2003 - Newlandsfield Park. West of Scotland Premier League. Att: 500
Pollok 3 (1) It certainly was a case of the Late Late Show at Newlandsfield when Neilston visited for the second time in almost as many weeks. The first half wasn't much to write home about and with few chances being created, the most memorable bits concerned the increasingly niggly nature of the game. Jimmy McPhee became the first entry into Stevie Craven's book for fouling Urquhart on the half hour mark, but much to the boistrous visiting fans' fury MARTIN MCLAUCHLAN was the goal hero for Lok when he mis-hit a corner past Hewitt right on half-time.
Neilston 2 (0)
Pollok scorers: Martin McLauchlan 45, Paul McNeill 84, Raymond Logan 90
Neilston scorers: Ryan McDonald 49, Denis Connachan 61


Lok push for the winner in the second half

Neilston equalised four minutes into the second half through RYAN MACDONALD with a tap in after being left unmarked and DENIS CONNACHAN netted the second for Neilston on 61 minutes after yet more poor defending from Pollok. It would be fair to say that dropping points at home against against Neilston, considering the path that both sides have taken since the season began, this year might prove costly later on, but fortune was with Lok once again. Neilston thereafter had to endure an onslaught of Lok pressure, and Paul McNeill coming on for the ineffectual Drew McWilliams contributed largely to the comeback.


David Hamilton passed up a chance to level when he headed straight at Hewitt from close range but not long after, in the 84th minute McPhee won a tackle in midfield, found Logan and his cross was looped over Hewitt by the head of PAUL MCNEILL.



Drew McWilliams and Michael Fallen start a new game of Twister

it all gets a bit exciting as Lok copy the above

In stoppage time Lok won the game when from a cross McLauchlan glanced a header off the post, but RAYMOND LOGAN followed up to head the rebound into the net. Newlandsfield for once erupted, even more so when the ref whistled for full-time. It was a good crowd of around 500 considering the 1pm kick off. Pollok are in action against long-unbeaten Kilsyth Rangers in the Beaton's Coaches Sectional League Cup Final at Firhill Stadium on Tuesday 14th October, kick off 7.45pm.
Pollok: Wilson, O'Neil, M. McWilliams, Aitchison, Heaton, Nelson (sub 45 for Baker), Hamilton, Logan, McLauchlan, D. McWilliams (sub 62 for McNeill), McPhee (sub 85 for Proctor). Not used: Pacitti, McGowan.
booked: McPhee 30
Neilston: Hewitt, Urquhart (sub 82 for Harvey), Connachan (sub 64 for Morrison), Fallen, Martin, McKee, Bryers, Johnston (sub 28 for McQuade), MacDonald, Cochrane, G. Wilson. Not used: Gordon, Hutchison.
booked: Connachan 61, Martin 85
Saturday 4th October 2003 - Keanie Park. West of Scotland Premier League. Att: 350
Johnstone Burgh 0 (0) Ronnie Lowrie once again had the luxury of picking from a near full-strength squad for this game with Johnstone Burgh, and with the prospect of breaking the West of Scotland Premier League record for concecutive victories (four), a good Lok contingent made their way over to Keanie Park. Paul McNeill was sidelined after a training ground accident, so Ronnie opted to go with the side that convincingly beat Auchinleck last weekend.
Pollok 2 (1)
Johnstone scorer: -
Pollok scorers: Raymond Logan 5, david Hamilton 50


Martin McLauchlan breaking though

It didn't take Pollok too long to go ahead, five minutes in fact, and RAYMOND LOGAN was the goal hero, netting his fifth goal of the season with a calm finish after a fine threaded ball through the Burgh rearguard from Mark McWilliams. Pollok deserved the goal for early territorial domination, but the longer the game went on, the more Burgh came back into contention, though they struggled to make much of an impression on the Pollok defence, so excellently marshalled by Stevie Aitchison and Kevin O'Neil. The only notable effort Burgh had in the first hald was a long range shot by Armour while Mark McWilliams wasted a chance at the other end for Lok.


Colin Lindsay brought on Jon Connelly for McFadden at half-time in a bid to shake his side up, but their gameplan was dented quickly when from a corner DAVID HAMILTON rose to power a header past Fulton. Burgh protested to the referee at length that Hamilton had fouled his marker but nothing was given.


Pollok push for another goal in the second half

Logan and McLauchlan move into position

The game boiled over in 79 minutes when Logan and previously cautioned Brian Smith both flew into a challenge, prompting the all too ubiquitous throng of pushing and shoving. While Smith received lengthy treatment, Logan was deservedly booked for his part in the tackle, while Smith and his teammates were stunned when the Burgh stopper was shown a second yellow after eventually getting to his feet. The ref awarded a drop ball, and again this incensed the Burgh players and coaching staff. (The way I read the incident was that the referee booked both players for the way they went in for the challenge, and as both were guilty - though Smith came off worst and had a hole torn in his socks - the drop ball was awarded).
Pollok deserved the three points and have now won six games in succession (more if games won on penalties are counted too). With continued hard work, this run can be extended next week at home to Neilston, kick off 1pm.
Johnstone Burgh: Fulton, Wozencroft, Sherry, Smith, Cocozza, McKinnon, Murray, Armour (sub 72 for Cassidy), McFadden (sub 45 for Connelly), McKenna, Donnelly. Not used: Campbell, Allison, Donohoe.
booked: Smith 50, Armour 53, Connelly 65, Wozencroft 86.
sent off: Smith 81
Pollok: Wilson, O'Neil, M. McWilliams, Aitchison, Heaton, Nelson, Hamilton, Logan, McLauchlan, D. McWilliams, McPhee. Not used: Baker, Sturrock, McGowan, Proctor, Pacitti.
booked: Logan 79