Saturday 28th August 2004 - Beechwood Park, Auchinleck. Stagecoach Premier League. Att: 500 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Auchinleck Talbot 0 (0) Pollok picked up their first three points of the season in the Stagecoach Premier League's opening day of fixtures, though perhaps there was an element of fortune in the victory. Rab Sneddon made three changes to the line-up from the Ants game, with Ian Wilson, Chris Sweeney and Gavin Friels being restored to the starting XI. However, with Martin Nelson starting the first of a three game ban and with Frankie Haggarty injured, it was not a full-strength Lok. Tommy Sloan's Auchinleck Talbot, Rockware League Cup semi-finalists, had eight new signings in their side.
Pollok 2 (0)
Auchinleck Talbot scorer: -

Pollok scorers: Derek Heaton (57), Raymond Logan (80)
A winning return to Beechwood Park for Gavin Friels Talbot, as the home team, took the game to Pollok in the early stages - though Lok were never at any stage looking likely to be overwhelmed and managed to carve out their own chances at the same time. With 14 minutes played Raymond Logan created Lok's first real clear-cut chance when he drove a shot wide of Eric Phillips' goal.
The game changed dramatically with only seventeen minutes played when referee Mr Boyd of Bishopton interpreted Bryan Slavin's tackle on Stevie Aitchison as being one that endangered his opponent's legs and produced a red card, to the amazement of most people in the ground who were only expecting a caution. Pollok didn't immediately benefit from the advantage in numbers, but Talbot began to accrue cautions as their frustration grew, frustrations heightened by the denying of what may well have been a valid penalty appeal in the 22nd minute. Stevie Aitchison tries to create a Lok attack


McMenamin, Paterson, Wilson and Stewart on the back foot

Pollok could have gone ahead in the 24th minute when Peter Jordan acrobatically connected with a Friels cross, but he may well have injured himself in the process as he was substituted a minute later for John Tinney, clutching the back of his thigh. Raymond Logan's volley from a free-kick in the 38th minute forced Phillips into making a save, and proved to be the final moment of action in the first half.
Gavin Friels was singled out by the Talbot boo boys at intervals throughout but he nearly silenced them in the 47th minute with a powerful shot from distance that cracked off the Talbot post. Martin McLauchlan had a shot pushed away by Phillips eight minutes later as the ten men began to tire. Pollok took the lead in the 57th minute when Derek Paterson headed a corner out to Raymond Logan who then headed the ball back into the goalmouth where DEREK HEATON was on hand to power the ball past Phillips, again with his head. Derek Heaton awaits treatment for a facial injury in the first half
Friels watches Logan's free-cki khit the back of the net - and silences the boo boys again
Lok sub David Pinkowski showed flashes of real skill, one of which coming in the 73rd minute when Logan headed Tinney's cross into his path and his agile overhead kick just flew wide. The second goal came in the 80th minute from a soft-free kick award, but RAYMOND LOGAN's 25 yard free-kick was anything but soft as it flew past helpless Phillips into the top right-hand corner of his goal. It could have been three soon after when Kevin Proctor bizarrely and accidentally blocked Logan's goalbound header on the line. Lok worked hard for the win, and Derek Paterson's hard work in midfield and reluctance to react to a succession of very heavy challenges on him perhaps best sums up a grafting shift put in by the side in this game.
Auchinleck Talbot: Phillips, Henry, McVey, Anderson, Collins, Slavin, McAulay (sub 69 for G. Reid), Gillies, Houston (sub 76 for Wallace), Gilmour, Latta (sub 44 for Gallagher). Not used: S. Reid, Traynor.
Booked: Gilmour 18, Henry 36, McVey 38, Houston 45
Sent off: Slavin 17
Pollok: Wilson, Sweeney, McMenamin, Aitchison, Heaton, Paterson, Stewart (sub 66 for Pinkowski), Logan, McLauchlan (sub 74 for Proctor), Friels, Jordan (sub 25 for Tinney). Not used: McWilliams, Gibson.
Booked: Paterson 71, McMenamin 80
 
Saturday 21st August 2004 - Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow. Abercorn League Cup. Att: 300 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Pollok 3 (0) There was an almost pre-season friendly atmosphere at this game, with a relatively poor attendance and little spark on the pitch. Lok boss Rab Sneddon chopped and changed the team around, giving Rab Burns a debut in goal while Paul McMenamin was restored to left-back after injury. Chris Sweeney and Gavin Friels were two others omitted from the starting XI while John Tinney and trialist David Pinkowski, a Celtic U19 last season, were on the bench.
St. Anthony's 0 (0)
Pollok scorers: Kevin Proctor (47, 58), Martin McLauchlan (75)

St. Anthony's scorer: -
The Ants goal lives a charmed life The Ants, who had lost all their Sectional games up until now, nearly took the lead in the second minute when Lok's defence was almost caught cold, but fortunately they passed up the opportunity. Despite that, Pollok enjoyed a large amount of early possession with Peter Jordan, in the left midfield role, finding himself with chances to shoot from distance. In the 22nd minute he fired one over the bar after Stewart's corner.
The Ants were still very much in the game and a Dickson shot over the bar signaled their intent to try and win the match. In the 27th minute Paul Rodden had two chances to score from Deanie's cross after the Lok defence had forgotten to pick him up. There was a change of referee in the 40th minute and shortly after that Proctor nearly got onto Peter Jordan's cross, but the sides went in at the break tied at 0-0. Kevin Proctor looks to get free of his marker


Proctor loops the second goal over Cummings

It took Lok two minutes of second half football to forge ahead, with McLauchlan firing in a cross to KEVIN PROCTOR that the young striker buried at the second attempt. The lead was doubled shortly before the hour mark when Proctor headed past Cummings from Stewart's corner, though the Ants keeper will have been disappointed to not have kept it out.
Robert Madden then fired in a long-range effort on goal that Rab Burns did well to stop. The introduction of hard-working and skilful David Pinkowski from Celtic, on for the unjured Derek Paterson, gave the Lok management team the chance to see him in action. Stewart then had a glancing header saved after getting onto McMenamin's cross. McLauchlan and Proctor both hit the target
Trialist David 'Gayne' Pinkowski and John Tinney make debuts
Pollok netted the third goal in the 75th minute when Stewart played in MARTIN MCLAUCHLAN who drove a low shot across Cummings' goal from the right-hand angle of the area. John Tinney finally made his competitive debut and his tracking back prevented an Ants consolation when he hacked a shot off the line with five minutes left. With the Sectional League Cup over, it's time to look ahead to the Stagecoach Premier League.
Pollok: Burns, McWilliams, McMenamin (sub 67 for Tinney), Aitchison, Heaton, Paterson (sub 58 for Pinkowski), Stewart, Logan, McLauchlan (sub 77 for Friels), Proctor, Jordan. Not used: Gayne, Sweeney.
booked: McMenamin 33
St. Anthony's: Cummings, Lennox, Donnachy, Ferris, Elliot (sub 58 for McDonald), Madden, Diamond, Dickson, Rodden (sub 67 for Gold), Mulheron, Deanie (sub 77 for Pugh). Not used: McKenna, Turner.
booked: Lennox 16, Ferris 80
 
Wednesday 18th August 2004 - Dunterlie Park, Barrhead. Abercorn League Cup. Att: 350 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Arthurlie 1 (1) Despite John Tinney and Paul McMenamin missing out through injury, Pollok reshaped for this clash with Arthulie, and the ever-versatile young Peter Jordan played in the unfamiliar role of left-back. Arthurlie were not at full-strength either, with McKenzie on the bench while Downs missed out altogether through injury.
Pollok 2 (1)
Arthurlie scorer: Zander Ryan (29)

Pollok scorers: Derek Heaton (31), Willie Stewart (46)
Lok look for the opening goal Arthurlie were the first side to test either keeper with Ian Wilson having to react as early as the fourth minute to a shot from the left. At the other end, hard-working Willie Stewart set up Gavin Friels for a powerful shot that Sexton handled competently. Ex-Neilston forward Alan Waddell was soon involved in trying to give the home side the lead in the 14th minute by getting Wilson back into action again to deny him. At times in the game Pollok didn't look particularly strong in defence and the speedy Arthurlie attack posed constant problems.
The opening goal finally arrived in the 29th minute when Allan Rae's crossfield pass from the stand-side touchline was volleyed first time by the unmarked ZANDER RYAN high beyond Wilson. It was an excellent goal though his task was made easier by not being under pressure. Pollok's equaliser was almost instantanious however when Dean Sexton fumbled a Haggarty cross two minutes later forcing the desperate 'Lie defence to hack the ball out for a corner. From Haggarty's corner, DEREK HEATON rose to head beyond hapless Sexton for only his second goal for the club. Derek Heaton is congratulated


The crowded Arthurlie area

Wilson made another good save in the 35th minute, this time from Ryan, while in first half stoppage time, Friels shot wide. The sides when into half-time at 1-1.

Pollok found themselves in front almost immediately after the restart, with Logan playing WILLIE STEWART in on Sexton, and the trialist former East Fife, Cowdenbeath and Forfar Athletic striker - who is shining at this level - kept his cool to drive a low shot into the net via Sexton's left-hand post.
Arthurlie had chances as the game wore on to get themselves level, and had claims for a penalty waved away on the hour. Wilson then had to block Waddell in the 62nd minute and five minutes later denied Ryan. 'Lie's best chance to make it 2-2 came in the 72nd minute when Aitchison allowed Waddell to unleash a shot that Wilson again saved, and although McKenzie followed up, Sweeney did enough to put him off. Logan shortly before being sent off
Willie Stewart and Gary Wilson await an Ian Wilson clearance to fall from the skies
From a Pollok perspective the last 20 minutes were odd. Two minutes after Jordan was shown the first yellow card of what had been, in the circumstances anyway, a clean game, Raymond Logan found himself booked for a late tackle. As soon as play restarted, he and Rae went into a 50-50 tackle that the referee deemed to be worthy of a second booking. Aitchison was then booked for a foul on Waddell, and Lok sub Martin Nelson, only on the pitch 16 minutes, was dismissed for a kick at McKenzie. Aitchison followed him up the tunnel within a minute for a bodycheck on an Arthurlie player. Arthurlie hit the post as they tried to beat the eight men, but Lok held on against all odds to record a famous win that sadly counts for nothing as they are now out of the cup.
Arthurlie: Sexton, McKeown, Robertson, Jack, Allison, Wilson, Ryan, Smith, Scobie (sub 69 for McKenzie), Rae, Waddell (sub 80 for McShane). Not used: Ross, Travers.
Booked: Rae 86
Pollok: Wilson, Sweeney, Jordan, Aitchison, Heaton, Paterson (sub 67 for Nelson), Haggarty, Logan, McLauchlan (sub 81 for McWilliams), Friels, Stewart (sub 90 for Gayne). Not used: Proctor, Gibson.
Booked: Jordan 73, Logan 75, Aitchison 78, Haggarty 90
Sent off: Logan 76, Nelson 83, Aitchison 84
 
Monday 16th August 2004 - Tinto Park, Glasgow. Abercorn League Cup. Att: 300 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Benburb 2 (1) In front of a crowd of around 300 Pollok were left on the verge of being knocked out of the Sectional League Cup after drawing 2-2 with a hard-working Benburb at Tinto Park.
Pollok 2 (1)
Benburb scorers: Tony O'Neil 24, Mark McCall 67

Pollok scorers: Frankie Haggarty 19, Derek Paterson 87
Haggarty curls in the first goal Pollok should have opened the scoring when Raymond Logan fired an early shot of O'Neil's post and in the 8th minute Peter Jordan tried to chip the Bens trialist keeper to no avail. Bens could have taken the lead themselves in the 15th minute when Wilson had to tip a shot over the bar, but it was the visitors who made the breakthrough in the 19th minute. McWilliams was brought down not far off the angle of the box on the lft hand side and from the free-kick FRANKIE HAGGARTY flighted the ball perfectly into the net.

Bens equalised in the 24th minute with a sucker-punch counter attack punt from O'Neil that foxed the Lok defence (and McWilliams in particular) with Davis playing in TONY O'NEIL who couldn't miss from 4 yards out. Proctor had a goal chopped off for offside in stoppage as Lok tried to get back in the lead.

 Aitchison pressurises a Bens player
Mark McWilliams wins Lok a free-kick Into the second half then, and in 54 minutes, a Friels cross set up Logan to head at O'Neil, and not long after that Friels himself passed up a headed opportunity. Lok trialist Willie Stewart again impressed in his third outing after coming on for Proctor, but Pollok fell behind in the 64th minute when Ritchie's cross was half-parried by Wilson straight to MARK MCCALL who netted with glee.
Over the course of the next ten minutes, Haggarty fired over the bar three times, with Sweeney doing likewise. The introduction of Derek Paterson at that point gave Lok a bit more dig in midfield and he won most balls up for grabs in the centre of the park. Logan then headed an Aitchison free-kick over the bar, and another Aitchison long-ball was put over the bar by Friels as Lok slid towards elimination.
Bens are on the attack
Peter Jordan signed for Lok last week The equaliser came in the 87th minute when DEREK PATERSON got onto Haggarty's corner to head (via a deflection) into the top corner from a fair way out. Lok didn't play that badly, but again like at Neilston, didn't take chances.
Benburb: O'Neil, Canning, Martin, Davidson, Sheridan, McNichol, Davis, Ritchie, O'Neil, McCall, Thomson. Not used: Boyle, Smith, Curran, Craig, Watson.
booked: Martin 70, Davidson 72
Pollok: Wilson, Sweeney, McWilliams (sub 73 for Paterson), Aitchison, Heaton, Haggarty, Jordan, Logan, Proctor (sub 55 for Stewart), Friels, McPhee (sub 64 for McLauchlan). Not used: Nelson, Gayne.
booked: Jordan 72

 
Saturday 14th August 2004 - Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow. Abercorn League Cup. Att: 400 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Pollok 5 (2) The Lok fans that came out on a hot afternoon for the club's first home Saturday game since the 27th of March witnessed the best performance of the season, possibly excepting the 3-0 win over Dumbarton's 1st team in pre-season. The management reverted to a back three, possibly as a means of fixing the problematic wide-player shortage. McMenamin played wide left, with newly-signed Peter Jordan wide right.
Johnstone Burgh 1 (1)
Pollok scorers: Martin McLauchlan (12), Raymond Logan (21), Gavin Friels (59, 86), Trialist 89

Johnstone Burgh scorer: Gary Madden 20
McLauchlan (hidden) taps in the opener Pollok took the lead in the 12th minute when Friels headed on a McMenamin corner for MARTIN MCLAUCHLAN to net from very close range. Burgh's reply came in the 20th minute when former Lok and Lie star GARY MADDEN drilled a low shot past Wilson from the edge of the box. Pollok responded immediately when a precise ball from out wide by Nelson evaded the Burgh defence and RAYMOND LOGAN placed a shot beyond Traynor.

Lok pushed for further goals with a McLauchlan shot being parried away and the best move in the game came just before half-time when Mclauchlan pounced on a misplaced pass inside the Lok half. He immediately played a short ball to Peter Jordan whose inch-perfect long pass to Logan was marvellous. Friels was unlucky not to net from the resultant cross.

Derek Heaton gets close to John Sherry
Paul McMenamin moves in on a Burgh attacker Once the second half was underway, the pattern of play wasn't too dissimilar. From a Jordan cross Friels missed with a header, though at the other end, Wilson had to react quickly to deny John Sherry in 54 minutes. McLauchlan passed up a couple of chances to extend the lead as Lok tried to step up a gear but in the 59th minute Pollok did make it three. Haggarty's cross was missed by the static Burgh defence and GAVIN FRIELS made no mistake with a simple tap-in.
Friels then fired over the bar with Wilson having to make a save from Burgh sub Carberry whose game lasted a total of ten minutes after he was given a straight red card for a reckless tackle in 77 minutes, and he picked up a further red for comments made to the assistant referee.
Kevin Proctor involved in the action
Two more goals for Gavin Friels in this game Carberry was joined in the away dressing room in the 85th minute by ex-Morton and Rangers defender Graham Dale after a foul on Friels. Lok went three clear of Burgh a minute later when GAVIN FRIELS was in the right spot to fire past Traynor after Burgh failed to clear their lines. The scoreline became a flattering 5-1 in the 89th minute when Gibson's cross found Jordan and although his shot from 8 yards hit the bar, WILLIE STEWART followed up to score his first goal in Lok colours.
Pollok: Wilson, Sweeney, McMenamin (sub 64 for Stewart), Aitchison, Heaton, Nelson (sub 62 for Proctor), Jordan, Logan, McLauchlan (sub 77 for Gibson), Friels, Haggarty. Not used: McPhee, McWilliams.
booked: Heaton 41, Logan 77
Johnstone Burgh: Traynor, Wozencroft, M. Sherry (sub 67 for Graham), Whyte, Dale, A. Smith (sub 67 for McCluskey), Brown, McKnight, J. Sherry, Taggart (sub 67 for Carberry), Madden. Not used: Donohoe.
booked: Wozencroft 45
sent off: Carberry 78, Dale 85
 
Monday 9th August 2004 - Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow. Abercorn League Cup. Att: 342 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Pollok 2 (1) Pollok picked up their first point of the Sectional League Cup against a good Renfrew side, thanks to a superb double from Gavin Friels. Two changes were made to the side that lost to Neilston - with Raymond Logan unavailable, he was replaced by Peter Jordan, while Jimmy McPhee was restored to the attack, allowing Paul McMenamin to slot in at left-back at the expense of Mark McWilliams.
Renfrew 2 (1)
Pollok scorer: Gavin Friels (20, 72)

Renfrew scorers: Gordon Smith (36), Jamie Ross (76)
Lok celebrate Gavin Friels' opener The better early chances seemed to go Renfrew's way and Andy Kenna will have been kicking himself to have passed up two fine opportunities, the better of them being put clean through on Wilson, only to drag his shot wide. Pollok took the lead in the 20th minute though when GAVIN FRIELS latched onto an excellent Jordan pass, took a touch then powered a shot beyond the despairing dive of Derek Scrimgour from the edge of the area slightly wide of centre.

Jimmy Quigley could have equalised for 'Frew when nine minutes later he volleyed high over the bar, though as play raged to the other end of the park, a McLauchlan cross just evaded Friels but landed kindly for Frank Haggarty. Unfortunately for the former Bellshill man, his shot was straight at Scrimgour. The nature of the Renfrew equaliser in the 36th minute was fortunate when Renfrew benefited from a kind riccochete off the match referee, allowing Colsh to release former Bolton and Livingston target-man GORDON SMITH through the middle. He rounded Wilson and cut a fine shot back across goal that not even a desperate Derek Heaton lunge could keep out. Both McClafferty and McLauchlan had chances to net before the break, but the opportunities were not taken.

Ian Wilson has to make a save
Jimmy McPhee under pressure The Lok bench looked worried when Gavin Friels went down under a Kenna challenge straight after the re-start, but fortunately he recovered after treatment. Pollok then had claims for a penalty ignored when a Haggarty free-kick appeared to have been handled by Kenna. Martin McLauchlan's night it was not, and that was proved to great effect when he tried to bury two shots past Scrimgour in the 66th minute, and eventually drove another attempt wide of target.
McClafferty then sent a header goalwards at the other end, but fortunately Martin Nelson was to hand to clear off the line. Martin McLauchlan's involvement in the game ended in the 70th minute when Gavin Friels back-heeled a cross from the left in his direction, and from point-blank range the confidence-sapped striker missed once more. On came Kevin Proctor as Lok looked for the second goal.
It's not Martin McLauchlan's night
Paul McMenamin to intercept The second goal came again from GAVIN FRIELS with another fine effort, when he picked up a throw-in, readied himself then again fired a shot low beyond the dive of Scrimgour. The lead didn't last long however, as from a Renfrew free-kick from Cameron, sub JAMIE ROSS managed to get the final touch with his head from close range to beat Wilson. As Lok chased a third goal, McPhee headed wide in 77 minutes and a speedy run from Lok trialist Willie Stewart who had come off the bench nearly produced a winner. It was not to be though, and Lok now have four 'must win' games left if they are to salvage anything from Group Nine.
Pollok: Wilson, Sweeney, McMenamin (sub 79 for McWilliams), Aitchison, Heaton, Nelson, Jordan, Haggarty, McLauchlan (sub 70 for Proctor), Friels, McPhee (sub 79 for Stewart). Not used: Gibson, Gayne.
booked: McPhee 52, McLauchlan 64, Heaton 90
Renfrew: Scrimgour, Hammond, Quigley, Cameron, McLay, Prentice, Colsh, Kenna, Smith (sub 74 for Ross), McLafferty, Andrews. Not used: Gordon, M. Harvey, McQuade, R. Harvey.
booked: McLafferty 42, Quigley 62, McLay 86
 
Saturday 7th August 2004 - Brig O' Lea Stadium, Neilston. Abercorn League Cup. Att: 400 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Neilston 1 (0) The weather at Brig O' Lea was unusually summery, and onfield conditions were not vastly different from those at Irvine last weekend. Sadly from a Pollok perspective, the result was along the same lines also. Rab Sneddon had a selection headache with injuries again restricting his options, and added to the recent loss of natural width from right winger Brendan Crozier and Martin Baker at left back, more questions than answers were thrown up by the final whistle.
Pollok 0 (0)
Neilston scorer: Gary Sturrock (51)

Pollok scorer: -

Raymond Logan heads towards goal Had Lok taken the lead in the first minute it could have all been so different. Martin McLauchlan found himself bearing down on Neilston keeper Brian Hewitt, and although his shot was blocked, Gavin Friels had followed up and poked the ball into the net. Unfortunately he was adjudged to have been offside when McLauchlan hit his inital effort. Friels was involved in most of Lok's attacks and he attempted to play Logan in on goal soon after though the chance came to nothing.

Lok had a bit of a let-off in the 15th minute when a Wilson kick didn't find its target and instead was served back in his direction at pace by a Neilston midfielder. Fortunately for Lok the ball drifted wide. Haggarty then hit a half-volley wide of target at the other end and the man who must become the engine of the Lok midfield teed up Nelson to shoot wide as the chances at either end continued to be passed up. Soon after a Joe Bryers effort for Neilston also missed the target, Raymond Logan saw a shot blocked in front of goal and from the loose ball, Haggarty blazed his effort over the bar. Lee Martin then powered a header towards Ian Wilson who had to be on his toes to make a fine save.

Stevie Aitchison grapples with a Neilston player
Goalscorer Gary Sturrock with ex-teammate Chris Sweeney The pattern of play didn't change markedly in the second half. Ex-Lok midfielder Sturrock and Logan missed chances soon after the restart, but GARY STURROCK did not miss in the 51st minute when, unchallenged, he had the time to curl a sweet shot from the edge of the box high into Ian Wilson's top right-hand corner. Pollok's retaliation came in the form of a mazy Haggarty run, but despite showing fine ball skills as he weaved his way upfield and into the congested area, he could not unleash a shot to trouble the Neilston keeper.
Brian Hewitt doesn't worry about another shot over his bar
Both teams urge the refereee for a decision their way
As the clocked ticked away, Logan sent a diving header wide, another Haggarty run-cum-shot fizzled out and the match referee began to lose patience with players not keeping their discipline. Carson of Neilston was sent off in the 74th minute, though the man advantage for the last 15 minutes did not really help Lok. From a corner Chris Sweeney had a chance but he fired high over the bar, though Tony McCann at the other end might have done better with a counter, but he ended up squandering the opportunity. With Renfrew winning 5-1 against Arthurlie, Monday's game will be interesting viewing. Proctor and McPhee came on to try and change things
Neilston: Hewitt, Harvey, Connaghan, Martin, Carson, Murdoch (sub 45 for Johnston), Bryers, McCann, McDonald (sub 79 for Lee), Sturrock, Keys. Not used: Magennis.
booked: Carson 20, Martin 24, Connaghan 58, Sturrock 88.
sent off: Carson 74 (2nd yellow)
Pollok: Wilson, Sweeney (sub 84 for Proctor), McWilliams (sub 61 for McPhee), Aitchison, Heaton, Nelson, Haggarty, Logan, McLauchlan, Friels, McMenamin. Not used: Jordan, Gayne, Gibson.
booked: Friels 20, Aitchison 68, Logan 89.