Saturday 18th December 2004 - Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow. Stagecoach Premier League. Att: 670 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Pollok 3 (1) With Raymond Logan sidelined with a recurring injury, Mark McKeever was given the rare opportunity of a starting slot, ironically against his former side. Lok boss Rab Sneddon stuck with the 3-4-1-2 formation favoured by neccessity, with John Tinney replacing Logan as the attacking midfielder and McKeever taking up the reigns on the left flank.
Cumnock 2 (1)
Pollok scorers: John Tinney (19), Martin Nelson (79), Gavin Friels (82)

Cumnock scorers: Stevie Marshall (40), John Paul Boyle (61)
John Tinney was on the mark for the second game running
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

With eight minutes gone, McKeever tested Potter who then denied McLauchlan three minutes later. Lok's chances were frequent but not much more than half-chances, and Friels took a turn to warm Potter's gloves in the 18th minute. Lok opened the scoring though a minute later when McLauchlan seemed to mis-hit a shot into the path of makeshift central midfielder JOHN TINNEY who placed the ball first time into the back of the net.

Cumnock were playing a counter-attacking game and Ian Wilson saved very well at the feet of Dempster in the 35th minute though the 'Nock striker might have done better. Cumnock did equalise in the 40th minute when STEVIE MARSHALL got onto a cross and fired a low shot past Wilson. Lok's best chance to retake the lead came in the 44th minute when McKeever set up Friels but the former Talbot man couldn't finish.

In the second half the pattern of play was similar, and McQuade had to clear a well-directed Heaton header off the line in the 48th minute while Tinney then had a shot well saved. The same player then fired a free-kick straight at Potter, but in the 61st minute the visitors went ahead when JOHN PAUL BOYLE turned in a cross from the left from close range.

John Paul Boyle tries to wriggle clear of McWilliams and Nelson
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Martin Nelson slips a pass out wide away from Coulter and Muir
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Cumnock's task of holding the lead became harder when referee Law sent off McCulloch for diving in the 63rd minute, his second bookable offence. Good build-up play from the left then set up Friels whose shot was deflected over. At the other end, in the 73rd minute a Muir free-kick flew narrowly wide and then for Lok McLauchlan couldn't put a turn and shot on target. Cumnock could have wrapped up the points in the 76th minute when Dempster broke away on the right but his shot was well off target.

Graham Potter in mid-flight as Lok look for a crucial second half goal
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Pollok equalised in the 79th minute with a well-taken goal when a Stewart cross was played by the unselfish Friels back out the box into the path of MARTIN NELSON who blasted his first Lok goal at Newlandsfield into the net from 20 yards. The lead was reclaimed by Lok in the 82nd minute and what a goal it was. From a free-kick, Stevie Aitchison flighted a long ball forward that was at exactly the right height for GAVIN FRIELS at the edge of the area to first chest then volley a high looping effort over Potter into his left hand corner, totally catching out everyone in he ground - including the Cumnock defence.


At the other end Wilson had to show excellent reflexes to deny 'Nock an equaliser when a Heaton header went in the wrong direction. Cumnock were reduced to nine men late on when Muir picked up what seemed to be a straight red card for his involvement in a ruck of players. He had already been cautioned for persistent fouling. Lok showed a lot of spirit to win this game and Cumnock are certainly no mugs.

Stephen McQuade marks McLauchlan tightly
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Pollok: Wilson, McWilliams, Nelson, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Stewart, McKeever, McLauchlan, Friels, Tinney. Not used: Jordan, Paterson, Sweeney, Proctor, Burns.
Booked: Aitchison 72, Nelson 80, McClay 81, McWilliams 85
Cumnock: Potter, Jack, McQuade, McGowan, Coulter, Muir, Walker, Marshall, Dempster, Boyle, McCulloch. Not used: Collins, Black, Lynch.
Booked: Marshall 40, McCulloch 58, Coulter 75, Muir 81, McGowan 86
Sent off: McCulloch 63, Muir 86
Ref: A. Law
 
Saturday 11th December 2004 - Portland Park, Troon. Stagecoach Premier League. Att: 300 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Troon 1 (1) Pollok must count themselves as fortunate to have taken all three points from this league clash with Troon at Portland Park, a game played among a murky drizzle and chilly breeze. Beforehand there was a slight hitch whereby two of the match officials failed to make kick off, meaning that the young referee took charge alone, with club officials to back him up. Proper assistants appeared for the second half. The only change to the Lok lineup was Nelson coming in for crocked Haggarty.
Pollok 2 (0)
Troon scorer: Alan McTurk 21

Pollok scorers: John Tinney (pen 81), Martin McLauchlan 90
Troon clear their lines
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

The game began scrappily with neither side really staking any claim to be
dominant, but in 21 minutes Troon went close when a Strain shot was headed
away by Heaton. The opener came two minutes later though when the Lok right was posted missing, meaning that the Lok left moved over to compensate, but that then gave Strain space in behind where McWilliams was before. A twisty turn from the former Buffs star later and ALAN MCTURK was in space at the angle of the area on the left side and he fired a low shot past Wilson.

Troon by now were dominating against a tired-looking Lok, and McTurk shot
wide from a Graham layoff. Pollok's best chance came in the 39th minute when
from a Tinney free-kick, Nelson forced Adam Strain into action but the 23-year-old ex-Killie goalie made a block. Logan then headed over as Lok looked for the leveller.

Pollok began the second half brightly, with Strain denying Logan, and Friels was then denied in the 50th minute. Raymond Logan's game came to a premature end in the 63rd minute when he was kicked off the ball and he was replaced by Mark McKeever. Gavin Friels then saw a header deflected over as Lok still pressed for an equaliser.

 Pollok push for the opening goal
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Logan and Graham in an aerial duel
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Troon youngster Jamie Moan should have killed the game dead in the 76th minute when he sprung clear on the right, and despite flicking the ball beyond Wilson, Derek Heaton charged after the ball to hook it to safety off the line. Troon again went close when in the 80th minute Jim Duffy headed
onto the bar, and those collective misses cost them dearly soon after.

A minute on, Lok had broken away at the other end and McLauchlan was brought down right on the egde of the area, and although as his standing leg was inside when it was hooked away, the referee made the brave call of awarding a penalty, Lok's first of the season. From the spot, JOHN TINNEY made no mistake. But considering his phenominal record with penalties (particularly with Benburb) over the years, that's no surprise. As the players moved back up the pitch for the restart, Chris Strain Jr, who had been booked a few seconds earlier, said something to the referee and was dismissed amid heated protests.

Pollok's defence finally concede after three clean sheets in a row
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Pollok pushed for the winner, and Tinney lashed a shot wide in the 89th minute. Deep into stoppage time, time added for Logan's injury, Nelson prepared to flight a free-kick upfield, but before he started, Heaton was pole-axed off the ball. After consultation with his assistant, the referee dismissed Stevie Watson, despite claims of mistaken identity, for violent conduct. Chris Strain Sr was then dispatched from the touchline for his protests.

Time continued to go on and right at the death Wilson launched the ball forwards. Sub Jordan then released McLauchlan on the right and the Lok veteran, only a few weeks shy of 35 and still with energy in the 95th minute, kept his nerve to lash the winner beyond Adam Strain. Jason Stewart boiled over and said something to the assistant who again atrracted the ref's attention who duly awarded him a second yellow. The final whistle sounded
eventually amid further heated scenes around the tunnel area.

McLauchlan watched by Gavin Friels
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Troon: A. Strain, Mason, Houston, Stewart, Watson, Moan, C. Strain, Duffy, McTurk, Turner, Graham (sub 66 for McCormick). Not used: Elliot, B. Strain, Haswell, Thomson.
Booked: Mason 42, Stewart 53, C. Strain 81)
Sent off: C. Strain 81, Watson 89, Stewart 90
Pollok: Wilson, McWilliams (sub 90 for Jordan), Nelson, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Stewart, Logan (sub 64 for McKeever), McLauchlan, Friels (sub 77 for Proctor), Tinney. Not used: Paterson, Burns.
Booked: McClay 44, McLauchlan 79

 
Saturday 4th December 2004 - Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow. OVD Scottish Junior Cup 3rd Round. Att: 660
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Pollok 3 (1) Pollok eased their way through to the 4th round of the OVD Scottish Junior Cup with a comfortable 3-0 victory over their visitors from Fife, writes Martin Donnelly. Rab Sneddon opted to go with the same eleven who had triumphed over Bellshill the previous week, with the only change on the bench being substitute goalkeeper Robert Burns replacing Martin Nelson.
Kelty Hearts 0 (0)
Pollok scorers: Martin McLauchlan (42), Raymond Logan (52), Gavin Friels (66)

Kelty Hearts: -

Martyn Parkin makes a superb save in the first half
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

The best of the early chances both fell to Junior internationalist Raymond Logan, firstly chipping wide after dispossessing a Kelty man in midfield, then pouncing on a loose ball 25 yards out only to put his effort over the bar. The visitors slowly began to work their way into the game, and after 21 minutes a ball from Stevie Sharp released James Adam into space on the left, but his effort sailed high over Ian Wilson's crossbar.

Kevin Webster then tested Wilson with a long- range effort, but the `keeper was able to push his effort over. Stevie Aitchison then had to look alert to clear from a dangerous Denis Currie cross as Kelty threatened once more. On the half hour mark Logan again had a chance to give the hosts the lead, but his close range volley was matched by a magnificent save from Martyn Parkin in the Hearts goal. Logan then turned provider for Martin McLauchlan, who showed great control to bring the ball down, but Parkin again made a fine save.

Within two minutes the `keeper was again called into action, with another tremendous save from a powerful Derek Heaton header. Pollok were not to be denied, however, and barely 30 seconds later they had made the breakthrough. Frankie Haggarty played the ball across goal and MARTIN MCLAUCHLAN looked sharp to turn the ball past Parkin from 8 yards out to send the home side into the interval a goal to the good.

 Opening goalscorer McLauchlan powers through the Kelty defence
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Gavin Friels as tightly marked as usual
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Pollok extended their lead seven minutes into the second half in somewhat controversial circumstances. LOGAN pressured Parkin into an error dealing with a ball on the deck, and was left with an open goal to claim his fourth strike in five games. Kelty were adamant, however, that they had being trying to put the ball out of play to allow an injured player to receive treatment, with Shaun Graham booked for his protests. This signalled the beginning of a heated passage of play, with Craig Reynolds being booked for a late tackle on Logan, and then sixty seconds later being involved in a hefty challenge on Haggarty that resulted in the Pollok midfielder being stretchered from the field of play.

Frankie Haggarty is stretchered off after a tackle from Reynolds

After a four-minute delay referee Law awarded the free kick to Kelty, and although Wilson spilled Currie's effort, Graham could not react to the loose ball. In the 66th minute Pollok wrapped up proceedings as a John Tinney corner was met by Logan, and his goal-bound header was helped home by GAVIN FRIELS, claiming his first OVD goal in Pollok colours. As the rest of time was played out the Fifers were reduced to attempting a succession of long-range efforts in a vain attempt to breach the Pollok defences. Three further players were booked in injury time, with Adam Moffat sinning for the visitors, and McLauchlan and Logan both receiving yellow cards that should not be allowed to detract from superb performances from both men.

Pollok can therefore look forward to continued involvement in the national competition after Christmas, while the men from Central Park will be left to concentrate on league matters.

Andy McClay in the midfield action
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)
Pollok: Wilson, McWilliams, Haggarty (McKeever, 60), Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Stewart (sub 86 for Jordan), Logan, McLauchlan, Friels (sub 83 for Proctor), Tinney. Not used: Sweeney, Burns.
Booked: McLauchlan (90), Logan (90)
Kelty: Parkin, Webster, Moffat, Findlay, Winiarski, Adam, Currie, Lawrie, Reynolds (sub 78 for Penman), Graham, Sharp (sub 64 for Blackadder). Not used: Scott, Herd, Mathie.
Booked: Graham (52), Reynolds (55), Moffat (90)