Pollok Reports - January 2005

Saturday 15th January 2005 - Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow. Scottish Junior Cup 4th Round. Att: 1020 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Pollok 5 (3)

The predicted to be closely-fought game came to nothing when after early Lok
pressure a ball over the top found JOHN TINNEY clear on the left in the 7th minute. He took a few touches, waited for Walker to commit himself, then drilled the ball into the net from just inside the area.

Whitburn 0 (0)

Pollok scorers: John Tinney (7, pen 38, pen 80), Gavin Friels (25, 86)

Whitburn scorer: -

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

It could have been two had Friels connected with a McLauchlan cross in 11 minutes, but five minutes on and Whitburn nearly drew level when Ramage blasted a volley from outside the area onto the bar. Pollok were soon back on the attack though and when Walker punched a McLauchlan cross out, McClay was on hand to fire over.

The second goal came in the 25th minute when a McLauchlan-Friels 1-2 allowed the former Talbot man to sprint clear and from an almost identical position to the opener, GAVIN FRIELS kept his cool to place the ball with power past Walker. Logan had a 35th minute shot deflected over, while the visitors chances mainly came from distance. The impressive Alan Flanagan shrugged off a McWilliams challenge in the 36th minute but again elected to shoot on sight and didn't trouble Wilson.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

The game turned towards Lok in the 38th minute. McLauchlan managed to get
himself around keeper Walker and was about to roll the ball into the net dead in front of goal six yards out when MacDonald brought him down, clearly denying a goalscoring opportunity. With 'Burn down to ten men, penalty king JOHN TINNEY sunk the spot kick. McLauchlan twisted and turned his way down the left wing just before half-time and nearly set up Logan who headed over, but the flag was up anyway.

Whitburn had it all to do in the second half, but both Ramage and Hannah hit good efforts from distance. McWilliams and Nelson had Lok chances that equally came to nothing.

In the 78th minute came another point of controversy. Gavin Friels had two shots blocked, the first by the keeper and the second by a defender, but when the ball was played back in, McLauchlan put in a very strong challenge
on the keeper, to which he retaliated to by showing then kicking the Lok striker with the ball still in play. On the assistant's advice, Walker was sent off and facing Sinclair, JOHN TINNEY converted his second penalty and his third of the day.

Raymond Logan celebrates John Tinney's first penalty

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

A McClay free-kick was turned round the post as Lok stepped up a gear, and
sub Proctor headed over in the 85th minute. The fifth goal came in the 86th
minute when a Logan layoff found GAVIN FRIELS and from close range, Mark
Sinclair was no match.

Pollok gave a very good account of themselves in this game, and while the five-goal winning margin is slightly flattering, nothing should be taken away from a very professional Lok performance. To paraphrase the words of one player afterwards, we shouldn't fear anyone in the last sixteen.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Pollok: Wilson, McWilliams (sub 80 for Proctor), Nelson, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Stewart (sub 73 for McKeever), Logan, McLauchlan (sub 87 for Jordan), Friels, Tinney. Not used: Sweeney, Burns.
Whitburn: Walker, Cunningham, Carswell, MacDonald, Rixon, Ramage, McNelis, Hannah (sub 70 for Valentine), Strickland, Flanagan, Gibson (sub 45 for Sinclair). Not used: Kenny, McAllister, McGhee.
Booked: Rixon 56
Sent off: MacDonald 38, Walker 79
Referee: S. O'Reilly

Tuesday 4th January 2005 - Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow. Friendly. Att: n/a (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Pollok 2 (0)

Pollok eased into 2005 with a comfortable 2-1 victory over Wishaw in a friendly at Newlandsfield Park, writes Martin Donnelly. Among those on the bench for Lok were retained players Brendan Crozier (just visiting!) and Lorn Gibson, while young Harmony Row U21 trialist Alex Clearie also made an impression on supporters.

Wishaw 1 (0)

Pollok scorers: Gavin Friels (54), Kevin Proctor (68)

WIshaw scorer: Martin O'Neill (61)

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

The game itself was a fairly low-key affair, although temperatures threatened to boil over early on when Andy McClay was the victim of a late challenge, and he can consider himself fortunate that the officials missed his angry reaction. Wishaw were themselves fortunate as the referee missed what seemed a clear handball inside the box, and the visitors also rode their luck when Martin Nelson rounded their 'keeper, only to put his effort into the side netting as the angle narrowed.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

The goals that did arrive all came within a 15 minute spell during the second half. Pollok took the lead in 54 minutes when GAVIN FRIELS pounced on a defensive mix up and was able to roll the ball into the empty net. Wishaw were level 7 minutes later from a corner kick. MARTIN O'NEILL was left unmarked at the edge of the box, and when the corner found him he had plenty of time to aim the ball goalwards, although his shot took a deflection on its way past Robert Burns.

Gavin Friels has a third goal ruled out for offside
(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

The decisive strike arrived in 68 minutes when the visiting 'keeper was unable to hold a Gavin Friels effort and KEVIN PROCTOR reacted first to bundle home from close range. Friels then hit the crossbar, and had the ball in the net again when prodding home a goalbound effort from the returning Brendan Crozier, only to see the assistant referee raise his flag.

The game was a useful workout for Rab Sneddon's side as they enter a vital spell with a crucial league match with Larkhall and a Scottish Cup tie with Whitburn both on the horizon.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Pollok: Burns, McWilliams, Nelson (sub 45 for Stewart), Aitchison (sub 45 for Logan), Jordan (sub 50 for Trialist), McClay (sub 45 for Crozier), Gibson (sub 45 for Tinney), Paterson, McLauchlan (sub 45 for Friels), Proctor, McKeever (sub 85 for Gibson).