The game began fairly brightly, but no clear cut chances were coming at either end. Vale's Kerr picked up an early booking for a poor challenge, though in other matches he could have easily been spoken to. In the 16th minute, Friels pounced on a poor defensive header from Wilson though the Vale keeper was quick to react and deny the Lok frontman space.

Kerr's early booking was to cost him and his side dearly as linesman Ventri spotted an off the ball incident between him and Friels, the result of which being a second yellow card from referee Derek Rose. Soon after though, Derek Heaton rose to head over as lok pushed for the opener.

Mark McKeever has been unlucky in front of goal on many occasions and he was disappointed to see Drew head a goalbound shot away. Lok physio Jimmy Cooper was called into action to attend to Simon Black in the 27th minute when he suffered a headknock trying to get onto a Friels cross.

Willie Stewart was denied on the half-hour, but Lok finally went ahead in the 40th minute and it was a now-familiar 1-2 of Martin McLauchlan putting in good work on the right side before deleivering a fine ball into the danger area for GAVIN FRIELS to pounce and with one touch steer the ball past Wilson.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

A Stewart corner early in the second half was met by Derek Paterson's head, but he was denied by a clearance off the line. Simon Black had a few chances just shy of the hour, the best of which being a fine double save from first McLauchlan then Black by Vale keeper Wilson. McLauchlan then shot wide as Lok tried to stretch the ten men who by now had introduced former Lok midfielder John McGowan.

Vale weren't out of the game so long as the scoreline stayed close, and in the 74th minute they went close from a free-kick that Fraser headed across the face of goal, only just missing the outstretched boot of Ross. Pollok punished Vale's fairlure to take chances at the other end when in 78 minute, yet again McLauchlan provided the ball in from the right and GAVIN FRIELS wasn't going to miss from a similar range to his first, again with a touch, his 32nd strike in 39 Lok appearances.

Any thoughts that Pollok may take their foot off the gas with the title already wrapped up were quickly dispelled with a scintillating 3 goal burst in the opening 13 minutes. In the 5th minute Martin Nelson chipped a perfectly weighted free kick into the path of GAVIN FRIELS, who finished clinically. Three minutes later and WILLIE STEWART doubled the lead, thumping home from 12 yards out after some tenacious work on the right from McLauchlan and excellent use of the advantage rule from the referee.

Simon Black then had the ball in the net, only to have the goal ruled out for offside. The third goal was not long in arriving however, and it came courtesy of a penalty kick. Friels was brought down by Billy Mason and MARTIN McLAUCHLAN made no mistake from the spot, waiting for Adam Strain to move before placing the ball into the opposite corner of the net.

Friels could have extended the lead further in the 18th minute, but pulled his shot across goal and wide of the post. Ex-Pollok man Cameron Connie replaced Martin Graham at the back for the visitors, but they rarely threatened at the other end. A Jim Duffy header from an Alan McTurk corner was cleared before the same two players combined to create a chance for Gareth Turner, but he put his effort wide.

Pollok extended their lead still further in the 26th minute. Friels nipped in front of Adam Strain to collect the ball, and when his effort hit the post SIMON BLACK was on hand to head home the rebound. Troon continued to plug away in search of a goal, but efforts from Tony McCormick, Scott Houston and McTurk all failed to trouble Ian Wilson in the home goal.

Mark Shanks used his last two substitutions in a bid to salvage something from the game, with Baird replacing Chris Strain at half time and Craig Chapman replacing McCormick soon afterwards. McTurk's free kick in the 58th minute narrowly missed the target, before 'Lok grabbed their fifth. This time it was Black who beat Strain to the ball, presenting GAVIN FRIELS with the opportunity to overtake Kilwinning's Ian Cashmore at the top of the league scoring charts with his 17th league goal and 30th overall for the season.

By this point Troon had been reduced to trying their luck from long range at every opportunity, and although these efforts never troubled Wilson the 'keeper had to be alert to stretch and turn away a quickly taken McTurk free kick. Connie received the only yellow card of the game for hauling down McLauchlan in the 74th minute, before a flashing Mark McKeever header from a Friels cross went just wide. Substitute Andy McClay then evaded three challenges before setting up McLauchlan, but he was unable to get round Strain with Friels waiting in the middle for his hat-trick.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Lok opened the scoring in the 2nd minute when CHRIS CRUICKSHANK headed a Mark McKeever cross from the right through Pete Hamilton's arms. The second goal came in the 6th minute when Friels played a short pass to Willie Stewart and his pass was inch-perfect for the unchallenged SIMON BLACK to
pounce on and after a touch he fired a low shot into the net from outside the area.

Derek Paterson then shot wide for Lok while in the 10th minute Thomson sent
a free-kick over the bar at the other end. Good work from Gavin Friels in the 20th minute set up Willie Stewart but the former East Fifer rapped his shot off the post.

The third came in the 23rd minute when another dangerous McKeever cross from the right evaded the Ashfield defence and although Cruickshank at the back post looked to have sent the ball goalwards on the deck, GAVIN FRIELS made sure from all of a foot out.

Another McKeever cross in the 32nd minute helped Lok go four up when GAVIN FRIELS got the slightest of touches on the ball to take it past Hamilton and with 38 minutes played a Stewart corner from the right was flicked on by Derek Heaton for GAVIN FRIELS to do a mid-air back heel over the line from very close range.

Pollok began the second as they ended the first - in charge, and Paterson was unlucky to send a shot wide soon after the restart. Lok went six clear in the 49th minute when a long punt down the left found Friels, and his cross found SIMON BLACK who with not the cleanest of strikes beat the hapless visiting keeper.

Ashfield pulled one back in the 51st minute however as Lok took their foot right off the gas. A ball from the right landed kindly for PAUL MAXWELL and after a touch he sent a weak shot squirming past the inactive Wilson for what was nothing more than a consolation by now.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Lok took the lead in the 8th minute when a Stewart corner was flicked on by Heaton into the path of DEREK PATERSON who volleyed in the opener.

The lead didn't last though, as in the 12th minute, Town drew level. A Deep through ball landed at GARY ESPENER'S feet and he hit the ball first time past Ian Wilson. Shettleston then stunned the home support to take the lead 60 seconds later when WILLIE SHAND volleyed in from a free-kick.

Pollok tried to get back in contention, and Friels released Black in the 20th minute but the ball got under the ex-Cumnock hitman's feet and the chance passed. Shettleston were still dangerous though, and three minutes on Boyle got onto a through ball and only just volleyed wide. Tom Martin then went close from a free-kick, with Lok at sixes and sevens at the back.

Pollok had a good chance to get back on terms right on half time when a Friels cross found McClay but his shot ended back out at the Lok top scorer's feet and his second cross was then headed over by Proctor.

Pollok began the second half much brighter, and pulled a goal back in the 48th minute when after excellent work from Mark McKeever on the right that culminated with a driven cross/shot, GAVIN FRIELS was able to send the ball over the line from very close range.

Simon Black should have given Lok the lead in the 55th minute when he missed from point blank range after being set up by the tireless Friels, though just a few minutes shy of the hour, Espener went close with a volley. As the visitors stepped up again, Martin fired wide from a free-kick but they weren't to have many more chances.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

An early free-kick was conceded by Chris Cruickshank when he went in late on Alan Waddell, but from the free-kick, Alan Rae headed over the bar. Tne early stages were fairly cagey with neither side dominating, though John Tinney had to block a McShane effort on the line in the 22nd minute.

From a Tinney corner in the 29th minute, Chris Cruickshank headed over the bar and at the other end, Robert Downs was on song, twisting and turning his way through the Lok defence in the 31st minute before testing Wilson with a well-hit shot. Downs, linked with a move to the Seniors again, then displayed his agility with a shot on the turn and at the other end, Heaton and Stewart failed to work Robertson.

Lok had to reshuffle the pack with John Tinney hobbling off, meaning that Stewart had to switch to the left with Black going down the right. Arthurlie had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 41st minute when Mark McKeever brought down Waddell after he had been set up by Downs, but Zander Ryan's penalty was well saved by Ian Wilson.

Lok began the second half brightly with Heaton heading over from a Stewart corner, but Arthurlie were stepping up the pace and after a few near misses they were awarded another penalty when Raymond Logan was penalised for hand ball. ROBERT DOWNS made no mistake from the spot.

Pollok's task got harder in the 62nd minute when Martin McLauchlan, who had endured a frustrating night, kicked out at Jack and was shown a straight red card by whistler Stevie O'Reilly. Lok actually got better after this, and from a cross, Logan was unlucky not to score.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

The first chance fell to Larkhall in the 4th minute after Lok conceded a needless corner but the visitors cleared the danger of the setpiece. Pollok forged head in the 7th minute when a through ball foxed the Larkhall rearguard and KEVIN PROCTOR nipped in to fire a low shot beyond Derek Barnes.

Larkhall looked a bit shaky at the back, and under pressure from McLauchlan, Barnes accidentally handled outside his area in one move while soon after he had to come charging out again to clear after the centre-halves looked to have been caught out.

Lok went two goals clear in the 23rd minute when Marc Murray failed to cut out a cross and DEREK PATERSON was onhand to hook the ball across goal into the net for his 3rd goal in Lok colours.

Lok were in control by now, and McLauchlan was disappointed to have a goal chalked off for offside after a 29th minute free-kick. Simon Black later on in the half had a free-kick saved by Barnes.

Pollok brought Friels on for McLauchlan at half-time while Larkhall introduced forward Gemmill, though there was no change to the pattern of play. Kevin Proctor shot over the bar after getting on to a Stewart cross, but at the other end Orr hit an effort from 25 yards that gave Wilson something to think about.

Pollok went three ahead in the 53rd minute though Thistle will have been disappointed in the manner of the goal. Simon Black's pass put in KEVIN PROCTOR, and although he hit his shot well, Derek Barnes blocked the ball, tipping it high over his head - only for it to drop suddenly behind him into the net.

Three became four in the 60th minute and it was a fine high chipped pass from Derek Paterson into the path of Proctor at Barnes' right hand post that the Lok forward placed first time into the stride of WILLIE STEWART who stroked the ball over the line.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

One other point of note for Lok fans was a rare second outing of the season
for veteran keeper Rab Burns who was brought on for Wilson late on.

Another old head Martin Nelson had an excellent game and nearly added a sixth late on when he motored through the Thistle defence, nutmegging one before shooting wide of target. Lok now look ahead to the 'Lie game on Monday and a quarter final with Shettleston at Newlandsfield in the near future.

Bellshill began very brightly, and dominated large spells of the first half, with Lok not really adapting to the wide spaces that the playing surface afforded them. 21-year-old left winger Danny Ogunmade, formerly of Dundee United, Forfar Athletic, Ross County and Stenhousemuir, was impressive for 'Hill.

Pollok's first chance came in the 24th minute when McLauchlan warmed Smith's gloves from 25 yards but on the half hour the hosts took the lead. John Tinney lost possession in the Bellshill half and a quick break away and one deflection later, RICHIE BARR was able to rifle a powerful shot beyond Ian Wilson.

The lead lasted all of a minute as Martin McLauchlan sprung the Bellshill offside trap down the right and GAVIN FRIELS did well to keep up and managed to beat Smith to the Lok veteran's centre to tap the ball into the net from close in. Pollok took the lead in the 33rd minute when Derek Heaton flicked on a Stewart free-kick into the path of GAVIN FRIELS, and he directed his 22nd goal of the season high into Smith's top right hand corner.

Former Aberdeen starlet Murray Watson was lively on the right for 'Hill but should have levelled the score in the 35th minute when he blazed a shot over the bar, but that wasn't the case soon after. With 39 minutes gone, two Lok players challenged for the same ball, and although Cruickshank won, the ball spun loose and MURRAY WATSON was free on the right then amazingly opted to shoot from a wide angle with a powerful rising shot into Wilson's top corner.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

What proved to be the winner came in the 65th minute when Cruickshank broke down the left and made a short pass to Tinney whose cross was brilliantly headed low into the net by RAYMOND LOGAN from an impossibly tight angle. Bellshill had chances as the game wore on and played some excellent football, but Lok held out for a vital win.