Pollok Reports - October 2004

Saturday 30th October 2004 - Western Park, Renfrew. Stagecoach Premier League. Att: 400 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Renfrew 2 (1)

While it was an action-packed affair at Western Park in the early mid-table meeting of Renfrew and Pollok, the standard on show was not the highest, with the heavy pitch putting paid to any football being able to be played. Rab Sneddon made wholesale changes to the side that lost to Larkhall, with a total of five players going out the side to make way for McMenamin, Logan, McClay, McLauchlan and Stewart.

Pollok 2 (2)

Renfrew scorers: Alan Colsh (pen 44), Raymond Dunne 83

Pollok scorer: Martin McLauchlan (24, 25)

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Pollok were lively early on, as they were in the recent West of Scotland Cup tie, with McMenamin driving in a good standard of cross from the left in the opening seconds, then Derek Heaton passed up two glorious chances, firstly with a header cleared for a corner from Friels' cross, then blasting the ball high over the bar from the corner. Raymond Dunne almost capitalised on a weak Wilson clearance in the 7th minute but he shot over, and on the counter 5 minutes later, Friels played in the excellent Stewart on the right but 'Frew cleared for a corner. Dunne then missed with a header from a free-kick while Gavin Friels hooked a shot wide on the turn in 19 minutes from McClay's flick.

McLauchlan warmed the gloves of Scrimgour in the 22nd minute though the opening goal came soon after when Stewart's cross was helped into MARTIN MCLAUCHLAN's path by Friels and his low shot from 8 yards out left Scrimgour helpless.

Pollok were two goals to the good soon after when Friels broke clear on the right after springing the Renfrew offside trap, and Scrimgour had no real option but to try and meet him in the No Man's Land of the right hand touchline 35 yards out. Friels managed to get a weak low shot on target that Renfrew's desperately chasing back defenders couldn't clear far enough to stop MARTIN MCLAUCHLAN picking up the scraps and tapping into the net from
all of a yard out.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

So with 25 minutes played, Lok were two up. Raymond Dunne and Friels both missed chances before half-time, but Renfrew found themselves a goal closer in the 44th minute when Stevie Aitchison was penalised for a tackle in the box. ALAN COLSH converted the penalty comfortably. That the move started from a debatable offside call only made matters worse.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

With Sweeney injured by McLay's heavy challenge in the first half, Lok brought on Paterson at right back. The second half was a bit of a midfield sludge, with Kenna's shot wide of his own goal the first action of note. Willie Stewart embarked on another dangerous run down the right before crossing for Friels who was closed down enough by Cameron.

A shot from distance got Scrimgour working again but McLafferty, on as a sub, could have equalised in the 77th minute with a fine curled effort that hit the bar. Alan Colsh a minute later was unlucky not to level when his low shot was weakly palmed away by Wilson and fortunately Nelson was on hand to clear. The equaliser finally arrived in the 83rd minute when RAYMOND DUNNE's
cross/shot caught Wilson unawares and sailed into his top right hand corner.

Derek Scrimgour shows a safer pair of hands to Logan (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Renfrew: Scrimgour, Hammond, Brogan, Cameron, Quigley, Harvie, Kenna, McLay, Dunne, Ross (sub 68 for McLafferty), Colsh. Not used: Peacock, McQuade, Shearer, Thomson.
Booked: McLay 38, Cameron 42, Dunne 60, Quigley 78, Brogan 79
Pollok: Wilson, Sweeney (sub 45 for Paterson), McMenamin (sub 71 for McKeever), Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Stewart, Logan, McLauchlan (sub 80 for Tinney), Friels, Nelson. Not used: Haggarty, Proctor.
Booked: Friels 42, McMenamin 51, McClay 78
Ref: Euan Norris

Saturday 23rd October 2004 - Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow. Stagecoach Premier League. Att: 600 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Pollok 0 (0)

Pollok's unbeaten league record came to an end at Newlandsfield Park as Larkhall Thistle took all three points from an entertaining game, writes Martin Donnelly. Rab Sneddon made one change from the side that triumphed at Townhead Park 7 days earlier, with Martin Nelson replacing the injured Raymond Logan in the starting line-up. Andy McClay, Derek Paterson and Martin McLauchlan were all available for selection after various periods of injury and suspension, and all three found a place on the bench.

Larkhall Thistle 1 (1)

Pollok scorer: -

Larkhall Thistle scorer: Alan McFadden (29)

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

After just three minutes Pollok forced a corner, from which Mark McKeever found the head of Derek Heaton. The ball came back out to Kevin Proctor, who saw his header cleared off the line by a Larkhall defender. At the other end Davy McFarlane hooked the ball over Ian Wilson's crossbar from just 6 yards out as both teams tried to find an early goal. Mark McWilliams was next to find himself in a scoring position, but his effort from a Frank Haggarty cut back went wide of Craig Marshall's post. Some direct running from Proctor created a good chance after 20 minutes for the home side, but his chipped effort at goal was easily grasped by Marshall.

Pollok were starting to create the better chances, and Gavin Friels had two opportunities to break the deadlock, first of all cutting in from the left only to drag his shot wide from 20 yards, then blasting over from only 8 yards out. It came as something of a surprise then when it was the visitors who opened the scoring after 29 minutes. After some good work on the left the ball was played in to ALAN McFADDEN, who turned and placed his shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the Pollok net.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

The home side had immediate chances to level the scoring, but these were spurned firstly by Haggarty and then by Friels. In the 35th minute the Gasworks Park side had a wonderful opportunity to extend their lead. A mistake by Heaton left Alan Watson through on goal, but Wilson did enough to force him wide and allow Chris Sweeney to get back to block the eventual shot. As half-time approached Pollok were denied by the woodwork when a Proctor effort struck the post before rebounding off Marshall and out of play for a corner. At the other end, Jamie Bruce will feel he could have done better when he missed from close range after some hesitant Pollok defending.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

The second half opened with the first booking of the match, as Jim Kavanagh was booked by referee John McKendrick after a block on Proctor. Sweeney then headed over from a McKeever corner before the 'Lok defence were caught out by a ball over the top, but McFarlane's effort hit Wilson in the chest and went wide. Nikki Paterson was then booked for a trip on Haggarty, while Friels forced two saves in quick succession out of Marshall. On the hour mark Proctor was denied by a goal-line clearance for the second time in the match as his header from McKeever's corner was again blocked.

The home side then made an attacking substitution, with Willie Stewart replacing McWilliams, and his introduction nearly had the desired effect as firstly he drove the ball narrowly wide from the edge of the box, and then forced Bruce into a fine block to deflect a goal-bound effort for a corner. With 15 minutes to go Proctor and Haggarty made way for McLauchlan and McClay, who was then booked just three minutes later for deliberately handling the ball on the ground. Gary Faulds then made his first switch, with James McCluskey replacing goalscorer McFadden.

With just five minutes to go Pollok had a golden opportunity to equalise after McLauchlan cut the ball back to Friels just two yards from goal, but he failed to control the ball and the chance to repeat his late heroics from the previous week was gone. Thistle were still dangerous on the break, with McFarlane heading over the bar as Pollok chased the game. Heaton's header from a long Stevie Aitchison free kick drifted agonisingly wide, while at the other end an overhead kick from McCluskey released Watson, who should have done better than balloon his shot over, given the time available to him.

In the end, however, the visitors prevailed, leaving Pollok to rue missed chances and also leaving them still in search of a first home league victory of the season.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Pollok: Wilson, Sweeney, McWilliams (sub 61 for Stewart), Aitchison, Heaton, Nelson, McKeever, Haggarty (sub 75 for McClay), Proctor (sub 75 for McLauchlan), Friels, Tinney. Not used: Jordan, Paterson
Booked: McClay 78
Larkhall: Marshall, Bryson, Williamson, Kavanagh, Murray, Bruce, Fotheringham, Paterson, D. McFarlane, Watson, McFadden (sub 81 for McCluskey). Not used: Smillie, Calderwood, Taylor, Jeffrey.
Booked: Kavanagh 51, Paterson 58

Saturday 16th October 2004 - Townhead Park, Cumnock. Stagecoach Premier League. Att: 400 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Cumnock 0 (0)

Pollok continued their long unbeaten run (over 90 minutes anyway) into an 11th game with a very hard-fought victory over Cumnock. With injuries to McClay, McLauchlan and long-term absentee McNeill adding to the suspended duo of Paterson and McMenamin, Rab Sneddon's options were limited.

Pollok 2 (1)

Cumnock scorer: -

Pollok scorers: Mark McKeever 5, Gavin Friels 89

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Cumnock threatened first, with a Rab Coulter header being cleared off the line in the 5th minute, but soon after it was Lok who found themselves a goal up. Gavin Friels forced Potter into a save, with the loose ball rebounding off Proctor's thigh, then thudding off Potter's left hand upright. Cumnock didn't clear and MARK MCKEEVER fired in from close range against his former team.

The first real flashpoint came in the 16th minute when notorious Stephen McQuade put in a very hard challenge on Kevin Proctor and was booked as a result. Not long after though, he was involved with Logan on the touchline, at one point kicking out at the Lok player after being sent to the deck under a heavy challenge. The Dumfries referee told McQuade one to one, in no uncertain terms with a hand gesture, that one more foul or flareup and he was off.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Haggarty hit a few efforts wide throughout the first half, with Wilson being called into action again by Kerr who made him dive low to his right in 25 minutes. Kerr had a goal chopped off in the 34th minute for an infringement, and five minutes before the break, Sweeney made an excellent block on teenage ex-Kilmarnock forward John Paul Boyle. Cumnock tried to force the equaliser just before the interval, but Wilson and Heaton combined to clear the danger.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Cumnock had a fair bit of the second half too with Wilson denying Kerr in the 53rd minute, though Black's low cross across the face of goal could have ended up anywhere in the 77th. McGowan then headed over as 'Nock pushed for the leveller. McCulloch had an 81st free-kick saved as the home side ran out of time. Pollok had what seemed a fair shout for a penalty denied when the ref booked Proctor for diving after seemingly being tripped by Potter and he booked Friels in the latter stages for protesting once too often about what he viewed an unfair offside call from the officials.

GAVIN FRIELS netted a fine clincher in the 89th minute though when he went on a run with the ball at his feet, ignoring the supporting Stewart in support to fire beyond former Lok loan keeper Potter - then made the mistake of pulling his shirt over his head in celebration of his first goal in a month. When the elated bodies heaped on top of him dispersed, they saw the referee waiting to enforce one of football's craziest rulings. Friels duly picked up his second caution in as many minutes and was off the park.

Derek Heaton (right) was one of the key men for Lok, and Chris Sweeney had a fine game in defence also.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Cumnock: Potter, Jack, McQuade, McGowan, Coulter, Muir, Black, Marshall, Kerr, Boyle, McCulloch. Not used: Walker, Sangster, Collins, Crawford, Lynch.
Booked: McQuade 16, McGowan 70
Pollok: Wilson, Sweeney, McWilliams (sub 74 for Jordan), Aitchison, Heaton, Haggarty, McKeever, Logan (sub 59 for Nelson), Proctor (sub 85 for Stewart), Friels, Tinney. Not used: Gibson, Burns.
Booked: Haggarty 17, Proctor 82, Jordan 87, Friels 88
Sent off: Friels 89

Saturday 9th October 2004 - Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow. Stagecoach Premier League. Att: 660 (pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Pollok 0 (0)

Not even the big World Cup Qualifier a few miles away at Hampden could put a dampener on the ever-entertaining Pollok versus Arthurlie clash, though Lok boss Rab Sneddon had selection problems brought about by the suspensions of Derek Paterson and Paul McMenamin. Today's solution was to accommodate Mark McKeever as a makeshift left-back as Peter Jordan was injured.

Arthurlie 0 (0)

Pollok scorer: -

Arthurlie scorer: -

(pic c/o Scott Gray)

Arthurlie started brightly and created three good chances to score with Ross and Waddell taking some advantage of slackness in the Pollok box, writes John M. Downs should have done better than to shot wide when running onto a neat McKeown flick. Pollok gradually came into the game with Logan and McClay prominent in midfield with the former having a decent shot just over the bar. Friels looked to have given Pollok the lead when his effort from a clever McLaughlin shot beat keeper Roberston -but to the dismay of the forward and the home fans the ball hit the inside of the post and rolled all along the goaline into the relieved arms of the Lie keeper.

Arthurlie then hit woodwork when from a needless handling offence by keeper Wilson Ryan saw his shot from a rebound brilliantly turned onto the bar to safety from the Pollok keeper. Robertson then impressed in the Arthurlie goal with a fine low save from a shot from Logan, while tempers frayed on the park with a melee after a late tackle from Downs emptied
both benches.

(pics c/o Kathryn MacLeod)

Arthurlie again started the brighter in the second half and had plenty of possession with Pollok too often giving the ball away cheaply in their own half. Twice Arthurlie came close to breaking the deadlock with right back McShane just missing the ball at the back post after a good Ross cutback. Then Ryan screwed his shot wide when it looked easier to hit the target. Gavin Friels was a constant menace and forced a good save out of Robertson and moments later saw his netbound header cleared off the line by Arthurlie centre half Allison.

Right on the final whislte the game was almost won for the visitors with a freak own goal. McClay deflected a poor cross from McKenzie towards the goal and only a stunning full length diving save from Wilson kept the ball out. Both sides will think they should have won the game but I thought a draw was a fair result. For a 0-0, it was an excellent entertaining game with both goalkeepers on
top form.

(pic c/o Scott Gray)

Pollok: Wilson, Sweeney, McKeever, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Haggarty (sub 63 for Stewart), Logan, McLauchlan, Friels, Tinney (sub 78 for Proctor). Not used: Nelson, Gibson, Burns.
Booked: Haggarty 19, Tinney 72, McClay 85.
Arthurlie: Robertson, McShane, Wilson, Jack, Allison, Ross, Ryan, Smith (sub 54 for McGarvey), Downs (sub 78 for McKenzie), McKeown, Waddell (sub 57 for Hobbs). Not used: Miller, Travers.
Booked: Downs, Smith, Allison, Ryan
Ref: Mr S. O'Reilly