Pollok closed out 2006 with their seventh victory on the trot as they disposed of Glasgow rivals Petershill by three goals to nil at Newlandsfield Park. Pollok made two changes to the side that had defeated Cumnock a fortnight ago. Andy McClay was missing through injury, and his place was taken by David McGeown, a trialist substitute against Cumnock who impressed enough to win a permanent deal. Simon Black returned from injury, and so Davie Turnbull found himself relegated to the bench.

Pollok opened brightly, with a sixth minute cross from Zander Ryan being headed over by Chris Cruickshank. Mark Booth then crossed for Black, but his effort on the half-volley was easily taken by John Stark in the Petershill goal. Joe Carruth picked up the first booking of the game after a hefty challenge on Kevin Murray, and from the resultant free-kick James Coulter drove at goal. The ball took a big deflection, deceiving Kris Robertson, but spun just past the post for a corner. Ryan Jordan joined Carruth in referee Paul McDowall’s book after a late challenge on Cruickshank, before Kieron Downs tested Robertson with a free-kick that the ‘keeper held comfortably. Shortly afterwards another good save denied Coulter. ‘Lok nearly took the lead after 32 minutes when Ryan’s cross found the head of McGeown, but his goalbound effort was brilliantly kept out by the reactions of Stark. Just before half time Dingwall drove a shot across goal that needed the merest of touches from Alan Waddell, but he couldn’t quite connect with the ball.

The deadlock was broken within five minutes of the restart when Carruth found McGeown with a superb pass, and his searching cross picked out ALAN WADDELL, who buried a diving header into the net from close range. Peasy almost drew level six minutes later when Kieran McAleenan was given space at the edge of the box, but his mishit shot was touched away by Robertson before being hooked out for a corner by Cruickshank. The corner was played low to Coulter just outside the penalty area, and his ferocious effort seemed netbound all the way until Robertson flung himself to his left to make a stunning save. Pollok brought on Richie Newall to replace Simon Black, and immediately doubled their advantage. Robertson cleared long to BRYAN DINGWALL, who took the ball wide of Stark before slotting it home from a tight angle.

Peasy continued to battle, with substitute Max Asante hitting the legs of Robertson with a shot that rebounded to Stevie Dallas, only for Derek Heaton to clear to safety for Pollok. The game was wrapped up for the home side after 77 minutes when Cruickshank’s cross bobbled around the Petershill box and landed at the feet of BRYAN DINGWALL, who slammed home his 21st goal in 20 games for ‘Lok. Petershill were destined to finish the game reduced to ten men. As the sides waited for a free-kick to be taken Kieron Downs became involved in a tussle with Robertson that resulted in a yellow card for the Pollok ‘keeper and a red card for the Peasy striker, with referee McDowall indicating that an elbow had been used. ‘Lok were happy to play out the remaining time by dominating possession, keeping the ball from their visitors for long spells, and in the end secured a comfortable three points.

Pollok will be delighted to have closed the gap at the top of the table as Auchinleck Talbot were not in action, but know that they still face a long, hard chase if they are to have any chance of overhauling the Ayrshire side at the top of the standings.

Pollok: Robertson, Carruth, Cruickshank (G Wilson 78), Aitchison, Heaton, Booth, Ryan, McGeown, Dingwall, Waddell (Downs 78), Black (Newall 68). Not used: Turnbull, Miller.
Booked: Carruth (15), McGeown (37), Booth (80), Robertson (80)
Petershill: Stark, Muir, McVittie (Asante 66), Merriman, Jordan, Coulter, Irons (Dick 74), Murray (McLernon 50), Dallas, Downs, McAleenan. Not used: McKenzie, Parry.
Booked: Jordan (21), Downs (79)
Sent Off: Downs (80)
Paul McDowell

Rab Sneddon was faced with a number of selection headaches prior to the visit of Cumnock, as a few casualties were still being carried as a result of the Port Glasgow game. With Robert Downs, Derek Gardiner, Simon Black and Raymond Logan all out injured, and with Ross O'Donoghue and Gary Wilson also struggling, Rab had further worries over Alan Waddell and Stevie Aitchison prior to kick-off. Fortunately both players made themselves available and both contributed greatly to a hard-fought victory.

Cumnock, whose main tactic in the first half was to play a disciplined offside trap and hit on the break, had the first opportunity in the opening minutes when Stevie Murray's cross found Stuart Boyd, but the former Ayr man's acrobatic effort went over the bar. Alan Waddell then went close for Lok with an individualistic effort that he put wide after making space for himself, and as Lok increased the pressure Chris Cruickshank was unlucky to miss from very close range.

The opening goal arrived in the 9th minute though when Cumnock veteran Darren Henderson failed to cut out a Waddell through ball, allowing Zander Ryan to pick up possession on the right flank and fire a low cross into the box that BRYAN DINGWALL met to turn past former Lok goalie Graham Potter from six yards out.

There then came a moment of perceived controversy when determined play from Davie Turnbull, in an unusual central midfield role, set up Bryan Dingwall inside the box, but Potter was quick off his line to try and reach the ball first. The two seemed to collide, the result of which saw Dingwall crash to the turf. As the home fans roared for a penalty, referee Stevie O'Brien's alternative view of the incident was that Dingwall was guilty of simulation (diving) and awarded him his tenth yellow card of the season instead of the ball and a spot kick.

Pollok won a free-kick in the 20th minute after Dingwall had been fouled 25 yards out. David Turnbull and Zander Ryan, each a specialist in set-pieces, both hovered over the ball, and it was the former who tried his luck. Unfortunately on this occasion his luck was as out as the ball was of play as it sailed over the bar, though to be fair to the former Stirling front man, it wasn't far away.

With 'Nock sitting deep, Pollok enjoyed a lot of possession going forward, though a succession of corners and free-kicks were not taken advantage of. From one, Waddell saw a header saved by Potter while a fine move between Dingwall and Waddell broke down when the ball reached Zander Ryan as the right wingback lost track of the ball for a crucial split-second.

With their height advantage across the park, Cumnock were a threat from corners themselves, and it took a combined effort from Turnbull and Cruickshank to clear the Lok lines in 31 minutes, with Robertson having to deny Boyd when the ball was fired back into the box.

Although the game was becoming riddled with cynical challenges, there was still a bit of football being played, and Lok put together another impressive move when Booth and Waddell played a clever one-two, but the former Elgin man couldn't hit the target from close range. Henderson then shot over at the other end for 'Nock.

The shape of the game was a little different in the second half, as Cumnock were far more adventurous, although the first chance of the half fell to Derek Heaton who headed over from a corner. Lok had also made one tactical change, with Turnbull going up front and Dingwall dropping back into midfield.

Darren Henderson, who had already been spoken to, then joined Dingwall and David McInally in the book after a 54th minute foul on Waddell. Turnbull was then taken off for Richie Newall, making his home debut, and Lok shifted to a 4-4-2 from the 3-5-2 adopted previously.

The game was getting fairly scrappy by this point as both sides continued to give the ball away cheaply. Cumnock;s Stuart McGrady then warmed Kris Robertson's gloves with a 30-yarder in the 67th minute. John Dempster, who was maybe less of a threat being away from the forward line in midfield, managed to make enough space for himself in the 77th minute to fire in a cross-cum-shot from the right that Robertson had to turn over the bar. Former Lugar man Paul Cameron was next up to have a crack from distance, but again Robertson was equal to it.

The equaliser perhaps was coming, and finally arrived in the 84th minute when 'Nock central defender CHRIS McGOWAN, unchallenged, met a corner with a low placed shot from around the penalty spot that bounced through a ruck of legs into the bottom corner of Robertson's goal. Waiting to come on prior to the goal was former Hearts, Alloa Athletic and Sorrento (Australia) midfielder David McGeown. In the six minute he took part in, he looked very lively and was involved in play immediately.

Cumnock nearly grabbed a winner themselves shortly after play restarted when Dempster's cross found Andy Boyle, but his headed effort was saved by Robertson. The decisive goal was yet to come though, and arrived gift-wrapped with Bryan Dingwall's name on it thanks to a Cumnock midfielder who after picking up a misplaced Aitchison pass that had ricocheted off his team-mate's chest, decided to play a time-wasting backpass 30 yards back to Graham Potter through a forest of both team-mates and opponents. He had failed to see the ever-alert BRYAN DINGWALL lurking in the shadows of his own defenders and he pounced upon the unlucky Ayrshire Santa's gift, rounded Potter, and rolled the ball over the line from a tight angle.

David McInally had a final long-range effort for Cumnock but he failed to test Robertson on this occasion, and the chance to equalise was as gone as the points. Rab Sneddon would have been happy to take the points as it was a tough fixture both on paper and in reality. Next week's fixture with Auchinleck Talbot, a team who have yet to score less than three goals at home in a league game, will be more of the same… and the rest.

Pollok: Robertson, Carruth, Cruickshank, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Ryan, Booth, Dingwall, Waddell (sub 84 for McGeown), Turnbull (sub 57 for Newall). Not used: Miller, O'Donoghue, Wilson.
Booked: Dingwall (13)
Cumnock: Potter, Murray (sub 72 for McGregor), Henderson (sub 72 for Moan), Farrell, McKeown (sub 20 for McGowan), McGrady, Boyle, Dempster, Boyd, Cameron, McInally. Not used: Gibson, Desmond.
Booked: McInally 21, Henderson 54
Ref: Stevie O'Brien

Pollok made it five wins in five games as they defeated Port Glasgow 4-0 at the Ravenscraig Stadium in Greenock to progress to the fourth round of the Scottish Junior Cup. Away fans in attendance arrived to the news that the signing of Richie Newall from Irvine Meadow XI had been completed, and he was listed amongst the substitutes. Mark Booth made his first start in a Pollok shirt at the expense of the injured Ross O'Donoghue in the only change from the side that faced Maryhill the previous week.

Port Glasgow entered the game on a high having defeated Cumnock in the previous round, but soon found themselves trailing as 'Lok took the lead after 90 seconds. A long free-kick from Stevie Aitchison found BRYAN DINGWALL, who lifted the ball over the advancing Mark Monk in the Port goal before heading home into the empty net. Conditions underfoot were proving tricky, and a slip by Derek Heaton presented Jim Brown with a sight of goal for The Undertakers, but he pulled his shot wide of the post.

After 11 minutes good work by Chris Cruickshank resulted in a cross from the bye-line that Alan Waddell just failed to connect with, but BRYAN DINGWALL caught the ball on the half-volley at the back post to fire Pollok into a two-goal lead. Heaton could have made it three shortly afterwards, but couldn't quite direct his header at the target. Booth tried his luck from distance after 18 minutes, but was well wide of the mark with a driven shot. Port Glasgow could have pulled one back after 26 minutes when the ball was flicked into the path of Alan McIntyre, but Kris Robertson rushed from his line to make a brave block at the feet of the midfielder.

With Pollok comfortably in control of proceedings the onus was on the home side to create chances to get back into the match, but they struggled to do so. This led to a poor second half, although some hefty challenges spiced up the atmosphere. Joe Beckley and Mark Booth both picked up early second half bookings, and Gary Stewart could consider himself somewhat fortunate not to see a second yellow card after a strong challenge on Dingwall that resulted in a free-kick and left the striker requiring treatment. Waddell limped off to be replaced by Davie Turnbull, and he was soon involved in the action. Zander Ryan's free-kick was headed on by Turnbull towards Dingwall, who tried an overhead kick that Monk held easily.

Dingwall turned provider after 78 minutes when he found space on the left-hand side of the park.The only supporting player was SIMON BLACK, and a pin-point cross allowed him to nod the ball beyond the 'keeper for the third. He then left the action and allowed Newall to make his debut. Port Glasgow almost scored a consolation effort late on when a free-kick was played through to Andy Monaghan, but his shot on the turn was wide of the post. Pollok put the icing on the cake in injury time when Ryan got his head to a Port throw-in and directed it to Turnbull. He drew the defence before squaring the ball to RICHIE NEWALL who slid in to score from the edge of the penalty area.

Pollok will be delighted to have comfortably beaten a team considered by many to be a potential banana skin, and can look forward to continued Scottish Cup involvement in the new year.

Port Glasgow: Monk, Jamieson, Coyle, Walton, A Banks, Beckley, McIntyre, S Banks, Monaghan, Stewart, J Brown (Nugent 60). Not used: Flynn, Begley, D Brown, Casement.
Booked: Stewart (14), McIntyre (32), Beckley (46), S Banks (74), A Banks (81)
Pollok: Robertson, Carruth, Cruickshank, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Ryan, Booth, Dingwall, Waddell (Turnbull 68), Black (Newall 79). Not used: G Wilson, Miller, Downs.
Booked: Booth (56), Dingwall (81)
Ref: A. McWilliam