Pollok made it a perfect ten as they took their winning streak to double figures with a three goal victory over relegation threatened Renfrew at Newlandsfield Park. Spectators who had seen Chris Cruickshank stretchered off against Cumnock the previous week were astonished to see that the full-back had recovered sufficiently to take his place in the starting eleven. 'Lok preparations were thrown into turmoil, however, when Joe Carruth suffered an injury during the warm-up, and so Stevie Miller was promoted from the bench as a late replacement. Zander Ryan also returned at the expense of Raymond Logan.

The early stages were dominated by the visitors, still without a manager after the departure of Billy Peacock, with Gordon Smith forcing a save from Kris Robertson within the first minute. John Peacock then had a free-kick saved by the 'keeper, and Jon Crawford headed just wide from a corner. Richie Barr then swung in a dangerous cross that Derek Heaton had to clear from under his own crossbar, all within the opening ten minutes of the match. It took 'Lok until the 20th minute to test the Renfrew rearguard when a Ryan corner was met by Bryan Dingwall, but his well struck drive was cleared off the line by Alan Prentice. As Pollok began to establish a foothold in the game Andy McClay played a short corner to Ryan, whose front post cross found David McGeown, but his shot was stopped by Kenny Meechan. Cruickshank then had a weak header easily held before 'Lok grabbed the lead in the 43rd minute. Ryan's corner was headed goalwards by Heaton, and BRYAN DINGWALL rose to deflect the ball beyond the waiting Meechan to send the home side into the interval with a narrow lead.

Pollok nearly extended their advantage four minutes after the resumption. Smith had a free-kick saved by Robertson, and the home side swept the ball to the other end of the field. Ryan, Cruickshank, Dingwall and McClay all to combined to create space for McGeown, who shot just beyond Meechan's left-hand upright. Shortly afterwards McGeown fired over from an Alan Waddell cross before Pollok doubled their lead after 54 minutes. Robertson cleared long downfield, and defender Ross McMillan misjudged the flight of the ball, allowing BRYAN DINGWALL to display masterful technique as he swivelled to take the ball in mid-air and lash it off the underside of the crossbar and beyond the helpless Meechan.

Heaton and Renfrew substitute David McKenzie both missed the target with headers before Dingwall had a chance to complete his hat-trick. A Cruickshank free-kick was turned back across the box by Logan to where Dingwall was waiting, but his scissor-kick sent the ball over the bar. 'Lok were not to be denied a third, however, and it arrived after 75 minutes. Substitute Robert Downs crossed to the back post for DAVID McGEOWN, who headed home his third goal for Pollok. Further chances fell to the home side, in particular when McClay and Dingwall sent Logan through on goal, but his casual effort was stopped by the legs of Meechan. In the final minute Dingwall cracked a shot off the base of the post, and Richie Newall had an overhead kick pushed wide by the 'keeper, but by that stage the points were already secured for the Newlandsfield men.

The result lifts Pollok into second place in the league for the first time this season, but they still lie seven points adrift of pacesetters Auchinleck Talbot.

Pollok: Robertson, Miller, Cruickshank (Newall 87), Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Ryan (Logan 61), Booth, Dingwall, Waddell (Downs 68), McGeown. Not used: Wilson, Turnbull.
Booked: Downs (84)
Renfrew: Meechan, Mort (McFarlane 81), Crawford, Farquharson, McMillan, Quigley (McKenzie 57), Prentice, Peacock, Barr, Smith (Chisholm 78), McLay. Not used: Gallagher, Phillips.
Booked: Mort (18), Prentice (25), Quigley (34), McKenzie (64)
Ref: Gary Hilland

Pollok were denied the opportunity to close the gap on league leaders Auchinleck Talbot when their match with Cumnock was abandoned at half-time due to heavy conditions at Townhead Park. With Zander Ryan unavailable Pollok welcomed Raymond Logan back into their starting eleven, while Joe Carruth and Chris Cruickshank also returned at the expense of Stevie Miller and Gary Wilson.

The early exchanges were cagey, with tame efforts from Logan and David McInally being the only tests for the 'keepers. Cumnock were given the perfect opportunity to break the deadlock after nine minutes when Carruth was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box, resulting in a penalty for the home side. Michael Hughes took the spot-kick, but Kris Robertson guessed correctly and pushed his weak effort away for a corner. Stevie Murray then headed wide from a corner kick before Pollok's best chance of the day. An Alan Waddell cut-back was spilled by Graham Potter into the path of David McGeown, but his shot hit the right-hand post. The ball rebounded off Bryan Dingwall, but squirmed agonisingly wide of the other post.

After 32 minutes 'Lok lost the services of Cruickshank as a challenge from Hughes resulted in suspected ligament damage for the wing-back. He was stretchered from the field after a four minute delay to be replaced by Richie Newall. Newall and Dingwall both fired over the bar before the teams left the field for half-time. Referee Derek Rose then reappeared with his assistants, and upon close inspection of the playing surface decided that the game could not continue, leaving both sets of fans venting their frustration at proceedings.

All in all then a disappointing day for those who ventured down to Ayrshire on a dreich day, with the lowest point being the loss for up to 2 months of an important member of the squad in the form of Chris Cruickshank.

Cumnock: Potter, Murray, McGrady, Farrell, McGregor, McGowan, Moan, Boyd, Hughes, Cameron, McInally. Not used: Boyle, Campbell, Gibson, McKeown, Quinn.
Booked: Hughes (32)
Pollok: Robertson, Carruth, Cruickshank (Newall 36), Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, McGeown, Booth, Dingwall, Waddell, Logan. Not used: Downs, Black, Miller, Turnbull.
Booked: McClay (21)
Ref: Derek Rose

Pollok racked up a ninth consecutive victory as they dismissed the challenge of Perth outfit Kinnoull by four goals to one in the fourth round of the Scottish Junior Cup at Newlandsfield Park. Manager Rab Sneddon stayed largely with the same players who had defeated Arthurlie the previous week, although Joe Carruth failed to recover from a groin injury and so Stevie Miller started in defence.

With blustery winds making conditions difficult for attractive football 'Lok made the perfect start after nine minutes. Zander Ryan's short corner to Andy McClay was chipped into the penalty area and BRYAN DINGWALL outjumped the Kinnoull defence to direct the ball beyond Andy Mackie for the opening goal. Dingwall was then off target with a speculative volley after another Ryan corner. At the other end Kris Robertson was called into action after 23 minutes to block a Barry Gardiner strike.

'Lok should have increased their advantage just after the half hour mark when Gary Wilson released McClay on the left side of the park, and he squared the ball across for Alan Waddell, who elected for power rather than accuracy and consequently missed the target. Ryan then got onto the end of a Wilson cross, only to see his header deflected over the crossbar by a Kinnoull defender. Pollok did manage to add to their advantage after 42 minutes. Tenacious work from Mark Booth created a chance for Ryan to cross the ball into the box, and DAVID McGEOWN rose to head the ball under the diving Mackie.

'Lok started the second half as they had finished the first, creating opportunities to further extend their lead. A Ryan corner caused panic in the Kinnoull defence, with the ball falling at the feet of Derek Heaton, who couldn't quite muster a shot on target. A fierce Ryan effort was then parried away by Mackie in the 'Noull goal. Pollok were made to rue their missed chances in the 54th minute when the visitors pulled a goal back. Heaton's backpass to Robertson struck Stevie Aitchison on the way and fell nicely for GARY SWEENEY, who had no hesitation in smashing a fierce effort beyond the helpless goalkeeper.

Matters nearly got worse for 'Lok moments later when further slack defending allowed Sweeney another sight of goal, but this time he fired over the crossbar. Pollok responded with a quick break at the other end, with Dingwall setting up McClay for a sliding effort that missed the target. After 60 minutes Ryan picked out Dingwall behind the Kinnoull defence, but he drove wide from a tight angle. Waddell and Dingwall then combined to tee-up Ryan for a shot at goal, but he blazed the ball over the crossbar.

Pollok were finally rewarded for their persistence with a third goal after 65 minutes. Ryan's long free-kick was headed goalwards by McGeown, only for Mackie to touch the ball onto the underside of the bar. The bounce fell perfectly for ALAN WADDELL, who nodded home from point blank range. Moments later a miscued Colin Sinclair clearance landed in the path of CHRIS CRUICKSHANK, and he drilled the ball beyond Mackie for Pollok's fourth. With the game virtually won Raymond Logan and Robert Downs were given a run to gain some much needed match fitness, while the visitors were reduced to trying their luck from long range. Jamie Reilly was well off target with a strike from distance, while substitute Craig Johnston rattled the woodwork with a free-kick from fully 30 yards out. Cruickshank could have added his second of the game with eight minutes to go, but shot over after Waddell created the opportunity for him.

'Lok now put thoughts of the Junior Cup on hold for a few weeks as they return to league action at Townhead Park, where they will face Cumnock.

Pollok: Robertson, Miller, G Wilson (Cruickshank 62), Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Ryan, Booth (Logan 75), Dingwall (Downs 71), Waddell, McGeown. Not used: Newall, Black.
Kinnoull: Mackie, S. Nicol, McKenzie, Sinclair, Ross, Milne (Gow 61), Reilly (Scrymgeour 77), G. Nicol (Johnston 68), Sweeney, Holden, Gardiner. Not used: Tang, Gordon.
Booked: S Nicol (26), Sinclair (74)
Ref: Kevin Clancy

Pollok opened 2007 with a league victory over rivals Arthurlie as they triumphed by three goals to nil at Dunterlie Park. Chris Cruickshank was posted missing for Pollok due to flu, meaning that Gary Wilson returned to the starting eleven for the first time since 'Lok tasted defeat to Ashfield in the West of Scotland Cup. Andy McClay also returned to a re-jigged midfield, with Simon Black being the man who made way for him.

Arthurlie started brightly, with John Johnston asking questions of the 'Lok defence. Firstly, his driving run ended with a shot that was dragged just wide of the post, then his testing free-kick from just outside the box forced a fine save from Kris Robertson. Andy McFarlane then headed wide from another 'Lie free-kick. It took 'Lok 18 minutes to force a save from Craig Marshall in the Arthurlie goal when Wilson crossed for Bryan Dingwall, but his header was easily held. Robertson stopped a low Greig McCulloch drive before Pollok lost Joe Carruth to injury after 23 minutes, with Stevie Miller taking his place. The home side thought they had the lead three minutes later when Robertson spilled a shot into the path of Roland Fabiani, who tapped home, only to be denied by the flag of the assistant referee. John Bradford had an excellent chance shortly before half-time when he held off McClay, but his shot passed wide of the target.

The second half opened with Pollok looking much sharper, and only a saving tackle by Alan Shields prevented Dingwall from shooting after a long free-kick from Robertson. The opener arrived after 55 minutes when a throw-in fell to Zander Ryan, and his chipped cross was met by the head of birthday boy DAVID McGEOWN, who powered the ball beyond Marshall for his first goal in Pollok colours. The lead was soon two when a cross from the right was met on the half-volley by BRYAN DINGWALL, giving Marshall no chance. Arthurlie tried to respond with a Joe Andrew drive, but Robertson saved easily.

Alex Smith, Ross Ballantyne and Ricky Orr all came on as Gary Faulds tried to find a way back into the match for 'Lie, although McGeown could have effectively ended their chances had he hit the target after being set up by Dingwall. Ballantyne then saw Robertson save a tame strike before Richie Newall and Robert Downs replaced McGeown and Alan Waddell for Pollok. Andrew was off target after a quick break by 'Lie from a Pollok free-kick before 'Lok wrapped up proceedings. Downs collected the ball at the halfway line and drove towards the opposition goal. After drawing the defence he slid the ball across for RICHIE NEWALL, who slotted home to secure the points for Pollok. Ballantyne then had a cross deflected over his own bar by Stevie Aitchison, and Downs was narrowly off target with a curling effort from the left hand side of the park before referee Andy McWilliam called a halt to matters.

While the result ensures Pollok stretch their winning run in the league to six games, two late goals from Auchinleck at Cumnock mean that they remain 10 points off the pace at the top of the Stagecoach Premier Division.

Arthurlie: Marshall, McCulloch (Ballantyne 64), Fabiani, Shields, Wardle (Orr 74), Gallacher, Johnston, Hughes, Andrew, Bradford, McFarlane (Smith 62). Not used: Nicholls, Prow.
Booked: McFarlane (32), Hughes (41), Shields (83), Smith (90)
Pollok: Robertson, Carruth (Miller 23), G Wilson, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Ryan, Booth, Dingwall, Waddell (Downs 82), McGeown (Newall 77). Not used: Turnbull, Black.
Booked: Booth (11), McClay (32), Dingwall (34)
Ref: Andy McWilliam