After a three-week layoff due to inclement weather Pollok returned to league action with a 3-1 victory over Glasgow rivals Maryhill at Newlandsfield Park. The break was not long enough for Raymond Logan to recover from a hamstring injury, and so he was replaced by Ross O'Donoghue in the only change from the side that had defeated Lochore Welfare in the Scottish Junior Cup. With others also unavailable 'Lok only named four substitutes out of a possible five, as did their opponents who included former Pollok players Kevin O'Neil and Bryan Smith in their line-up.

The first half was a poor affair with limited chances for both sides. 'Hill forced an excellent save from Kris Robertson after 14 minutes when Stephen McGowan headed a free-kick towards goal, only to be denied by the reactions of the 'keeper. Zander Ryan struck the woodwork for Pollok after 20 minutes when his shot was deflected onto the crossbar. Alan Waddell had a weak shot from distance easily saved by Kevin Montgomery before Bryan Dingwall was booked for dissent. The visitors had an excellent chance on the break when Kenny McLean got in behind Stevie Aitchison, but was unable to find either of the two team-mates who were supporting him through the middle. Aitchison was booked for his attempts at halting McLean during the move. At the other end Andy McClay hit the bye-line for 'Lok, only to hit the legs of Montgomery from his cut-back. From the resultant Ryan corner Chris Cruickshank had a header saved.

Cruickshank was again off target with a header early in the second half from a Ryan free-kick before Maryhill were presented with an opportunity to open the scoring. A long ball over the top was misjudged by Joe Carruth, leaving Alan Benton with a sight at goal, but he dragged his shot wide of the post. 'Lok were to punish this miss three minutes later. Waddell was felled in the box, and referee Gary Hilland pointed to the spot. SIMON BLACK stepped up to send Montgomery the wrong way and give the home side the lead. Along with O'Donoghue, Black was taken off after 72 minutes when Mark Booth and Davie Turnbull came on.

Two minutes later 'Lok had a second spot-kick. A terrific pass from Ryan released Waddell on the right wing, and his cross was partially cleared by Donnie Wilson. The ball landed at the feet of Cruickshank, whose shot was blocked on the line by Wilson. Referee Hilland adjudged that he had used his arm, and so he was dismissed from the action. Turnbull stepped up to take the kick, but his tame effort was stopped by Montgomery. Pollok did grab a second within two minutes. Waddell and Aitchison combined to set-up Dingwall with a run at goal, but he appeared to be dispossessed by the last Maryhill defender who played the ball straight to STEVIE AITCHISON who had continued his supporting run to apply the final touch to double the goals tally amassed in his previous 204 games for the club. The visiting protests ended with Maryhill co-manager Stephen Brown being sent to the pavilion. He would barely have reached the dressing room by the time his side grabbed a lifeline.

McLean cut the ball across for BRYAN SMITH, who was left with a simple tap-in to make the score 2-1. As Maryhill chased an equaliser 'Lok could have put the game beyond doubt when Ryan just failed to pick out Dingwall in front of goal, and Waddell's attempt to pick up the scraps hit the side-netting. The home side did claim a third in injury time when a Ryan corner was looped home by the head of DAVIE TURNBULL to ensure a third consecutive league win for Rab Sneddon's men.

Pollok next travel to face Port Glasgow at the Ravenscraig Stadium in Greenock as they try to remain in the hunt for the Scottish Junior Cup.

Pollok: Robertson, Carruth, Cruickshank, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay, Ryan, O'Donoghue (Booth 72), Dingwall, Waddell, Black (Turnbull 72). Not used: Miller, Downs.
Booked: Dingwall (32), Aitchison (39)
Maryhill: Montgomery, Benton, Robertson (Sichi 38 [Thomson 83]), O'Neil, McKeown, Wilson, Crossey (P Gallagher 87), Smith, McLean, McGowan, Ferguson. Not used: Stoddart.
Booked: Benton (60), McKeown (74), O'Neil (76), McLean (87)
Sent Off: Wilson (74)
Ref: G. Hilland

Pollok booked their place in the third round draw of the Scottish Junior Cup with a comfortable victory away to East Region side Lochore Welfare at Central Park. For only the second time this season Rab Sneddon was able to name an unchanged starting eleven, and this consistency also extended to the bench with the same five substitutes listed as at Bellshill the previous week.

'Lok were quickly on the front foot, and Zander Ryan was close to opening the scoring after two minutes, but pulled his shot wide of the post. Kris Robertson had to make the first save of the match moments later when he pushed away a dipping effort from Paul Campbell. Tenacious work from Alan Waddell then provided a chance for Bryan Dingwall, but he fired well over the crossbar. The same player then shot wide from a Chris Cruickshank throw-in. 'Lok did find the target, however, after 15 minutes. A 40-yard effort from Chris Burt was held by Robertson, and he cleared long to Dingwall. He set-up ALAN WADDELL, whose shot took a deflection on the way past Willie Crowe for the opener. Pollok were soon to double their lead when Simon Black played a through ball to RAYMOND LOGAN, who hammered the ball beyond Crowe from inside the box.

The visitors were threatening to run riot at this point, and a third goal was not long in coming. Dingwall played the ball to Logan on the right-hand side of the park, and when the ball was cut low into the box it was BRYAN DINGWALL who brought the ball under control before slotting it home. Welfare were given a lifeline in the 27th minute when Cruickshank brought down Lee Sibanda at the edge of the penalty box. Referee Craig Marshall pointed to the spot, and John Cusick stepped up to take the kick. Robertson made a fine save, but the kick was retaken due to encroachment by Joe Carruth. This time the responsibility fell to LEE SIBANDA, and he made no mistake to reduce the deficit to two. Ryan and Logan both went close for 'Lok before the home side were reduced to ten men. Martin Ward had a free-kick saved by Robertson, and 'Lok broke quickly through Waddell. His progress was halted inside the box by a late tackle by Ward, who was dismissed by Mr. Marshall. SIMON BLACK added to the punishment by coolly despatching the ball beyond Crowe to give the visitors a 4-1 half-time lead.

The second half proved to be far less eventful than the opening period, and indeed it took 15 minutes for either side to have a crack at goal, with Chris Burt slicing a shot well wide of target for the home side. Pollok's first effort on target came from the unlikeliest of sources. Andy McClay passed back to Robertson, and his wind-assisted clearance forced his opposite number Crowe to back-pedal to collect the ball under the crossbar. Both sides tried to alter things by making changes, with Kris Shankland replacing Colin Feeley for Lochore and debutant Mark Booth and Ross O'Donoghue taking the places of McClay and Black for Pollok. Lochore had penalty appeals waved away when the ball struck Booth on the arm, although Sibanda could have avoided any controversy had he scored when the ball subsequently fell to him, but Robertson saved at his near post.

After 68 minutes a Ryan corner was met by the head of Derek Heaton, but Crowe held his attempt on the line. O'Donoghue then played in Waddell, but his shot was saved by Crowe. The rebound fell to Dingwall, but his shot was also blocked amid handball claims. As the game moved into injury time 'Lok should have scored a fifth. Booth released Dingwall, who took the ball around the 'keeper before cutting it across goal. Booth seemed to have the simplest of tasks to tap the ball home for a debut goal, but instead saw the ball spin up off his boot and off his hand, and so although the ball crossed the line a free-kick was given.

Pollok now face a vital league encounter away to defending double winners Auchinleck Talbot knowing that they must extend their three-game winning sequence if they are to have a realistic chance of challenging for the league title this season.

Lochore: Crowe, Burt, Feeley (Shankland 64), Browne, Kinnell, Sibanda, Cusick, Duncan Jnr, Laing, Ward, Campbell (Jeffrey 77). Not used: Burke, Duncan Snr, Connolly.
Booked: Sibanda (39), Laing (48), Jeffrey (78)
Sent Off: Ward (42)
Pollok: Robertson, Carruth, Cruickshank, Aitchison, Heaton, McClay (Booth 64), Ryan, Logan (Miller 70), Dingwall, Waddell, Black (O'Donoghue 64). Not used: Downs, G Wilson.
Booked: McClay (39), Logan (43)
Ref: Craig Marshall