Gary Wild o.g. (17)
Paul Hyslop (58)

Kieran McAleenan (19)
Alex Burns (71)

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Pollok squandered two more home points in the Stagecoach Super Premier League as they were held to a draw by Petershill at Newlandsfield Park.

With Zander Ryan on holiday Rab Sneddon made one change to his side, with Paul Hyslop drafted in for a rare start on his favoured right wing. The first chance fell the way of Pollok, with Bryan Dingwall putting the ball over from a Kris Robertson goal-kick after eleven minutes. Five minutes later saw Petershill’s first shot at goal, with Gerry Joyce driving well over from 30 yards out. Pollok took the lead in the 16th minute after some determined work on the right by Joe Carruth. He flashed the ball across goal, only for GARY WILD to head it past his own ‘keeper Neil Parry. It took just two minutes for the Springburn men to bring the scores level. ‘Lok struggled to clear their lines, and when Gary Wilson’s defensive header arrived at KIERAN McALEENAN the Peasy midfielder nodded it back into the Pollok net. Joyce picked up the first booking of the game after 24 minutes for a foul on Robert Downs, and Bryan Dingwall followed him into the book 60 seconds later for a show of dissent. Petershill had an excellent chance to take the lead after half an hour when Stevie Dallas flicked the ball to Kevin Murray, who was denied by a superb Robertson save. ‘Lok were unfortunate not to score three minutes later when a terrific turn by Downs left Joyce trailing, but his shot across goal struck the base of the far post. Before half-time Murray burst through the heart of the Pollok defence, only to chip the ball over from a good position.

The first effort of the second half came from Petershill, with Jamie Coulter firing over from distance, but it was the hosts who regained the lead after 58 minutes. Carruth and Dingwall helped switch the ball from right to left to the feet of Chris Cruickshank, who crossed for PAUL HYSLOP to touch home from close range. Dingwall then had a shot blocked on the line by Murray before the injured David McGeown limped off to be replaced by Stevie Miller. Petershill also made a substitution, with Alex Burns introduced to the action for Mark McVittie after 70 minutes, and Peasy reaped immediate dividends as they equalised within a minute. Jamie McCarroll was allowed to reach the bye-line, and his cut-back was bundled into the net by ALEX BURNS. Michael Keenan headed over from a Coulter free-kick before ‘Lok were reduced to nine men for the closing four minutes. Carruth lashed out with a petulant kick at Dallas after a tussle between the two, and as he walked to the pavilion he was joined by Dingwall after referee Iain Craig showed him a straight red card for a verbal outburst. Petershill were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage however, their nearest effort coming courtesy of a drive from Joyce that was well off target.

Both teams therefore had to settle for a share of the points, with the real winners on the day being Irvine Meadow XI as title rivals Auchinleck Talbot also dropped points on the road at Arthurlie.

Bryan Dingwall (14)
David McGeown (27)
Robert Downs (pen 85)

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Pollok moved one step closer to the Citylink Scottish Junior Cup as they defeated Lanark United by three goals to nil at Moor Park. With Martin McGarvey having departed the club manager Rab Sneddon was forced into making a few positional changes to his side, and Derek Heaton returned to the heart of the Pollok defence. After a ten minute delay to accommodate a sizeable crowd it was Pollok who seized the early initiative with a goal after 14 minutes. A long kick from Kris Robertson was carried beyond the Lanark back-line by the strong following wind, and BRYAN DINGWALL stole in to flick a header beyond Craig Brown. Gary Wilson then fired a free-kick wildly off target before John Osborne forced a good save from Robertson with Lanark's first real opportunity after 20 minutes. 'Lok could have moved two ahead four minutes later when a terrible back pass left Brown exposed. Dingwall nipped in to take the ball wide of the 'keeper, but was unable to find a team-mate with his cut-back across goal.

The second goal was only delayed slightly however, as Pollok scored again after 27 minutes. Again Robertson made full use of the blustery conditions to launch a free-kick downfield to Chris Cruickshank. He headed on to Dingwall, who cut the ball back to DAVID McGEOWN for a cool finish from the edge of the penalty area. Dingwall then saw a header shave the outside of the post, while at the other end Robertson had to be alert to block Stevie McCluskey after Craig Stark had set him up. With eight minutes left to play in the first half Zander Ryan blazed over the bar after McGeown had slipped the ball through to him.

Ryan also had a chance early in the second half, but was denied a shot at goal by an excellent Lanark covering tackle. McCluskey then beat Robertson to a through ball, only to find Stevie Aitchison perfectly positioned to sweep up the danger for Pollok. Robert Downs had a header saved on the line after a Gary Wilson cross from the left, and he nearly scored a terrific solo effort after 67 minutes. He broke from the halfway line, leaving a trail of United defenders behind him, and chipped the ball over the advancing Brown, only to see it roll narrowly wide of the post. Lanark's task became all the more difficult four minutes later when Darren Jaffray was shown the red card for a late challenge on Joe Carruth after referee Stephen Allan had consulted with assistant Donnie MacKinnon.

Pollok had the ball in the net again after 79 minutes when Dingwall latched onto a clever flick from substitute Paul Hyslop, only for assistant Kenny Hay to flag for offside. Lanark nearly pulled a goal back two minutes later when Paul Burns' free-kick was headed towards goal, only for Robertson to make a fine diving save low to his left. The contest was finally wrapped up with five minutes left to play when Craig Gray tripped Downs inside the penalty area. ROBERT DOWNS picked himself off the deck before slamming the spot-kick past Brown. 'Lok had to clear a late Lanark corner off the line, and Robertson made one final stop from McCluskey as he preserved his team's clean sheet.

The result takes Pollok into the last four of the national competition for the first time in ten years, with the semi-final to take place next month.

Kathryn MacLeod has supplied pictures from Saturday's friendly against Larkhall Thistle.

Stuart Boyd (10)

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Pollok's Stagecoach Super Premier League title aspirations suffered a setback as they tasted defeat at home to Bellshill Athletic by a single goal. 'Lok boss Rab Sneddon made just one change from the side that defeated Ballingry Rovers, with midfielder Martin McGarvey making his debut in place of Paul Hyslop.

McGarvey nearly created an opening goal for Pollok after just three minutes, but David McGeown couldn't quite get on the end of his cross. The first strike at goal came from Bellshill's Barry Nicholls, whose drive was well over the target. Marc Murray then had a free-kick deflected wide, and from the resultant corner the same player was denied by a magnificent save from Kris Robertson. The visitors took the lead after 10 minutes when Bryan Felvus found space on the right and drew Robertson from his line before sliding the ball across to STUART BOYD for the simplest of tap-ins.

Allan Watson almost added a second, hooking narrowly wide after a poorly defended throw-in. Zander Ryan and McGarvey both shot over for 'Lok, who took 27 minutes to force a save from Scott McNab when McGeown's weak flick was comfortably gathered by the 'keeper. Bellshill immediately broke to the other end, and only a fine block from Robertson prevented Felvus from scoring. McGeown then headed a Ryan cross wide of the target, while Dingwall saw a shot from the edge of the box easily saved. Robert Downs shot wide before 'Lok came within inches of an equaliser. A quickly taken free-kick caught out the Bellshill rearguard, only for McGarvey's shot to rattle the underside of the crossbar. A Stevie Aitchison slip allowed Felvus another sight of goal after 39 minutes, but he was again denied by Robertson. From the corner Murray saw his header cleared off the goal-line by Brian McKeown. McKeown was nearly a hero at the other end of the park with just a minute left to play before half-time, but his 30-yard drive cannoned off the inside of McNab's post and ricocheted to safety.

Unbelievably, Pollok hit the woodwork for the third time in the game five minutes after the resumption of play when McGeown's cross deflected off the head of a Bellshill defender and struck the post, rebounding just behind the waiting Dingwall. A marauding run from Gary Wilson sparked the home side into life after 62 minutes when the full-back charged out of defence. He eventually passed to Downs, who crossed for Dingwall, but his scissor-kick was well stopped by McNab. 'Hill were reduced to ten men after 69 minutes when Watson saw red for his second bookable offence. 'Lok pressed forward with their numerical advantage, only to find McNab in inspired form. He held Ryan's free-kick before saving on the line from a Downs header. He then stopped a Downs strike from the edge of the box before McKeown missed the target from a similar distance.

With just nine minutes left to play Aitchison's long ball out of defence found substitute Alan Waddell, but again McNab was equal to the task and made the save. He then grabbed a Downs header in injury time, while team-mate Boyd could have claimed his second of the game on the counter-attack, only to see his effort deflected over for a corner. Deep into added time Dingwall tried his luck from just outside the box, but few would have been surprised to see McNab clutch the ball safely as time ran out on Pollok.

Rab Sneddon will now have to lift his troops in time for next week's clash with Kilsyth Rangers, again in the league and again at Newlandsfield Park.