Brian Johnston (75)
Scott Hadden (90)

Pollok dropped three vital points in the race for the league flag when they crashed to a surprise 2-0 defeat away to Vale of Clyde. Harry Erwin’s choices were again limited by injuries, making just one change from the side that defeated Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on Monday evening. In came Davie Turnbull, with Alan Waddell the man missing out.

Vale opened the game with two long range efforts, with Thomas Sinclair and Alan Mackin both missing the target. Pollok found the net in the fifth minute when Turnbull flicked the ball to Richie Newall. His shot rebounded against Bryan Dingwall and back to David McGeown who fired home, only to be denied by a raised flag as Dingwall had been in an offside position. Newall fired over when in space before ‘Lok lost Calum Hardie to a hamstring pull. Brian MacKay took his place, and immediately combined with Joe Carruth on the right. The full-back crossed for Dingwall, but the striker’s header crashed back off the crossbar. At the other end Brian Johnston beat the offside trap and raced towards goal, only to shoot into the side-netting.

Johnston then had a point blank header from a Stuart Irons cross as Vale broke from defence, but Kris Robertson made a fine save. Scott Wilson was called into action for Vale after 42 minutes when Dingwall crossed to Turnbull. He headed the ball to MacKay, but the young winger could only hit the goalkeeper’s legs from close range. He had another chance moments later when sent him through on goal, and although this time he beat the ‘keeper he also missed the target wide to the left. The final chance of the half fell to the home side when Paul Thomson picked out Irons behind the Pollok back line, but he pulled his shot across the face of goal and wide.

The opportunities continued to flow after the interval, with Turnbull heading wide for ‘Lok and Ryan McGregor having a header saved by Robertson for Vale. Lee Morrison shot into the side-netting from a wide area for the home side before McGregor ghosted in to meet a Mackin free-kick, only to connect weakly and allow Robertson to make a low save. Pollok should have opened the scoring after 61 minutes when a long ball found Dingwall, but the hitman couldn’t bring the ball under control. It fell to Turnbull, but he stumbled when in position to shoot and the chance was gone. Vale came close to opening the scoring when substitute Andy Essler cleared a Johnston effort off the line as far as Scott Hadden, but he shot over from a great position.

Pollok were just as close moments later when McGeown’s header was stopped on the line before the same player showed great determination to create space for a shot from the left that Johnston managed to partially block, with the ball squirming wide. Pollok were made to pay when the fell behind with 15 minutes left to play. Poor defending allowed Hadden the space to set up BRIAN JOHNSTON for the opening goal of the game. Irons then cut the ball back to Hadden, only for Carruth to hook his shot off the line. Turnbull had a header pushed wide for a corner before Vale scored a second amid a storm of hailstones. As ‘Lok chased an equaliser the hosts counter-attacked, with SCOTT HADDEN finishing clinically as darkness descended on Fullarton Park.

The result leaves Pollok with little room for error as the season nears a conclusion, with a crucial showdown against fellow title chasers Beith looming large on the horizon.