Robert Downs (65 pen, 70)

Pollok moved into the fourth round of the Citylink Scottish Junior Cup after defeating Kilbirnie Ladeside in front of 698 fans at Newlandsfield Park. Joe Carruth missed out for Pollok, so manager Jim Sinnet was forced to shuffle his pack with Davie Turnbull drafted in amid numerous positional changes. Andy Essler also returned to the side after a period of injury, with Chris Cruickshank making way for him on the left side of midfield. Tommy Bryce named an unchanged starting eleven for Kilbirnie.

The first real chance arrived in the 15th minute when Robert Downs hit the bye-line on the left and cut the ball back to Andy McClay, but he could only prod his shot wide of the post. Downs was provider again six minutes later when he crossed for Turnbull, but he headed wide of Paul McCann’s left hand upright. Paul Bell fired a free-kick wildly off target for the visitors before Stevie Miller shot just wide for Pollok. In the 31st minute Downs shrugged off his marker after a long ball from Derek Wingate and advanced on goal, only to shoot against the legs of McCann. Six minutes later Shaun Dillon sent a dipping effort towards the postage stamp corner of the Ladeside net, only to be denied by a stunning save by McCann as he touched the ball onto the post. After 39 minutes Miller found Downs inside the area, but again McCann produced an instinctive block at point blank range. With three minutes left in the half Turnbull tried his luck with a curling effort from 25 yards out, but once more McCann was able to keep the shot out, this time with a full length dive to tip the ball away for a corner.

Pollok continued to dominate play after the restart, with Essler going close three minutes into the second half. Bryan Dingwall’s 20-yard strike was then pushed away for a corner as McCann continued to keep his goal intact despite a Pollok onslaught. Dingwall headed wide from close range before Kilbirnie produced their first shot on target when substitute Stevie Miller’s strike from distance was easily gathered by Kris Robertson. Pollok finally got the goal their play deserved after 66 minutes. John Harvey’s clumsy challenge sent Calum Hardie sprawling inside the penalty box, and ROBERT DOWNS stepped up to guide home the resultant spot kick. Kilbirnie’s response came in the form of a fierce free-kick by Miller that only just flew over the target, but it was a free-kick at the other end that would secure the match for Pollok after 71 minutes.

A lapse in concentration by the Blasties back-line was seized upon by McClay as his quickly taken kick released ROBERT DOWNS behind the defence to slam home his second of the game. Hardie sent a shot just wide and Dingwall blazed over as Pollok sought a third goal, but in the end they had to settle for two and a place in the next round.

Pollok now close out 2008 with two league matches away from home, the first of which is against Arthurlie at Dunterlie Park on Saturday.