David McGeown (68)
Bryan Dingwall (75)

Pollok edged another step closer to claiming the Citylink Scottish Junior Cup with a 2-0 quarter-final victory against big-spending Irvine Meadow XI at Meadow Park on Saturday.

Jim Sinnet was forced into two changes from the side that defeated Vale of Clyde with both Andy McClay and Chris Cruickshank unavailable through injury. In their place came David McGeown and Andy Essler. McGeown had the first effort of the game, heading over from a Joe Carruth free-kick after just three minutes. The hosts responded with a free-kick of their own from Mark Crilly that drifted narrowly wide from fully 40 yards out. David Hamilton then headed wide from a Kevin McBride cross before ‘Lok suffered a blow after quarter of an hour. Stevie Miller had to hobble off the field with a broken toe, with Richie Newall his replacement.

Shaun Dillon shot over from distance after 24 minutes, as did Gareth Turner for Meadow eleven minutes later. Turner found the target with six minutes to play in the first half, but Kris Robertson was in position to gather his header. With a strong wind behind him Turner tried his luck again from 35 yards out sixty seconds later, but again Robertson was equal to the task. Pollok almost grabbed the lead on the stroke of half-time when McGeown headed goalwards from an Essler cross, but Michael Wardrope just managed to tip the ball over the bar.

‘Lok could have moved ahead nine minutes after the restart when a Newall free-kick deflected into the path of McGeown inside the six yard box, but the ricochet caught the midfielder by surprise and he was unable to divert the ball into the net. Sloppy Pollok defending then allowed Zander Ryan a strike at goal from the edge of the penalty area, but a vital block kept the visiting goal intact. Meadow should have taken the lead after 65 minutes when a piercing pass left substitute Brian McGinty one-on-one with Robertson, but the ‘keeper stood his ground well and made a terrific save to keep the scores level. Bryan Dingwall sent a 25-yard strike narrowly wide before ‘Lok took the lead after 68 minutes. DAVID McGEOWN’s well-struck drive from just outside the box took a deflection off a Meadow body and looped over the helpless Wardrope to break the deadlock.

McGeown almost added a second with a fierce 20-yard shot that Wardrope turned away for a corner. From the flag kick Davie Turnbull saw his header blocked by the ‘keeper, but BRYAN DINGWALL was on hand to sweep home the rebound from close range to move Pollok two up with fifteen minutes left to play. Essler then sent a rasping volley towards goal from 35 yards out, but again Wardrope clawed the strike away for a corner. Emilio Jaconelli shot just wide from 25 yards out as Meadow tried to get back into the game, but it was the visitors who seemed likelier to score again. McGeown shot wide under pressure and Dingwall also curled an effort off target as time ran down, but their goals were already enough to book a semi-final spot.

‘Lok now turn their attention back to the league race with a top of the table clash against City rivals Petershill on Saturday.