Bryan Dingwall (21)
David Turnbull (64)

Martin Lauchlan (17)
Jamie McCarroll (26)

Pollok’s league title aspirations suffered a blow on Saturday when they were held to a 2-2 draw by city rivals Petershill at Newlandsfield Park. With manager Jim Sinnet unable to attend, Harry Erwin once more took charge of the side. He made one enforced change to the team that defeated Irvine Meadow last week, with Richie Newall replacing the injured Stevie Miller in midfield.

The first effort on target came from the visitors, with Jamie McCarroll’s back-header easily gathered by Kris Robertson. After quarter of an hour Newall slipped a pass through to Bryan Dingwall, only for Neil Parry to block his shot with his chest. Three minutes later the Springburn side took the lead. A high ball in behind the Pollok back line was chased down by McCarroll and Shaun Dillon, with the Peasy man winning the battle. He rolled the ball to MARTIN LAUCHLAN, who lobbed home into an empty net after Robertson had advanced to the edge of his area. Pollok were back level within four minutes however when Davie Turnbull headed to BRYAN DINGWALL 18 yards from goal, and he wriggled clear of his marker to fire home into the bottom corner of the net.

Parity was short-lived as Petershill reclaimed the advantage after 26 minutes. Pollok failed to deal with a Parry clearance down the middle of the park, and JAMIE McCARROLL demonstrated great technique to volley the bouncing ball beyond Robertson. Calum Hardie had a great chance to level, but headed wide from close range after an Andy Essler cross, while Essler saw a shot well blocked after some good build-up play by Turnbull.

Petershill were almost two goals ahead just twenty seconds after the restart when Robertson had to touch a Paul McMenamin cross onto the crossbar. Robert Downs came on for Newall as Pollok chased an equaliser, and they began to take control of the game. Essler fired a drive just wide for a corner, and Turnbull looped a header narrowly over. Parry then saved from Downs after an excellent ball from Stevie Aitchison, but he was unable to do anything to stop ‘Lok drawing level again in the 64th minute. David McGeown fashioned space for a cross from the left that Hardie controlled superbly. He laid a pass off to DAVIE TURNBULL to lash home an equaliser. Dingwall then headed over, while McCarroll thundered a 35-yard free-kick wide of target for the visitors.

Robertson saved from both Alan Lindsay and James Coulter, then made a terrific stop to deny Gary Wild from 25 yards out. His counterpart at the other end was not to be outshone however as he too made a series of fine saves. He denied Turnbull from close range, with the ball breaking to Dingwall, but he recovered to complete an excellent double save. Better was to follow when he made an outstanding reaction save to prevent substitute Brian MacKay from being the match-winner on his 21st birthday when the young winger had a strike at goal from eight yards out. The final chance of the game fell to Pollok, but Dingwall’s shot on the turn flew over the crossbar as both teams in the end had to settle for a point apiece.

Pollok now return to Cup action, taking on Clydebank at Holm Park in the New Coin Automatics West of Scotland Cup on Saturday.