Andy McClay (12)

A turbulent weekend saw Pollok lose not only their hopes of winning the Citylink Scottish Junior Cup, but also their manager as Jim Sinnet resigned in the wake of a semi-final penalty shoot-out loss to Clydebank at Millburn Park.

Budgie McGhie named an unchanged side for the Bankies, who took a 3-2 first leg advantage into the game, while Sinnet opted for a change of formation as well as personnel. Chris Cruickshank made way for Andy McClay as 4-4-2 was dropped in favour of a 3-5-2 system. It was the Glasgow side who dominated the early action, with Calum Hardie and Derek Wingate both firing over early on. A quick break by David McGeown helped give Bryan Dingwall a sight of goal after eleven minutes, but the striker failed to connect properly and Stefan Gonet made a straightforward save. He was beaten sixty seconds later however as ‘Lok levelled the aggregate scores. Joe Carruth’s throw-in reached ANDY McCLAY at the edge of the penalty area, and he directly a low half-volley into the corner of the net.

Davie Turnbull then lifted a shot over from a McGeown knock-down, while McGeown himself headed over from an Andy Essler corner. McGeown drove wide from 18 yards out after 35 minutes, while two minutes later Hardie was also off target after a pass from Turnbull gave him space for a shot. Bankies rarely threatened Kris Robertson during the first half, but a late flurry of action saw Wingate make a good block to deny Charlie Hobbs from a dangerous position while Gavin Rushford twice fired off target from outside the penalty area for the home side.

Clydebank made a better start to the second period, and John Jack looped a header narrowly over the bar after 54 minutes. Stevie Miller, still struggling with a broken toe, left the action four minutes later, with Robert Downs his replacement. Downs almost made an immediate impact when he combined with Turnbull to set up McGeown in the best move of the game, but the midfielder shot wide from 20 yards out. There was a scare for visiting fans on the hour mark when Robertson took a fresh air swing at a Stevie Aitchison back-pass, with the ball rolling inches wide of the post. Brian Smith headed just wide from the resultant corner. Last week’s two-goal hero Gary Lynn had an opportunity with a free-kick after 63 minutes, but his effort flew well over the crossbar.

As the game moved towards penalty kicks there was some heroic defending on both sides. Hardie made a terrific challenge to deny Mark Hailstones after tenacious work on the right by Hobbs, while Hailstones was perfectly positioned to clear his lines when an Aitchison throw was flicked towards the waiting Downs by Turnbull. The best chance to settle the tie came with just five minutes left to play when McGeown found space in the Clydebank penalty area, but his strike was palmed away by Gonet, diving full-length to keep his side in the game. Bankies had a late penalty shout waved away when they claimed ‘Lok substitute Brian MacKay had handled inside his own area, but referee Stevie O’Brien decided otherwise.

The game therefore went to penalty kicks, with Lynn converting Clydebank’s first effort. Gonet saved from Downs to give Bankies the upper hand before Alan Jack, Turnbull and Rushford all found the target to make the score 3-1. Joe Carruth failed for the third time in a shoot-out for Pollok when Gonet saved his low effort, leaving Chris Mackie will the chance to take his side through. He made no mistake with a clinical finish to book Clydebank a final date with Auchinleck Talbot at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, on 31st May.

Pollok must now focus on league matters, with Beith’s recent good form setting them a daunting task as they try to haul their way back into the league race.