Chris Erskine (19)

Davie Turnbull (73)

Kilbirnie and Pollok will have to do it all again after 90 minutes of Citylink Scottish Junior Cup action couldn’t separate the sides at Valefield. There was only one change to the Pollok eleven that defeated Neilston a fortnight ago, with club captain Stevie Aitchison returning to the heart of the defence in place of Richie Newall.

There was an early scare for the visitors when Mark Caldwell found Alain Kinney at the edge of the penalty area, but his shot on the turn was saved low by Kris Robertson. He was unable to stop his side falling behind however when Ladeside took the lead after 19 minutes. A Liam McGuinness through ball from midfield pierced the Pollok back line, with CHRIS ERSKINE taking full advantage as he advanced towards goal before slotting home the opener. Kilbirnie almost doubled their advantage two minutes later when Jamie Longworth fired a low strike narrowly wide from 20 yards out. It took until the 29th minute for Pollok to offer any real threat to the Kilbirnie goal when a right-foot volley by Chris Cruickshank dipped just over the crossbar.

At the other end Kinney headed wide from a McGuinness cross, while a Paul Bell free-kick took a deflection off Aitchison and almost landed in the net. Robertson saved a Caldwell header before Pollok’s best chance of the half. Bryan Dingwall found space behind the Blasties defence, but his shot hit the legs of Paul McCann as Cruickshank waited in acres of space for a cut-back.

Half-time saw Andy McClay withdrawn from the action, with Davie Turnbull entering the fray. Having been outplayed for much of the first half, ‘Lok began to take a hold of proceedings. Calum Hardie’s header from a Shaun Dillon cross was saved after 51 minutes, with the roles reversed five minutes later when Dillon met Hardie’s corner, but again McCann saved easily. A Dillon free-kick was then headed back across goal by Turnbull to Robert Downs, but his effort looped agonisingly wide. After 61 minutes Mark Collins nodded a John Harvey cross over, while Bell sent a free-kick from distance off target for the hosts four minutes later.

Pollok equalised in controversial circumstances with just 17 minutes left to play. Hardie hit the bye-line and chipped a cross to DAVIE TURNBULL. His header was clawed away by McCann, but the assistant referee adjudged that the ball had already crossed the line and awarded the goal. Dillon had a free-kick saved for ‘Lok, but it was the Ayrshire side who almost snatched victory at the death. Harvey found space for a crack at goal from 25 yards out, but his swerving shot was pushed away by Robertson. Harvey then tried to pick out Collins with a pass with the outside of his boot, but the midfielder couldn’t quite reach the ball to apply the vital final touch.

The sides will therefore meet again this Saturday at Newlandsfield Park, with the tie going straight to penalty kicks if required.