Saturday 6th February 2010

Stuart Livingstone (78)

Pollok collapsed to a third consecutive Stagecoach Super Premier League defeat when a solitary goal was enough to give Bellshill Athletic all three points at West End Park.

Bellshill fielded three ex-Pollok players, with Ian Wilson, Brendan Crozier and Lorn Gibson all starting, while the only change for Pollok from the side that lost to Lanark United was the return of Gerry Joyce at the expense of Shaun Dillon. New signing Craig Baxter was listed amongst the substitutes. It was the visitors who carved out the first chance of the match when a terrific pass from Bryan Dingwall picked out Stevie Miller on the right flank. His high ball in fell to David McGeown, but his shot with the outside of his boot was saved by Wilson. In the 13th minute Alan Muir swung over a free-kick that Dingwall glanced narrowly wide, while two minutes later McGeown was also off target with a shot from 25 yards out. John Sweeney was next to try his luck, cutting in from the right wing before shooting over from just outside the penalty box. Pollok’s best chance of the half came on the half-hour mark when Wilson rushed from his line to beat Paul McAulay to a loose ball. His clearance fell to Andy Essler, but the winger could only return the ball wide of the open net from 35 yards range. The closest effort for the home side came in the 34th minute when Crozier’s free-kick was only inches high of the ‘Lok net.

The second half opened with two good chances for the Lanarkshire side. Within one minute of the restart Willie Soutar sent over a cross for Garry Fleming, but his header sneaked beyond the upright. David Fry then had a strike from 25 yards out that Pollok’s trialist ‘keeper clutched to his chest at the second attempt. Pollok should perhaps have realised it was not going to be their day when they spurned a triple-chance in the 53rd minute. Essler’s low shot was saved by Wilson and rebounded to Dingwall. The ‘keeper made another stop, with the ball breaking to McGeown, but he missed the target with the goal gaping. Wilson then made another save to deny Chris Cruickshank before the hosts threatened again, this time with Fry heading just wide from a David Dimilta corner. Wilson was called into action again with 20 minutes remaining when he tipped over a goalbound Joyce header after a Miller corner kick. Pollok were made to pay for not taking their chances when Bellshill claimed the only goal of the game in the 78th minute. A short free-kick was rolled into the path of STUART LIVINGSTONE, and his 35-yard drive flew into the top left corner of the net. Pollok’s response came from a Davie Turnbull free-kick, but the substitute’s effort was easily gathered by Wilson. With four minutes left on the clock Bellshill could have added a second, but Gibson blazed wide after being teed up by Dimilta. Deep into injury time ‘Lok had one last opportunity to salvage a point, but Joyce could only head wide from a Paul Hyslop throw-in.

The result leaves Pollok seven points behind pace-setters Beith having played two games more. Next up is a visit from Vale of Clyde to Newlandsfield Park, with kick-off on Saturday scheduled for 2pm.