Saturday 12th December 2009

Bryan Young (15, 26)
Sean McIlroy (83, 90)

Pollok’s Stagecoach Super Premier League title aspirations suffered a hefty blow as they crashed to a 4-0 defeat against Auchinleck Talbot at Beechwood Park. Injury prevented Chris Cruickshank from taking up his usual defensive berth, but Kris Robertson and Bryan Dingwall returned to the starting line-up.

‘Lok made a bright start to the game, and Adam Strain was forced into an early save from a well struck Dingwall volley. He then gathered a John Sweeney header under the crossbar after an Andy Essler cross before Sweeney fired narrowly wide of the target after a driving run from midfield. The deadlock was broken on the quarter hour mark, and it was the hosts who netted against the run of play. Ricky Robb’s long ball over the top caught out Stevie Miller, and BRYAN YOUNG pounced to rifle home the opener. Pollok responded with a dipping volley from David McGeown, but Strain gathered the ball easily. Robertson saved a low drive from Liam McVey in the 18th minute, but eight minutes later he blundered to gift Talbot a second goal. Robertson took a wild swipe at a Joe Carruth back-pass, and BRYAN YOUNG gleefully swept home his second goal of the game. By this stage the hosts were imposing themselves on proceedings, and James Latta almost added a third with a strike that landed on the roof of net. Sean McIlroy then crossed for David Gillies, but the striker saw his shot blocked. As the interval approached ‘Lok had an opportunity to narrow the deficit, but Strain saved from Miller on the counter-attack.

The second half opened with another Talbot chance, with Robertson stopping a Gillies shot on the turn, before Pollok were reduced to 10 men after 54 minutes. A reckless lunge from Ryan McGregor resulted in the midfielder receiving a red card from referee Ross Haswell. Rab Sneddon reverted to a back three as ‘Lok continued to chase the game, with Essler dragging an effort wide of the target. A Steven White shot squirmed away from Robertson for a corner kick before an incisive ball from Davie Turnbull gave McGeown a fabulous opportunity to score, only for him to scoop the ball over the bar. Gerry Joyce made a superb block to deny McIlroy, and Bryan Slavin failed to convert a one-on-one breakaway before Auchinleck claimed their third goal in the 83rd minute.

A quickly taken throw-in caught the Pollok defence flat-footed, and Danny McKelvie squared for SEAN McILROY to force the ball home. Pollok’s woes were compounded when Robertson was carried from the field injured as a result of his attempt to thwart the striker. The hosts then had strong penalty claims waved away, but added a fourth goal in injury time. Craig Pettigrew ran the length of the field to set up SEAN McILROY, who bulleted home the fourth goal of the game. Pettigrew almost repeated the trick when setting up McKelvie deep into stoppage time, but Pollok’s trialist ‘keeper kept his shot out.

Next up for ‘Lok is a daunting trip to take on pace-setters Beith at Bellsdale Park, with kick-off at 1.45pm.