Saturday 14th November 2009

David Hamilton (37)
Brian McGInty (pen 59)

Bryan Dingwall (43)
David Turnbull (pen 90)

Pollok lined up at Meadow Park hoping for a better result than the 2-1 defeat in the previous season's corresponding fixture. Rab Sneddon made two changes to the starting eleven who had defeated Petershill comprehensively seven days earlier. Stevie Miller started at number two in place of Joe Carruth, who missed out through work commitments, with John Sweeney preferred to Calum Hardie at number seven.

It was Irvine Meadow who started brighter, and could have opened the scoring after only 45 seconds. Chris Strain Jr crossed to Davie Hamilton, but the Pollok rearguard managed to scramble the ball behind for a corner. Pollok responded soon after when Stevie Miller's cross was flicked on by Davie Turnbull to Andy Essler, who's effort was spilled by Michael Wardrope. The ball ended up back on the left wing, and another deep delivery was headed onto the crossbar by John Sweeney. Davie McGeown was next to come close after Turnbull played him through, but his left foot shot clipped the top of the crossbar. The same two players combined shortly after, and Wardrope held McGeown's effort at the second attempt.

Meadow responded when Strain found Ritchie Barr on the left wing, who cut inside, beating two Pollok defenders, but his weak effort was easily held by Kris Robertson. Shortly afterwards the industrious Sweeney had an effort ruled out for offside. The home side took the lead in the 37th minute when Barr played the ball out wide to Strain who crossed in low for DAVIE HAMILTON to finish neatly from 6 yards. Parity was restored in the 43rd minute when Andy Essler won possession on the left wing. His deep cross found John Sweeney at the back post, who nodded the ball back across the area for BRYAN DINGWALL to bundle home a header at the back post.

Pollok started the second period the same way that Meadow started the first. With just 30 seconds on the clock Essler's slide tackle in the box found Turnbull, but his shot was gathered by Wardrope. Meadow were next to threaten when a long ball found Brian McGinty in the box, but he was denied bravely by the out rushing Robertson. Chris Strain Snr was the first manager to turn to the subs bench to try and change the game, replacing Strain Jnr. with ex-Lok wide man Zander Ryan. The switch paid instant dividends as Referee Greg Aitken deemed a handball in the Pollok box to be deliberate, and awarded the home side a penalty. The clock showed 59 minutes as BRIAN McGINTY despatched his penalty to Kris Robertson's left, despite the Lok custodian guessing correctly.

Rab Sneddon freshened things up by bringing Calum Hardie on for Essler. David Lowing was unlucky not to extend Meadow's lead soon after when his free kick thundered off the crossbar. The Lok management then sacrificed a defender for an attacker as they looked to get back on level terms, bringing Paul McAulay on to replace Shaun Dillon. Sweeney was again unlucky with an effort that went wide, and soon after Macaulay linked up with Dingwall who slid in at the back post, but his effort went over the crossbar. Sweeney was involved again soon after when his long throw was flicked on by Turnbull, but Hardie nodded wide at the back post. Meadow's best chance in the final ten minutes came through another ex-Lok player when Derek Wingate flashed a free kick past the upright.

In the 87th minute, Pollok were given the chance to equalise when Davie McGeown's surging run was brought to a halt in the Meadow penalty area. DAVIE TURNBULL stepped up, and blasted the ball past Wardrope into the top corner. Chris Strain made a double substitution to try and restore their advantage with John Dillon and Emilio Jaconelli replacing McGinty and Gareth Turner. In the last minute however, Meadow were reduced to ten men when Lowing was sent to the pavilion for a late challenge on Hardie. Michael Wardrope was booked for protesting the decision. The last incident of the match came when Ryan McGregor had his name taken for a trip near the halfway line.

An incident packed afternoon at Meadow Park, and Pollok will be pleased to have avoided defeat with a late goal.