Saturday 22nd May 2010

Tom Nolan (30)
Robert Downs (33 pen)
Mark Thomson o.g. (84)

Mark Thomson (5)
Darren O'Donnell (12)
Tony Chalmers (26)
Derek Carmichael (76)
Paul Maxwell (86)

A miserable season for Pollok finally ground to a halt on Saturday when they collapsed 5-3 at home to Ashfield in the Central League Cup. Goalkeeper Kris Robertson suffered an adverse reaction after his return from injury against Bellshill Athletic, so Willie Irvine was forced to give 44 year-old coach Derek Jackson his Pollok debut.

‘Lok started brightly, and a fabulous move involving Jojo Connolly and Bryan Dingwall ended with the latter crossing to an unmarked Calum Hardie, but he could only direct his close-range header against the legs of Chris Prior in the visiting goal. Two minutes later Connolly found Dingwall at the edge of the area, and he cracked a shot on the turn against the crossbar. Pollok fell behind in the fifth minute when they conceded a free-kick just outside the penalty area, and MARK THOMSON lifted the ball over the defensive wall and beyond the rooted Jackson. Seven minutes later the deficit was two as Tony Chalmers crossed to Darren O’Donnell. He nodded back across goal to leave PAUL MAXWELL with the easiest of tap-ins. Pollok’s nightmare continued in the 26th minute when TONY CHALMERS cut in from the right and stroked the ball past Jackson to make it 0-3. Tommy Nolan had a free-kick parried away moments later before ‘Lok were given a glimmer of hope on the half-hour mark when TOMMY NOLAN skipped past a challenge at the edge of the area and fired into the corner of the net. Three minutes later they were back within one when Ally Martin handled a Nolan corner inside the area. ROBERT DOWNS stepped up to roll home the resultant penalty. The hosts continued to press, and Hardie had a drive deflected just over his own crossbar by Thomson. Gerry Joyce was next to try his luck, only to see Ryan Cairley clear his header off the goal-line. The half finished with Jackson making a good stop at the near post to deny Martin.

Jackson was called into action again within one minute of the restart, saving from Maxwell at the near post. Chalmers then blazed over after Alan Muir conceded possession in midfield. In the 51st minute Jackson saved with his legs from Martin, with Joyce clearing the follow-up shot off the line. Substitute Derek Carmichael then saw a header from a corner hit the crossbar before Chalmers beat the offside trap in the 71st minute, only for his shot to deflect against Craig McEwan and into the side-netting. Sixty seconds later Cairley shot high from the penalty spot, but Ashfield finally made it four in the 76th minute. Joyce was outmuscled by Shaun Fraser, and he squared the ball to DEREK CARMICHAEL for another easy finish. Muir then pulled a shot across the face of goal, while John Sweeney saw an effort gathered by Prior at the second attempt. Carmichael was set-up again by Fraser with nine minutes left on the clock, and should have done better than miss the target from a promising position. Pollok were thrown another lifeline after 84 minutes. Hardie’s cross from the left caused confusion in the Ashfield rearguard, with MARK THOMSON diverting the ball into his own net with his head. The fightback was short-lived however as two minutes later it was 3-5. Thomson’s free-kick from halfway caught the ‘Lok defence napping, and PAUL MAXWELL stole in behind them to complete the scoring, prodding into the net as the home rearguard looked on.

The result brings down the curtain on Pollok’s campaign, although Newlandsfield Park plays host to the New Coin Automatics West of Scotland Cup Final this Saturday, with kick-off at 2pm.