Wednesday 28th April 2010

There was little to keep a meagre crowd of 232 entertained as Pollok and Kirkintilloch Rob Roy played out a goalless draw in the Stagecoach Super Premier League at Newlandsfield Park. Manager Willie Irvine made four changes from the team that triumphed against Shotts Bon Accord at the weekend, with Craig Baxter, John Sweeney, Ryan McGregor and David McGeown all missing out. Into the side came Gerry Joyce, Paul Hyslop, Bryan Dingwall and Stevie Miller. The visitors fielded all three of their former ‘Lok players, with Brian Wardle, Paul McQuilken and Brian MacKay all starting.

It took until the 13th minute for the first real chance when a long free-kick from Kevin MacDonald found Craig Feroz, but he dithered and allowed Joyce to clear the danger. Three minutes later Grant Anderson burst through from the left wing, only to have his shot blocked by the onrushing Zander Cowie. Feroz then fired over from a free-kick before a long ball almost caught out Cowie, although he successfully gathered at the second attempt from the feet of Feroz. Pollok’s first effort on goal came in the 29th minute when Jojo Connolly laid the ball off to Stevie Miller, but his weak strike was easily held by Kevin Bell. Moments later MacKay worked his way through the home defence before setting up Anderson for a shot, but he sent the ball over the target. A James Lennox cross then picked out the run of McQuilken, but his attempt was held by Cowie. Connolly managed to work an opening for Pollok after 34 minutes, but he could only shoot over from 25 yards out. Anderson then fired wide for Rob Roy before the half finished with a MacKay shot that was deflected wide of the upright.

The home side could have opened the scoring three minutes into the second period when Miller blazed over from close range after Hyslop had cut the ball across goal. Garry Carberry then tried his luck from distance, but his shot ballooned high over the bar. McQuilken sliced wide from the edge of the penalty area before Dingwall had a hooked effort saved after he connected with a McEwan free-kick. Cowie saved again from McQuilken, while Tommy Nolan saw a strike deflected wide in the 72nd minute. The same player then sent a dangerous free-kick into the Rob Roy area, but Wardle headed the ball away for a corner. Nolan was again the provider when his 80th minute cross narrowly eluded Hyslop but reached Connolly, who failed to hit the target as his shot flew over the crossbar. The closest either team came to breaking the deadlock was in the 88th minute when McQuilken set up Feroz at the edge of the penalty area for an attempt at goal, but the striker’s effort cannoned off the post and away to safety. In injury time Bell held a Dingwall header after a long ball from Shaun Dillon before a Sweeney cross drifted narrowly wide as the teams settled for a share of the points.

Pollok will conclude their league campaign on Saturday, 8th May when defending champions Irvine Meadow XI are the visitors to Newlandsfield Park.