Report: Arthurlie 4-0 Pollok (14/04/2012)

Match photos from Kathryn MacLeod available HERE
Match stats from Davie Brown HERE

click on the scorer’s name to see the goal

Pollok’s chances of Stagecoach Super Premier League survival suffered a massive blow on Saturday as they crumbled to a 4-0 defeat against Arthurlie at Dunterlie Park.

Gavin Lachlan and Roddy Hunter returned for the Newlandsfield outfit, with Steven McGregor and Alain Kinney dropping to the bench. It was the hosts who had the first goal attempt, with Steven McKeown’s weak shot from the edge of the penalty area easily held by Graham Black. In the ninth minute the Barrhead side took the lead when JAMES MARKS was given room to turn just outside the box before drilling a low shot into the bottom-right corner of the net. They almost extended their lead two minutes later when James Lundie’s cross found an unmarked Paul Stewart, but his mishit volley bounced narrowly past Black’s post. It took 17 minutes for Pollok to muster any really threat when Carlo Monti jinked in from the left wing, but with Brian McGinty better placed he instead opted to try a strike himself, only to slice horribly wide. Paul McQuilken then had a drive blocked before Pollok’s closest effort of the game arrived in the 21^st minute when Hunter cracked the ball off the crossbar from 25 yards out. Marks then shrugged off a challenge from Peter McMahon, but his 22-yarder was gathered by Black. Kevin Bradley volleyed over from outside the box and Hunter had a strike blocked by Lundie before ‘Lok were handed a numerical advantage after 38 minutes when Marks moved his head towards Jonathan Carter as the two squared up and was dismissed by referee Steven Reid. Five minutes later however it became 10-a-side as Darren Brady kicked out at Stewart as the pair lay on the ground and he too was returned to the pavilion early. The half ended with a Carter drive from 20 yards out that flew over Jamie Ewings’ crossbar.

The game was effectively over within seven minutes of the restart as Arthurlie added goals number two and three. In the 48^th minute Stewart headed McKeown’s free-kick against the post, but SANDY HODGE followed up to steer home the rebound. Four minutes later Michael O’Hara brought down McKeown inside the box and PAUL STEWART duly buried the resultant penalty kick. Pollok chose to try their luck from distance in an attempt to get back into the game, with Ewings saving from Carter and McMahon in quick succession. McQuilken then blasted over before a goalmouth scramble that ended with Ewings denying O’Hara from close range. A quick ‘Lie counter-attack then saw Black saving from McKeown before the fourth and final goal arrived in the 68^th minute. The hosts swept down the right-hand side of the field, from where Lundie squared to PAUL STEWART for a near-post tap-in. Stewart then sent a strike wide before another stramash in the Arthurlie area. This time Lachlan had a low shot blocked and both Bradley and Monti saw follow-up efforts stopped as the Barrhead defence protected their clean sheet. Twice late on the ball fell to O’Hara, but he was unable to find the target on either occasion and so Pollok left without even the small comfort of a consolation goal.

‘Lok are idle next Saturday, with their next game being on Wednesday, 25^th April against Irvine Meadow XI in the league. Kick-off at Meadow Park is at 6.45pm.

ARTHURLIE: Ewings, Lundie (Gallacher 88), Crawford, Merriman, Hodge, Muir (Chisholm 80), McKeown, Keenan, Stewart (McLeod 88), Marks, Deas. Not used: Johnston, Walker, McManus, Cannon.

POLLOK: Black, Lachlan, O’Hara, McMahon, Carter, Brady, Bradley, McQuilken, Hunter (Nolan 61), McGinty, Monti. Not used: Kinney, Nichol, McGregor, Morrison.

BOOKED

ARTHURLIE: McKeown (19)

POLLOK: McMahon (56), Bradley (70)

SENT OFF

ARTHURLIE: Marks (38)

POLLOK: Brady (43)

GOALS

ARTHURLIE: Marks (9), Hodge (48), Stewart (51 pen, 68)