Report: Bellshill Athletic 3-4 Pollok (07/04/2012)

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

click on the scorer’s name to see the goal

Pollok booked a meeting with either Renfrew or Maryhill in the quarter-finals of the D&D Programmes Central League Cup after edging out Bellshill Athletic by four goals to three at Fullarton Park on Saturday.

With only eleven players in attendance John Richardson’s options were as limited as could be. Gavin Lachlan, Tommy Nolan and Roddy Hunter were all unavailable, with Steven McGregor, Alain Kinney and Brian McGinty drafted in. Pollok made the perfect start, taking the lead in the fourth minute. Kinney laid the ball off to PAUL McQUILKEN, and his low drive from 25 yards out picked out the bottom-left corner of James Donnelly’s net. Six minutes later Carlo Monti set up Kinney at the edge of the penalty area, but he could only lift his shot narrowly over the crossbar. Kinney then turned provider again, picking out McGinty with an excellent reverse pass, but this time Donnelly was able to make the save. Donnelly then stopped a Kevin Bradley effort before his side grabbed an equaliser against the run of play in the 21^st minute. Sean McKenna gained possession at the edge of the box and passed to ANDREW SELKIRK, who curled a well-placed strike into the postage stamp corner of Graham Black’s net. Donnelly then tipped away a Kinney shot before making a fine stop from a Monti drive. Kinney drilled an attempt wide before his side regained the lead in the 34^th minute. Bradley’s corner was headed goalwards by STEVEN McGREGOR, and although Gary Redpath hacked the ball clear the assistant referee adjudged that it had already crossed the line and a goal was awarded. Bellshill were level again less than sixty seconds later. McGinty had a weak effort saved by Donnelly, who launched play to the other end where McKenna played in STEPHEN WOODS to hammer home beyond Black. In the 39^th minute Kinney nodded narrowly wide after Jonathan Carter’s free-kick had been headed back across goal by McGregor, and in injury time McQuilken sent a fierce dipping volley over the bar.

The second half began in the same manner as the first, with a Pollok goal. McGinty’s low shot was touched away by Donnelly, but only into the path of MICHAEL O’HARA, who slammed home to give ‘Lok a 48^th minute lead. Pollok almost added another five minutes later when Calum Brady make a good block to deny McQuilken with Donnelly beaten. On the hour mark John McGowan slipped a pass through to McKenna behind the visiting defence, but Black reacted well to stretch out a leg to block his shot. McKenna then outmuscled Peter McMahon, but could only shoot into the side-netting. ‘Lok chalked up their fourth goal in the 66^th minute when CARLO MONTI picked up the ball with his back to the target at the edge of the box before twisting and turning away from his marker Derek Wilson and lashing a strike into the roof of the net. For the second time in the game Bellshill found an immediate response, pulling a goal back from the penalty spot one minute later. O’Hara and Woods collided inside the box and referee Grant Irvine saw fit to give a foul, with SEAN McKENNA making no mistake from the twelve-yard mark. Monti then tried his luck from 30 yards, with Donnelly parrying his thumping drive. McGinty then sliced wide with his left foot before Bellshill squandered their final chance of the game in the 83^rd minute. Selkirk beat Black to reach McKenna’s ball over the top, but struggled to maintain his balance and ended up firing over with the ‘keeper helpless.

Pollok now travel to Dunterlie Park on Saturday to take on Arthurlie in the Stagecoach Super Premier League, with both sides desperate for points as the relegation dogfight intensifies. Kick-off in Barrhead is at 2pm.

BELLSHILL: Donnelly, Brady, Wright (McDowall 90+1), McGhee, Wilson, McGowan, Lygate (Connelly 75), Selkirk, McKenna, Redpath (Dolan 83), Woods. Not used: Brodie, Hopewell, Calder.

POLLOK: Black, McGregor, McMahon, Carter, Brady, McQuilken, Bradley, Kinney, Monti, McGinty, O’Hara. Not used: Nichol, Gupwell, Hunter.

BOOKED

BELLSHILL: Wilson (77), McGhee (90+2)

GOALS

BELLSHILL: Selkirk (21), Woods (35), McKenna (67 pen)

POLLOK: McQuilken (4), McGregor (34), O’Hara (48), Monti (66)