Report: Pollok 1-1 St. Anthony's (13/08/2012)
Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 22:54 Match stats from DAVIE BROWN HERE
Pollok had to come from behind again on Monday evening, this time securing a 1-1 draw against St. Anthony’s in the group stages of the Euroscot Engineering Sectional League Cup at Newlandsfield Park.
John Richardson made two alterations to his side from the weekend win at Arthurlie, with a knee injury ruling out Steven Reilly. Captain Paul Lovering dropped to the bench, with Darren Brady taking the armband and Jonathan Carter and Graeme McLaren starting at the heart of the defence. Neither ‘keeper was tested in the opening stages of the game as both sides struggled to create chances. Bernie McDonald sent a header off target from a Dean McKay corner kick before the visitors opened the scoring in the 29th minute. Again the danger came from a McKay set piece, and his free-kick to the back post was heading for the net before CHRIS MACKIE applied the finishing touch from close range to claim the goal. Stuart Mills shot wide for the hosts before Mackie headed over from a Gary McGrath cross. Mackie, Brady and Carter all found their way into referee Derek Crothers’ notebook prior to an injury-time chance for The Ants when a McKay corner led to a scramble in the box, with Mackie unable to turn the ball into the net.
Thomas Miller saw an early shot gathered at the second attempt by Stevie McNeil before a good chance for ‘Lok in the 57th minute. A terrific cross from Kevin McBride found an unmarked Willie Sawyers, but he could only head the ball straight at Matty Carr in the St. Anthony’s goal. Pollok levelled the scores in the 65th minute when they were awarded a free-kick 22 yards from goal, and CARLO MONTI flighted the ball up and over the defensive wall and into the back of the net. An increasingly aggrieved Ants’ bench saw Mark McCuish booked before even getting onto the field and coach John Doyle sent to the pavilion. Ross Dunlop then headed a McBride cross towards Sawyers, but the striker just failed to reach the knock-down. With quarter of an hour left to play Mackie stretched to meet a Niall Reynolds cross, but his off-balance header was well away from it’s intended target. Carter made an important challenge to prevent a McCuish cross from reaching Mackie before Bernie McDonald deflected a Ross Hepburn drive over the bar. Gary Dickson fired over with two minutes left to play, and in injury time substitute Lovering was called upon to deny Mackie as he threatened to break clear. In the end both sides had to be content with a share of the points, leaving the group wide open with two rounds of matches yet to play.
The first of those matches is on Wednesday evening when Neilston visit Newlandsfield Park. Kick-off is scheduled for 6.45pm.
POLLOK: McNeil, Dunlop, McBride, Carter, McLaren, Brady, Mills (Lovering 53), Hepburn, Sawyers, Monti, Fraser. Not used: Docherty, McGinty, McQuilken, Black.
ST. ANTHONY’S: Carr, Reynolds, Miller, R McDonald, Kane, McGrath, McKay (McCuish 78), B McDonald, Mackie, Dickson, White (Cumming 68). Not used: Bonner, Borris, Cavanagh.
BOOKED
POLLOK: Brady (43), Carter (45+1), Sawyers (52)
ST. ANTHONY’S: Mackie (43), Dickson (66), McCuish (71), R McDonald (83)
GOALS
POLLOK: Monti (65)
ST. ANTHONY’S: Mackie (29)