Seventy-seven days after a 2-1 home win over Clydebank brought the 23/24 season to a close, Pollok started the new season with the same score line in their favour, this time at Portland Park against Troon.

That win over Clydebank marked the end of the Jordan Longmuir era and he was replaced in goal by Ben Fry. There were five other changes to the team, with Luke Main returning from and end of season suspension and debuts for left back Ryan Wallace, centre back Ross Smith, and midfielders Declan Black and Ciaran McPhie.

After four wins in five pre-season games, there was the usual air of expectancy from the travelling Lok support as the players took to the excellent Portland Park surface in the sunshine. The away side settled first and after a promising passing move broke down in the fourth minute, Scott Forrester stepped in to send a curling pass over the top of the Troon rear-guard. McPhie was on to it in a flash and sent a first-time lob over the keeper but unfortunately it landed on the roof of the net.

Troon had their first attempt on goal just shy of the quarter hour mark, as a quick break ended with a shot by Jamieson going over the bar.

In the 24th minute, Pollok passed up a good chance to take the lead. After a bit of head tennis in their own half, Forrester launched the ball forward. Smith missed his header and McPhie was through on goal. He elected to hit it early and never quite got the connection he was looking for which allowed Burgess to make a comfortable save.

With Adam Forde on set-piece duties, his curling cross to the back post was headed back across the box by a Troon defender to McPhie who hit a low shot towards goal. Unfortunately, it was blocked and Main’s attempt on the rebound suffered the same fate.

Minutes later a Wallace cross from the left went all the way through to Docherty on the right. His cross found Wallace at the far post but his powerful header found the side netting. There was a growing feeling however that a goal was coming.

And that goal duly arrived in the twenty-ninth minute but was very much against the run of play. A very soft free-kick was quickly taken out to the left wing. Sherrie launched a hopeful ball into the box which Fry collected but then took a couple of steps back and in so doing carried the ball over the line to give Troon an unexpected lead.

After a few minutes to recover from that blow, the Pollok players got their heads up and went in search of an equaliser. Black did well to win the ball in midfield and after a couple of strides forward fired a shot over the bar.

In the 35th minute, Lee Duncanson stepped out of defence to intercept a pass and played the ball to Docherty. He took on Sherrie whose sliding tackle momentarily won the ball but it went loose in the box allowing Docherty to clip a delightful cross to the far post. McPhie had found space and produced a wonderful volleyed finish off the ground and into the net for his first competitive Pollok goal.

Troon responded with a couple of off-target long range efforts but the next goal was to go Pollok’s way. After good work by Main to release Docherty he once again got the better of Sherrie to put a cross in. This time, McPhie flicked it on and with Forde in close attendance, El-Zubaidi sliced the ball into his own net. to give the visitors a half-time lead.

HALF TIME: TROON 1 – 2 POLLOK

The early stages of the second half started in a similar vein to the first half with Pollok pressing. A half cleared corner was recycled and Main got a shot away on the turn which was well-saved by Burgess.

As the game became a midfield battle, chances were at a premium and Pollok’s next good opportunity came in the 67th minute when persistent work by Docherty allowed Duncanson to get in a cross which McPhie met with a powerful header which flashed inches wide of the post.

A curling free-kick from Forde only just evaded a sliding Forrester at the back post and Docherty had a speculative volley from distance go wide as Pollok looked for a third goal which would have killed the contest.

At the other end former Pollok player Wharton was on as a sub and launched a few long throws into the box but Smith was dominating on his debut and when called upon, Fry did everything required of him to atone for his first half error – including a commanding punch from a dangerous set-piece swung into the box.

The second half may not have been pretty but the Southsiders deserved the three points on a day when all the debutants showed they have lots to offer, the back four looked a solid unit and the front three ran their socks off in search of goals.

FULL TIME: TROON 1 – 2 POLLOK

Man of the Match: Stephen Docherty

 

Report from Peter Thomson

Photos from James Graham and Finlay Thom

 

Match highlights brough to you by Scottish Property Centre: