Newlandsfield’s first game of 2025 saw Pollok welcome second-placed Troon for match day twelve of the West of Scotland Premier Division in front of a crowd of just over 600.

With Luke Main having departed to Lowland League East Kilbride, Maxi made just the one change from the side which drew at Cumnock – Forde returning up front.

The away side started with attacking intent and won a couple of early corners. The second of which presented them with a very decent chance but Faulds was on hand to clear. At the other end Forde took a Duncanson pass on the chest, turned and volleyed. It would have been some goal but the shot was well over the bar.

Troon got in behind the Pollok rear-guard in the tenth minute and after a good cutback the shot on goal was well blocked. Pollok showed they were getting into their stride a few minutes later when a pass out of defence found Docherty. He ran at the heart of the Troon defence before slipping the ball out to Tran. When his curling cross arrived at the back post Docherty was there but he headed over.

The Southsiders were having a good spell and a Docherty shot from the edge of the box saw Burgess push it away. Forde was quickest to the rebound and from a tight angle his shot took a nick and went inches wide of the far post.

From that corner Troon cleared but never regained possession. Bain swung the ball out to the left where Faulds did well to keep it in and Forrester flicked the ball on to his defensive partner Gow who had taken up an unusual position on the left wing. Looking like a prime Ryan Giggs, he skipped past a defender and from near the bye-line fired over a beautiful low cross which Forde was on hand to convert. 1-0 in the twentieth minute.

Jamieson had a shot from twenty yards which went just wide of Fry’s post and after a booking for Pollok physio, Ross, a good cross in from Tran was headed wide by Docherty.

With ten minutes to go until half-time, Troon sent in a dangerous cross which Gow headed out of the box. It was met on the volley but the shot went over the bar. Moments later Bain fired in a cross at the other end but O’Kane’s header from six yards out went wide. Pollok had another couple of chances to extend their lead before halftime – O’Kane was set up by Docherty after good work by Tran but he took a touch and his shot was blocked and then a Lapsley shot was deflected to Tran but he fired over.

HALF-TIME: POLLOK 1 – 0 TROON

The second half started with Pollok showing they were not content to sit on their lead. Superb work from Docherty down the right won a corner. Forde picked out Lapsley on the edge of the box but his volley went over. A couple of minutes later Docherty latched on to an O’Kane flick on and sent in a low cross which Forde got a toe to but was inches wide of the near post.

Pollok’s best chance to double their lead came in the fifty-seventh minute. O’Kane won a tackle on the edge of the Troon box and stepped forward with only Burgess to beat. He lifted the ball over the keeper but unfortunately over the bar as well.

Troon were trying hard to get at the Pollok defence but were finding the home side in resolute and disciplined form and were forced into shots from distance which weren’t finding the target.

Burgess made a good save from a Forde effort and then Duncanson saw a shot deflected just wide. Lapsley then rode a few challenges and showed great tenacity to get into the box before shooting wide.

With a couple of minutes to go Fry flung himself to his left to get a hand to a shot which was already going wide. The resultant corner gave the home crowd a nervy few seconds as they held their breath but it came to nothing and the three points were secured.

It had been a well-deserved first league win since September. One of those “we are all in this together” performances from the team, coaching staff and fans which makes everyone proud. Having played their first six league games in 22 days last July/August it has taken 167 days to get the second six league games played due to cups and weather. If the team perform at the level they did today the next six – and beyond – should bring in a few more three point hauls.

FULL-TIME: POLLOK 1 – 0 TROON

Attendance: 601

Report by Peter Thomson

Photos from James Graham

Full highlights and post-match interview sponsored by Scottish Property Centre: