Matchday seventeen of the West of Scotland Premier Division saw Pollok welcome Darvel to Newlandsfield for a third time this season after two earlier cup games, but unfortunately for the Lok it was to be a repeat of the first tie as the hosts slipped to a second consecutive 2-0 defeat at home.

Maxi made three changes from the defeat to Clydebank. Wallace replaced the injured Bain in the back four with Docherty and McPhie coming in for Black and O’Donnell.

The home side started on the front foot with the returning McPhie getting in behind the Darvel defence in the fifth minute but he never managed to get the ball totally under his control and he was crowded out on the edge of the box. Nelson then did superbly to win the ball high up the pitch and slipped it inside to Forde. He was able to prod a shot towards goal but Wilson made a comfortable save.

Forde then had a go from a free kick twenty-five yards out. His low shot went under the wall but was straight at Wilson.

In Darvel’s first real attack they won a corner which Wallace disputed. The kick was played in low and cleared back out wide. It was driven back in across the six-yard box and Murphy was there to slot home and give the visitors the lead after a quarter of an hour.

Pollok responded with a great cross in from Wallace which was superbly defended. In the twenty-second minute a bout of head tennis saw the ball drop for Forde who hit it well on the turn but his effort was just off target. At the other end Gow had to head a dangerous cross away for a corner and Fry had to look lively to block a shot. Darvel then had a heart stopping moment when a defender got a touch on an O’Kane cross and knocked it inches wide of his own post.

HALF-TIME: POLLOK 0 – 1 DARVEL

Into the second half and the home side were struggling to create many chances. A run by Docherty saw him try to slip in Forde and when the pass was blocked it fell for Nelson whose shot went wide.

Darvel doubled their lead in the sixty-fourth minute. The ball was slipped out to Murphy who let fly with a well struck shot which hit the inside of both posts before going in off the unfortunate Fry.

The away side then passed up a couple of opportunities to increase their lead but shot wide on both occasions. A mistake by substitute Boland gave Forde a chance but his well struck volley was once again straight at Wilson.

After Fry got down to his left to save a curling effort Pollok broke quickly. Docherty cut inside from the right wing but rather choked his shot and it went harmlessly wide. The home side had one last chance to get in the scoresheet when Tran and Howe did well to keep the ball alive on the bye line. The ball eventually broke to Tran whose shot was well saved by Wilson.

Repo

HALF-TIME: POLLOK 0 – 2 DARVEL

Attendance: 528

Report by Peter Thomson

Photos from James Graham