Two hundred and ninety-four days after a trip to Portland Park to take on Troon, Pollok ended their West of Scotland Premier Division campaign with a home match against Auchinleck Talbot.

Maxi made two changes to the team which had drawn with Largs in midweek – Black in for the injured Bain and Tran replacing the suspended Docherty. It was, however, one of the substitutes who got tongues wagging around Newlandsfield as Maxi named himself on the bench.

A minute’s applause for Pollok stalwart Fergie Watt rang round a sun baked Newlandsfield before Talbot almost got off to the perfect start in the opening seconds when a deep cross from the right was volleyed at the back post and Truesdale had to push behind for a corner. From the corner Pollok struggled to get a decisive clearance and Auchinleck volleyed just over.

Pollok’s first decent attack came in the ninth minute. O’Kane did well to get an up and under cross into the box. Armour dropped it but Lapsley couldn’t quite manage to drive the ball home. Talbot then sprinted up the other end and Truesdale had to dive to his left to keep out a low shot.

With quarter of an hour gone Faulds let fly from the edge of the box and Armour did well to push it round the post. From the corner O’Kane got free but headed over the bar.

The away side took the lead in the twenty-eighth minute when Nimmo got a break of the ball on the edge of the box and made the most of it by dribbling past a couple of defenders before squaring for Boyd to tap home.

Pollok’s response was a long-range drive from Black which Armour once again tipped round the post. Forde then floated in a free-kick which saw Black’s header take a nick on its’ way past the post. From the corner Faulds headed over.

 

The home side continued to search for an equaliser as half-time approached with Duncanson finding the side-netting after a clever pass by Tran and then the winger digging out a fine cross which Forrester headed over at the back post.

HALF-TIME: POLLOK 0 – 1 AUCHINLECK

 

The second half started with a Lapsley effort from distance which went a couple of yards wide. Pollok were starting to exert a bit of pressure and a couple of inviting crosses from Forde looked dangerous but Armour remained untroubled in goal. There was a penalty appeal after Forde tried to flick the ball round a defender but the referee quickly dismissed handball claims.

Just after the hour mark the away side doubled their lead. Pollok had been in a threatening position on the edge of the Talbot box when Gaffney played a poor pass. The away side took full advantage to flood forward at pace and when a cross from the left was laid off to Clark he made no mistake in drilling home.

Langan saw a cracking strike go just wide before O’Kane volleyed well over. Langan was having an increasing influence on the game and he was put thru on goal but fired over with only Truesdale to beat.

With fifteen minutes to go Auchinleck secured the three points. A miscommunication between Forrester and Truesdale saw a cross lobbed into the danger area. Just as it looked like the Pollok defence had dealt with the situation admirably the ball fell kindly for Talbot and as they tried to get to the bye-line Duncanson put in a tired challenge and the referee pointed to the spot. McAvoy made no mistake from twelve yards.

Howe and Lapsley had decent efforts at grabbing a consolation but it was not to be.

So a sad ending for Pollok legend Adam Forde who couldn’t add to his goals tally in his last game for the club. His enthusiasm, work-rate and hold up play as well as his goals will all be missed. 

A season of ups and downs ended with Pollok ninth in the table. The best word to sum up the season is probably inconsistent. Some great displays mixed in with some shockers. Here’s hoping Maxi can recruit some gems over the summer and keep the Pollok faithful happy and entertained in season 2025/26.

FULL-TIME: POLLOK 0 – 3 AUCHINLECK

Attendance: 623

Report by Peter Thomson

Photographs from James Graham