After a battle against the frost and a delayed kick-off an
expectant crowd gathered for the Southside El Classico. It was
match-day twenty-three of the West of Scotland Premiership
and it was third top versus third bottom in the table. Pollok v
Arthurlie.

Maxwell made three enforced changes to the side who had
won convincingly the previous week. Sideserf and Duff missed
out due to injury and Esplin due to suspension. They were
replaced by Brownlie, Gary McCann and Fraser.

As is the norm Pollok were kicking down the slope in the first
half and started on the front foot. An early booking for McNeill
for a foul on Stuart McCann allowed Forde to swing in a
dangerous free-kick which Rumsby headed back across goal. It
was just out of reach of a stretching Stuart McCann and went
wide of the far post.

Arthurlie started to come more into the game and had the first
shot on target. Then in the eighteenth minute they were
awarded a penalty. Longmuir dived into block on the bye-line
with the ball almost definitely going out of play. He caught the
striker as he attempted to cross the ball and the referee
pointed to the spot. Former Pollok stalwart McGregor stepped
up but Longmuir saved it with a low dive to his left.

Pollok saw a Christie effort curled wide and had appeals for a
penalty when a Stuart McCann effort was blocked at close
range by an arm.
At the other end McGregor passed up another good chance
when he found himself unmarked at the back post but his
diving header went inches wide. Burns then had a shot on
target at the other end but it was straight at the keeper.
Pollok carved out their clearest chance of the first half in the
forty-third minute. Lyon won a corner which was swung in by
Christie. It was flicked on and Brownlie drove in a low shot
which was well saved by the keeper’s feet.
The away side started the second half in the ascendancy and a
corner offered them a clear sight at goal. The shot was well hit
but Rumsby did well to deflect it wide for another corner.
Longmuir then had to save a long range free-kick.
Just after the hour mark Pollok very nearly took the lead. A
Fraser free-kick into the box was half cleared to Christie whose
low shot squirmed under the keeper but he was able to recover
just in time to grab the ball on the goal line.
Pollok’s next attack saw Stuart McCann taken out once more by
McNeill and he picked up his second yellow. It didn’t take the
home side long to make their numerical advantage count. First
Lyon did brilliantly to set up Stuart McCann whose shot was
cleared off the line and then in the next attack Christie was
fouled in the box as he cut back inside. The referee had no

hesitation in pointing to the spot. Fraser stepped up and fairly
thumped it right down the middle. The keeper hadn’t dived but
he was beaten by the sheer venom in the spot-kick.

After a lengthy delay for a facial injury to McGregor – who was
getting a mixed reception from his former supporters and was
having a typically eventful game having played right-midfield,
centre-half and up front as well as missing the penalty – the
home side managed the game beautifully before adding to the
scoreline in the final seconds.
Substitutes Docherty and Nelson combined perfectly down the
left and Nelson side-footed Docherty’s cut-back into the net.
The very late addition to the home side’s lead did not allow
time for a debut appearance by substitute goalkeeper Ryan
Dakhil. Maybe one day Ryan.

In the end it was a merited three points to the home side and
much of the credit must go to the ground staff and volunteers
who got the pitch in such good shape whilst numerous other
games were being called off. For Pollok the next few weeks will
see them take on teams much closer to them in the league
table. For Arthurlie it will be a continuing battle against
relegation. We wish them luck.

Today’s 3pm kick off between Pollok and Arthurlie is ON.

POLLOK v KIRKINTILLOCH ROB ROY

Pollok hosted Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on match day 22 of the West of Scotland Premiership. Stewart Maxwell’s former side arrived at Newlandsfield in mid-table and off the back of a home win over Hurlford.

The manager made four changes to the team which started the previous week’s win over Cumnock. Gow was unavailable and was replaced by Sideserf. Burns, who was returning from suspension came in for Horne as they lined up with a back four. Further up the pitch, Stuart McCann and Forde replaced Fraser and Docherty.

After a fairly tepid opening ten minutes in which the only thing of note was the unfortunate departure of Sideserf due to injury a taste of what was to come arrived in the twelfth minute. A Menzies header out of defence was picked up by Christie who passed to Forde. He immediately released McCann down the right wing. He skipped past one challenge before delivering a superb cross to the back post. The onrushing Duff headed it back across goal and just wide of the post. 

Three minutes later Duff did find the net. Rob Roy threatened to break from a corner but it was snuffed out by Menzies who fed Lyon. His ball down the left wing found Christie who was on that side of the pitch having taken the corner. When his cross reached the far post it was Duff who controlled the ball and faced with a massed defence worked his way to the bye-line before chipping it over the keeper from an acute angle.

The lead was to last all of two minutes. A free-kick from the left was swung in and Longmuir gave the goalie’s shout. Esplin ducked out of it as the ball headed straight to Longmuir who had his hands ready. Perhaps already looking to start a quick counter-attack he let the ball slip through his hands and McNab was there to head home from six yards out.

Lyon, Duff and Christie were playing some eye-catching stuff and from one such move Christie saw his shot blocked after Aitken had missed a Duff cross. Pollok retook the lead in the twenty second minute with a truly stunning goal from a lovely passing move. Esplin played a first time pass out to Christie who cut inside and switched the play to Duff on the left. He drove forward before slipping it out to Lyon whose low cross was perfectly into the path of Duff whose finish was emphatic.

A Rob Roy break from a corner saw them have a four on two situation as they approached the Pollok box. With hindsight they may have wished they had attempted a pass or two but instead shot from outside the box and Longmuir was able to push it away. Of more significance to the match during the breakaway Duff pulled up with a tight hamstring denying him a chance of a hat-trick. He was replaced by Gary McCann.

Pollok’s next goal came from a corner and it was scored by the taker although it was his fifth touch which put the ball in to the net. Christie took the corner short to Lyon. The return pass was a bit short which forced Christie into jinking past the first defender. He then rode a couple of challenges as he made his way into the box before finding the far corner with a composed, curling finish.

The Christie/Lyon set piece double act would create Pollok’s fourth with three minutes to go before halftime. From a free kick on the left Lyon’s return pass was inch perfect to allow Christie to pick out a cross to the back post. Stuart McCann rose highest and headed down and in off the post despite a fingertip from the keeper and a despairing attempt at a clearance off the line.

The second half got off to a sluggish start with a Rob Roy effort over the bar and a Forde shot deflected wide. Then just before the hour mark Rob Roy got a lifeline back into the game. A corner was swung in from the left. Longmuir – under pressure – got a fairly decent hand to it but Hughes was beyond the back post to produce a very composed finish from a tight angle.

With twenty-five minutes to go Pollok began to reassert themselves as the dominant force. A Christie free kick was headed back across goal where Brownlie – perhaps hampered a little by Forde going for the same ball – could only loop a header over the bar.

In the seventy second minute Pollok got their fifth. A superb cross-field pass from Lyon found Christie in space on the right. His cross found Stuart McCann six yards out and his downward header found the net.

 Three minutes later Pollok passed up a great chance to extend their lead. Another Christie free-kick curled into the box and Brownlie met it with a powerful diving header. Unfortunately it was straight at the keeper and allowed him the chance to save with his feet. Moments later Burns won the ball in his own half and set off towards goal. Having carried it half the length of the pitch his well-struck shot from twenty yards rose just over the bar.

The home side were really purring again now and looking for more goals. A Brownlie knockdown was driven towards goal by Gary McCann and was brilliantly tipped round the post by Aitken. Gary was involved in Pollok’s sixth. His cross from the right was headed back into the danger area by Buchanan. Barr’s first shot was blocked but when the rebound fell to him he side footed the ball into the bottom corner for his first Pollok goal.

Gary McCann had one final chance to make it seven when a Barr through ball intended for Docherty evaded the defence and allowed Gary to nip in. His shot beat the keeper but slipped inches wide of the post.

A convincing win and some periods of scintillating football sent the Newlandsfield faithful home happy and the players away to their team night out in buoyant mood. It had been Pollok’s eleventh home league game of the season. The first was a nil-nil draw with Largs. The last ten have produced forty-one goals, twenty-six for the home side. Tremendous entertainment.

POLLOK v CUMNOCK

After the disappointing display and result at Troon on the Wednesday
evening Pollok returned to the comfort of home for Matchday 21 of the
West of Scotland Premiership and a game against Cumnock.
The manager made seven changes to the starting eleven with only
Gow, Rumsby, Esplin and Christie retaining their places. Mullen was
suspended and joined Sideserf, Barr, Forde and the McCann
brothers on the sidelines.
Josh Lumsden picked up an ankle injury in the final moments of the match against Troon.
In their place were Longmuir, Menzies, Duff,Lyon, Horne, Fraser and Docherty.
The change of formation to three at
the back and the re-introduction of Horne meant that Esplin played a
little further up the park than usual.

Having impressed in recent outings from the bench Docherty was keen to
make an impact and had a shot on target in the opening seconds. It was
not a sign of things to come in the opening period. After a very cagey
opening quarter of an hour the first decent chance arrived when
Menzies played a game of keep ball by himself until a decent pass was
on. He found Christie on the right wing. His cross picked out an
unmarked Lyon whose first touch caused his shot to be rushed and
skied over the bar.
Longmuir miskicked a clearance and did well to tip the resulting shot
round the post as Cumnock started to pose more and more of a threat.
Boyd and Moore combined to set up a chance for the later but his shot
on the turn was screwed wide of the far post.

A clever move down the Pollok left saw Lyon and Duff combine to
create a chance for Docherty but his left foot shot went over the bar.
Cumnock then had the ball in the net but the referee had already blown
for a foul on Gow. As an uninspiring first half drew to a close a dipping

Fraser shot from twenty-five yards had Barclay diving to his right to
make the stop.
The start of the second half wasn’t much livelier than the first half until
the game burst into life in the fifty-third minute. With the ball bouncing
about in the middle of the park Esplin won it and it broke to Christie. He
burst forward, cut inside and passed to Duff. He stepped inside a
defender and produced a quite stunning finish with the outside of his
left foot which kissed the underside of the bar on the way in, giving
Barclay no chance.

Just after the hour mark Cumnock produced the move of the match. A
swift break out of defence saw them work the ball down the right. Play
was then switched to the left and a curling cross found Moore six yards
out. His header was goal bound until Longmuir flung himself to his right
to fingertip it round the post.

At the other end Barclay produced a stunning save to deny Stuart
McCann after he’d been found in the box by an expert pass from his
strike partner and fellow substitute Forde.
A mistake in the heart of the Cumnock defence with twenty minutes to
go allowed Stuart McCann to flick the ball to Forde. He set himself
before firing a low left footed shot into the bottom corner of the net to
give the Southsiders a two goal lead.

With ten minutes left a poor clearance by Gow presented Cumnock
with a way back into the game but Longmuir bailed his centre half out
with an acrobatic tip over the bar from the resultant shot.
The home side were now playing some nice stuff and an incisive pass
from Forde allowed McCann to fire across goal but the ball just evaded
Nelson. It was a different story a few minutes later when Forde
harassed the Cumnock defence into a mistake and McCann was able to
poke the ball to Nelson. He made the most of his unmarked status and
calmly took a touch before rolling the ball into the corner of the net to
give Pollok a three goals to nil victory.

A much improved second half showing saw Pollok collect a well
deserved three points. A slightly disjointed first half saw Cumnock pass
up a couple of presentable opportunities but with the changed
formation in the second half Longmuir’s goal was rarely threatened.
And manager Maxwell will have learnt a little more about his squad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbL9-MVL4sQMatch day eighteen of the West of Scotland Premier League saw Pollok take a trip to East Ayrshire for the second weekend running, this time to Beechwood to face Auchinleck Talbot. After the previous week’s resounding win at Hurlford hopes were high that a poor record at Beechwood could be improved on.

Pollok made two changes from the win at Hurlford – Rumsby returned in place of Menzies in the centre of defence and Docherty dropped out to be replaced by Barr as the manager looked to bolster his midfield numbers. An interesting side note from the Auchinleck bench was the inclusion of Ryan Sinnamon, recently released by Pollok.

A cagey opening saw both teams struggle to create much in the way of clear goalscoring opportunities. Forde had a go from outside the box but his shot trundled harmlessly wide.

The home side then threatened on the quarter hour mark. A sliced cross from the left had to be tipped over by Lumsden. From the resulting deep corner Talbot headed it back across goal. A couple of Pollok players got their heads to the ball without fully clearing before it was flicked back into the six-yard box. Burns tried to guide it back to Lumsden but found his own crossbar instead. Minutes later Lumsden was again called into action – grabbing a low shot at the second attempt.

Pollok then had a couple of chances. First a good passing move ended with Burns slipping in Gary McCann. Just as he was shooting for goal an outstretched defender’s leg got something on the ball to take all the pace off it and make it comfortable for Leishman. Moments later a long ball by Lumsden found Lyon in the opposition box. His lob had Leishman at full stretch to tip over. From the resultant corner Gow headed goalwards and Christie couldn’t quite get a touch to deflect it either side of Leishman.

Just before the half hour mark Pollok tried to pass their way out of defence whilst under the severest of pressure by the Talbot midfield and attack. Barr’s rushed pass to McCann was intercepted and the home side wasted little time in getting a dangerous cross into the box. Lumsden did magnificently to thwart the first attempt at goal but could do little to stop Wilson bundling the rebound over the line.

A minute later a deflected Burns cross gave Christie a sight of goal but his looping header went over. A feisty contest then became downright fractious as a clash on the left-hand touchline end with Burns appearing to take a punch to the face. After consultation with his linesman the referee issued a yellow card to each side. Doubtful if that would have been the outcome had VAR been available. 

Football broke out again in the last few minutes of the half with Lumsden making a good save low down to his left and then Forde getting in an angled shot with Leishman well placed to save.

Pollok started the second half with attacking intent and had a decent share of the ball although Auchinleck looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Rumsby headed wide from a corner and was then perhaps lucky not to see red when hauling down a Talbot attacker as he looked to race through on goal.

Pollok equalised with twenty minutes to go when a long free kick from Lumsden was flicked on by substitute Stuart McCann and finished expertly by his brother, Garry McCann with a low left footed strike.

The home side regained their lead with eight minutes to go. A cross from the right was never properly cleared and was then passed back out to the wing. When the cross came in a second time substitute Boylan was there to apply an expert finish into the corner.

Pollok created one more chance before the end. Buchanan turning his man before finding Stuart McCann with a floating cross. His header lacked the necessary power to trouble Leishman.

In the end it was a familiar story for Pollok. They had good periods in the game and would have merited a point but Talbot’s game management and strength off the bench got them over the line. Auchinleck will now be looking for Pollok to do them a favour or two against Darvel in the run-in to what could be a titanic battle for the title and may well still include Beith.

Our Annual Christmas draw has taken place on 29th January. A List of all the winners is below.
If you are lucky enough to have won a prize speak to a member of the club committee to arrange to collect your prize!

1. £250 – Belinda c/o Andy Woolley
2. Match Day Hospitality – Valerie Watt
3. £50 Majestic Wine Voucher – Mr Leslie Hillis
4. Xmas Hamper – Laurence Butler
5. Xmas Hamper – D. Thomson
6. Large Box Chocolates – Frank McQuilter
7. Bottle Malt Whisky – David White c/o Iain Sime
8. Litre Smirnoff Vodka – Andy McKinley
9. Bottle of Gin – J. Thomson
10. Bottle of Gin –  c/o Fergie Watt
11. Bottle of Bailys Irish Cream -T. Wilson
12. Litre of Baileys Irish Cream – Douglas Thomson c/o G. Cullen
13. Bottle of Grouse – Douglas Thomson c/o Cullen
14. Box of Milk Tray – John McFarlane
15. Bottle of Gin Liqueur – Martin Anderson
16. Bottle of Sparkling Wine – Sandra Allison
17. Bottle of Irish Cream – Derek Hall
18. Bottle of Red Wine – Mr G. Ellis
19. Box of Liqueur Chocolates – Karen Young
20. Bottle of Wine – Steph Smillie
21. Box of Assorted Biscuits – David Crombie c/o Iain Sime
22. Bottle of Ginger Wine – Ethan Hunt
23. Box of Lindor Chocolates – Martin Kenny c/o Iain Sime

Pollok travelled to Blair Park to take on Hurlford in match day 17 of the West of Scotland League premier division. Historically not a happy hunting ground for the Lok.

There were four changes from the previous week’s defeat to Beith. Captain Brownlie missed out due to concussion and was joined on the side-lines by Sideserf, Fraser and Krol. They were replaced in the starting line up by Gow, Menzies, Lyon and Docherty.

After a small delay caused by a stray husky on the pitch the match got underway in blustery conditions. The away side were quickly into their stride and looked threatening from the off. With four minutes on the clock Gary McCann won possession in his own half and set off down the left touchline. He carried the ball deep into Hurlford territory before slipping it inside to Forde. He jinked past his marker before floating a cross beyond the back post to Christie. He returned the ball into the six-yard box where Forde rose well to head home the opener.

Hurlford had a great chance to equalise on thirteen minutes. A ball over the top saw McKenzie through on goal but Lumsden stood up brilliantly and saved with his left foot. Up the other end Gary McCann just failed to get on the end of a Christie cross at the back post.

The Southsiders doubled their lead in the twenty first minute. After a period of sustained pressure and with quality crosses coming in from both sides the goal came from a corner. Mullen’s delivery found his fellow full-back, Burns, free in the box. The left-back expertly looped a header into the far corner of the net.

Hurlford almost got straight back into the game from a corner of their own. A glancing header had Lumsden beaten but Lyon was on the line to clear before the stray husky made another cameo appearance on the pitch.

After a lull in the goalmouth action Pollok could have extended their lead in the run up to half time. First Docherty had a good chance after a brave flick on by Gary McCann. The striker headed the chance downwards when perhaps a looping header would have given the keeper more of a problem. In the next attack Christie’s cross looked perfect for McCann but he appeared to be manhandled as he went to head goalwards. The referee waved away the vociferous appeals for a penalty.

The first chance of the second half fell to Pollok but it was of Hurlford’s own making. After getting into a bit of a panic the ball was played back to the keeper whose first touch was loose. Docherty was on to in a flash to take it off his toes. He was forced wide by the keeper but got it back across goal but unfortunately there were no takers. 

Just before the midpoint of the second half McKenzie was sent off. He’d already picked up a yellow for a late challenge on Mullen before a needless lunge at Esplin in the middle of the park gave the referee little option but to produce the red card.

Pollok were in complete control now and nearly extended their lead twice in quick succession from a couple of Mullen corners. The first one saw Burns’ close-range effort deflected over before Lyon’s hooked effort from a Gow knock down went just over the bar.

The third goal did come from a Mullen corner. As Mullen prepared to take the kick Pollok made a double substitution with Forde and Lyon being replaced by Nelson and Stuart McCann. The latter sprinted into the box and arrived at the perfect moment to meet Mullen’s corner with a sweet diving header into the bottom corner. A new world record for the fastest ever goal by a substitute? 

Hurlford suffered more red card misery with a couple of minutes to go when Miller received his second yellow card for a block on Krol as he jinked passed him. 

With conditions now absolute horrific as the strong winds were added to with monsoon like rain the away side made their numerical advantage count by adding a fourth goal. Recent signing Barr slipped the ball thru the Hurlford defence to fellow recent recruit Nelson who produced a compose finish to give McDonald no chance and notch his first in Pollok colours.

So ten days after a disappointing home defeat to Hurlford, Pollok had gained a modicum of revenge and in so doing recorded their first ever win over Hurlford at Blair Park. It was one of those performances where everyone was worthy of at least a seven out of ten mark and they ran out convincing and deserving winners.

Full Match Highlights:

Post Match Reaction:

Match Report by: Peter Thompson
Photos by: James Graham
Videos by: Mark Donnelly

Congratulations to Derek Esplin who reached 100 games for Pollok during last weekend’s match against Beith.

Del joined Pollok from Rutherglen Glencairn in the summer of 2019 and since then has been ever-present in the heart of the midfield.

Sweeping up awards at the 2022 player of the year awards Del collected:
Fan’s Forum Player of The Season
Player’s Player of the Season
Management Team’s Player of the Season

Since joining Pollok Del has chipped in with 6 Goals, his real strength is a commanding presence in the midfield.
Known as a dynamic and tenacious player Del is regarded as one of the top midfielders in the West of Scotland Premiership.

We have some clips of Del’s best moments playing for Pollok and we hope for many more!

Midfielder Ryan Sinnamon has left the club by mutual consent in order to pursue a new challenge, all at Pollok wish Ryan well in the next steps of his footballing career.

Fellow midfielder Evan Horne has been recalled from his short loan spell at Troon and links back up with the squad. We would like to thank Troon for their cooperation.