Pollok Football Club

Recap

Stuart and Gary McCann were the star performers in Pollok?s fourth round tie against Rossvale, a game that saw where ex-Clyde and Auchinleck Talbot forward David Gormley make his debut for the Lok, with the former scoring a scrumptious diving header on the stroke of half time to give the visitors the lead.

The hosts started brighter at New Petershill Park with Crichton coming close, shooting from 20 yards, stinging the palm of Pollok youth prospect Scott Johnson in goals. Debutant David Gormley then went up the other end and hit a fierce drive towards Donnelly in the Vale net with the keeper collecting easily. The lightning quick Del Hepburn, who the pitch suited to a ?t?, took the ball round Rossvale full back McGrath to swing in a beautiful cross, winning a corner in the process which was cleared. Steven McGladrigan latched on to a poor touch by makeshift centre half Ryan MacGregor firing over on 26 minutes. On the stroke of half time Stefan McCluskey fed in Gary McCann who whipped in a scrumptious cross from the right hand side for his brother Stuart to latch onto with a vintage diving header into the top left corner from six yards out in a half which struggled to get the fans excited. For a cup tie and the venue that it was played at, the first half, in horrendous weather conditions, didn?t live up to expectations, giving fans a hard period to watch.

Pollok started the second half smelling the blood of their wounded opposition, with Stefan McCluskey scoring right from kick off. Full back Paul Byrne played the ball over the top with Vale defender David Leadbetter misjudging the flight of the ball allowing McCluskey to pounce on the loose ball, take a touch and slot it home to the keepers right hand side, leaving him no chance, making it 2-0 to the visitors and the game much more comfortable in Lok’s favour.

Lok turned it up a gear and were probing with Gary McCann squaring to Del Hepburn after being played in by Bryan Young, who tried taking it round the keeper who read the situation perfectly. A few minutes later on 65 minutes Del Hepburn made it 3-0 with a neat one ? two with Gary McCann on the edge of the area, slotting it into the far corner leaving Donnelly in goals wanting. Rossvale, got a second wind and forced a good save from young Scott Johnson with a well struck free kick in the final 10 minutes parrying wide from the top left hand corner, a save for the cameras.

Lok gaffer Tony McInally was beaming as he spoke of his teams performance. ?I’m delighted with our performance. I thought Rossvale had a game plan which they stuck to for as long as possible, with a makeshift defence and a young goalie coming in in those conditions and sticking to what they had to do they performed really well. Im glad on a personal level for Stuart McCann who?s developed really well, He scored a fantastic goal today. Also with Scott Johnson who came in and coped with what was asked of him. Theres room for improvement, but he?s trained with us for a year now and he will only get better with other opportunities.”

Report by Christopher Dodds.

Goal highlights courtesy of lokpars

Post match with Tony. Thanks to Martin Donnelly

Match officials

Referee: Calum Scott

AR1:?Kenneth Allen

AR2:?Jamie Andrews