Season: 2021-22

Archive of 2021-22 season

Hurlford Utd vs Pollok

Just the goals from Mark Donnelly:

Full highlights from Mark Donnelly:

It may be the close season for the majority of clubs across Scotland but for Pollok we have the Kilmarnock Pie WoSFL Cup semi-final this weekend away to Hurlford.

Blair Park hasn’t been a good venue for the ‘Lok, our only win there was in the West Of Scotland Cup final of 1987 against Auchinleck Talbot. Kilwinning Rangers await the winner next week.

Both matches this year between the clubs have ended in draws, back in August it was 0-0 at Blair Park then in March it finished one a piece at Newlandsfield. Seven of the last 16 games played between the clubs has ended in a draw, so a close game could be on the cards.

Hurlford dispatched of Arthurlie in the previous round, winning 3-1 at Blair Park, in the same round Pollok beat Clydebank 1-0 at Newlandsfield.

Hurlford started their WoSFL Cup run at home against Vale of Leven, the game finished 1-1, with Hurlford winning 6-5 on penalties. Kilbirnie Ladeside were the next visitors to Blair Park and were beaten 2-0. Next up was a trip to James McGrory Park to face St Rochs, leaving with a 2-1 win to set up their quarter final tie with Arthurlie.

Hurlford were formed in 1912, they are managed by Darren Henderson. The last trophy they picked up was the West of Scotland Junior Cup when they won it 2018. They have won one Scottish Junior Cup, lifting the famous trophy in 2014.

Several former players have played for Kilmarnock, David Bagan, a cup winner with Killie, Davie Sneddon, a league winner with Killie in 1965 and a man of many clubs, Mark Roberts.

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Pollok vs Glencairn

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Mascots Ava and Abby with the captains pre-match
Highlights from Mark Donnelly:
Thoughts from Murdie post-match:
Pollok have a busy couple of days ahead.
It’s the final game in our debut league season of the West of Scotland Premier Division on Saturday as we welcome Rutherglen Glencairn to Newlandsfield. 48 hours later we face Clydebank, again at home, this time in the Kilmarnock Pie WOSFL Cup, which could see our floodlights in use for the first time.
Last week we beat Cumbernauld 2-1 at Guy’s Meadow to seal third place in the league, Chris Duff with the double. Glencairn are still fighting to remain in the division, they sit 14th, which if Darvel are promoted then could see them relegated. Glencairn have won 14, drawn 7 and lost 16. Our record against Rutherglen is good, we have won four of the last five, Glencairn’s last win came in 2015. Last meeting between the sides was in July when we left the Hamish B. Allan Stadium with a 2-1 win, courtesy of goals from Adam Forde and the now retired Paul Gallacher.
Clydebank have had a good cup record this year, going far in the Scottish Cup beating Dalkeith, Elgin City and Clyde before losing out to Annan Athletic in a close encounter, 4-3 at Holm Park. In the WOSFL Cup, the Bankies have beaten Carluke, St Cadocs and Kello Rovers. Pollok knocked out Clydebank in the South Challenge cup with a 2-1 win at Holm Park. The last meeting between the sides was a Bankies 2-1 win at Newlandsfield last month in the league. Clydebank are guaranteed to finish 4th in the league and the encounters between our clubs have been close this season.
Monday falls on the 41st anniversary of Pollok’s first Scottish Junior Cup success and a big crowd would be welcome as we enter a new era under the floodlights.
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Cumbernauld vs Pollok

Highlights from Mark Donnelly:

Goals from Mark Donnelly:

Pollok travel to face Cumbernauld Jnited at Guy’s Meadow in our penultimate league match of the inaugural West of Scotland Football League Premier Division.

The ‘lok got back to winning ways last week with a 2-1 win away to Troon, goals from Dylan Dykes and Matty Grant sealed the win.

Cumbernauld are fighting to try and remain in the top division, they currently sit 18th in the table and have an uphill task if they want to avoid relegation, they do have six games still to play and could catch up, they are 13 points behind Largs in 14th and have 15 points remaining to play for, so defeat tomorrow would see them relegated.

Pollok have a good record against Cumbernauld and will be hoping that form continues. The last time the clubs met was in August last year, when the ‘lok ran out 5-1 winners courtesy of goals from Callum Graham x2, Bryan Wharton, Adam Forde and Josh Weir.

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Troon v Pollok

Just the goals from Mark Donnelly:
Pollok make the trip down Portland Park to take on Troon in WoSFL Premier Division.
The ‘Lok currently sit 3rd in the table, a point ahead of Clydebank, and hoping to get back to winning ways.
Troon come into the game sitting 7th in the table with 53 points. They have a record of won 16, drawn 5 and lost 14. In their past five matches they have lost to league leaders Darvel midweek, preceding that they beat Cumbernauld, Maybole, Kilbirnie and a draw away to Hurlford.
Pollok have won three of the last five meetings between the sides, one drawn and Troon knocking Pollok out of the West of Scotland Cup in 2019 on penalties the other result. The last game between the sides was at Newlandsfield on 23rd October last year, when Pollok won 2-1 courtesy of goals from Stuart McCann and Callum Graham.
There has been a football team in Troon as far back as 1875, the current club were formed in 1946. Manager Jimmy Kirkwood is in his second spell after a two-year period as General Manager. Kirkwood led Troon to promotion to the then newly formed West Premiership in 2018 at the first time of asking after relegation the year before.
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Pollok vs. Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Full highlights from Mark Donnelly:
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Kirkintilloch Rob Roy are this week’s visitors to Newlandsfield in the WoSFL Premier Division.
Pollok played midweek at home losing out to Clydebank 2-1, Rob Roy were also in midweek action losing out to the Darvel by the same score line.
Rob Roy are sitting 13th in table with 40 points and a record of played 31, won 13, drawn 4 and lost 14. In their last six games they have won three, drawn one and lost two. With potentially seven teams relegated this season, they are a place above the relegation spaces, three points ahead of Largs having played two games less, Glenafton who have also played 31 games and Kilbirnie Ladeside, who have played 37 and have an inferior goal difference.
Rob Roy were formed in 1878, one of the oldest clubs in the WOSFL, the club were based at Adamslie Park for many years but have been sharing with Cumbernauld since 2014 as they await a new stadium in Kirkintilloch. The Rabs have won the scottish Junior Cup on 3 occasions, 1921, 1943 and 1962. Their last trophy was the Central League Cup in 2017. Former Pollok player Chic Charnley had a short spell at Rob Roy, as did Marvin Andrews, Stevie Chalmers, Joe McBride and George Young to name a few former professional players who have wore the red and black.
Pollok have a good recent record against Rob Roy, with four wins and one defeat in the last five played between the clubs. Last time out, Pollok ran out 4-1 winners at Guy’s Meadow, a Stuart McCann double and goals from Jonny Lyon and Jordan Longmuir, yes that is goalkeeper Jordan Longmuir, sealed the win.
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Auchinleck Talbot vs. Pollok

Highlights from Mark Donnelly:

Goals from Mark Donnelly:

Post match with Murdie:

Match Report by: Peter Thomson

After an unkind draw Pollok travelled to Beechwood Park to face Auchinleck Talbot in the pick of the quarter final ties in the South Challenge Cup. The league games between the pair this season having produced a pulsating 3-3 draw and a dull 1-0 win for Talbot. Not surprisingly this game was to fall somewhere in the middle of those two in terms of entertainment.

Pollok made four changes from the insipid draw with Hurlford the previous week. Sideserf, Esplin, Horne and Fraser all returning to the side with Menzies, Dykes, Duff and Forde dropping out.

A frenetic opening period saw tackles flying in and misplaced passes as both teams looked to impose themselves on the game. The importance of the match adding an edge and a nervousness.

In the 14th minute Pollok had their first sniff of goal. A long throw from Wharton was flicked on by McGregor and Fraser’s header from six yards out went over the bar.

The home side’s first sniff at goal came midway through the half and was a whole lot closer to opening the scoring. A corner from the left led to a bit of a stramash before a low shot was sent goalwards. Horne just managed to get a foot to it on the goal-line and deflected it onto the post. When the ball was recycled into the box another low shot was pushed round the post by Longmuir.
Minutes later another Pollok long throw brought about a great chance. This time it was a Talbot defender who flicked on and Fraser didn’t get the connection he was looking for from six yards out allowing Leishman to make a comfortable save.

Pollok threatened again with a sweeping move which went from right wing-back, Grant to left wing-back, Lyon and back again. Grant blasting over the bar from a tight angle having beaten his man on the edge of the box.

The second half started with the away side on top although a misplaced header by Esplin gave Samson a sight of goal and Longmuir had to pull off a smart double save to twice deny the striker.

Pollok took the lead in the 57th minute from a set-piece. Forde’s in-swinging corner from the right headed in at the near post by Grant.

Minutes later Pollok almost doubled their lead. Another Wharton throw into the box was flicked on to Forde who controlled it on his chest before executing a beautiful overhead kick which flew inches over the bar with Leishman beaten.

Then with just over 20 minutes to go came the moment which swung the match in the home side’s favour. A triple substitution by Sloan saw Talbot bring on Shankland, Boylan and Wilson and they immediately set about putting the Pollok defence under pressure.
In the 75th minute a good pass out to the right found Shankland in acres of space. He looked up and played the perfect low cross to Samson who slide home the equaliser from six yards out.

Minutes later a similar move – this time from a free-kick – saw Samson put his attempt just over the bar as Pollok started to defend deeper and deeper. In a portent of things to come Shankland then slipped Samson through but his attempted lob was weak and just fell into Longmuir’s hands.

With three minutes to go a fairly aimless looking ball over the top was missed by the Pollok defence and Samson nipped in to slip a tidy finish from a tight angle past Longmuir.

Pollok mounted a bit of late pressure in search of an equaliser but their only effort on target was a Forde free-kick which a well-positioned Leishman saved comfortably.

Having given the large travelling support such hope with 30 minutes to go it was ultimately a crushing disappointment to go out the cup. After an even first half Pollok had been the better team in the opening of the second half and deserved to be ahead but they just couldn’t see it through against a Talbot side transformed by the triple substitution. So Pollok’s first attempt at the South Challenge Cup was ended at the quarter final stage. They will hope to go further in future years.

 

It’s back to South Challenge Cup action this weekend for Pollok and a trip to Beechwood Park to face Auchinleck Talbot.

We have now reached the Quarter Final stage of the tournament having beaten Vale of Clyde 4-0, Harthill Royal 2-1, Clydebank 2-1 and in the last round beating Lowland League side, University of Stirling 3-1.

Talbot have dispatched Forth 1-0, West Calder 7-1, Irvine Meadow 3-1 and finally Caledonian Braves 3-1.

Last weekend Pollok were held at home 1-1 against Hurlford which gave Talbot the opportunity to regain top spot in the WoSFL Premier Division, duly taken when they beat Bonnyton Thistle 3-0.

Pollok don’t have a great recent record against Talbot, our last win coming back in 2018 at Beechwood Park. Six games have taken place between the teams since, with Talbot winning five and then the 3-3 draw that took place earlier this season at Newlandsfield. The last match between the teams was on February 12th at Beechwood Park when Talbot won 1-0 in the league.

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