Kilwinning Rangers 1-2 Pollok West of Scotland Superleague Abbey Park, Saturday 2^nd September 2017

Pollok picked up their first league points of the season with a 2-1 victory over previously unbeaten Kilwinning Rangers at the latter named?s Abbey Park. A flurry of early corners came to nothing for the home side before former ?Lok star Carlo Monti dragged a shot wide of target. The visitors? best chance in the opening exchanges came when captain Paul Gallacher miscued wide from Bryan Young?s corner.

Pollok took the lead in the 32^nd minute, Mark Sideserf?s free-kick from the halfway line was flicked on by the head of Grant Evans to Stef McCluskey who turned and found the net with a classy finish. The Buffs responded and were unlucky not to level when Michael Wardrope rattled the crossbar, before two unsuccessful attempts by another ex-?Lok favourite, Davie Winters, closed out the half. A Monti bouncer was comfortably held by Jordan Longmuir, but the ?Lok custodian was helpless in the 58^th minute when the same player crashed a 25 yarder home to restore parity for the homesters. Young sent a half volley wide for Pollok while at the other end Monti fired a free-kick over.

Kilwinning came close to taking the lead when substitute Ricky Hanvey had a shot cleared off the line by Ryan McGregor before fellow replacement Ryan Nisbet glanced a header past the upright. What proved to be the winning goal came in the 79^th minute, a cross spun up and dropped kindly for McCluskey to volley into the ground, and just beyond the despairing dive of home custodian Adam Strain. The final chance of the match fell to Ross Brash, Strain denied him with his legs though to ensure the scorers were troubled no further.

Today’s referee is Cat 2 Glasgow official Stephen Graham and he will be assisted by David Milton (Cat 3D) and Jamie Shepherd (Cat 4).

Stephen has taken charge of games at Petershill, Hurlford, Rob Roy and Kilsyth so far this season.