Final countdown but MaccaragesasLok almost blow victory
JUNIORS: WEST OF SCOTLAND CUP
POLLOK held off a second-half fightback from Kilsyth Rangers to leave their calling card for when this season’s New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup Final is played.
A sun-kissed Newlandsfield arena provided the ideal backdrop to an eagerly-awaited lastfour clash.
Yet it looked to be effectively over as a contest with just 15 minutes on the clock by which time Pollok were 2-0 to the good through goals from revitalised pair Gary McCann and Michael Daly.
A glimmer of hope for the visitors arrived with an opportunist strike from top scorer Paul McBride right on the stroke of half-time.
But if truth be told they only occasionally looked like getting back on level terms despite a spirited and vastly improved showing over the second 45 minutes.
Kilsyth had begun this semifinal on the front foot and their former Lok striker Ian Diack was thwarted from netting the game’s first scoring opportunity by the feet of advancing shotstopper Jordan Longmuir.
His miss was all the more sorely felt when Pollok got their noses in front with a stunning solo goal from in-form winger McCann, who ran fully 50 yards leaving three defenders in his wake before clipping a low shot beyond Carlin for 1-0.
Only the woodwork prevented that scoreline being doubled shortly afterwards after a wonderfully flighted Kieron McAleenan free kick came back off the crossbar.
However, a second goal was only delayed a matter of minutes when a high hanging Grant Evans cross into the penalty area found Daly totally unmarked and his close-range header gave Carlin no chance.
Emboldened by these early breakthroughs, the Super Premier Division outfit went on to tighten their first-half grip, a feat that only went unrewarded due to a combination of wasteful finishing along with veteran Kilsyth goalkeeper Andy Carlin pulling off a string of top class saves, the best a reflex parry of a close-range Daly diving header that looked a certain score.
AND within 60 seconds came a game-changing moment at the other end as McBride turned sharply some 20 yards out to fire home a low shot that proved to be the last touch of the ball before the interval
The second-half impetus initially lay with Pollok as Derek Hepburn blasted high over and Carlin spectacularly kept out a net-bound McCann drive.
But their goal remaining intact had Kilsyth sensing their opportunity to exert some attacking pressure of their own albeit without overly troubling Longmuir between the Pollok posts other than when a 35-yard Mark Tyrell free kick clipped the outside of the post.
The visitors continuing to exude attacking menace and asking a lot more questions of Pollok in their half of the pitch forced manager Tony McInally into replacing Hepburn with the more defensive- minded Tam Hanlon and this substitution snuffed out Kilsyth’s lingering hopes of snatching a leveller.
“Complacency almost brought about our downfall and it’s simply not good enough,” blasted Macca afterwards.
“Being relentless is what distinguishes the top teams from the rest and we have missed clear-cut chances that should have put the game to bed long before half-time.
“Kilsyth then got a lift which has seen them have a go at us. I should be pleased at securing a cup-final place but not when we play like that.”
KILSYTH gaffer Keith Hogg emerged from his dressing room to say: “You cannot expect to win semi-finals losing goals in the manner we did.
“McCann ran from his own half of the park without being tackled which is criminal and how Michael Daly gets a free header for the second goal when the ball has been in the air for fully five seconds is beyond me.
“In fairness, the players worked tirelessly to get back into it and had a lot of f the game territoriallyy second half, butt ultimately we came e up short.”
Kilsyth’s disappointment was lessened by word comingng though of Super First Division title rivals Girvan suffering a 2-1 defeat against a Clydebank side who recovered from going 1-0 down to a well-struck Jamie Ballantine free kick to hit back with goals from Alan Frizzell and Jamie Darroch.
The result sees the Bankies move into second top spot in the standings – a point ahead of Kilsyth but they have played a game more.
At the other end of the table Maryhill’s battle to preserve their Super First status was boosted by a 2-0 victory over Blantyre Vics who are now officially relegated.
In the Super Premier top flight, leaders Rob Roy and Auchinleck Talbot shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw at Guys Meadow while title challenging Glenafton lost out 1-0 at Hurlford United.
And it’s looking like Kilwinning Rangers will be in the drop zone play-off decider after a 3-1 defeat by Arthurlie.