Last -gasp equaliser then Derek is penalty hero for Lok as plucky Nock just lose out
That it isn’t is necessarily down to the Ayrshiremen failing to get the better of Pollok in a Newlandsfield-staged finale on Saturday for which various reasons can be attributed such as bad luck and the sheer resilience shown by their rivals.
However, nothing proved more decisive in this respect than Lok substitute Derek Hepburn’s opportunistic streak.
The little striker is a popular figure with Southside supporting legions and his appeal must have soared even further after coming off the bench to salvage a last-gasp 2-2 draw with an injury-time equaliser and take the game to penalty kicks where Del again stepped up to the plate to score the winning strike in his side’s 5-4 shoot-out triumph.
He said: “My team-mates gave me pelters for lobbing their keeper for my goal and turning away in celebration before the ball was over the line, but I knew it was going in.
“I was then full of confidence at the spot kicks and insisted on taking the fifth one.”
Yet how cruel are the spites of fortune for Cumnock’s only spot kick sinner to be burly frontman Scott Anson, arguably their best player on the day and an inconsolable figure in the aftermath despite the best efforts of supporters, team-mates and Nock manager John McKeown to make him feel blameless.
The 29-goal hitman said: “I’m our normal penalty kick taker and simply shouldn’t be missing the target, but the game should never have gone to spot kicks in the first place.
“We totally dominated and were the better team by a mile so it’s disappointing to lose out when Pollok have only caused us problems at set-pieces.”
Cumnock’s quest to chalk up a first ever West of Scotland Cup triumph looked to be on track when they started the better of the two teams.
They almost took the lead when Anson’s audacious chip from 22 yards eluded the reach of keeper Jordan Longmuir only to hit the top of the bar.
POLLOK’S best attacking threat during a frenetic opening half hour arrived from a driven Gary McCann cross which Cumnock stopper Stephen McKenna deflected over his own bar.
However, they were fall a goal behind just minutes later when a clever passing movement provided an opening for Calum McRobbie and he slotted an angular shot into the corner of the net for 1-0. Cumnock’s lack of physicality was allowing Pollok to dominate at set-plays but notably without any headed efforts finding target.
And they almost paid the price for these failings when Raymond Montgomerie came close to doubling his side’s advantage with a couple of well executed volleys on goal.
His team coming off second best prompted a half-time change by Pollok gaffer Tony McInally whose introduction of Kieran McAleenan allowed his side to gain the upper hand in midfield and the scores were levelled at 1-1 just seven minutes in.
And not surprisingly the goal arrived from a set play cleared back to the corner flag area where Tam Hanlon’s superb delivery found Gallagher rising highest to power the ball downwards past Cumnock keeper Darren Johnston.
In the closing minutes, an Anson 18-yard drive clipped the top of his crossbar and then similarly reduced to being an onlooker by a Paul Burns free kick also striking the bar and making it four times that Cumnock had been denied by the woodwork .
Pollok were under pressure but looking like riding out the storm until an 89th minute gaffe by their normally reliable No.1 who somehow let a 35-yard bouncing shot from Nock playmaker Adam Hunter come back off his chest and into the path of Burns.
And he poked the ball home from close range sparked scenes of great glee among the Ayrshire followers making up the 1027 strong crowd .
ALL SEEMED lost for Pollok but then deep into injury time, Longmuir launched a long ball forward and as three Cumnock defenders hesitated, Hepburn raced onto the loose ball to cleverly lift the ball over Johnston and into the net for a 2-2 outcome.
The final whistle just 20 seconds later brought the inevitable shoot-out where Anson firing Cumnock’s second effort past the post enabled Pollok to score their kicks and win 5-4.
Lok team boss Tony McInally said: “Today is our first West of Scotland Cup win in 17 years and I’m delighted for the club, our supporters and the sponsor Jimmy Gilligan, who has prayed for the day he could hand the cup to a Pollok captain.
“But most of all I’m happy for the players who have shown a great spirit to stay in the final when the game looked lost.”