When Midges Attack

Off to the seaside I went on a pleasant Thursday evening to tick off another ground, Barrfields Park, home of West of Scotland First Division champions Largs Thistle. That achievement had won them the right to play in the Evening Times Cup, and a home tie with Pollok was their reward. This was a quarter-final tie, the winners would be at home to Dalry Thistle on Saturday afternoon in the next round.

The pitch was massive, and had plenty of space to be made even bigger if allowed. I got myself some decent grub, put up with the terrible music blasting out and made my trek to the other end of the ground for a good view. Plenty of the locals took advantage of the nice weather and came prepared with their very own carry-outs to aid their enjoyment of the match.

Pollok had a very depleted side and could only name three substitutes, two of which were trialists signed on the day. Largs started at a lightning pace and were very much in control, pinning the 'Lok back for the early stages. They got their deserved goal from a well struck volley that flew through a crowd of players, the 'keeper couldn't get a strong enough hand to it. So, the sea-siders had the lead which they took into the half-time break.

The game proved to be the clichéd game of two halves, all Largs in the first period and it was to be all Pollok in the second. Also for the bloody midges it was a game of two halves, non-existent in the first (just like Pollok), then ran riot in the second.

A minute after me saying that the striker Dingwall was having a quiet game he popped up in the box and scored, albeit via a deflection, Pollok were very much on top now, somehow. With ten to go talented, when he wants to be, midfielder Davie McGeown charged down the wing and whipped in a ball that centre-back/left winger Cruickshank bulleted off the bar and in with a header.

The full-time whistle couldn't come soon enough as the midges continued to attack, I've never seen so many people scratching their heads, although that could've also been in disbelief at what they'd just witnessed. A crime that each team only showed up for forty-five minutes each but the real crime where the midges, it was borderline assault!

Full Time – Largs Thistle 1-2 Pollok

The goals from Barrfields Park are linked below, credit to lokpars.

1-0 goal
1-1 goal
1-2 goal

Next up for me will be the semi-final tie that's now been set-up, Pollok v Dalry Thistle at Newlandsfield on Saturday, 2pm kick-off.