Pride At Stake

Monday evening brought about the chance to tick off another ground, Brig O'Lea Stadium was the venue for the last Super Premier League match of the season. Home of junior club Neilston who were playing hosts to Junior Cup winners Auchinleck Talbot. The reason for this fixture being played so late in the season was due to Talbot's cup exploits taking priority to their league duties, leaving them with many fixtures to complete in recent weeks. Even the tannoy announcer joked that it was a pre-season friendly match. Neilston were rock bottom and relegated long ago, whilst Talbot still had a chance to finish third ahead of Beith if they were to win.

First thing I noticed when arriving at the ground was the smell of manure from the local farm land, which explained straight away why they're nicknamed The Farmer's Boys. The ground had a sheltered terrace on the far side, access all round the ground to stand and a dugout on each long side of the pitch. To my surprise they had floodlights, which is a bit of a rarity at this level, whether they use them or work is another thing. Not the best looked after of grounds and open to the elements, even the smell!

In the early stages it was apparent that Talbot were much more comfortable on the ball and were taking the game to Neilston, although they looked threatening on the counter. After about quarter of an hour Neilston had the lead against the run of play, a cool finish on the counter that wrong-footed the unsighted Adam Strain in the Talbot goal.

Double the time later and the lead was doubled. Very similar to a goal I'd seen on Saturday at Newlandsfield, a lobbed own goal, Gaughan was the unfortunate Talbot defender to produce a superb finish at the wrong end. Only a few minutes later the deficit was halved by veteran striker Stevie Mallan who nodded in from close range. The interval came and Talbot made a triple change with Mallan and two trialists departing.

The second period was mainly Talbot huffing and puffing, but getting nowhere, the final ball and finish was lacking. Neilston killed off any comeback hopes with a simple counter attack goal which knocked the momentum out of Talbot as the rest of the game petered out.

Full Time – Neilston 3-1 Auchinleck Talbot

My final game of the season will be my next one, Thursday evening finally brings a close to the junior season as Pollok take on Irvine Meadow in the Evening Times Cup final at the neutral venue of Newlandsfield (home of Pollok). Not to worry though, pre-season friendlies will be starting at the beginning of July, which isn't too far away. I intend to try a different format when I post my next entry that I'll hopefully use all next season when I really begin this blog.

Scouting Mission

Newlandsfield was the destination on a Monday evening as I made it along to the re-match between Pollok and Auchinleck Talbot, it was only six days ago that Talbot had killed the Pollok title dream. Since then Talbot had lost in the Ayrshire Cup final to Irvine Meadow and Pollok won the Central League Cup on penalties against Kilsyth Rangers. This match was the preliminary round of the Evening Times Cup, winners would be away to Largs Thistle in the quarter-final on Thursday night.

I was unsure of the kick-off time so was in the ground with time to spare, to my surprise I seen Queen's Park manager Gardner Speirs and his coaching staff, could only assume a wee scouting mission was their intentions. From the Pollok line-up I'd like to see three players make the short journey to Hampden headquarters, goalkeeper Kris Robertson, versatile midfielder John Sweeney and frontman Paul Macaulay.

Unfortunately Sweeney made the wrong impression, a straight red-card for a bit of verbals to the linesman, apparently prick was his word of choice, he had a point. Talbot were already a goal up by then after a slack start by the 'Lok. The sending off seemed a harsh decision and the referee didn't hesitate when his chance came to even up the numbers, Talbot's McIlroy the unlucky one to be on the end of crazy refereeing. Half-time came and the officials had a chance to think up some more bizarre decisions for us to endure in the second period.

A change in personnel and formation did the trick for Pollok, Brain MacKay made an immediate impact, a quick throw-in put him in on goal and he did the necessary. The game had opened up with a man less each and tiredness kicking in, the chances were coming thick and fast.

Macaulay picked up the ball at the edge of the area, shifted it and fired it into the net, a real strikers goal, take note Mr Speirs and co. A few more controversial decisions by the man in the middle followed, one being an indirect free-kick in the penalty box for, erm, something. Late on the man of the moment Macaulay finished things off late on with a carbon copy of his first goal to secure a trip to the seaside on Thursday evening.

Full Time – Pollok 3-1 Auchinleck Talbot

Highlights from the match are linked below, credit to lokpars.

0-1 goal
1-1 goal
2-1 goal
3-1 goal

My next match is likely to be that aforementioned trip to the seaside as Pollok visit Largs Thistle, my bucket and spade are at the ready.

Helicopter Tuesday

Okay, there wasn't a need for a helicopter, it was down to one match to decide the Super Premier League title. The match was Auchinleck Talbot v Pollok, the title was between Irvine Meadow and Pollok, confused? Well, Meadow played their final league game over a week ago, beating Pollok 2-1, which meant Pollok would have to win their final three fixtures to win the league. Victories at home to Glenafton and away to Cumnock meant a win away to Talbot on a sunny Tuesday evening would secure the title.

It was my first visit to Beechwood Park, a very tidy junior ground including a seated stand with terracing all around the ground, to avoid being blinded by the sun the majority of fans opted for the far-side terracing to view this crucial encounter. Pollok and the match officials applauded the Talbot players onto the park as they paraded the Scottish Junior Cup which they had won on the previous Sunday. When approaching the ground the local pubs and houses had Talbot decorations outside them to wish their team good luck for that match which hadn't been taken down yet, perhaps to remind the travelling fans of their recent success.

The first half wasn't much to write home about, Pollok applied most of the attacking intentions, forcing countless corners, but no real chances. The half-time orders seemed to do the trick as a long throw into the box was flicked on by commanding centre-half 'Dexy' Wingate which looped into the net. The title was in sight, but a long forty odd minutes were still to come.

The 'Lok continued to press on as both sets of players continued to tire in the heat and after a long season. Due to the lack of floodlights at the majority of junior grounds the remaining fixtures get crammed in towards the end of the season, meaning three games a week for teams needing to catch up on fixtures, which both sides had been doing recently.

With eight minutes remaining, despite not providing much of an attacking threat, Talbot countered and hit Pollok on the break, then barely a minute later they netted again to take the lead, the title was flipped on it's head and Talbot had done their Ayrshire rivals Irvine Meadow a massive favour to help win them the title.

Since I didn't fancy having to find my own way home from Auchinleck I left a football match early for the first time, the disappointment was too much for some 'Lok fans as they headed for the exits. I was suitable punished for the crime of leaving early and missed a late third goal for Talbot.

Congratulations to Irvine Meadow, the Super Premier League champions, which also gains them admission in the senior Scottish Cup for next season. From what I'd seen of Pollok this season they weren't as impressive as their previous league winning sides, and only seeing the Meadow the once, against the 'Lok, they were by far the better team that evening.

Full Time – Auchinleck Talbot 3-1 Pollok

Below are goal highlights from the match at Beechwood Park, credit to lokpars.

0-1 goal
1-1 goal
2-1 goal
3-1 goal

Next up for me is a Queen's Park side playing hosts to a Scottish Amateur Select side, I'm unsure of how strong a team Queen's will field but a new signing might get some game time. The match is to celebrate the centenary of the Scottish Amateur Football Association.