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.

Glens Progress In Paper Cup

On a roasting Monday evening I popped along to New Southcroft Park for my first time. A new ground that only had it's very first game at the beginning of this season when senior opposition in the shape of Clyde came to visit for the grand opening. It's a perfect modern ground for a club of it's size with crowds of only a few hundred to be expected, it consists of a covered enclosure at two sides of stepped terracing. Everything is new and shiny, even the graffiti is fresh!

The match was the preliminary round of the Evening Times Cup, with Rutherglen Glencairn playing hosts to Beith. The Glens have marked their ground opening season with promotion and the Central Distract Division One title, whilst Beith won the West of Scotland Cup just over a week ago. So, superb weather and two successful teams, potential for a good match, or perhaps more likely; I'll just get burnt and look like a lobster by tomorrow.

I only recognised two players from previous junior games that I had been to, which are mainly just Pollok games, Glens ginger frontman Paul McDougall and Brian McKeown, a versatile player for Beith. It's hard to forget McDougall, he enjoys the crowds banter and plays along, giving as good as he gets. Great entertainment if he's playing for your team and the target of the colourful language from the opposition fans. He blew them a few kisses when subbed late on, all 'friendly' banter. McKeown, or Sniffer as he's known, is a player that I really like, he was a Pollok player last season, and even won their player of the year. A small, defensive player that's quick thinking and more than comfortable when on the ball. My uncle informed that the nickname was because he suffers badly from hay-fever and therefore sniffs a lot, hence 'Sniffer', being the gullible sod that I am I'm still undecided whether to believe him or not.

As for the game itself, I found it quite enjoyable if lacking in quality and entertainment. Of course with this being a junior game there was the staple sending off, or am I stereotyping? The majority of sending off's that I've see at junior level isn't because of the rough style reputation that the junior game seems to have but more to do with the inexperienced referees making hasty decisions. I'm pretty sure the lad received two bookings, one for a bit of verbals and the other for a mistimed tackle, a bit harsh in my view.

Harsh or not it meant Beith had ten men for the last thirty minutes or so. Up until then the match had very few chances despite a comical own-goal in the opening exchanges of the match when a Beith defender headed over the out-coming 'keeper. A man down and a goal down, then two down after a superb wee move. After a bit of twisting and turning in the box before the ball was played to McDougall to cross back-post with the outside of his foot for Andy Murray's long lost twin brother to nod home. I'd heard he was fairly decent at football so it could've been him, but it wasn't, it was Richie Burke.

Beith then had a spirited fight back, crashing a shot off the underside of the bar and then finally getting a deserved goal with about ten minutes to go to set-up a nervy finale. The Glens had to clear the ball off the line in added time, it looked like it was done so by a hand but with the lack of serious protests and my glasses this evening I'll put it down to my eyes playing tricks on me as I hoped for a dramatic penalty shoot-out to decide the tie, not to be though. The Glens progress to the quarter-final and now face an away tie to Blantyre Victoria at the weekend.

Full Time – Rutherglen Glencairn 2-1 Beith

Below are links to YouTube video highlights from this game, credit to lokpars and vitomac19.

1-0 goal
2-0 goal
Beith hit bar
2-1 goal

Goal highlights

My next match will be Auchinleck Talbot v Pollok at Beechwood Park. Pollok travel to the newly crowned Junior Cup winners and need a victory to win the league, if they fail to do so Irvine Meadow will become the champions of the west.