PDM HUWS GRAY	WOSFL Premier Division	Match 13
Pollok	1 (0)	Forde
Glenafton Athletic	2 (0)	Fraser, Moffat
Sat 13 Jan 2024	KO 1:30 pm	Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow

Glenafton made three changes to the eleven that started against Clydebank with Alex McWaters, Sam McKee and Luke McBeth (now transferred to Partick Thistle) making way for Scott McLean, Dylan O’Kane and Michael Moffat.

In the Pollok dug-out was Glenafton’s former goalkeeping coach Billy Peacock and Evan Maley, once on the Glens books without playing a competitive match (‘the COVID season), while on the injury list was striker Shug Kerr who joined ‘Lok from the Glens at the start of this season

Although a chilly day there was not cloud in the sky and those congregating on the west facing terracing had to shield their eyes from the dazzling sunshine

Pollok were quick off the mark as they threatened in the opening minute after Luke Main picked up a pass from Adam Forde to burst through the middle only for his shot from the ‘D’ to whizz wide of target.

At the other end Scott McLean curled a free-kick into the goal mouth which was cleared to edge of the box where Dylan O’Kane drilled a low shot that was comfortably saved by keeper Jordan Longmuir.

Soon after Darren Christie broke into the right-hand side of the box and cut the ball back from the bye-line for the incoming Main only for his well-fashioned shot to be blocked on the goal-line by keeper David Markey and then instantly dived to smother the loose ball to prevent Adam Forde getting a touch.

On 10 minutes Scott Forester barged into the back of Liam Caddis as they challenged for the ball just inside the Lok half. The Glens striker took a sore one on the shoulder requiring treatment and although he briefly returned to play it was clear he could not continue. On came Sam McKee to play on the left with Scott McLean switching to the right and Dylan O’Kane pairing up front with Michael Moffat.

Pollok continued to break forward at will with Andy Gallacher in particular catching the eye with his runs into space. Although the Glens defence stood firm, supported in numbers with their central midfielders to clear the danger, retaining possession to mount any counter-attacks was proving more difficult.

Christie bombed down the right wing and played a neat one-two with Grant Anderson before cutting into the right-hand side of the box and blasting a low-angled shot that the advancing Markey got down low to push the ball back out which was gathered by Fraser Mullen and floated into the goalmouth where Lyall Holding won the aerial battle with Main.  Gallacher recovered the ball on the left and fired it into the box where Rowe nicked in front of Forde to head it to the edge of the box and although it fell for Fraser Mullen, he was quickly stripped of the ball by Fraser and McKee.

With 25 minutes gone the Glens were beginning to enjoy some advances deep into the Pollok half, particularly through McKee now operating down the right.

Meanwhile Pollok continued to keep the visitors’ defence on their toes and won a free-kick on the outskirts of the left-hand corner of the box. Mullen’s kick battered off the wall and half-hearted appeals for hand-ball were waved away. Meanwhile Fraser hooked the ball upfield where Moffat, at the second attempt, clipped the ball up the right wing for McKee to chase down, leaving the back-tracking Mullen chasing the youngster’s long shadows. Seemingly, now with a free run into the box McKee was then suddenly confronted with Pollok keeper Jordan Longmuir racing almost 30 yards from his goal-line and on approaching McKee he suddenly turned into ‘Kenny Everett’s Brother Lee’ and his ‘Big Hands’ forcing the Glens man to try and chip ball over him, only for Longmuir to handle it and block the ball. The referee deemed it was a hand-ball and preventing a goal-scoring opportunity and the keeper despite his, and several team-mates, protestations was shown a red card.

Grant Anderson was sacrificed to be replaced by keeper Ben Fry and his first action was to pull off a great save from McLean’s dipping free-kick punching it over the bar, his second action was to cleanly clutch McLean’s corner-kick at the near post under pressure from Moffat.

The home side licked their wounds and were soon back on the front-foot with little suggestion that they were a player down. Mullen floated a free-kick from the left into busy six-yard box and after some head tennis Neil Gow bulleted a downward header that faced a line of players from each side stretching across the goalmouth, Forde couldn’t quite get the ball under control before Paton and Fraser combined to clear the danger.

On 35 minutes Main pounced on a clearance before slipping a perfectly weighted pass into the ‘D’ for Gallacher to chase down and crack a shot from 16 yards that was blocked by Holding sending the ball high into the air and on its descent, Forde guided a header between two defenders and beyond the reach of the diving Markey only for the ball to smack of the post and Rowe to clear up.

Soon after, another fast-flowing counter-attack concluded with Christie breaking into the box before blasting a shot from 15 yards forcing Markey to pull off a point blank save and the corner that followed was eventually cleared by Paton.

Glens then enjoyed some good possession deep in the Pollok half through O’Kane’s running in particular without however testing the keeper.

At the other end, another mazy run by Gallacher ended with him slipping the ball into the box for the inrushing Mullen to smack it first time only for the advancing Markey to stick out the leg and deflect the ball wide. Again, the Glens stoutly defended the corner and indeed set up a counter attack after Fraser won the ball with a crunching tackle allowing McKee to pick up the loose ball and feed O’Kane to break from the centre-circle into the ‘Lok box only for the back-tracking Gow block the striker’s shot. 

The visitors continued to push in the closing minutes of half and looked comfortable on the ball and yet it was Pollok that nearly broke the deadlock into added time.  Another great run from Gallacher saw him break into the left-hand side of the box before drilling a low angled shot beyond the reach of the diving Markey and seemingly into the far corner of the net, indeed the incoming Forester had already raised his hand in celebration, only for the ball to hit off the inside of the post and Captain Pettigrew clear the ball upfield.

HT Pollok 0 Glens 0

Pollok kicked off and were soon in the Glens box in numbers where Michael McMullin blocked Main’s effort from close range and Markey deflected the loose ball off Main for the goal kick. The keeper then plucked Mullen’s free kick high into the box out of the air as Forrester threatened.

At the other end McLean from 20 yards out curled a free-kick over the wall which then just dipped over the junction of post and bar. The visitors continued to press and McLean’s free kick from 25 yards beat the wall but not keeper Fry.

Played raged back and forth with goal mouth action at both ends and defences on top.

Sadly on 60 minutes my trusty old camera’s shutter called it a day and on 61 minutes tears turned to joy as Glenafton took the lead. With Glenafton TV under the weather it was thanks too Pollok’s video highlights that I can relive the moment and those that followed.

O’Kane floated a corner from the right into the heart of the box where although Main won the aerial battle with Rowe the ball sailed on towards the 18-yard line and Pettigrew guided a header toward the six-yard box where Gary Fraser hooked the ball over his shoulder and the head of the leaping Mullen and that of Sean Burns at the back post and into the far corner of the net – a classy touch.

Pollok replaced Ross Lindsay with Kyle Faulds.

However, despite Glens enjoying some good possession Pollok equalised five minutes later. Mullen, from just inside the Glens half, launched a free kick high to into the box where Gow headed it square across the six-yard box for Main to bullet a header goalward and although Markey made a valiant effort to claw the ball off the line, Adam Forde was in place to side foot it home from a yard out.

On 72 minutes Pollok made a triple substitution with Burns, Christie and Gallacher making way for Maley, McGregor and McKenzie.

Credit to Glens there was no sign of them settling for a point and while they were up in numbers for a long throw into the box, they were caught in a lightening quick counter attack and in a flash after some slick passing Main fired a shot from 25 yards which Markey pushed away to his right only for Maley to gather the ball close to the corner flag and cut the ball back to Faulds to drill a low shot from 20 yards wide of the post.

Glens brought on Alex McWaters for the injured Lyall Holding.

Lok took a quick free kick and Faulds set up McGregor from 12 yards only for his attempt to stroke the ball home bounce off McMullin’s back.

Despite the Pollok pressure Glens didn’t sit back and on 89 minutes their efforts were rewarded. Paton nicked the ball from Forde just inside the Pollok half and then held off the ‘Lok striker who tried to win it back before giving up the chase as Paton progressed to the outskirts of the box. From here he clipped a perfectly weighted ball into the box, beyond the reach of Forrester, to match Moffat’s run into the box on the other side of Forrester and although the unfortunate ‘Lok defender got a touch on the ball before Michael Moffat, it cannoned off the striker’s shins sending the ball high over the head of the keeper on the six yard line and into the gaping net.

Into added time and Mullen from deep on the right launched a high ball upfield for McGregor only for McMullin to win the header and Moffat picked up the loose ball before driving forward and picking out McWaters in space out on the right from where he cut into the box and skipped past Faulds before curling a ball over the bar.

A great start to the New Year for the Glens with a back-to-the-walls peformance at times while determined not to settle for a point.

FT Pollok 1 Glens 2

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. David Markey 14. Lyall Holding (10. Alex McWaters) 20. Ollie Rowe 5. Craig Pettigrew (captain) 3. Michael McMullin 18. Dylan O’Kane 6. Paul Paton 8. Gary Fraser 2. Scott McLean, 12. Liam Caddis (7. Sam McKee) 9. Michael Moffat Subs Not Used: 11. Ryan Sinnamon 16. Alan Frizzell

POLLOK
1. Jordan Longmuir 2. Fraser Mullen 3. Sean Burns (17. Ryan McGregor) 4. Scott Forrester 5. Calum Gow 6. Ross Lindsay (12. Kyle Faulds) 7. Darren Christie (15. Marc McKenzie) 8. Luke Main 9. Adam Forde 10. Grant Anderson (21. Ben Fry) 11. Andy Gallacher (16. Evan Maley) Subs Not Used: 14. Jay Nelson 18. Jamie Henry

Match Photos

Pollok v Glenafton Athletic