Pollok v Spartans – Match Report and Highlights

Posted on Sunday, September 28th, 2008

Match highlights of the first half and of the goals from yesterdays cracking Scottish Cup first round tie have been kindly made available by Pollok. To watch the first half highlights (including both goals), click the video below.

Spartans and Pollok will have to do it all again this coming Saturday after a hard fought, balanced draw between the two sides. Spartans, with a point to prove against Junior opposition after last years 4-1 defeat to Linlithgow Rose, welcomed back Fowlie and Gerrard, both missing the last game vs Coldstream. Pollok, in only their 2nd year in this cup tournament were short a couple of first team players, as they looked to further prove the perceived higher standards of the Junior leagues.

Spartans started strong and Walker’s pace up front ensured the Pollok defence we alert from the start. Walker had a great chance to score the first goal, working hard to get his shot, only to see it drag past the left hand post.

On 15 minutes Pollok took the lead. A corner crossed in was only half cleared by the Spartan defence. The ball played back in and was knocked into the back of the net by Dingwall.

Spartans reacted well to going behind and immediately pushed for an equaliser. The pace of Walker and Kader causing the defence a huge amount of trouble while the midfield engine, King was pulling the strings from the centre.

In the 27th minute Kader was bundled over in the box by the Pollok defence. The referee awarded a freekick just outside the box, but after rightly consulting his assistant, confirmed the foul was in the penalty area. Penalty given!

Walker coolly placed the ball and although the keeper made contact, the power saw his shot hit high into the net.

The rest of the first half was very much an end to end affair. Pollok creating a lot of pressure from corner kicks, while Spartans were forcing the Pollok defence to clear their lines.

Just before the half time whistle an Archibald shot from a corner was deflected inches wide from the left hand post.

Into the second half and Spartans started the stronger side. Kader was now causing great problems down the right wing as the Pollok defence struggled to keep up with him. Posts were hit at either end as both sides looked for the next goal.

The Pollok attack was all coming down the right hand side. Hoskins was given a very hard shift as the Junior side seemed to get a lot of luck against our left back, playing his first ever Scottish Cup tie.

Just after the hour Fowlie was replaced by Scott Livingstone. Fowlie having played brilliantly through the pain was unable to continue so Lawson and Lynch shuffled the team which saw Archibald move to the centre of defence and O’Donnell slot into the right back position.

Later on Devlin and Preston were also brought on to replace Kader and Henretty as Spartans looked for the winning goal.

A mistake by the Pollok keeper saw the ball land at the feet of King, 40 yards out with an open goal however his shot was wide of the target.

Substitute Devlin had a chance to score with 2 minutes left on the clock however the Pollok keeper doing enough to distract the Striker, his shot going high over the bar.

Deep into injury time and Walker headed the ball onto the bar from a corner with the Pollok keeper well beaten. This was the last clear chance of the game and we look forward to hosting our Junior friends next Saturday.

Motm: Alex King – A very hard working and composed performance. Several of the Pollok fans around us were commenting on how impressed they were with several of our players so special mentions also go to Walker, Kader, Archibald and Gerrard.

Team: Flockhart, Gerrard, Hoskins, Archibald, Fowlie (Livingstone), O’Donnell, King, Kader (Preston), Walker, Manson, Henretty (Devlin)

Att: 1170