Pollok break duck

Injury, illness and suspension restricted Lok manager Willie Irvine's options for his first Stagecoach super premier league home game.

Winger Paul Hyslop became a makeshift front man. New arrival Craig McEwan was slotted into midfield for the first half.

A flowing move in the 17th minute almost gave Pollok the lead when Andy Essler teed up Chris Cruickshank for a sliding volley that cracked the crossbar.

On 26 minutes Hyslop played in Tommy Nolan, but the young midfielder saw his strike pushed away for a corner by Stevie Johnston in the Vale goal.

Zander Cowie was first called into action just after the half-hour mark to block a thunderous Stevie Miller pass back from more than 30 yards.

Jamie Wilson blazed over from near the touchline and Scott Upton fired well wide from distance.

On two occasions substitute Keiron Downs came within inches of reaching dangerous balls flashed across Lok's area.

The half finished with Essler striking the woodwork, but the assistant ref had already flagged offside.

Wilson forced an early second half save from Cowie with a header from a Craig Halliday free kick. The Cruickshank mis-hit a 20-yard effort, but Johnston coped.

In the 62nd minute Pollok's best chance of the game was a terrific sweep down the right wing. McEwan and Nolan combined to release Calum Hardie, whose pinpoint cross found Hyslop six yards out, only for him to send his header past the post.

A Gerry Joyce slip allowed Downs a sight of goal, but he pulled his shot narrowly wide from just outside the penalty area. John Sweeney fired a rocket over for Lok in the 71st after Hyslop chested the ball into his path.

Then five minutes later Ryan McGregor's powerful effort was blocked by defender Wilson after a Hardie cut back.

With 11 minutes left, Cowie's diving save denied Downs.

The 89th-minute breakthrough was McEwan's 40-yard cross from deep into the penalty area and McGregor rose highest to head home to the delight of Lok fans, although not so for his father Gerry, Vale's manager.

The result secures top-flight football next season for Pollok, who face Kilbirnie Ladeside at Valefield on Saturday (2 pm kick off) after last night's (Central league cup tie away to Greenock.