Pollok fall to Lanark United

The six-week lay-off since Pollok's last game against Auchinleck Talbot proved insufficient time for goalkeeper Kris Robertson to recover from a knee injury, but Chris Cruickshank was available once again and lined up in a back three as manager Rab Sneddon moved away from his more traditional four man defence.

The visitors had the better of the early exchanges, and almost took the lead in the second minute when John Sweeney had a shot well saved by Craig Rowan, while Paul McAulay's follow-up effort was diverted away for a corner kick.

Bryan Dingwall had the ball in the net after four minutes when he pounced after an Alan Muir shot was saved, only to be denied by a raised flag from the assistant referee.

Rowan then stopped a volley from McAulay before Andy Essler fired over the crossbar.

In the 16th minute McAulay tried his luck again, but again former 'Lok custodian Rowan produced a terrific save to avert the danger.

McAulay blazed over six minutes later before David McGuire spurned United's first opportunity of the game, pulling a shot wide of the target from 20 yards out.

Tom Hanlon sent a free-kick narrowly past the post in the 29th minute before 'Lok came within inches of breaking the deadlock.

Tenacious work from McAulay saw him fashion space for a drive at goal, only to strike the base of the woodwork.

The hosts began to pose more of a threat, and Tommy Franch and John Osbourne both missed chances from good positions. Pollok failed to heed the danger signs however, and fell behind in the 44th minute.

A long free-kick was nodded into the path of ALAN McFADDEN, and he found the back of the net with a well-executed scissor-kick volley.

The second half opened with Lanark once again on the front foot, with Franch heading wide from a Hanlon cross.

After 50 minutes Essler slid over a low cross for Sweeney, but his drive was blocked by a superb challenge from Tommy Lennox.

Muir and David McGeown both fired off target for 'Lok before they fell further behind in the 65th minute. Joe Carruth and the trialist Pollok 'keeper both looked on as a cross from the right found an unmarked GRANT CUTHILL, and he made no mistake with the simplest of finishes. Cruickshank headed wide from a Stevie Miller corner, then McAulay missed again after a long ball from Sweeney.

McGuire chipped an effort wide for the home side before a double substitution for Pollok, with Paul Hyslop and Calum Hardie replacing McAulay and Miller.

Hyslop almost made an instant impact when Sweeney's through ball ricocheted off the referee and into his path, but his shot trundled harmlessly wide.

A long range shot from McGeown flew just over, while substitute Tommy Nolan had a strike deflected wide.

Dingwall blazed over after a good solo run, but he gave his side a lifeline in the 86th minute. McGeown's pinpoint cross picked out BRYAN DINGWALL, who buried a header past Rowan from close range.

He nearly repeated the trick when he met a Hyslop cross in the final minute, but this time he couldn't keep the ball down and so the Moor Park side held on for all three points.

Next up for 'Lok is a Glasgow derby when Petershill are the visitors to Newlandsfield Park on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 1.45pm.