Pollok 1-2
Cambuslang Rangers
O.V.D.
Scottish Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 6th
December
at
Newlandsfield
Cambuslang
Rangers produced the shock of the round when they sensationally knocked Super
League Champions and current League leaders Pollok out of the O.V.D. Scottish
cup 3rd round at the weekend.
With
odds available before the game of 15/2 there were a few happy punters leaving
Newlandsfield at full time.
Cambuslang
turned in a very impressive performance but one all Somervell Park regulars
knew they were capable of producing. The home side seemed to be rattled with
Cambuslang and never really got into their stride, simply because Cambuslang
wouldn't allow them.
Cambuslang
man of the match, keeper Craig Rowan, had arguably his busiest and probably his
best game between the sticks for the Lang. He pulled of four or five top class
saves at vital times during the match to keep the Lang in the tie.
Cambuslang
manager Andy Cunningham made only the one change to the side that had drawn the
previous game, he brought in Derek Carmichael, to stiffen up the middle of the
park, at the expense of Alan McCrae who had to make do with a place on the
bench.
McGregor up for the challenge as Feenie looks on
Photograph by kind permission of Polloknet
After
a pretty even opening spell it was Cambuslang who had the first opportunity
when Billy Holmes failed to connect properly with a Gary McGregor cross while
under pressure from Aitchison. The home side were having problems
creating chances, and it took 13 minutes for their first real effort on goal,
but McNeill's fired his effort well over from the edge of the box. At the
other end Lang's best chance of the half fell to Derek Carmichael who had
an excellent chance to put them in front. Galloway fired over a cross and the
ball came to Carmichael 5 yards out but he somehow slid his effort agonisingly
wide of the Pollok goal when he really should have scored.
The
first of many bookings came on 27 minutes when Galloway kicked the ball off
McMenamin as Pollok tried to take a quick free kick. McMenamin
himself found his way into the book nine minutes later after a scything
challenge on Langs top scorer Paul Brown. Pollok's best chance of the half came
two minutes later when nice work by McNeill created an opening for Hamilton,
but his effort was superbly tipped round the post by Lang keeper
Rowan, with his first of a few important stops of the afternoon. Two
more 'Lok players were booked before half time arrived, with McNeill booked for
a foul in midfield, and Jimmy McPhee booked for a dangerous challenge on Rowan,
the latter lucky to actually stay on the park at the end up after numerous
other challenges went unpunished by the man in the middle.
Lang go close through Brown
Photograph by kind permission of Polloknet
H-T 0-0
The
home side made a change at the start of the half but the game plan sort of back
fired only a minute into it when the visitors took a deserved lead. Excellent
work down the right hand side saw Galloway skip past the Lok challenges before
delivering the perfect bal for Lang skipper Billy Holmes and he slotted past
Wilson in the Lok goal to put the Lang 1 up.
On the
hour mark the home sides afternoon just went from bad to worse as they were
reduced to 10 men after Hamilton received his marching orders for throwing the
ball into the face of Carmichael, and with the referee only feet away there was
no surprises when he showed the Lok midfielder the red card. Carmichael was
booked for the challenge on Hamilton beforehand. The home side, in an effort to
get back into the game threw on McWilliams, a striker, for McLauchlin. Rowan
then pulled off another vital save this time from McPhee, which was to be the
Lok mans last contribution as he was replaced by McWilliams.
Lang see off another Lok attack
Photograph by kind permission of Polloknet
On 77
minutes the visitors all but wrapped up the tie, with a quite stunning strike
from hit man Paul Brown. After collecting the ball 20 yards from goal the
Cambuslang striker spun and unleashed a superb drive that flew
into in the top corner with the Lok keeper a spectator like the rest of
us. Both goalscorers were then replaced as Love and McCrae were introduced to
the action. Pollok continued to collect bookings, with firstly McWilliams
being booked for a foul, and the D McWilliams picking up another needless
booking for dissent as the Lok lost the plot slightly with the healthy crowd
getting on their backs.
Cambuslang
could have rounded of the perfect day with a third when they caught Pollok on
the break but Love over hit the ball allowing the keeper to clear the danger.
Deep
into stoppage time and the home team finally found away through the Lang rear
guard. MCNEILL fired home a consolation goal for the home side, but the ripple
of appluse that greeted it summed up the Lok’s whole afternoon.
There
was no time for any more action and the Lang marched into the last 32.
Pollok: Wilson, O'Neil, M. McWilliams, Aitchison,
Pacitti, Nelson, Hamilton, McMenamin (45 Crozier), McLauchlan (60 D.
McWilliams), McNeill, 74 Proctor).
Not used: Sweeney, Baker.
Booked: McMenamin 37, McNeill 42, McPhee 44, Hamilton 54, M. McWilliams 80,
Nelson 85, D. McWilliams 87.
Sent off: Hamilton 59 (violent conduct)
Cambuslang Rangers: Rowan, Doak, McGregor, Feenie, Martin,
Coulter, Carmichael (90 Ferguson), Galloway, Holmes (79 Love), Burns, Brown
(85 McCrae).
Not used: Murphy & McCarroll
Booked: Galloway 28, Carmichael 59