SUPER sub Ryan Deas bagged an opportunist second half equaliser as gritty Meadow blasted back from behind to snatch their first point of the season.

But while these two sides have served up classic confrontations in league and cup since the inception of the Premier Division some 13 years ago this would certainly not be filed away in the section marked “classic confrontations”.

In fact it made for grim viewing and could be dubbed “instantly forgettable”.

Indeed Meadow boss Stevie Rankin conceded as much when he said: “I think it was a terrible game for the spectators to watch, there was limited quality from our side and Pollok. It was a hundred miles an hour football. They scored a goal from our error on our part by our goalie Graeme Shepherd but he went to make four or five great saves. The introduction of Ryan Deas and Chris Hall sparked the team up. It’s a point and you need to start somewhere. The game could have swung either way.” Goalkeeper Graeme Shepherd reclaimed the number one jersey for the hosts after being re-signed in midweek, replacing Dan Tobin, who had a disappointing game a Shettleston a week earlier.

In three minutes Pollok created an opening when Thomas Hanlon swung a cross into the box but it was dealt with easily by the home defence. Less than a minute later Colin Williamson shot wide from 16 yards for the visitors.

Meadow had their first chance in six minutes when livewire winger Gary McCann evaded two challenges and surged into the box Before having his shot from 12 yards saved by Jordan Longmuir in the visiting goal.

It was frantic, end-to-end stuff from two teams desperate to secure their first victory following an indifferent start.

In nine minutes returning Shepherd saved a 10-yard shot from Mark McLennan and the follow-up from David Winters.

McCann was sent flying 25 yards out in 19 minutes and from the resultant free-kick by Marc Twaddle. Paul Maxwell headed into Longmuir’s arms.

A good piece of play from Maxwell saw him set up Robert Halliday to shoot high and wide from the edge of the box in 23 minutes. Another opening came Meadow’s way in 25 minutes but Shaun Fraser shot wide from eight yards.

Rankin’s side had a good chance In 34 minutes when a miscued clearance from former Meadow man Finlay Frye broke to Maxwell 30 yards out but his effort was easily saved by the visiting goalie.

Former Pollok man Jamie Darroch cleared the ball back to Shepherd to break up a visiting attack in 39 minutes and a minute later the unmarked Winters saw his 10-yard effort saved by the home Number one.

Pollok went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Shepherd was unable to hold a free-kick from John Sweeney and Chris Walker reacted quickly to bundle the ball home from six yards. Seconds later only a stunning save from Shepherd kept out a netbound Winters header.

Meadow had a lucky escape a minute after the break when a Hanlon had a shot from eight yards well saved by Shepherd. Then in 51 minutes the unmarked John Sweeney made a great run before shooting over the bar from 12 yards. At the other end Maxwell saw his header from eight yards go well over the bar.

Meadow came close in 59 minutes when a cross-cum shot from 25 yards by Gary McCann was well saved.

Then Lok had another opening when Sweeney shot well over the bar from 25 yards a minute later.

A McCann rocket from 25 yards was spectacularly tipped over the bar by Longmuir in 63 minutes as Meadow battled to get back into the match.

Shepherd made two stunning stops to foil Kieran McAleenan and Winters in 68 minutes. Meadow had another great chance in 69 minutes when a Deas shot was deflected wide by the visiting defence. But only a minute later it was all-square as the visiting goalie failed to hold a shot from Deas and the striker beat a defender before knocking the rebound home from four yards.

Shepherd made a stunning one handed save to deny Winters in 80 minutes.

Four minutes from time Medda were reduced to 18 men when Marc Twaddle was red carded for swearing. Shepherd made a stunning save to keep out a Hanlon free-kick from 25 yards by Hanlon a minute later as Meadow held on for a draw.

The hosts should see this as a point gained rather than two dropped.

There is much room for improvement but this could be a turning point.

IRVINE MEADOW: Shepherd; Girvan, Wilson, Darroch, Twaddle, Murch, G McCann, Fraser, Maxwell, Trialist, Halliday. Subs: Deas, Trialist, Hall, Keenan, S McCann.