McBookie Super League Premier Division

KILWINNING RANGERS 1

POLLOK 2

By Stewart McConnell

A BARROWLOAD of chances were missed by Buffs as they suffered their first defeat of the season against big-spending Pollok.

The hosts went into the match on a high, having won their first two matches whereas Pollok had surprisingly failed to take any points from their first two encounters.

It was an entertaining contest with Buffs having more of the play.

In nine minutes Bryan Boylan shot home for Buffs but the "goal" was chalked off for offside. Then two minutes later a header from just inside the box from Jamie Whyte was cleared by the home defence. Two minutes later former Pollok man Carlo Monti shot Inches wide from the edge of the box.

At the other end a corner from former Auchinleck Talbot man Bryan Young was cleared by the home defence in 19 minutes.

Then a header from Stefan McCluskey was well saved by home goalie Adam Strain in 20 minutes.

A free-kick 25 yards out by Monti went just over the bar on the half hour.

Buffs came so close on the half hour when a fierce effort from inside the box by Michael Wardrope crashed off the crossbar. Less than a minute later former a

Pollok man David Winters saw his effort from eight yards deflected wide.

However in 32 minutes 'Lok went ahead with a great strike as McCluskey sent home a piledriver from 25 yards.

A header from six yards by Tommy Maitland crept narrowly wide from six yards in 40 minutes. Then Winters volleyed just wide from 20 yards a minute later.

A minute after the break Lok came close when McCluskey shot across the face of goal from six yards. At the other end a minute later, Monti blasted a 25-yard free-kick well over the top from 25 yards.

Monti then went on a 25-yard run before shooting straight at Jordan Longmuir in 49 minutes. Then Ricky Hanvey had a shot cleared off the line.

Winters saw his 25-yard free-kick headed clear by a Pollok defender in 51 minutes.

Buffs deservedly levelled on the hour when Monti sent a 22-yard shot soaring into the top corner.

Pollok came close in 64 minutes when Young shot just wide from 20 yards.

Kilwinning were awarded a free-kick following a foul on Winters. But Monti sent the resultant set-piece over the bar.

Former Ayr United man Ryan Nisbet's header from six yards crept narrowly wide of target from six yards in 72 minutes.

However Pollok blasted into the lead in 79 minutes when the unmarked McCluskey shot home from 10 yards.

Monti had his free-kick blocked by the wall two minutes from time as the visitors held on to win.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Strain; Coleman, McCloskey, Whyte, Maitland, Frye, Monti, Wardrope, Winters, Lewis, Boylan. Subs: Moran, Hanvey, Nisbet.

POLLOK: Longmuir; Evans, Sideserf, Gallagher, McGoldrick, Brash, McCann, McGregor, Forde, McCluskey, Young. Subs: Byrne, Little, McKenzie, Hepburn, Prentice.