Ardagh Group West of Scotland Cup First Round

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 1

POLLOK 2

WINTON went into this match against one of the top teams in the West Region without injured keeper Chris Lamb with Scott Watson replacing him.

One of Winton Park’s biggest crowds for a while observed a minutes silence to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War One and the club laid a wreath in the centre circle before kick-off.

Pollok pressed from the start and Rovers had a lucky escape in five minutes when Shaun Fraser hit the post following a good build up by the visitors. A minute later Ryan McGregor headed a corner over the bar.

Winton’s first real attack come when Jamie McKenna chased a ball played on by Davie Cunningham but Justin Longmuir came well out of his box to clear the danger. In 13 minutes Rovers had a good chance when they won the ball from a Pollok throw-in on the left and the ball was then played to Jamie McKenna, who got into the box but his shot was saved by Longmuir.

Pollok almost took the lead in 16 minutes when David Smith put a dangerous cross from Ewan McNeil out for a corner.

In 24 minutes, Pollok took the lead when Watson came well off his line for a dangerous McNeil cross but completely missed the flight of the ball which came to Danny Boyle whose back post header went into the net despite Graham Longair’s attempt to head the ball off the line.

Winton hit back immediately and Longmuir saved a Sean Mears shot a minute later.

In 29 minutes Davie Cunningham’s persistence saw him work his way along the bye line but his low hard cross into the goalmouth was cut out by a defender and cleared. Rovers had a lucky escape on the half hour when Pollok again hit the post following a dangerous McNeil cross.

The hosts levelled in 35 minutes when the ball was played back to Longmuir following a throw – in on the Pollok right but the keeper’s attempt to play the ball out to a defender on the left was intercepted by Smith who got into the box. Although his shot was blocked by a defender on the ground the ball broke to Davie Cunningham who netted from 10 yards.

This was now a real cup tie and play raged from end-to-end in the second period. Pollok had the first attempt in 46 minutes when Ryan McGregor shot over the bar.

Winton were creating problems and in 66 minutes some good play saw Longmuir unable to hold a David Cunningham shot, following good play by Jamie McKenna, but there was no one following in.

With 10 minutes left, Rovers brought on David Adams for David Cunningham. Just as it looked like the game was going to go to penalties Pollok were awarded disputed penalty in 87 minutes when Sean Mears and Ross Brash appeared to collide just inside the box. Despite the Winton players’ protests the referee awarded a penalty which Ryan McGregor scored, sending Scott Watson the wrong way.

It was a very disappointing end to a great performance by the whole team who deserved it to go to penalties having matched their Premier opponents for the whole game and been the better side for spell in the second half. The penalty award which looks even more dubious on two different videos was a sickener.

ARDROSSAN WR: Watson; McGregor, Hunter, Wilson, Graham Longair, Smith, Wilson, Jamie Cunningham, McKenna, David Cunningham, Mears. Subs: Adams, Bruce, Ashe, Davidson, Tan.