McBookie Super League Premier Division

POLLOK FC 2

BEITH JUNIORS 2

BEITH will look back on another frustrating day where they once again played well and dominated most of the proceedings but just didn't get the result they deserved despite having an amazing THIRTY-SEVEN efforts at goal.

John Millar's selection options were restricted with John Sheridan, Kenny McLean and Calum Watt unavailable due to injury but his side opened well in the welcome sunshine at Newlandsfield in front of a healthy crowd.

Thomas Collins shot just wide in the first action and David McGowan shot at keeper Longmuir as Beith pressed. However their early enterprise was soon rewarded when they drove forward again and a Collins snapshot from 12 yards found the net through the keeper's legs.

The all-action start continued and the hosts levelled after six minutes in their first attack when a cross into the box was brought down by David Winters who turned smartly and despatched a fine first time shot past Stephen Grindlay.

The match continued to be contested mostly in the Pollok half and Collins, Ross McPherson and Darren Christie all went close with efforts at goal while a real 'telling pass' remained elusive. Pollok were defending vigorously and referee Chris Graham had a task on his hands to keep control and before the interval he booked home players Colin Williamson and Grant Evans for bad challenges and Beith's Mark McLaughlin and Paul Frize for voicing their displeasure over the harsh treatment they believed they were receiving.

The second half began the way of the first with Beith again on top before another piece of skill by 'Lok's experienced forward David Winters saw him hit the post with a snapshot from 25 yards. Paul Frize and Ross McPherson had shots blocked in the box before the visitors fell behind against the run of play in 57 minutes from a free-kick.

Allan McKenzie looked to have over-run the ball before tumbling outside the box. Beith lined up a defensive wall but dead-ball expert Hanlon curled a precision shot past the edge of the wall to find the bottom corner.

Beith will be frustrated that a man on the post covering that option would almost certainly have prevented the goal.

The visitors were not about to surrender despite the setback and Darren Christie almost equalised on the hour when he ran onto a McPherson pass and shot for the far corner but Jordan Longmuir parried his effort for defenders to scramble clear. The 'Lok keeper had looked shaky earlier in the match but was now in inspired form and he stopped another Christie effort.

The hosts continued to take no prisoners and suffered when Evans collected his second yellow card in 65 minutes for another poor tackle. Beith forced more corners and Collins eventually picked up a loose ball in the box to slam home an equaliser.

Beith went all out for a winner with Joe Bradley adding his qualities when he joined the fray. The 'Lok keeper also enjoyed a bit of luck when a McLaughlin shot hit off him in a crowded box. The hosts suffered a further consequence of over-zealous challenges when Tam Hanlon was rightly shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Jamie Wilson that forced the midfielder out of the action.

Beith were educed to 10 men for the remaining 10 minutes when McLaughlin collected a second yellow card for a needless tackle from behind on Robbie Winters in the Lok half. Jordan Longmuir continued to frustrate Beith's efforts through to the close with a string of fine saves, the best from Conner McGlinchey and Collins efforts, and in injury-time the latter couldn't have gone closer when he scooped a Christie pass over the keeper but also inches over the bar.

BEITH: Grindlay; McGlinchey, Docherty, MacDonald, McLaughlin, Wilson, Christie, Frize, McPherson, Collins, McGowan. Subs: Bradley, Burke, Sheridan, McArthur, Digney (gk)