McBookie Super League Premier Division

POLLOK 2

KILWINNING RANGERS 3

DEBUTANT Lewis Morrison was on the scoresheet as Buffs secured a vital victory at Newlandsfield Park.

They withstood a strong comeback from the Glasgow hosts to boost their survival hopes.

Buffs made a stunning breakthrough in 44 seconds when Morrison, on loan from Kilmarnock FC, dispossessed ‘Lok centre-half Chris Walker to net.

The host almost restored parity when Grant Evans’ front-post cross was met by Del Hepburn, who did everything right with his header only to be denied by a stunning stop from Adam Strain, who tipped the ball on to the bar.

Strain’s save took on even more significance in eight minutes when his side doubled their lead. Bryan Boylan picked out Ben Lewis at the edge of the area, where, despite the best efforts of Evans, he was able to pick his spot.

It was three and easy in 26 minutes as an attempted clearance by the home rearguard fell kindly for Lewis to sweep the ball home through a crowd for his brace.

Kilwinning remained on top for the rest of the half, home goalie Jordan Longmuir being called into action twice, initially to palm wide a long ranger from Morrison, and then to spring across goal to turn a Carlo Monti free-kick to safety.

Buffs continued to press after the break, Morrison playing former Pollok man Monti through to cut inside with Longmuir’s block from his shot falling to Boylan who blazed off target.

Monti again came close when his free-kick from the right clipped the upright.

‘Lok’s first significant opportunity of the half came via a Kieran McAleenan free-kick which dipped just over the frame of the goal.

The hosts reduced the leeway in 67 minutes when Hepburn’s free-kick from halfway saw Michael Daly rise to beat Strain to the ball, his header finding its billet.

Davie Winters laid the ball into the path of Hepburn who from 20 yards forced another superb save from Strain as the ball looked goalbound.

The home side made it 3-2 in 88 minutes after Daly was adjudged to have been impeded in the box. McAleenan slotted home the resultant penalty-kick.

Buffs, however saw the game out safely, a weak Daly header from a Longmuir kick-out the only Pollok chance of note late on.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Strain; Coleman, McCluskey, Swift, Morris, Maitland (Harvey 70), Morrison (McGuinness 70); Frye, Monti, Lewis (Cashmore 83), Boylan. Subs not used: Kerr.