McBookie Super League Premier Division

TROON 1

POLLOK 3

by Stewart McConnell

FORM team Troon’s title hopes were dealt a blow as they suffered their first defeat in six games against the leaders.

Gordon Burns’ team made a dream start after skipper Dean Keenan had given them the lead. However they conceded two careless goals in quick succession before and after half-time to leave them facing an uphill struggle.

Later dejected Burns told Sportscene: “We started the game well and got the goal. After that we stopped and let Pollok back into it and they got their equaliser after we didn’t deal with the second ball when the free-kick hit the bar. But I felt we should have built on the first goal. In the second half Pollok looked a bit hungrier than us.”

The Seasiders went into the match in determined fashion, knowing victory would see them overhaul the visitors and move into top spot.

They began well and in the opening minute a raking 18-yard drive from Jordan Muir was well saved by visiting goalie Jordan Longmuir. Then the Pollok number one dashed out to beat Adam Forsyth to the ball at the edge of the box in five minutes.

A shot from 12 yards by Scott Chatham was cleared by a visiting defender in seven minutes. On-form home striker Adam Forsyth tried to latch onto a through pass in nine minutes but defender Chris Walker made a vital clearance. However the deadlock was broken in 12 minutes when Dean Keenan curled a free-kick low into the bottom corner from 12 yards, sending the home fans into raptures.

The Seasiders came close again a minute later when Scott Chatham sent a volley high and just wide from 16 yards. Chatham saw his long range shot from 25 yards well saved by Jamie Longmuir in 19 minutes.

Dale Moore sent a 25-yard effort across the face of goal a minute later as the home side continued to impress. Chatham then tracked back and won a challenge to keep David Winters at bay in 23 minutes.

Chatham sent a stunning pass to Dale Moore to shoot across the face of goal from 14 yards in 24 minutes. Dale Keenan aimed a pass at Moore on the edge of the box three minutes later but he was adjudged offside.

Home defender Chris McKnight was surprisingly booked for a soft foul on David Winters just outside the box in 37 minutes. But Kieran McAleenan sent the resultant free-kick well over the bar.

However Pollok levelled in 42 minutes when a Tam Hanlon free-kick crashed off the crossbar, but came out and broke to Paul Gallacher who set up Walker to send home a stunning scissors kick from eight yards.

Martin "Midge" Ure made a vital headed clearance for Troon in 44 minutes.

Then four minutes later, a Forsyth effort from the edge of the box was deflected wide by the visiting defence.

However Pollok scored a minute later when Robbie Winters sent a precision pass to McAleenan to shoot home from 10 yards. It looked like game over in 61 minutes when former Irvine Meadow and Ardrossan Winton Rovers man Findlay Frye sent a 25-yard piledriver into the top corner of the net.

Troon then forged a good chance when a shot from 16 yards by on-loan Stranraer youngster Peter McGill was well saved by Longmuir in 67 minutes.

Semple made a great save to foil Alan McKenzie from 12 yards after Dean Keenan had lost possession in 78 minutes and three minutes later a Colin Spence free-kick from 25 yards was easily cleared by the ‘Lok defence.

A Dale Keenan cross from outside the box was easily saved by Longmuir in 86 minutes. A minute later McGill shot inches over the bar from 12 yards as the Glasgow side easily saw the game out to seal three points.

Troon will be disappointed not to cash in on their chances after taking the lead, but it must be said the best team won.

TROON: Semple; Ure, Dale Keenan, McKnight, Dean Keenan, Chatham, Harvey, Spence, Forsyth, Muir, Moore. Subs: McGill, McCrea, Collins, Armstrong.