Maryhill go down to Pollok in pre-season friendly at Newlandsfield

The Maryhill gaffer looked on as his players went toe-to-toe with one of the best sides in the country.

Wilson said: “We matched Pollok in many different areas of the park for large parts of the game, and that pleased me.

“Let’s be honest, we won’t be squaring up to many teams of their calibre throughout our regular season.

“I was pleased with the game in general. I thought our shape was good, as was our fitness. There is still a lot of work to do but we’re getting there.”

Pollok’s Iain Russell - a former Motherwell, Dumbarton and Morton centre-forward - scored twice inside 16 minutes to give the hosts an early advantage.

However, on 23 minutes, Alex McFarlane headed home superbly to half the deficit.

Maryhill’s Jack Easdon was then through on goal but saw his low drive saved by Pollok keeper Jordan Longmuir.

Six minutes before the break, Ryan McGregor unleashed a ferocious drive from 22 yards, but somehow Hill keeper Mark McRoberts tipped it over the bar.

It was a stunning save, but McRoberts was as it again on 43, when Tony Etherson barged into the back of Russell inside the box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

However, McRoberts dived full length to his left to turn the ball round the post.

Seconds before the interval, Maryhill playmaker Cammy O’Neill was hurt in a robust challenge and was forced off suffering from a cut to his knee.

After the break, Maryhill’s Craig Stevenson went close with a drive, but defensive frailties saw Pollok score twice in quick succession to lead 4-1.

But when Stevenson latched onto a short back pass in 73 minutes, and was brought down, Ged Dobbs despatched the spot kick with aplomb to cut the deficit.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, a Pollok striker robbed the clearly injured Michael Browne and rounded the keeper to score the final goal of the afternoon.

A disconsolate Browne limped off the field moments later and Maryhill played out the game with just 10 men.

It was another tough challenge for Maryhill, but it was one they met head on, and some of the football they played at Newlandsfield was a delight to watch.