Stagecoach Superleague Premier: Irvine Meadow 2 Pollok 1

Apr 13 2009 By Fraser Wilson

TEN MAN Pollok crashed to a costly defeat at Irvine Meadow which throws them onto the back foot in the race for a third successive title.

Lok striker Bryan Dingwall's 30th minute red card may well have been the decisive moment in a fiery tie from which the Ayrshire side emerged victors by 2-1.

Up until that point Pollok were comfortably leading 1-0 thanks to Derek Wingate's brilliant second minute strike.

But Dingwall reacted to some heavy treatment from Meadow's defence and landed a double booking which led to his early bath after just half an hour.

From that moment on the game swung in favour of the Irvine men and goals from Brian McGinty and Gareth Turner saw them claim the three points.

The result leaves Pollok five points behind Meadow although they have three games in hand. However Jim Sinnet's men are also four points adrift of Beith with just one game in hand.

Goalkeeper Kris Robertson said: "It's frustrating because we were so much in control before Bryan's sending off.

"But nobody is blaming him as we feel his second yellow in particular was very harsh.

"It's a setback but there's a lot of games to be played yet and we are not panicking."