It’s a second away trip in a row for the Buffs as they travel to Newlandsfield to face Pollok FC after last week’s 1-0 loss to Shotts Bon Accord. Today’s fixture will mark the first between the sides in over three years, with the second clash of the season scheduled for just over a month’s time.
Founded over 115 years ago, ‘The Lok’ have long been a household name at the level, since a very successful spell in the 80’s. Pollok really cemented their place at the forefront of junior football in 1981 when they won their first Scottish Junior Cup before reclaiming the trophy in 1985 at Hampden Park with a victory against Petershill FC. Since then, the club have appeared in four more Junior Cup finals, losing three and winning one.
Unbeaten in nine games, The Lok have pieced together a run that makes them the in-form team in the division, which is a remarkable turnaround from how the campaign started for Pollok. Pollok started the season with just one win from five games, and sat second bottom of the league after five defeats in their opening seven games. After earning just ten points from twelve games, The Lok have won an incredible 25 points out of a possible 27, which has seen them rise all the way to fourth place in the league. The upturn in form for Pollok coincides with the signing of former Buffs man Carlo Monti, who, since signing at the start of December, has not tasted a league defeat with the club, and has set them on this impressive run. Manager Stewart Maxwell has recently been rewarded with a contract extension, which will see him manage the club into next season. Striker Bob McHugh leads the scoring charts for today’s opposition, netting 20 times already this campaign, including a brace last time out in a 1-3 victory at Largs. The last time the clubs met, The Buffs fell to a 3-0 defeat at Newlandsfield in Chris Aitken’s first game in charge.
The Buffs need to start putting points on the board consistently sooner rather than later, especially with a crucial run of fixtures ahead that will prove decisive in shaping their campaign.
